How to Convert to Wicca

When people become interested in wicca or paganism, there is often the question of how to convert to wicca. Here are some basic steps you should consider before deciding wicca is for you.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Background. Wicca is the generic term for a group modern traditions of witchcraft. It was reconstructed and synthesized from a combination of historical texts on pre-Christian Europe and the techniques of ceremonial magick, chiefly by authors like Gerald Gardener and Doreen Valiente. Other authors and sub-traditions have come into existence since, but there are some basic beliefs of wicca that all of them agree upon.

2. Basic Tenets. The first tenet is that nature is sacred. In all of its manifestations, whether beautiful or terrible, nature is sacred and to be respected. What this means is that nature is not seen as a means to an end, a resource to be exploited, or an endless playground. The second tenet is that the Gods exist. While pagans differ a great deal on how they view the gods, it is universally accepted that the gods are real. Some wiccans explain the gods in terms of psychological archetypes in the collective unconscious, while others are just as adamant that their gods are ancient pre-human beings that are the parents of our species. The third tenet is that humans share the nature of the gods. In some basic way, we are like the gods and other spiritual beings. The idea is that to use magick, people are using the same techniques the gods use to do what they do. The final tenet is "As Above, So Below." Everything stems from the First Axiom of Magick taken from the Emerald Tablet. Everything is connected and through that connection reality itself is made possible. Through this, magick is possible, and at heart wicca is a magickal religion.

3. Personal Ethics. Many wiccans and pagans hold to a basic moral belief, called the Wiccan Rede: "An it harm none, do as ye will". This seems like the simplest of all moral rules, but it actually can cause a great deal of debate. After all, what is harm anyway? We know that murder, rape and theft are harmful, but what about killing in self-defense and stealing to feed your family? Many wiccans also belief in the "Law of Three," which is a principle of justice similar to the Hindu notion of karma and claim that whatever you do will come back to you multiplied by three. Whether this is true or not, the fact remains that wicca is an essentially positive religion and its believers generally attempt to avoid causing harm to anyone. That said, this does not mean that wiccans can't protect themselves or their interests, as the question often becomes one of causing harm to avoid greater harm. All creatures of nature have the right to defend themselves and the Wiccan Rede does not interfere with that.

4. Social Behavior. Wicca has its own normal patterns of behavior and interaction, just like any other religion. Most of these patterns are extensions of the basic tenets and the ethical injunctions of the religion. Wiccans and pagans in general often have rather accepting attitudes towards sexuality, death, and the personal life that stem from their attitudes about nature. Homophobia, racism and especially sexism are generally considered unacceptable. For most wiccans, the fact that paganism allows for a spiritual connection with the divine feminine is part of the attraction and women are generally held in positions of high esteem. Community values are often very important to wiccans, who often organize themselves into covens, circles, clans and tribes. This also stems out of the basic tenets of wicca, where the interconnectedness of all things is considered of paramount importance.

5. Conclusion. There are many books and websites that will tell you the details of wiccan practice, but this is not what conversion is about. Converting to wicca is about finding a connection with nature, people and the spiritual realm within yourself and then expressing it. If you look into your heart, mind and dreams and find that you believe that everything is connected, that somehow nature, humans and the divine are all a part of the same family, then you are already well on your way to becoming wiccan. Good luck and blessed be.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to get a lot of exposure to different traditions of wicca. Finding what's right for you can often be about finding the right people.
• Don't play at wicca or paganism in an effort to seem mysterious or cool. Take it as seriously as any other religion.

Resources

• Wiccan Basics from LadyBridget.com

[ashfeather]

on 5/29/2009 http://www.ehow.com/groups.aspx?slPage=overview

[saboinia]

on 4/24/2009 helping hand777 the only problem i have with bible thumpers like you is you honestly believe that your way is the only way. if that were true there would only be one nation and only one religion. but there is not there are many. you are only hateful to things that you donot understand. and i truly pity you.