Welcome to Gaia! ::

ALot of people use Self-Initiation as their entrace to the Craft, and i've found that alot of people, mostly Gardnerians, find that Coven and lineaged initiation are the only ways to be considered truly Wiccan.

Thoughts and Commentary?

It depends on what kind of practice you're going for which one is best suited to you. Historically, Wicca in its traditional form was indeed lineaged and coven-based only. Upon its importation to America, however, it took on the flavor of the local culture which doesn't tend to value that kind of semi-elitist secrecy. The American take on Wicca opened up the movement to the general public, allowing for things like self-initiation. In the process, however, it can be argued that Dedicatory Wicca is missing something that Traditional Wicca posesses.

Personally, I seriously question whether or not certain forms of Dedicatory practice are really different enough from Traditional Wicca to fly under two completely different banners. In the end, you can really call yourself what you like. Most people are accepting of Dedicatory Wiccans... though some places around here on Gaia are exceptions to that. sweatdrop

I self-initiated myself, and like it was said before, it mostly depends on what tradition you initiate yourself to. I'm an eclectic solitary, so it doesn't really matter with me. I personally don't care if you're self-initiated or initiated by an experienced Witch or Priestess/Priest.

(Beware, this is randomness coming. I can't help but type it.) But most people who do care, they didn't answer the age-old question of 'Who initiated the first witch?'

Enjoy another ramble provided by Freya sweatdrop

Interesting way of putting it.

Why thank you. sweatdrop

I initiated myself, and started a coven back at home. I became the priestess of my coven and i have the most materials of the lot of us. Heh, our first emergency-meeting was to dispel certain unhappy spirits that had yet to cross over at our school. It worked really well considering! And at the time there were only four of us. mrgreen biggrin
I am a very devoted wiccan and i celebrate it as much as i can. And when i can, i indulge my roommates (there are four of them) into my adopted traditions. They certainly seem to enjoy it. mrgreen

my initiation consisted of entering a magic circle, and having my now dead mentore say, little sorceress you are now a witch, bring forth the light and give no voice to evil. Blessed be. then we all had this big party and I got drunk for the first time lol I was only 8 but it was still all in good fun! whee