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 Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:48 pm
Alright, heres the first installment of the VERY abridged "year and a day" synopsis a la Meri.
Before we get started, I have to mention this, as thankfully people on here have that fear of disrespecting the Wiccan Community ("fear" is not a good word for that...perhaps "consciousness"?). These 101 lessons I'll be posting is in NO way a substitute to the practical training in Wiccan study. The training is a year and a day for a reason. You wouldn't start off college and expect it to be over in only a few class hours (although that would be SO nice). Time, practice, study, and experience makes a true witch. Here, let's make a list of what does, and does not count as far as being a witch goes.
A witch does NOT
-need every tool out there.
-have to cast spells, although its a more than common practice
-have to be "traditional", there are a great many out there that wern't initiated by Gardener, Sanders, or any of their members.
-have to dress the part. Look however YOU want to look
-need to know EVERYTHING, although they should strive to...
-down on anyone else for their beliefs.
A witch DOES
-have a certain love for life
-culture respect towards others, plant, animal, mineral ect.
-stand up for what they believe in
-follow a code of ethics when it comes to their workings.
I know, its rather vague, but so is many tenants of Paganism. We dont have any sort of bible to quote, nothings completely black and white so to say. It's up to you as far as your ethics go, but there is that standard "An it harm none, do what thou will" to follow. Dont go out there and maliciously hurt anyone, but on the flip side, dont let someone hurt you. Every action has its reaction, most pagans believe results come back three times as powerful, good or bad. Use your own discretion.
*Authors note: this is why I like when people like us study non-violent methods in the style of Martin Luther King jr, Ghandi, and other peace leaders. Jesus even, is still a good figure to study. Harm brings hurt, and when you go to hurt someone, think first of how that could hurt you.
Now, for possibly the BIGGEST thing stressed in any book you might read, or teacher you may follow.
Magicks not gonna come shooting out of your fingertips. No candles will light up with a blink of your eyes, nor will hail fall from the sky the instant you get pissed (Unless by some very unlikely chance. It once thunder stormed with an amazing intensity when I got REALLY angry one day, but it was going to storm either way.) Magick does not work like it does on the media. They need that sort of portrayal to get ratings, and no ones gonna wanna watch subtlety.
Magick comes from within, as magick is change, and change has to start with you. It may be the way you see yourself (Glamoury), or the way you may feel towards another idea or person. It sounds horribly uneventful, but trust me when I say the moment you realize change really is happening, and that you're the one doing it, its pretty freakin awesome.
Of course, there are the lesser magicks that will bring about the action you want. "Potions" and the like, things you ingest to make a bad stomachache go away or clear your face up and get rid of that complexion...those are all magick too. A little more obvious, but magick nonetheless.
This whole ordeal, path, whatever you want to call it, is all about a HUGE lifestyle change. Especially in Wicca, you begin to notice the things that happen around you, and without your help. "As in within, so is without", as its put, change happens with you, around you, without you, ad so on. You begin to appreciate the seasons, and a more natural way of life. Suddenly, not being able to get strawberries in the dead of winter in your area isnt such a horrible thing (as an example), its just life.
Anyway, thats about as esoteric as I can be right now. I've got about two cups of coffee in my system and Queens of the Stone Age have been playing on my iPod for like...twenty minutes now. I'lll come back to this and add more, and I ask anyone else that can to add whatever they will.
By no means is this the only way to look at Wicca, Paganism, or any other path you decide to walk. Your path is whatever you want it to be, it has to mean something to you, or its not worth it. Dont worry though, if you're dedicated enough to spend a great deal of time seriously studying anything you believe in (not necessarily a whole year and a day), you'll find the answers you're looking for wink
Next: More basics! We'll go into the elements, what goes with which one, and how you can apply them in life!
~Meri
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:03 pm
ALSO!
I strongly suggest that if you are serious in going into Wicca or a Pagan path, take a journal with you!
Write down experiences, how you felt, what you've learned, anything that can be related back to your journey. It doesn't matter if you're not the best writer or speller or whatever, but a record that you can go back to and read is one of the best treasures you'll find. After a time, you'll find your own Book of Shadows forming off of it! Ah yeah, not everyone knows what that is...Alright.
Book of Shadows-a journal type book where spells, recipes, thoughts, dreams, anything noteworthy is kept.
Hehe... sweatdrop a few members on here can vouch for me, I've made at least six different Books of Shadows cause I'm a freak. Its never pretty enough or whatever, I didnt organize it right or another book feels more powerful to me. I've gone through diary-style books, notebooks, my latest is a sketchbook in which I have my collected spells, rituals, recipes, basic info, family trees, and bios of the people who mean a lot to me in it. I draw, so its filled with pictures and borders and whatnot, lots of freakin time went into it. Its a sacred thing to me.
Use clipart if youre not an artist. Type it all out on your computer if you're not into handwriting and save it in a special file. Its all up to you, but it helps to have something to go to like that.
Also. I have to stress this bit too. Despite being on the border of age of consent, until your 18 (unless its different in the state you live in), you're still under your parent/guardians care. If they -really- do not want you to be practicing this stuff well...its their say so, until they say different or you turn semi-legal. Believe in it all you want, but sadly the law has you on that one crying . Its by your discretion, as it is with a lot of things in life, how much you wish to share, with anyone for that matter. Take actions how you see fit, but dont be entirely surprised if mum and dad call you out on this one.
If it makes anyone feel any better (it doesnt for me), I'm 21 and still in the closet because I'll lose a LOT if I out myself. It wont be that way forever, I know that, and I dont lose hope. So if this is all something you want and cant have yet, dont lose hope either. 18 is never as far away as anyone thinks.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:20 pm
I have a question about the journal thing.
