A question about WICCA

[wiltar]

thanks for all that information already... if anyone else has something to contribute I'm very interested in it of course.



Patricia

---------------

W-what were they looking at?

-The hotness of you doofus!!!

[magickalbear]

If you have any really specific questions you can feel free to email me. My email address is in my profile... but, here ya go.. it's magickalbear@yahoo.com

**********************


I come for coffee, smoochies and gay love!

[KrazyXXXDJ]

Ok, you guys have my curiosity peaked now.



Have any of you had any experiences or interesting stories with magic?

[magickalbear]

To me, magick is more of a practical thing. I use it for day to day life, such as changing the color of lights at traffic stops and things like that. However, five years ago, I did what I call an 'anti-fertility' spell so that I wouldn't conceive for ten years. I'm just not ready for kids yet, and so far, haven't had a late period yet. But, that's just cause I'm practical like that. And no, I don't use birth control (but before the lecture ensues I am in a committed monogamous relationship). Does this help?

**********************


I come for coffee, smoochies and gay love!

[LimboLass]

Maybe I just missed them, but I haven't seen two of the better known writers of feminist paganism listed: Starhawk and Z. Budapest. Both of them started writing in the late 70s/early 80s. Budapest focuses almost exclusively on Dianic paganism (all female), while Starhawk has an interesting journey from Dianic to all-inclusive covens. Both offer great advice for "how to get started." Budapest offers a great deal of very interesting folk magic as well, based on her Hungarian ancestry.



Back in college, I was coming out of my atheist stage and really needing something else -- Starhawk's _Spiral Dance_ was my lifeline for many years. I don't actually read much about paganism these days -- I do practice, though -- but my partner has a fascinating array of different books on the subject. The first Z. Budapest book I'd suggest is _The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries_.



For those of you who don't think that Catholicism and Wicca mix, I suggest that you take a look at some of the African-origin spiritist religions, such as Vodou, Candomble, or Santeria -- they successfully mix Catholicism with a pantheistic view of the world. For an interesting take on how one person reclaimed her Vodou heritage and successfully mixed it with Wiccan/pagan beliefs, read _Jambalaya_ by Luisah Teish.



LL

[magickalbear]

You're absolutely right. I didn't mention them. I really like Starhawk and Z. Budapest. I just read Starhawk's "The Fifth Sacred Thing" and it was really good, however when I am giving out first book advice to people who have very little idea about Wicca or Paganism I tend to stay away from the hard-core Feminist or hard-core anythings and go for a nice middle of the road approach that allows people to come into the faith and branch out and discover their own path - which is why I like Scott Cunningham so much.

**********************


I come for coffee, smoochies and gay love!

[EffieBlue]

I am decidedly cross about the promo "hell hath no fury like a wiccan scorned" And the dressed in Black witch crap. It's insulting. The have resorted to every bad cliche they can think of.

oh...hang on.....they forgot to give her a pointy hat.



i suppose that makes up for the evil witch lesbian on a Kill them all psycho spree.



*reminds self to look that up in "how to be a good caring wiccan" *

_____________________
the Lord of death will say," I will consult the mirror of karma", so saying, he will look in the mirror, wherein every good and evil act is vividly reflected.
Lying will be of No avail. Tibetan Book of the dead

[WebWarlock]

What bothers me the most is that many of the Witch awarness groups have not come out against this!



I have lots of pagan friends and they all have been extremely pissed off.



I suggest you all write to Peg Aloi at Witches' Voice, witchvox.com and express your concern. She is WV's media director.



Her addresses are Amberapple@aol.com and albion@witchvox.com.



The only way they will notice is if you complain about it. I have already said everything I can.



Warlock



UPDATE: Peg has come through, sort of. Check out http://www.witchvox.com/wvoxhome.html about half way down the page and http://www.witchvox.com/media/buffy052002.html

-----

Web Warlock

The Other Side & ShadowEarth Games


Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks

I miss Tara.

