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Yes. To be considered a Wiccan by the Wiccan community one must be initiated into a coven that can trace its initiatory lineage back to Gerald Gardner. Initiation is how one is accepted into a coven, and once accepted, one learns the oath-bound materials and rituals that define the Wiccan practice as Wiccan.

Initiation works in a cross-gender fashion; since you are a female, you would be initiated by a High Priest. A male would be initiated by a High Priestess.

It depends on who you ask, really. It's sort of a controversial subject. Some will say it's a must, some will say that it isn't. As far as the general pattern goes, you could really divide Wicca out into at least two types. The more traditional, Gardnerian forms DO require initiation. The more mainstream forms do not.

A few other threads you may want to check out...

Solitary or Coven
Do "Wiccans" have the right to be called Wiccans?
Traditional and Innovative Trends in Witchcraft

Those sources were misinformed. You cannot self-initiate - to any group or religion. Apparently Cunningham regretted using the term in his books. He meant well, but *shrug* You cannot self-initiate as a Wiccan.

You can dedicate yourself to your gods and your path, but not to Wicca, as it's not a religion you can access on your own.

I realise that books hold more authority than "some chick I met on the internet", but yeah, it's true wink Wicca is orthopraxic - it's defined by how you practise rather than what you believe. The rituals are only available within lineaged coven environments, and thus, you can only be "of the Wica" if you have been initiated.

Initiation isn't a way of introducing yourself to the gods. If you are a solitary practitioner of Neo-Wicca, you would NOT want to bind yourself to anything upon introducing yourself! It wouldn't even be a dedication if you were simply MEETING your deities!!

You cannot self-initiate. The concept makes no sense.

Wicca is not un-organised. It is very organised. Quite particularly in fact. To the point where you can check anyone's claim to be Wiccan by asking for the names of their HP and HPS and asking for a vouch on Amber and Jet. There's no leader of Wicca, and no set text, but it's still organised within the coven.

How dare you.
She's not close minded. She is stating facts.
If stating facts to you means someone is close-minded then you're in for a very hard life, child.
It isn't even what she believes; it's the way the religion is designed and structured.

So you have no coven to meet with?
How odd!
And you do realize that Wicca is about far more than just casting spells right?

Why do you feel your beliefs are above correction or being true?
In this case it doesn't matter what you believe; your beliefs do not dictate the meanings of words thankfully.
Self-initiation is a contradiction.
Initiation is going through specific rites in order to be accepted into a group. Without a group, there is no initiation to be had.

LOLIRONY.
Sanguina-chan is not angry.
If you want angry I will show you angry.

Sure as Hel knows more than you do though.
Tell us, from where do you draw your authority on Wicca from?
If you're going to be so bold as to tell someone else that they don't know anything, then you had better be able to show and prove what makes you so much more knowledgeable than someone else.