Wicca

[Loona Wynd]

Aroomee

You don't have to have a coven to practice Wicca. Practicing solitary is what a lot of Wiccans do now. Just go with what you believe.

The rites and rituals of Wicca require a coven. Try again.

[GaijinGuy36]

Well, time to scoot for now...need food. Take care, neko! Everyone else, too! mrgreen

[wiccanAlice]

u can study it alone, with someone (like i'm practicing with my fiance), or in a coven. it does not matter how u study it is about the damn belief.

[GeminiSong]

neko wyndy wytch

Now do you believe in any deities?

Only the MadGod.

neko wyndy wytch

From what I've read there are some major mental/emotional changes that occur when one goes through the initiation rituals of Wicca. They change your outlook and the way you experience life. Plus they open you up to experiencing the Gods of Wicca as best you can, depending on what degree you have taken. One of the reasons I am not Wiccan is that I have my own mental/emotional issues to work through that may hinder my growth as a Wiccan. So I'm not seeking initiation at this point in time. I was for a while, but have decided against it.

That doesn't really have anything to do with the label, just the initiation.

neko wyndy wytch

As for it being a Fad, I still say it's not. Yes there are some who will go through a Fad because their friends are, or because they want to go against their parents, but to say it is entirely a fad reflects poorly on those of us who have come to live this way after years of searching and research. I went through the rites of Christianity, but it meant nothing. I've found myself and my religious beliefs.

Kay, I'm not saying it's all entirely a fad. ninja

[Loona Wynd]

Gaijin32

The questions were such like asking the entrant's name, by what right they enter the circle, (usually answered 'By my right as *insert position in coven here*' or 'By the right of my mentor, who speaks for me', and how they enter the circle. The only answer for that, of course, is 'In perfect love and perfect trust.'

Sounds interesting. I know that in traditional Wicca there are challenges like that as well. Though I don't know the exact wording. Does every one at a circle have a specific place with in the coven? I'd probably have a challenge like that for the seekers and other members of the coven. However for some one who was a visitor I don't know if I would have a challenge like that. I mean a visitor could be some one who was curious, or trying to see what ritual is like before they embark on training. They'd have their own parts of the ritual. I don't know what exactly, but it would be there.

Gaijin32

And yeah, the full duties are quite the laundry-list, but I never had to chase anyone down and haul them back in front of the HP for a good, long lecturing and a vigorous finger-wagging. I recall we were a pretty eclectic group...not sure if we actually had a specific tradition at all. But as I said, that was some years ago. It's been a while, and I forget.

Thats fine. I was just curious. I was hoping to learn a bit from it. I hope you find the coven you desire again. I'm planning on seeking a coven when I get my license.

Gaijin32

I'd take such a position again, though, if it was offered. In a hot minute. I really loved being part of the group dynamic. It's very fulfilling. 3nodding

I want to be part of a group. I really do. I feel that it could add much to my experience.

[Loona Wynd]

marieofthesand

u can study it alone, with someone (like i'm practicing with my fiance), or in a coven. it does not matter how u study it is about the damn belief.

Wicca is about practice. The rites and rituals of Wicca must be performed a specific way in order to be Wiccan.

[Loona Wynd]

Prophet of Poison

neko wyndy wytch

Now do you believe in any deities?

Only the MadGod.

Who?

Prophet of Poison

neko wyndy wytch

From what I've read there are some major mental/emotional changes that occur when one goes through the initiation rituals of Wicca. They change your outlook and the way you experience life. Plus they open you up to experiencing the Gods of Wicca as best you can, depending on what degree you have taken. One of the reasons I am not Wiccan is that I have my own mental/emotional issues to work through that may hinder my growth as a Wiccan. So I'm not seeking initiation at this point in time. I was for a while, but have decided against it.

That doesn't really have anything to do with the label, just the initiation.

But the initiation is what makes one able to hold the label of Wiccan.

Prophet of Poison

neko wyndy wytch

As for it being a Fad, I still say it's not. Yes there are some who will go through a Fad because their friends are, or because they want to go against their parents, but to say it is entirely a fad reflects poorly on those of us who have come to live this way after years of searching and research. I went through the rites of Christianity, but it meant nothing. I've found myself and my religious beliefs.

Kay, I'm not saying it's all entirely a fad. ninja

So do you accept that there are people who geuinly take their pagan religions seriously? I mean I'll agree that there are some who are in it for a fad, will you agree that some are genuinely spiritually fulfilled by paganism?

Also you mentioned Atheism as a fad, would you be willing to accept that some are and some aren't?

[Feiticeir]

I came here for answers and am leaving with more questions ^.^;
This has given me much to think about

[Loona Wynd]

Feiticeir

I came here for answers and am leaving with more questions ^.^;
This has given me much to think about

What are your questions?

[Feiticeir]

well if you have to belong to a coven was one
but also if this is something you can just start practicing
wait does that make sense? ^.^;

[Loona Wynd]

Feiticeir

well if you have to belong to a coven was one
but also if this is something you can just start practicing
wait does that make sense? ^.^;

Wicca is not something you can just start practicing. It requires training and initiation into a properly linneaged coven that can trace it's initiatory linneage back to Gerald Gardner.

[Feiticeir]

right so then that would mean you absolutely must be in a coven wouldn't it?

[GeminiSong]

neko wyndy wytch

Who?

Sheogorath, Eris, whatever you want to call him/her.

neko wyndy wytch

But the initiation is what makes one able to hold the label of Wiccan.

Even if that's true, the label itself still changes nothing. The experiences gained through the initiation would not have changed had no pointless label been issued during or had some other label been issued. I can call myself a Wiccan and I'm still the same person. I can call myself a Christian, but I'm still the same person. You are who you are and not what you call yourself. That's why I feel labels are utterly worthless and I'll never understand why you, some of the Pagans of Gaia thread regs, and the M&R regs place so much importance on arguing labels and definitions.

neko wyndy wytch

So do you accept that there are people who geuinly take their pagan religions seriously? I mean I'll agree that there are some who are in it for a fad, will you agree that some are genuinely spiritually fulfilled by paganism?

Also you mentioned Atheism as a fad, would you be willing to accept that some are and some aren't?

Well of course, I never said there weren't people who are genuine.

[Loona Wynd]

Feiticeir

right so then that would mean you absolutely must be in a coven wouldn't it?

Very much so. The rites and rituals of Wicca are oath bound, and can only be properly performed in the context of a coven. There are other witchcults and witchcraft based religions where you can be solitary, but they aren't Wicca proper. They are fine and dandy but not Wicca.

[Feiticeir]

alrighty then thank you so much for answering my questions ^.^