Edited by: WebWarlock at: 5/21/02 7:58:16 pm

[Repost Moderator]

originally posted by WiccansIllusion



Reply | Edit | Del All Kittens and Magick Advice and Supply Thread Well, I was thinking. Willow and Tara are obviously Wiccans

( Witches) And instead of making this a daily thread, I thought why not have an all around thread where Magick practicing kittens can offer advice, or if fic writers need help on a spell, and what not. Basiclly it's an all around question of wondering how many kittens practiced some form of magick, shammanism and what not since it does exsist.



Anyways as for me, I've practiced Wicca off and on for around 11 years, and I get all my supplies from a store ( Which I took Garner to ) called Kamala Perfumes. She's big on the Faire circuit as well, and the websight is http://www.kamala.com.


If any other kittens know of any sights, want to reccomend magick books to practioners and the history buff side of the occult, feel free to post here.



Tara nodded in agreement "She has magic fingers." Then, as though the words had just echoed back to her and sounded not at all right, she perked up and glanced around at the others. "On the keyboard." TheWisdom of War, Chris Golden 'My heart is cleverer then I and it knows what to do.'-MC Legends of the Kiss

[starlitefaeriegrrrl]

I started practicing when I was in my last year of high school and then I got busy and distracted when I started college and became a bad, non-practising Wiccan even though I still believed in and connected with the religion. Then, this year, I started practicing again when I got the book Simple Wicca. It was clear and beautifully written, very informative, and it inspired me to start a new Book of Shadows and begin everything again from the beginning. I have tons of books on The Craft, unfortunetly I have a tendensy to start books and not finish them before moving on to another one so most of my books are half-read or not read at all.



What I suggest for someone beginning to find their path is create yourself a Book of Shadows, which should be like a journal/spell collectionr/herb information thing, whatever you'd like. You should write what Wicca means to you, what being a Witch means to you. Most things I've read when I was first starting out suggested that, it will clear things up for you.



By the way, I have to recommend this. Scott Cunnigham's Encyclopedia of Magickal Herbs is absolutely amazing. Everyone who works at the Occult shop I go to recommended it, and when I got it I was floored by how informative it is. The shop usually that book to put together the oils and such that they make and sell.

[Indygo]

I've been reading up on Wicca for years and have listened intently to friends who are Wiccan, and have always been interested in what it has to offer. I've shied away for two reasons:



1. My girlfriend is strict Catholic and I'm afraid of what my choice of faith might do to our relationship, and

2. I'm afraid of being accused of jumping on the Wiccan bandwagon. (You know, to quote Willow, the old "These days anyone with a henna tattoo and a spice rack thinks she's a sister to the dark ones" thing)



So I'm afraid that my involvement with Wicca will never progress beyond research/casual interest purely out of fear, which seems awfully dumb to me and must SOUND incredibly dumb to people who have been practicing seriously for years.



Indygo

[thrilledbymaclay]

Though it was mentioned before, 'The Spiral Dance' by Starhawk is a great book to begin with... Basic principles in a clear format... I also found the exercises helpful... Still find the exercises helpful It's been around since the late 70's, and has seen other popular texts come and go...



IMO, spells are not an essential part of Wicca. However, if you've studied the system, taken some time, and decided to deepen your commitment, spells might become a regular part of your practice. My advice:



(I forget where I got this concept from, it might have been a book called 'Making Magick', but I'm not sure) Start to work towards an intuitive understanding of your surroundings. What I mean by this is to start analyzing how certain objects, places, things in general make you feel, what type of energy you get off them... Familiarize yourself with the four (or five) elements... What are you attracted to in your natural surroundings? Why? The tree outside your window in your office... Does it provide stability? Plants & crystals not normally found in your environment can follow... Write down your answers and first impressions, then compare to traditional correspondences. Your answers aren't right or wrong, the books available are not the be all and end all.

This may not help anyone, but I found I needed to better understand the energy I was working with before I could succesfully shape and mold it.



