Yup, it's me again, with yet another wiccan post. This time, I decided to write something about getting started into wicca. There is a lot of information about wicca, and sometimes it can be a little overwhelming. When I first started, I had no direction, nor anyone to tell me how to go about learning it. I remember gathering any information that I can, without knowing good from bad advice. I had to literally go through everything that I had, and cast out the bad information. I'm hoping by writing up this topic that people will find this helpful, and won't fall into the same pitfalls that I did when I was starting out.
1. Dealings with research
Research is an important part of wicca. As stated before, there is a lot of information regarding to the subject. It's important to learn as much as you can, when you can. There is always something new you can learn that can help improve your craft in some way. No matter if it's learning new ways to craft spells, new found information about moon phases, or even if it's a small tidbit of advice from another wiccan. It's important to be open to research. That's how we develop so much knowledge in the first place.
Ideally, before someone becomes a wiccan, one should study for at least a year and a day. I didn't do this, but I researched like a dickens before I first practiced spells. You can study for a year and a day if you want to, it's not required. What I do recommend is to study tons before you begin spell work (and I mean study! Study everything!).
Books:
One of my favorite methods of research. I recommend for people just starting out, to read books from people like Scott Cunningham (here is my review/list of his books: Author Review: Sctott Cunningham). After you've been somewhat familiar to the craft, then I would branch out and read books from other authors. I know there are a lot of controversy with some authors, like Silver Revenwolf. In one of her books specifically that I've noted, she didn't do a very good job (I recommend staying away from Teen Witch. If you have to buy/read one of her books, make it the solitary practitioner one. That is probably the only book of her's worth reading/gaining information from). In some of her books, she bashes Christians, and gives some pretty bad advice to teenagers (regardless of the negative feedback, the solitary practitioner book is the best to read. She doesn't bash Christians or give bad advice in that one. She actually just teaches the info, and the spells in that book aren't total bullocks). In any case, like I said before, wiccans (especially those just starting out) need to do as much research as they most possibly can. I hope that if you do the research, you branch out a little, when it comes to books. How do you know if their book doesn't work for you, if you don't give it a read?
What if you can't buy the books? No problem, go to your school's and public library, and check out books to help you on your path. Unfortunately not a lot of library's have an occult section, so you may need to nose around for a while before you find books that will help you. Some library's don't have books that will help you at all. When this happens, you can always borrow a friend's books, or turn to the internet for answers.
Internet:
Oh yes, the internet, the easiest source of information. As much as I love the interwebz, I wouldn't heavily rely on it too much. There are some good information out there, but you have to sort out through all the bad stuff first. As I said when I first started, I had to use the internet and I had to do a lot of sorting of good and bad info. If you do use the internet, I would look up as many sources as possible, to make sure that the information that you're getting isn't bad advice. I also recommend that you stay away from sites like this one: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/spells.html. I'm not trying to bash this site. There are some good ideas for spells, but you have to sort out through a lot of false information, and most of the spells are just utter BS. On sites like that one, if it looks too good to be true, most likely it's fake, and you would have wasted your time performing the said spell for nothing. So check your sources. If you have wiccan friends, you can always ask them for interesting sites to search.
2. Supplies
When you get more into wicca, you'll come to find out that there are a lot of supplies that goes along with the craft. In my other post about beginning witchcraft, I go through some of the tools (only briefly). So, you're getting in to wicca, and you're researching supplies. The sad fact is that some supplies and tools alike are expensive. Cauldrons alone could run form $10 - $50+. If you're starting out and are strapped for cash, then obviously you can't afford some of the needed supplies on your list. However, there is nothing that doesn't say that you can substitute a tool until you can buy it. I do it all the time. If there is a wiccan tool, ike a chalice that I would like to have for my work, but can't afford it at the moment, I do the next best thing. I substitute it with a glass that isn't used for anything, except wiccan work. You're wiccan tools don't have to be fancy by any means (though it would be nice to have some nifty looking tools), as long as they function the way they're needed.
So, my advice for everyone is that if you can afford grade A supplies, you can get them, but you don't have to. If the supplies can be substituted with something else, until you can buy what you need, then do it. Also, another piece of advice: if you don't use a certain tool, or ingredient little to none, then save yourself some money and don't bother buying it. It's common sense, if you don't use it, don't bother buying it. This will save you a lot of money.
