Wiccans on Gaia

How do you feel about Wiccans and Witches?

I am a Wiccan/Witch	33.5%	[ 1905 ]
I respect their beliefs	37.9%	[ 2158 ]
I'm not sure about them	5.2%	[ 295 ]
I don't know much about them	14.4%	[ 817 ]
I do not respect their beliefs	3.5%	[ 201 ]
I am strongly against them	5.6%	[ 316 ]
Total Votes:			[ 5692 ]

[Werewolf Garnet]

While I'm not wiccan, I've been reading into the subject. I've been lightly skimming religions as my interest grows in them.

Of course, most the information I've found is mostly about "witch-craft" which is fine and all, but I'm much more interested in the more meditation part.

[Miss Terrah]

Proud_Witch

EDIT:

Quote:

I have heard that in order to be a true Wiccan, that one has to be initiated, so I guess I'm classified as Neo-Wiccan, because I am a solitary and have not been initiated. I've been studying on and off for 7 years now.

That isn't true. In fact, the first Pagans were Solitary. Some of the greatest Witches in history were solitary. Covens didn't come into existence until the Renessance when the Catholic Church was persecuting Pagans and Wtches created supportive groups where they could gather and worship in secret and safety.

Your studies are just as valid as those done by a coven witch. wink

Ahh. I was told in the Livejournal Wicca community that I wasn't really a Wiccan if I wasn't initiated.

I have a question- what's your opinion of Silver Ravenwolf? I've read some of her books, and heard many differing opinions of her, and I'm just curious to see if you've read anything of hers and your opinions on what she says.

[Mistress Falulu]

Merry meet.

My name is Felicia. I am 20 yrs old and have been studying Wicca since I was 15 yrs old.

[Vampyre Princess Akasha]

Merry Meet, I am currently a studying wiccan student. ^_^ I'm gonna be taught by the priestess of my local coven. I have always wanted to find people on gaia to chat with that were wiccan. Thank you so much for making this!

The name by which I am called is Piper, I am 17 years old.

I have started a couple threads about me studying wiccan but, I have been torn apart each time, having just began studying STRONGLY and they always seemed to "prove I was just a poser". It hurt badly so being here is something that lightens my heart!

[in the flicker.]

Proud_Witch

Quote:

I have heard that in order to be a true Wiccan, that one has to be initiated, so I guess I'm classified as Neo-Wiccan, because I am a solitary and have not been initiated. I've been studying on and off for 7 years now.

That isn't true. In fact, the first Pagans were Solitary. Some of the greatest Witches in history were solitary. Covens didn't come into existence until the Renessance when the Catholic Church was persecuting Pagans and Wtches created supportive groups where they could gather and worship in secret and safety.

Your studies are just as valid as those done by a coven witch. wink

But Pagan =/= Wiccan, and Witch =/= Wiccan. While Wiccans are both Pagan and Witches, not all Pagans and Witches are Wiccan.

I suppose you support the theory that Wicca is more than 60 years old, yes?

[Briar Rosethorn]

Welcome, Felicia and Piper. I'm so glad you came to chat with us.

TerraFae, I myself have heard many negative things about her but personally, I don't know enough about her writings to pass a judgement. However, if she says that only covens can produce true witches then I have to say I strongly disagree with her opinion on that at least.

[Mistress Falulu]

*Gasp* You mean Wicca isn't thousands, upon thousands years old =o

Next thing you'll tell me is that Aliens didn't build the pyramids

XD What's up everyone?

[in the flicker.]

falulu209

*Gasp* You mean Wicca isn't thousands, upon thousands years old =o

Next thing you'll tell me is that Aliens didn't build the pyramids

XD What's up everyone?

rofl

nice.

edit

@witch: i wasn't trying to be rude, but since you're giving out information to people, you might want to at least start with the right terms and/or explain them. there ARE people who believe the terms are 100% the same.

I never want to say that Wicca is 100% no alternative only 60-ish years old, because i don't really know, but i don't think it's old at all. I just think it's a little misleading, some of these folks who go around talking about the "old religion."

I didn't mean to offend, but I think these are the biggest shortcomings in Wicca, some of the worst bits of misinformation out there.

And actually: Gerald Gardner said that you're not really a Wiccan if you're not part of the clergy, that is, a priest or a priestess in a coven, BUT i think his original idea for Wicca has been warped into something a little more...friendly to those who are interested in conversion.

I mean, he also said stuff like: you can't be a Wiccan if you're under 18 (it's true. it's in Witchcraft Today.