Wicca is hard work. Enjoyable at times, but work nonetheless. It's a lifelong journey too- Don't feel pressured to learn everything in six months, a year, 5 years...

[El Gato]

in response to the question about any experiences with spells...yeah...some good, some no-so good!



when i am working with my Wicca - flat out - i am an alcoholic. when i am heavily involved with my meditations, devotions, etc...my illness goes away..i don't even think about it. when i am not doing these things...it bubbles right to the surface & i become a nasty SOB....for me - that's all i need to know.

[Arafel the Witch]

I've been a solo practioner for 10 years, and I even convinced my seriously agnostic husband to marry me in a Wicca-based handfasting. I've done some spells, one for money a long time ago. I've only once in my life done what might be considered a negative spell, and that one I tried to be roundabout on, by wishing that hurt this particular person visited on others would hit her 1000 fold. Mostly I just do a full moon ritual and the eight sabats in the Wheel of the Year.



My opinions on the goddess vary. Sometimes I think, yes, actual deity. Othertimes I think like a line I ran across in Strands of Sunlight by Gael Baudino, where a Wicca practitioner says that the religion is about relating to all life, but since Life is such a big concept we personify her as the Goddess.



I have had one experience with what might be called another plane, and it scared the hell out of me. It was an encounter with a spirit. I didn't see it, but it said something to me in my apartment and freaked me out to no end.

[Guinevere]

Another great book is Starhawk and Hillary Valentine's The Twelve Wild Swans. It takes the story of the twelve wild swans and relates it magick and the journey of life. It had three paths you can follow, beginner, intermediate and advanced. It's full of exercises and is based on a really beautiful story.

"I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once."

[WebWarlock]

This thread has not been updated in while, so I thought I'd post some links to helpful sites.



The biggest of course is probably WitchVox, www.witchvox.com/, but it is not the only one. They do have a huge search engine full of links. Here are the links for all of the GLBT Pagan sites. www.witchvox.com/links/net_gay.html



Covenant of the Goddess, one of the first witch websites I ever vistied.

www.cog.org . Still one of my faves.



A good discussion site (outside of the Kitten that is!) is at Pagans R Us.



A page for would be Willows out there, the Jewish-Pagan resource, http://www.lilitu.com/jap/


Witch/Pagan Resources, http://www.pagansunite.com/ a really nice looking site.



Wicca: For the Rest of Us, http://wicca.timerift.net/index.html, is actually a very interesting site. The author has their point of view to be sure. While some might disagree (and I am certain they would have words with what I do) hiding from knowledge never helped anyone.



The Circle Sanctuary, http://www.circlesanctuary.org



Witches League for Public Awareness, http://www.celticcrow.com. Used to be known as the Witches Anti-Defamation League.



This site, http://www.brighidsfire.com/ , is really nice. It is one woman's experience as a worshiper of Brigit.



For those of you that like the "Daughters of the Flame" either from my RPG stuff or Lisa of 9's stories then here are some good sites.

http://www.obsidianmagazine.com/DaughtersoftheFlame/
http://www.ordbrighideach.org/
http://www.webcoves.com/circles/brighid.html
http://www.healingwaterssacredsprings.com/bgs.htm


I'll try to get up a list of books that I have found helpful, useful or good to read in the past.



Warlock

-----

Web Warlock

The Other Side,
home of Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks: Available October 31st, 2003!

"I don't want to believe. I want to know." - Carl Sagan

[justin]

Thanks for the links, there are some interesting sites there.



The Wicca: for the rest of us is interesting but the writer comes over as being a bit too confrontational. Of course I could just be biased since it was reading books by Silver Ravenwolf (who the writer of the site dispises) that started off my interest in Wicca.

Anya in a wimple...I'd pay full admission for that. Gods Served And Abandoned - by Antigone Unbound


You know the worst thing about people in a relationship? The fact that they're in a relationship. - Hilda Spellman

[WebWarlock]

I don't mind Silver Ravenwolf myself, but she is a little to "touchy-feely" for me. I think I said the same a few posts back.