3. Keeping a journal
Along with learning about wicca, one should also keep a record of their thoughts and feelings about the craft. The reason for this is: 1) we can learn from our past spells, seeing what worked and what didn't. 2) It's good to keep your thoughts and feelings together, re-read them, and maybe add something about it later on, or read them for enjoyment. There are a lot of reasons for keeping one handy. A lot of wiccans suggest this, as a learning tool, and to become better wiccans.
Ideally, before someone becomes a wiccan, one should study for at least a year and a day. I didn't do this, but I researched like a dickens before I first practiced spells. You can study for a year and a day if you want to, it's not required. What I do recommend is to study tons before you begin spell work (and I mean study! Study everything!).
Books:
One of my favorite methods of research. I recommend for people just starting out, to read books from people like Scott Cunningham (here is my review/list of his books: Author Review: Sctott Cunningham). After you've been somewhat familiar to the craft, then I would branch out and read books from other authors. I know there are a lot of controversy with some authors, like Silver Revenwolf. In one of her books specifically that I've noted, she didn't do a very good job (I recommend staying away from Teen Witch. If you have to buy/read one of her books, make it the solitary practitioner one. That is probably the only book of her's worth reading/gaining information from). In some of her books, she bashes Christians, and gives some pretty bad advice to teenagers (regardless of the negative feedback, the solitary practitioner book is the best to read. She doesn't bash Christians or give bad advice in that one. She actually just teaches the info, and the spells in that book aren't total bullocks). In any case, like I said before, wiccans (especially those just starting out) need to do as much research as they most possibly can. I hope that if you do the research, you branch out a little, when it comes to books. How do you know if their book doesn't work for you, if you don't give it a read?
What if you can't buy the books? No problem, go to your school's and public library, and check out books to help you on your path. Unfortunately not a lot of library's have an occult section, so you may need to nose around for a while before you find books that will help you. Some library's don't have books that will help you at all. When this happens, you can always borrow a friend's books, or turn to the internet for answers.
Internet:
Oh yes, the internet, the easiest source of information. As much as I love the interwebz, I wouldn't heavily rely on it too much. There are some good information out there, but you have to sort out through all the bad stuff first. As I said when I first started, I had to use the internet and I had to do a lot of sorting of good and bad info. If you do use the internet, I would look up as many sources as possible, to make sure that the information that you're getting isn't bad advice. I also recommend that you stay away from sites like this one: http://www.spellsofmagic.com/spells.html. I'm not trying to bash this site. There are some good ideas for spells, but you have to sort out through a lot of false information, and most of the spells are just utter BS. On sites like that one, if it looks too good to be true, most likely it's fake, and you would have wasted your time performing the said spell for nothing. So check your sources. If you have wiccan friends, you can always ask them for interesting sites to search.
2. Supplies
When you get more into wicca, you'll come to find out that there are a lot of supplies that goes along with the craft. In my other post about beginning witchcraft, I go through some of the tools (only briefly). So, you're getting in to wicca, and you're researching supplies. The sad fact is that some supplies and tools alike are expensive. Cauldrons alone could run form $10 - $50+. If you're starting out and are strapped for cash, then obviously you can't afford some of the needed supplies on your list. However, there is nothing that doesn't say that you can substitute a tool until you can buy it. I do it all the time. If there is a wiccan tool, ike a chalice that I would like to have for my work, but can't afford it at the moment, I do the next best thing. I substitute it with a glass that isn't used for anything, except wiccan work. You're wiccan tools don't have to be fancy by any means (though it would be nice to have some nifty looking tools), as long as they function the way they're needed.
So, my advice for everyone is that if you can afford grade A supplies, you can get them, but you don't have to. If the supplies can be substituted with something else, until you can buy what you need, then do it. Also, another piece of advice: if you don't use a certain tool, or ingredient little to none, then save yourself some money and don't bother buying it. It's common sense, if you don't use it, don't bother buying it. This will save you a lot of money.
3. Keeping a journal
Along with learning about wicca, one should also keep a record of their thoughts and feelings about the craft. The reason for this is: 1) we can learn from our past spells, seeing what worked and what didn't. 2) It's good to keep your thoughts and feelings together, re-read them, and maybe add something about it later on, or read them for enjoyment. There are a lot of reasons for keeping one handy. A lot of wiccans suggest this, as a learning tool, and to become better wiccans.