I feel like many of these tiny rules are already defunct, and it's a little scary, really, because Wicca isn't that old.

[Briar Rosethorn]

in the flicker, I do not support the theory that Wicca is more than 60 years old. Wicca is a very new branch of Paganism and it's Paganism that is thousands upon thousands years old.

You are right in saying there is a difference between a Witch and a Wiccan. However, since so many Wiccans are also Witches, the terms do overlap somewhat and therefore people tend to use the terms intechangeably (myself included). Personally I don't see any harm in it but if someone requests that I refer to them only as one or the other individually I will respect their wishes and do so.

[Werewolf Garnet]

I think a coven would be nice for guidance and help, but instead of being in a coven, I'd rather be a solitary wiccan with lots of friends. wink

[Briar Rosethorn]

Quote:

*Gasp* You mean Wicca isn't thousands, upon thousands years old =o

Next thing you'll tell me is that Aliens didn't build the pyramids

Please let's not be sarcastic in our arguments. This is a supportive and encouraging environment, remember.

Quote:

I think a coven would be nice for guidance and help, but instead of being in a coven, I'd rather be a solitary wiccan with lots of friends.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both. As a solitary Witch, you're free to learn things at your own pace and think more independantly, but it can be very lonely at times. In a coven, you get the guidance and support you might not receive as a solitary Witch but you may be forced to learn a different way than what you're used to.

Personally, I'd like to become a High Priestess but I know I will need the guidance of a coven at least for a little while to help me achieve that.

[IgnoreThisPerson]

Hmm, good point but to use your argument against you, if we have a lack of knowledge about a Divine entity then surely you must also understand that our knowledge is lacking in other areas? if we are just animals then we cannot be expecting to know it all, whats to say that we ourselfs arnt divine beings? we have the power to change anything we touch, we have the capacity of good or evil and conscious decisions as to how we act, rarely do we do anything on gut choice anymore...

Haha, lets see what you make of that ^_^

[Amikwa]

Hello all,

I've been studying Wicca and Witchcraft on and off for about 5 years now (I'm 18 ). I am not dedicated as of yet, but hope to do so within the next year...

[Briar Rosethorn]

Quote:

@witch: i wasn't trying to be rude, but since you're giving out information to people, you might want to at least start with the right terms and/or explain them. there ARE people who believe the terms are 100% the same.

I never want to say that Wicca is 100% no alternative only 60-ish years old, because i don't really know, but i don't think it's old at all. I just think it's a little misleading, some of these folks who go around talking about the "old religion."

I didn't mean to offend, but I think these are the biggest shortcomings in Wicca, some of the worst bits of misinformation out there.

And actually: Gerald Gardner said that you're not really a Wiccan if you're not part of the clergy, that is, a priest or a priestess in a coven, BUT i think his original idea for Wicca has been warped into something a little more...friendly to those who are interested in conversion.

I mean, he also said stuff like: you can't be a Wiccan if you're under 18 (it's true. it's in Witchcraft Today.

I feel like many of these tiny rules are already defunct, and it's a little scary, really, because Wicca isn't that old.

I agree that there are a lot of misconceptions out there. That's why it's so important for Wiccans AND Witches to come together and chat like this to gain knowledge about different views and opinions surrounding the Wiccan faith, which is why I appreciate so many questions being thrown at me (although it's difficult to keep track and answer them all, lol).

Quote:

Hmm, good point but to use your argument against you, if we have a lack of knowledge about a Divine entity then surely you must also understand that our knowledge is lacking in other areas? if we are just animals then we cannot be expecting to know it all, whats to say that we ourselfs arnt divine beings? we have the power to change anything we touch, we have the capacity of good or evil and conscious decisions as to how we act, rarely do we do anything on gut choice anymore...

Haha, lets see what you make of that ^_^

That's an EXTREMELY good argument, one that may be argued by saying if we are Divine Beings ourselves then why are we mortal? Just as every other living thing on our planet, we are born of another living thing, we live and then we die. After that, it is unknown what happens to us. If we are Divine, then why is it that we can't answer those questions with certainty?

[in the flicker.]

i have to agree, Witch. i think it's very important that both Wiccans, non-Wiccans, and various Pagans get together and chat, because we've all got different ideas and we're probably all reading different things.

Personally, I am a Pagan, but i'm sort of...non-denominational? I have my own ideas, certainly, but I've yet to find a sect that feels the same way i do =P

Out of curiosity: what got you interested in the occult?