Welcome to Gaia! ::

I had also let the former member know that my learning experience and studies of Paganism and Wicca, and many others thereof, did not just come from a few books. I have had 13 years and counting of experience learning from books, internet, and many different people in the field. And I am not doing this all for applause or to be told I'm right.

To add to what Meri was saying, sometimes your path chooses you. It isn't wrong to listen to what your path is saying. It's up to you to follow it. You can also take or leave what we say here. Whatever your path is, it isn't for any of us to say that you're following it wrong. We're here for guidance on whatever path.

If anyone has any problems or questions, please, contact the crew members. You're welcome to pm Meri or myself, or if any of the other crew are around, then contact them. At least I want to avoid any conflicts here, and try to work things out.

Well, the year and a day is there for a reason. Whether you do study for a year and a day, or just a length of time, the point there being is you studying. Over time you learn different ways to go about spells, what goes into them, when and when not to cast them and the like. The time is intended for you to learn about what exactly it is you are doing.

But, usually spells are a means of learning various lessons. Say you just finished learning about crystals/stones and their energies, a spell involving the practical use of what you learned would be the uh..."lab" or "practicum" of your lesson. In these situations, naturally you wouldn't be waiting a year and a day. xd

I don't see harm in casting before waiting an entire year (and a day, gotta tack that part on or the fundies will attack me...). So long as you take the time to realize what it is you're doing. You've got to be able to take apart whatever it is you're doing, piece by piece from the words to the meaning, and know why its there. In some cases, a year of study would help greatly, in others, it doesn't matter so much.

Learning from books is good, but broadening perspectives by other means, such as internet and people who have had a lot of experience with Paganism are also important.

Learning from experience is another good way to learn. And having at least one mentor helps.

As Im sure you already know, there are a lot of mixed feelings towards her, and rightly so. At times, her books can seem flaky, vague, and somewhat superficial (especially as the years progress...). She covers some topics, but some think she doesn't go deep enough into them. Not to mention how reading her work takes just about anyone back to the first few days they decided to start the path (not saying fluffy, just very, very beginner).

Some despise her, saying she has contradicting ethics and hate the way she seems to only write for teens and encourages them to hide their practices from their parents. At the same time, these people tend to be older, beyond the fear of their parents wrath, and well beyond the 101 stage of their studies. Of course its debatable whether or not the younger crowd should study in private, blatantly saying to keep it a secret is generally frowned upon, and that wins her a lot of negative votes.

It's up to the reader to discern whether or not to read and learn from her books. I've always liked her "entitled woman" approach to things, as she seems to have enough humor in her to not take everything stone faced seriously. Still, if you are new to things, it's better to get a more serious approach to some of the subjects she covers. She never says shes the end-all source either, and puts a number of other books/sources after the topics she goes into. Really, shes more of the "gateway", as her titles and covers attract newbies, and offers a light and practical way to approach the path.

I do however, suggest other authors aside from her, but wouldn't entirely discredit her. It's like being in a huge witchy class, and while there are a ton of serious teachers giving lectures, shes the one sitting at the back of the class, joking in a low key to any student who wants to listen.

I second that, and just about anything else Cunningham puts out (I say that as they are still publishing other writings post-mortem). Uncle Bucky can get a little sexist at parts, but theres a reason he's still greatly respected in the Wiccan community. Gavin Bone, the Farrars, and Starhawk also have some rather good books out there.

I wouldn't say don't read Ravenwolf, only that there are better sources to actually -learn- from.

. . . idk if I should read her work or not xD

but i'll have to check out the other authors

I found a new age store near me!!! *dance and jumps up and down*

aaannnddd

I found the new age section/ religious part of my library. It was alll the way in the back, very hard to find. And most of the books back there are about christianity, but i cleared the small shelf that they had on new age books xD

I have not gone there yet, someone over yahoo told me about it.

I will tell what's its like when i get to stop by :3

I know someone who went there, he said its really nice there

I don't really like coconut... so... sweatdrop

Ah, incense. Over the years I've really found that all brands are far from being created equal. Azure Green's stuff is awesome, but some others are just... bleh.