Wicca seems really interesting, and it's something I've been interested in for years now, when I usually go through blips every few weeks. I would love to know more about it, as I know hardly anything at the moment, but I cannot get tools or buy books because my parents and my sister are devout Christians and won't listen. Any ideas on how I can still pursue the Craft without being able to get tools and books and things like that?
You don't need any tools to be Wiccan, as communion with the gods and knowing yourself are free.
That being said, if you're trying to practice Wicca while lying to your family, you're going to fail. You're starting from a place of negativity and deception. You can't start a path that is about honor and honesty by starting out with negativity and deception.
The gods will wait for you. Wicca will wait for you.
Ponder for a year and a day..
by then you'll realize that love and appreciation for everything is more important than rituals.
But people still go to church weekly, so...
whatever works for you.
It's a deeply personal path that does not suit everyone.
I'd suggest looking around Witch.cox & other similar sites & do some heavy research before committing yourself to anything.
I've personally had problems with malicious complaints to the police so do not have many physical tools anymore. Personally using everyday items and visualizing any other tools works for me, but may not work for someone else.
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Through the Internet. Google it, I'm sure you'll find information regarding the subject.
Also, check out the Mythology and Folklore section. The word ''mythology'' would imply that it's not true, which I don't know if it is or not. The reason oi should go there is because I've seen many threads surrounding Wicca there. I don't know why they're over there and not here, but I guess it may fit the ''folklore'' as well as spirituality.
First, you don't need to have tools, or books (although they can be very helpful, especially books). The only tool that is needed is the witch (you). Try finding sites to learn more about Wicca, like Witchvox and Religious Tolerance. Before you decide Wicca is the religion for you, you need to know more about it.
here is what Wicca basically is:
Wicca is a nature based religion, we believe that the Lord and Lady reside in all living creatures. Our one rule is that "an it harm none, do as ye please" (the Wiccan Rede) we believe in the three-fold law, which is pretty much karma and the golden rule. everyone has a different version of Wicca, but one thing to be very clear on is that it isn't devil worship (we don't even have a being that represents evil in our beliefs)
If you have anymore questions, feel free to send me an e-mail.
One word -- Internet! The Internet is a great source for someone who can't buy books. I started off learning Wicca at http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm (seriously, I would get my laptop and in the middle of the night I'd have my iPod on and I'd be reading that. Now when I look at that page it's nostalgic) you can also go to Wicca.org -- that's a good resource. Once you read all that you should have a fairly good idea about what Wicca is and then you can figure out where to get other information. Also, YouTube!! If you can get on YouTube check out TipToeChick (who got me started on my path) and charmingpixieflora! You can also go to the library after school and get books there. You don't have to check them out if you're worried they'll find them, you can read it in the library. Also, you don't need tools to be a Wiccan. They're pretty much just props to transfer your mind from the mundane world to the magickal world. But even then, I'm sure you can find tools around the house. You can even set up a little travel altar if you like, an altar that you set up for the sabbats then put away once you're done. You could use a piece of cloth on a box for your table, salt or dirt representing earth, water or a seashell representing water, a feather for air, and a candle or even a "firey" red rock for fire. Then for the god and goddess representations, you can simply draw/print a picture...
Welcome to the 21st century, where books are now on line! Lots of people upload books, so you could look there...Google books has a surprising amount of books about Wicca and witchcraft available to you. Look up other sites to find other things as well.
As for tools, they are not necessary. Use visualization. However, I've told others that candles, the Virgin Mary (goddess) and angels (different deities) aren't all that odd in Christian households and that if you set them up as a type of altar, there is no reason why you couldn't have them in your home. Mary could represent the Goddess for you; angels, other things; and all of the statuary is nifty if you go to the right places and would look quite beautiful.
You can pray and such silently. Nothing is required for you to say aloud.
I would recommend keeping it on the DL if they're not understanding about it. You'll be able to be completely yourself once you're out of the house if you still wish to practice the Craft.