But that does not make her a bad author. For some that is what they need/want. So I am cool with that. I did find her "Teen Witch" book to be a little too dumbed down for the average teenage though. Give the kids some credit.



Warlock

-----

Web Warlock

The Other Side,
home of Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks: Available October 31st, 2003!

"I don't want to believe. I want to know." - Carl Sagan

[justin]

I agree about Silver Ravenwolf being a bit touchy-feely. I probably hold her writing with more respect than I should since it was Silver Broomstick that took me from being mildly curious to being seriously interested in Wicca.



One other thing about that site is I surprised to see the writers condemning Charmed whilst praising Buffy The Vampire Slayer. In particular they seem to like S6.



My, rather naive view, is that Charmed is better, since they at least try to get the terminology right.

Anya in a wimple...I'd pay full admission for that. Gods Served And Abandoned - by Antigone Unbound


You know the worst thing about people in a relationship? The fact that they're in a relationship. - Hilda Spellman

[WebWarlock]

Ok, "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" is a good book imo. And one that any one interested in wicca as a lifestyle/religion should check out.



Yeah, so they liked Buffy and hated Charmed. The trouble was they never went beyond the superficial layers of either show. They see three girls that dress like three girls in their late 20s early 30s and think "slut". Well Charmed is a little more than that.



They use one argument to forgive Buffy (it's only TV witchcraft) and fail to use it for Charmed. Plus the very thing they are praising Buffy for, the three-fold rule (and I am not convinced that is what was going on during Season Sux), I see on Charmed all the time.



This speaks more about the person doing the reviewing than what is being reviewed.



But back on topic.



If you like Silver Ravenwolf, check out Raymond Buckland. His point of view is a little different, and he is not as touchy-feely. Most people will be somewhere between the two I think.



Warlock

-----

Web Warlock

The Other Side,
home of Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks: Available October 31st, 2003!

"I don't want to believe. I want to know." - Carl Sagan

[justin]

I've got The Witch Book by Raymond Buckland, which is an encyclopedia of Wicca and Witch craft, and I agree that he's a very good person to read if you're interested in Wicca.

Anya in a wimple...I'd pay full admission for that. Gods Served And Abandoned - by Antigone Unbound


You know the worst thing about people in a relationship? The fact that they're in a relationship. - Hilda Spellman

[WebWarlock]

Buckland's The Witch Book is very nice and a good general overview of all things witch/Wicca.



Buckland does mention "Buffy" and "Charmed". Buffy get's about two paragraphs which is mostly devoted to Willow and Aly (it was printed before Tara). He likes Willow, but dismissed the show.



He has a lot more to say about Charmed. He mentions that yes, it is a show with "Hollywood witches" but he does give it praise for at least trying. It is obvious that he likes Charmed much more than Buffy, though I would love to hear what he thought about Tara.



One book that I found was a little better was The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft by Rosemary Ellen Guiley. It is larger, goes into a little more indepth than Buckland's. Since it does go more indepth it does talk about things that some people don't like, for example Satanism (it make's it very clear that witches and wiccans are NOT Satanists) and the early Church's view on witches.



Both books are a good buy and I debated long and hard over which one to buy. In the end I got both. But Guiley's book is better.



Warlock

-----

Web Warlock

The Other Side,
home of Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks: Available October 31st, 2003!

"I don't want to believe. I want to know." - Carl Sagan

[justin]

Another website that I'd recommend, especially for people in the UK, is Children of Artemis



Which has quite a lot of useful info, plus a discussion forum.

Anya in a wimple...I'd pay full admission for that. Gods Served And Abandoned - by Antigone Unbound


You know the worst thing about people in a relationship? The fact that they're in a relationship. - Hilda Spellman

[dynarb]

Now if I could just find a wicca group around here...



Pagan gathering this weekend, just found out



*hope springs eternal*



Dyna

----------

Tara: You think you know. What's to come. What you are. You haven't even begun."

- Restless



Amber Benson Accolade