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. Here are some great tips from Brahnamin, one of our regular posters over on the Pagan/Wiccan Forums. Get Specific. In addition to these basics, you should probably read over the following articles for references of use to new Seekers: Beginner's Reading List: This is a list of 13 books every Wiccan or Pagan should read.
Finally, if you're a teenager, read My Parents Won't Let Me Be Wiccan and Ten Things to Learn Besides Wicca. Want to share your advice with new Seekers? 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 -- Official Website. 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.
The Spirits of Nature, kinfolk of the woodland, smile shyly at you from beneath the foliage of an abundance of herbs and other plants. Bay, borage, comfrey, chive, garlic, marjoram, thyme, oregano, and woodruff nestle together along with their taller kin of artemisia, mugwort, motherwort, rosemary, tansy, and yarrow. The golden light of the Sun urges growth, while the silvery light of the Moon calls the Fair Ones out to dance in a Circle by the birdbath, their shimmering reflections cast fleetingly upon the shining orb of the garden's gazing globe. The Spirit of the Garden is one of tranquility and growing life, of purposefulness and awareness of the value of root, stem, leaf, and flower, and of knowing that those who visit and tend the plants are at one with them.
Perform a Self-Dedication Ritual. By Patti Wigington For many modern-day Pagans, being part of a coven is not an option. You may not live around any other people who share your beliefs, or perhaps you haven’t yet found the group that’s right for you. Or maybe you’ve just decided you enjoy being a solitary, eclectic practitioner. That’s fine, too. However, one of the benefits of being part of a coven or grove is the initiation process. This is a formal ceremony in which one dedicates oneself to the group and to the gods of the tradition. If you don’t have a group or High Priest to initiate you, what do you do?
Quite simply, you can self-dedicate. By the very definition of the word, you can’t initiate yourself, because to initiate requires more than one person. It’s entirely up to you. You may want to wait until the time of the new moon to perform this self-dedication, because it is a time of new beginnings. You should perform this ritual skyclad, if at all possible. Begin by grounding yourself. Anoint your lips, and say: 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. The Wand Image © Patti Wigington 2008 Clichéd as it may sound, the wand is one of the most popular magical tools in Wicca, as well as in some ceremonial magic traditions. 2. The cauldron is a symbol of the Goddess, and it's all about femininity.
In some traditions, a cup or chalice is used in place of a cauldron, and in others the cauldron and cup are used together. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 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.
Make sure you write legibly enough that you’ll be able to read your notes during a ritual! To make your Book of Shadows, begin with a blank notebook. A popular method is to use a three-ring binder so items can be added and rearranged as needed. Many witches simply write, “The Book of Shadows of [your name]” on the front page. What format should you use? 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. Make a Beaded Wire Tree of LifeThe tree of life is a symbol found in many Pagan religions. How to Make a Magic StaffThe magic staff is used in many traditions of Wicca and Paganism. Make a Witch's LadderThe witch's ladder is a magical tool that has been around for a while. Candle Magic 101: An Introduction to Candle Magic. Candle magic is one of the simplest forms of spell casting. Considered sympathetic magic, it's a method which doesn’t require a lot of fancy ritual or expensive ceremonial artifacts.
In other words, anyone with a candle can cast a spell. After all, remember when you were a child and you made a wish before you blew out the candles on your cake? Same theory, only now instead of just hoping, you're declaring your intent (and by now you've probably stopped hoping for a pony). If you think about it, the birthday-candle ritual is based on three key magical principles: Decide on a goal Visualize the end result Focus your intent, or will, to manifest that result What Sort of Candle Should I Use?
Most practitioners of magical systems will tell you that, much like a few other aspects of life, size really isn't important. You should always use a brand new candle for spell work -- in other words, virgin materials. Using Your Candle in Ritual Extra money come my way, I could use a little cash today. 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. To take someone’s magical measure, a cord is measured from the bottom of the individual’s feet to the top of the head. To make a measure bag, you’ll need the following: A drawstring pouch Embroidery floss or fabric paint A length of cord Some sort of taglock or magical link to yourself Decorate the outside of the bag with either fabric paint or embroidery floss. Use the cord to measure the distance from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head. 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 Looking for a way to express your love of Tarot with jewelry? Here's how you can make a set of simple earrings or a pendant with Tarot artwork. Make a Zippered Tarot Pouch Image © Patti Wigington 2011 If you're a Pagan who's often on the go, it can be easy to lose track of your magical gear - especially those really small items that always seem to disappear! Make a Tarot Card Box Image © Patti Wigington 2009 Want a great idea for a box to store your Tarot cards?
Drawstring Tarot Bag Image © Patti Wigington 2008 Once you've found the Tarot deck that's right for you, it's a real treat to have something special to keep them in. Making Your Own Tarot Cards Image © Digital Vision/Getty Images Many people have made Tarot cards throughout the course of the centuries. Decoupage Tarot Tea Tray.
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. Depending on how skilled you are with metalworking, this can be either a simple project or a complex one. There are a number of websites that offer instructions on how to make an athame, and they tend to vary in skill level. In his Complete Book of Witchcraft, author Raymond Buckland suggests the following method.
For people who aren't sure about working with untempered steel, another option is to purchase a pre-made blade. When it comes to the handle, again, this is a matter of personal preference and the mandates of your tradition. To finish the handle, you can paint, carve or stain it. 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. There are many absolutely beautiful pentacles available commercially, made of wood, tile, metal, ceramic, and just about every other type of material. If you're operating on a budget, however, or if you just like the idea of handcrafting your own magical tools, it's not hard to make a pentacle of your own. You'll need a wooden disc in the size of your choice, available at nearly any hardware or craft store. The one in the photo is a 7" circle, and cost less than $3.00. 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. At long last, author Raine Hill has created something that serves that very purpose, and she does it with style, fun, and a sense of magic that will appeal to kids of any age. Growing Up Pagan, A Workbook for Wiccan Families fills a need that has been increased as more Pagans grow up and have children of their own.
Available from Schiffer Publishing, this workbook is a great start for teaching your kids about Pagan spirituality. Growing Up Pagan, A Workbook for Wiccan Families is unique in that it's not just a book for Pagan or Wiccan parents on how to raise their kids. Instead, it is -- as the title implies -- a workbook for kids and their parents to do together. From an early creation story to Pandora's box to the tale of Cerridwen's cauldron, each of the tales is presented in a child-friendly voice.