 |
Where
to Begin |
The first thing you must do before you launch yourself into ANY religion is to READ about it. I have provided a short reading list of books you may be interested in if you're just starting this path. Any other books you can find will be as helpful, too.
Another thing I highly suggest is to talk to people. If you don't know anyone in person that is Wiccan or Pagan, you can always hit various chat lines on the Internet. (You can check out the chat here.) Message boards are another option, and they're great because you can come back a while later to see if people have responded, rather than spend hours on end in a chat room.
But you need to talk to more people than just Wiccans and Pagans. Find Buddhist temples, Hindu Temples, and even churches, etc. that you don't belong to and talk to the leader of that community. Tell them that you're interested in their religion and go through the 20 questions routine. Ask them their beliefs, what they think of the afterlife, what is required of their followers, and their opinions on religions X, Y, and Z. Of course, you may want to include Wicca as one of those religions you mention. Don't say you ARE Wiccan or any particular religion...act as though you're shopping around and trying to find what's right for you. Essentially, that's what you're doing. It is mentioned in "What Witches Do" (Farrar) that many people who begin on the Wiccan path eventually turn to Buddhism, so don't be disappointed if you begin determined to be Wiccan and later find that something else appeals to you more.
For "recovering Christians" who were raised in the Church and don't agree with it, try a Unitarian Universalist church when you go talk to someone. You may find that you still want to be Christian, just in a different form. There's nothing wrong with it at all! Most Pagans would tell you that they were glad that you thought of Paganism as an option, and at least now you're more educated about what we believe. (Although it is important to note that there are Pagan groups even within Unitarian Universalist churches (CUUPS) and that they pull their services from many religions, including Paganism.)
Most Wiccans believe in a year and a day of study before you dedicate yourself in ANY direction. This is the minimum that SHOULD be required, but of course, if you feel that the Goddess has touched you that strongly, I don't think there would be any complaints. Just remember that you haven't had the time to read and study as someone who spent 5 years debating it before their dedication. That time is necessary to absorb as much information as you possibly can before moving on.
The information you should learn include: history; pantheons; morals and laws (Such as the Three-fold Law and Karma); the afterlife; the Wheel of the Year; Sabbats and Esbats; the Circle and why it's important; the tools, their uses, and what they represent; symbolism of colors, herbs, stones, and shapes. All of these are rather important for the fledgling Wiccan. You may find that you prefer some subjects rather than others, but you need a basic knowledge. For example, I don't do much herb work because I have no garden and rare access to fresh herbs, but even so, I am still learning what herbs represent what.
When a year and a day has passed or whenever you feel ready (I HIGHLY recommend AGAINST rushing in too fast!) then you have the time to choose another religion or think of designing your dedication ceremony. Since I have stuck to this path, I will let you explore the former with my blessings if that's what you choose. Keep going to learn about dedication.
Click to learn more about the Dedication stage
| WICCAN
LIFE
|
The first rule of learning about Wicca - READ READ READ! When you're done reading, READ SOME MORE!:
|
|
||