Fair Warning

This blog discusses religion, specifically wicca.

FAQ

So are you trying to convert people to wicca with this blog?

No.  This blog isn't intended to convince anyone to be wiccan; it's for people who are wiccan who want to read about my experiences and get a little information.   Wicca has a strict no proselytizing (converting) policy.  A person cannot be preached into wicca, they have to find it for themselves.  When I began reading about wicca it wasn't about "oh there's something I'd like to try" it was more like "hey, the way I always felt actually has a name".  From there I learned more, I'm not saying everything is coming natural to me but the basics of it were already there in me, and it has grown into something that has given me a lot of fulfillment and joy.  For some people that fulfillment and joy are found in other religions or in the absence of religion. 


What do wiccan's look like?

Let's face it, there are about three default images that come to mind when you hear the words 'wiccan', 'witch', 'pagan', etc...

Images: Wizard of Oz (1939),  Hippie Hippie Shake (2010),  The Craft (1996)

And that's ok, every group or set of people have some kind of image stereotypes, but I don't fall under any of these pictures and neither do any of the pagans I know.  That's not to say that no pagans dress goth or hippie, you just can't depend on dress or style to be a tell tale sign of wicca.  Wiccan's look like people.  


Do I have to be wiccan to do magik?  Do I have to do magik if I am wiccan?

Not all witches are wiccan.  And not all wiccans practice magik.  When I started studying wicca, I wasn't even interested in the magik aspect of it.  Maybe I'm wrong (I'm sure some people will disagree with me) but I don't think of divination (tarot, runes, dream interpretation, etc...) to be magik.   


What's with the 'k' in magic?

Not all wiccan's specify between the 'k' and 'c' spelling, but in general magic is illusion/slight-of-hand tricks for entertainment while magik is spell work of some kind.  Like I said, not everyone cares if it's spelled with a 'k' or a 'c', but I use the 'k' spelling, and it's good to be aware that other's out there do as well.  Also I have seen it spelled magick.  I'm not sure if that is a typo, a compromise of some kind, or something completely different all together.


Do you (wiccan's) worship the devil?

I don't believe in the devil, so no, I can't worship something I don't believe in.  That's not to say I don't believe there is evil in the world; but to me it's not some super-natural smooth-talker.  Evil is in the intent and behavior of the person, we are all responsible for our choices and actions.  You never hear anyone say "wow that was really nice of you to come over and help me like you did," and the person says back "well you can thank god for that, he convinced/tricked me into doing it".  

Isn't the pentagram a satanic symbol?

No, and inverted (upside-down) pentagram is used by satanists.  That's the problem with depending on symbols.  Any group can take it and make it their own, and people on the outside won't always know the difference, and that's unfortunate.  
Here are some other symbols that's meaning has changed or been altered over time... 
That's why even if I really like the way a symbol looks, doesn't mean I will use it, I have to know what it means first.





What's the right way to be wiccan?

And it harm none, do what you will.  

This is a question I had when I first started studying wicca; and I think a lot of people who were raised in christianity (or other religions like it) have a hard time with figuring out the 'right way' to practice wicca.  It's going to come down to how you experience it, what I do is I keep reading until I come across something that works right for me.   
So the big no-no's are: don't harm yourself or others, and don't push wicca on other people.  As far as I can tell, beyond that, not even the sky is the limit.

Can you be self-dedicated/initiated?  Does self dedication count? 

The issue here is semantics.  You can definitely do your own self-dedication, that is a personal act, there are some people who think it only counts if it is a formal ritual with a group.  The fact of the matter is, if you want to do your own dedication, it's just as valid as any other dedication you could undergo.

There is no such thing as a self-initiation, but I have seen a lot of people ask about it online.  Initiation is to join into a group, coven, or tradition.  So you can't self-initiate.  

But self-dedication is real, it's going to end up being what you are able to do and what feels right to you.  If you aren't going to be happy doing it on your own, have friends who want to help you with it, etc... then do it that way.  If you want to do your own then that's how you should do it.  Like I said, there will be people who think you are 'less pagan' if you do your own dedication, that's their problem not yours; you are as wiccan as you feel and live.

Why worry about if people know? Can't you just put a spell on yourself to keep you safe?

Protection spells, charms, enchantments (whatever you would call them) don't make you invincible.  If I did a spell like that, it's still up to me to do everything I can to stay safe.  

If I put on a protection charm, and then decide to play Russian roulette, it's not going to keep a bullet from going through my skull.  That would be playing with magik and tempting fate.
Spells and charms do not replace or substitute for logic.  Where I live and work, it is best to stay under the radar.  I do tell people, but I am very careful about who I tell.  


Are you a pot-head?

Nope.  I'll be honest, I tried marijuana twice when I was 21 and have not touched it since.  This is a personal choice, I choose not to be involved in it because it is illegal and I did not find it so amazing that I would break the law to use it.  (That being said, I see no reason for it not to be legal.)   I have never done any other illegal drugs either, they simply are not appealing to me.  


So you dance naked in the moonlight and have lots of sex and orgies?

So far, I do not practice skyclad (naked) or in groups at all.  If I did practice in groups I wouldn't be participating in sexual activity.  That's a personal choice of mine.   

It's not that I think skyclad is wrong, or that multiple partners are wrong.  It's just not what works or is right for me.  I am married and monogamous.  I don't care what other people do in bed (or other places you can do it) it's just not what works for me.
That's not saying I never will work skyclad, right now having specific ritual clothing helps me focus.  

More Questions? E-mail me at wiccapath5@gmail.com and I will try to answer it.