So, its like a diary of your magick life? Your your whole life.
Can it be a binder, so you can continue to add pages?
(im so sorry if i wasn't supposed to post here!!! You can delete this if you want!)
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:30 pm
Scubas_girl I have a question about the journal thing. So, its like a diary of your magick life? Your your whole life. Can it be a binder, so you can continue to add pages? (im so sorry if i wasn't supposed to post here!!! You can delete this if you want!)
A Book of Shadows and your journal can be one in the same, or two different things. I personally have them separate. I used to have another for normal day-to day things but as time went on, I found the normal journal and Magick journal entries to just flow into one another, soo now theres just the one. My Book of Shadows is a bit more formal and decorative, whereas my journal I can scribble away and rip out pages if I get pissed.
I have seen binders used as a Book of Shadows, and I think its a great idea whee . That way you can organize things the way you want, add or throw out pages you don't like or need, and have a separate section for a journal if you wish. I woud have gone that way, if I wasn't so picky (I like have an actual book...complicates things sometimes). So yeah, go on ahead with a binder!
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:34 pm
Annnnnd...
Many people write their Books of Shadow as if they were to be passed down to their children, or someone else. As there aren't many dynastic Pagan families, there arent many of those ripped up, old tomes that are heavy and full of yellowed pages. Its kinda left up to us to pass down the info, so many entries are mostly "how-to"s, where personal experiences are left out (and written down elsewhere).
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:40 pm
Cygan Czarwonica Meri Annnnnd...
Many people write their Books of Shadow as if they were to be passed down to their children, or someone else. As there aren't many dynastic Pagan families, there arent many of those ripped up, old tomes that are heavy and full of yellowed pages. Its kinda left up to us to pass down the info, so many entries are mostly "how-to"s, where personal experiences are left out (and written down elsewhere). Like the haliwell family does in charm? And your not offical Wiccan till you 18...?
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:46 pm
Cygan Czarwonica Meri Annnnnd...
Many people write their Books of Shadow as if they were to be passed down to their children, or someone else. As there aren't many dynastic Pagan families, there arent many of those ripped up, old tomes that are heavy and full of yellowed pages. Its kinda left up to us to pass down the info, so many entries are mostly "how-to"s, where personal experiences are left out (and written down elsewhere). is it okay to do that if you dont have a specific faith. Because i though only wiccans do that. i've tried to explain my faith to several people who have studied religion and no one can pin-point a religon that i belong to. They just say im eclectic form of pagan or something... its kinda sad, but w/e i guess...
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:36 pm
Yes like in Charmed, but while there are a LOT of similarities in the show, its kind of a bad example xd .
And you can be a Wiccan from the first time you think you are one, you don't have to wait till 18. Its just whether you can practice it freely or not that depends on your age. If you still live with your parents, and they tell ya you cant practice it and whatnot, thats between you and them and how serious the situation is.
And its ok to be eclectic! Being Eclectic broadens your horizon by quite a bit, you're not restricted to the tenants of a particular branch of Paganism, and therefor you end up learning quite a bit more imo. I tried out dozens of branches before I settled on mine, and I consider that a good thing as I could talk to one gal about the Vanir and then turn around and talk about the Celtic tree zodiac.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:39 pm
Cygan Czarwonica Meri Yes like in Charmed, but while there are a LOT of similarities in the show, its kind of a bad example xd .
And you can be a Wiccan from the first time you think you are one, you don't have to wait till 18. Its just whether you can practice it freely or not that depends on your age. If you still live with your parents, and they tell ya you cant practice it and whatnot, thats between you and them and how serious the situation is.
And its ok to be eclectic! Being Eclectic broadens your horizon by quite a bit, you're not restricted to the tenants of a particular branch of Paganism, and therefor you end up learning quite a bit more imo. I tried out dozens of branches before I settled on mine, and I consider that a good thing as I could talk to one gal about the Vanir and then turn around and talk about the Celtic tree zodiac. the vanir and the celtic what??? lol, i feel so stupid rofl redface and its okay to pass down my beleifs to my children, right? p.s. i love charmed, even though im super far behind (the red head just came in, paige is it? idk xD)
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:40 pm
Ok I just wanted to make sure and I know Charmed is fictional, last question thats on my mind, I saw a picture of the Horned God is he the Wiccan devil?
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:57 pm
Disgaeafan Ok I just wanted to make sure and I know Charmed is fictional, last question thats on my mind, I saw a picture of the Horned God is he the Wiccan devil?
Wicca doesn't have a devil, as everything is held sacred. A force created to be complete evil is the idea of man, as nothing in nature is originally evil. While there is no devil in Wicca, evil can be found, but its always in human form, or a product of humans (like...a nuclear waste plant, or anything else that screws up nature. Evil would be people cutting down the Amazon Rainforest for wood, while thousands of animals and plants live there.)
The Devil was introduced with having horns when Christians were converting the masses of other countries. They used the symbolism of a god with horns as evil to instill fear and gain more people for the church.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 6:01 pm
Oh ok he just looks evil so I thought...sorry I didn't mean to offend.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:00 pm
Disgaeafan Oh ok he just looks evil so I thought...sorry I didn't mean to offend.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:03 pm
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:25 pm
Theres a few Guidelines I know of that you open minded people should know
The Three Rule
It is belived by all Wiccans that any spell you cast its effect happens to you three times stronger
Rule of Consent
This rule is you need premision form the target to cast a spell
Believe in Magick
Rather obivvuse in terms of meaning and terms of guidelines, you must belive in magick to be a wiccan or do anything wicca.
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Reply
