How to Get Started in Wicca - Wicca for Beginners - Getting Started as a Pagan. Question: I’m interested in Wicca or some other form of Paganism - how do I get started?
Answer: That's a question that comes up a lot, and unfortunately it's not a simple answer. It's not like you can just fill out an application and get your handy membership packet. Instead, there are several things you should think about doing. For starters, evaluate where you stand and what your goals are in studying Paganism or Wicca. Get Specific. American Council of Witches - the Council of American Witches - The 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief.
One issue that is often a bone of contention in the Pagan community is that we don’t have a universal set of guidelines – some of us may not even identify as Pagans, but as witches or something else.
There have been repeated attempts to unify the various branches of the Pagan community, but in general, these are unsuccessful because we’re so diverse and varied in our beliefs and practices. Back in 1973, a group of witches decided to give this a shot. Seventy or so individuals from a variety of magical backgrounds and traditions got together and formed a group called the American Council of Witches, although depending on who you ask, they are sometimes called the Council of American Witches. At any rate, this group decided to try to assemble a list of common principles and guidelines that the entire magical community could follow. The principles are, according to the American Council of Witches, as follows: 1. Gods and Goddesses of Wicca and Paganism. Wheel of the Year. About.com: Ann Moura's Garden. Through the old wooden gate you enter my secret garden below where you will be able to follow a red brick walkway and meander at your own pace among the beds of herbs, flowers, shrubs, and little hidden grottoes.
Perform a Self-Dedication Ritual. Tools of the Craft. When people first discover Paganism or Wicca, they often rush to go buy every single magical tool they can find.
After all, the books tell us to buy this, that, and the kitchen sink, so you better hustle on over to Ye Local Wytchy Shoppe and get stuff! But once you get it, what do you DO with it? It is important to understand that magical tools have an actual purpose, before you go out and grab one. Tools are often representative of one of the four classical elements, which may help you select the tool you need for your purpose.
Most Wiccan and Pagan traditions use the following tools in some capacity. 1. Image © Patti Wigington 2008. The Wiccan Rede. One of the most often quoted "laws of Wicca," a variation of the Wiccan Rede appeared in the writings of Gerald Gardner.
A similar rule is found in the work of Aleister Crowley around the turn of the century, in which he advised his readers, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the Law, love under Will. " One version was made famous by Doreen Valiente in the early 1960s, and in 1974 a lengthier version, by Lady Gwen Thompson, was published in the Green Egg, a Pagan magazine. Thompson credited her grandmother, Adriana Porter, with the original work. Although there is no scholarly evidence for this claim, the work remains one of the most popular writings in Wicca today. Thompson's version reads as follows: The Rede of the Wiccae Being known as the counsel of the Wise Ones: Bide the Wiccan laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust. To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme. When the Lady's Moon is new, kiss thy hand to Her times two. How to Make a Book of Shadows - What Is a Book of Shadows? - Make a BOS. By Patti Wigington The Book of Shadows (BOS) is used to store information you'll need in your magical tradition, whatever it may be.
Many Pagans and Wiccans feel a BOS should be handwritten, but some use a computer to store information as well. Bear in mind that a BOS is considered a sacred tool, which means it is an item of power that should be consecrated with all of your other magical tools. In many traditions, it is believed you should copy spells and rituals into your BOS by hand – this will not only transfer energy to the writer, but it also helps you to memorize the contents. Magical and Ritual Tools. Want to make your own magical and ritual tools?
Here's where you'll find links to some of our most popular magical craft projects, with items for your altar, a ritual robe, your Book of Shadows, an altar pentacle, and more. Make a Snap Pouch Tarot/Crystal BagIf you’re someone who does anything at all with fabric, chances are good you’ve got boxes and boxes of leftover bits of material in your home. A great way to use these leftover small pieces is to turn them into bags and pouches to hold magical supplies such as crystals, herbs, or Tarot cards.
This easy project uses a snap purse frame, like the kind found on coin pouches. Ritual Tool CraftsMany Pagans enjoy making their own ritual supplies and tools. Candle Magic 101: An Introduction to Candle Magic. Measure Bag - Make a Measure Bag - What is a Measure Bag? A measure bag is used in some Pagan traditions, including a few forms of Wicca, as a way of forming a magical link between an individual and the group to which they belong.
The measure bag is often incorporated into a practitioner’s initiation ritual. If you practice as a solitary, you can still use one as part of a self-dedication ritual to the gods of your tradition. The term “measure bag” comes from the phrase “taking one’s measure.” This phrase means to size someone up, or to see what sort of person they are. Poppet Construction - How to Make Your Own Magical Doll. Tarot Crafts - Tarot Themed Craft Projects. Looking for some craft ideas inspired by Tarot art and imagery?
Whether you like Tarot jewelry or other craft projects, here's our collection of Tarot-themed ideas. Tarot Jewelry Image © Patti Wigington 2010. Making an Athame - How to Make an Athame. The athame is used in many Wiccan and Pagan rituals as a tool for directing energy.
It is often used in the process of casting a circle, and can be used in place of a wand. Typically, the athame is a double-edged dagger, and can be purchased or hand-made. The athame is not used for actual, physical cutting, but for symbolic cutting only. Many Pagans today opt to make their own athames. Make Your Own Altar Pentacle. The pentacle is one of the most commonly used magical tools in the Wiccan religion, as well as in some traditions of Paganism.
Typically, it is used on the altar as a place to hold items that are about to be ritually consecrated or charged. In some traditions, the pent represents the element of Earth. Travel / a. Home - American Neopaganism. Book Review: Growing Up Pagan. For years, people in the Pagan community have often bemoaned the fact that there are very few books available as instructional tools for young children within Wiccan and Pagan families.