If you *do* acquire anything tool-wise make sure you have a good and I mean GOOD hiding spot if you need to keep it; I did this myself and I'm not quite proud of it but they didn't really understand either, so I understand how you feel.
Wicca is about honoring life, the elements, gods, goddesses, and the cycles that guide and shape our life. you do not need any tools to be Wiccan and there is no reason to be completely over expressive about it. for example I do not find it practical to have an alter in my current living arrangement so I have a place to keep My spiritual items (I have only a feather, an energy sphere, a pentacle, a book of shadows, and a deer bone that I am making into my at heme) and I keep my scared place/alter in my mind as I place that I can be while meditating.
A book of shadows is recommended so you can record you spiritual journey but you can use a blank notebook for this purpose. As for books simply go to the public library by yourself and put holds on the books you can find.Also the religion of Wicca is not the same as the practice of witchcraft although you can choose to research both if you wish.
Before you decide on what you should do you should study all diff rent kinds of sources. they will help you to gained a balanced perspective and then you can deside for yourself if this is the path that is trully for you. Do this before you worry about familly issues.
As I said look up online helpful books
http://wicca.timerift.net/book_recommendations.shtml
This sight is helpful for some of the books avalible and decribes what step they are in.
And go to the library to check them out.
If you deside that this is your path you can start to build your own relationships with the gods, goddesses, and elemints to learn more than a book or other person could ever teach you.
Now it was said before that it is not good to start your path based on lies and deseption. this is true however you can start along your path, not keep it hidden from your familly, and not premote it to them. if it helps say rather than you are looking into Wicca say that you do not believe in the christian faith. You do not have to lie to not tell someone all about your life and beliefs.
Hope I could help and I wish you well on whatever path you choose.
Tools aren't a requirement. They are just used to focus the mind, basically saying 'Hey, its time to do ritual/cast a spell, etc.)
As for learning more, here's a list of real, free Wicca and Witchcraft schools
everythingunderthemoon.net/forum
http://herbalmusings.com/wiccan-witchcraft-classes-videos.htm
http://courses.thepagancampus.net/
http://www.magickaschool.com/index.php (Make sure that you sign up for the free membership!!!)
http://www.witchvox.com/merchants/courses_list.html
Labgrrrll said it best. One of the best Wicca/pagan/heathen historians we have on Religion and Spirituality... And we are all the richer for having her stop by and explain...
It is my view that Wicca is a dangerous religion because it denies the claims and teachings of Jesus who said he alone was the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). It is not dangerous in the sense that Wiccans are evil Satan worshipers who want to harm people (they aren't). But, since Wicca contradicts Jesus, we conclude that Wicca is not authored from God, but finds its source ultimately in that which is contradictory to Christ.
The Wiccans who read this will disagree and will probably dismiss my answer posted here and the others like mine in these kinds of question as coming from a possibly ignorant, bigoted, and maybe even hateful set of Christians, who are intolerant of anything other than their own beliefs. Though this type of complaint is common from the groups that I analyze, the truth is that we do not deny the right of Wiccans to worship as they see fit. We simply disagree with their theological perspective and base our disagreement upon what the Bible tells us. We do not hate Wiccans nor would I practice any such condemning action, other than theological. We do not seek to cause harm.
Of course, some Wiccans might claim that what is written against Wicca is harmful to them. They might even try a spell or ritual to undo what they consider to be harmful against me or other Christians who agree with me. But the simple fact is, truth is independent of what we want and what we perceive. If truth were dependent upon what we wanted or hoped for, then truth would be as variable as clothing styles. It is either true or false that Jesus is the only way. It is either true or false that he physically rose from the dead as the eyewitnesses stated.
Wicca on the other hand offers no historical resurrection, nor does it offer us a savior who claimed to be God in flesh (John 8:58 with Exodus 3:14), who performed numerous miracles, who raised people from the dead, and rose from the dead himself (1 Cor. 15:1-4). The truth of Christianity is tied to an event in history known as the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. In him, Christians have access to truth and power which is far greater and far more potent than anything Wicca has to offer.
Wicca.................................?
