Wicca / Pagan

Hi

Is anyone on here a wiccan or a pagan ( sorry if they are the same thing!) I'm interested in finding out more but dont know where to start. Can anyone help me?

I am not, but a good friend on here is...willowraven.  She is really nice and I'm sure would answer any questions you have.

hi there! wiccans would be considered pagan, but all pagans aren't wiccan. :)

 i identify myself as pagan, though i haven't exactly chosen a path to follow yet. i'm really interested in wicca, but i don't really identify with the whole god/goddess thing. i think the idea of that duality in everything is awesome but i don't believe in the idea of a deity in human form. i would love to hear input from pagans and wiccans on the board!!  

I have belonged to a Wiccan group for the past few years (I hate to say coven, it just sounds so 15 and angsty). We are very liberal in what we do and it really started up with a group of us ladies who wanted to be able to express ourselves in our own way. Our celebrations are built around tradition but we fill in the blanks ourselves. I'm sure hardcore Wiccans would cringe, but oh well!

There are a million resources on the net, I mean just a ton. Maybe start out by reading the meaning of the Sabbats, as those are the Wiccan holidays.

I am very interested in this too. 

My bf is a non-practicing pagan (for some reason he hasn't been doing anything for several years).  He got me a book called How to Ride a Silver Broomstick.  Or something similar to that.  I have been really busy and stressed out the last month though and I really want to have the time and energy to really focus on learning about it. 

He said that it was a really good book for an overview if you don't know anything about it. 

Always found interesting. I have a broom that was made for me on my front porch to sweep out the bad (neg) forces. I dont know where I actually fall in as a group. I live on the Bible belt and have to be very careful of what I say. The hardcore baptist and my mormon friends would flip not to mention my Catholic family. I have my own thing. would like to hear more.
edit add
p.s. I know we will be hearing from someone soon that doesn't agree  and yes since I was raised catholic and was  baptist at one time I know how you feel about this.

Heh Tori, I feel your pain. I read Tarot cards, I have for about 20 years. I don't think I'm doing anything mystical, I just really enjoy it and a lot of people seem to get a kick out of it.

ANYWAY, I'm at a restaurant and was reading them for my friend. Some minister guy walks over to me and says "I pray for your soul". Luckily I didn't hear it but my friend did, and then smartly told me well after I could chase him out into the parking lot. That crap pisses me off to no end. Worry about your own judgmental soul for f*cks sake.

I think I made a mistake  when I said anything about wicca on the paranorma thread which might have brought us to this one since people are talking about this being deleted and wicca being witch craft so we might be gone soon. feel free to private mess. me guys. Off to my appt. and check you later.

UGH spiro! that is just the worst. i was reading a pagan book on the T (boston's subway) and this older man walked by me and said "good LUCK!" and half absorbed in the book, i just said "thanks!" then after i realized he didn't mean it in an encouraging way.

personally, i never push my beliefs on anyone and i can't for the life of me understand why people think it is their place to do so.

who is talking about this being deleted? this is a valid discussion about a faith and if it is deleted then the christian threads should be deleted as well!

Why would a thread about Wicca or witch craft be deleted?

This reminds me of my friends work. All sites on Wicca are blocked but you can read all the Christian sites you want. It's ridiculous.

that is outrageous spiro!! i'd log a complaint.

so back to paganism, are there any pagans here other than wiccans?

So many people think that Wiccan/Pagan's eat babies and sacafrice people.  Stupid movies and tv.  Sigh, I guess that they don't realize that their happy little Xmas trees with the pretty lights and ornaments are adopted from ancient Pagan traditions.  And where do they think the Easter bunny and the eggs come from?  Wicca\Pagan is so misunderstood.

And as far as the blocked material.  They probably could sue based on religious discrimination.

I don't think Wicca is a recognized religion, so I really wouldn't know. I personally wouldn't go through the hassle. I mean if I got fired because someone found out I read Tarot and have the occassional Circle, I might do something. Reading crap online at work, eh, I can do that at home.

Hi,

I'm a wiccan and pagan (for 20 years).

Pagan is as term for non-christian relgions. There are lots and lots of pagan religions.

Wicca is a pagan relgion. It's nature oriented and there is a god and goddess, not just a god

Wicca is recognized as a religion by the federal government.

There is a ton of reading material out there. But all the reading is put to use in ritual. That's where you get your spiritual connection.

The best advise I can give is to be careful who you trust and learn from.

Blessed be.

Wicca is recognized as a religion by the federal government.

I happily stand corrected!!

I'm steering clear of this thread because it's very much the best thing for me to do. 

However, just to clarify a factual point..."Pagan" although it has taken on multiple meanings, does not in any one of its definitions simply mean not Christian.  Then muslims & Jews would be pagans & they are not.  Often the beliefs are polytheistic, as well.  

try telling a hardcore christian that their little christmas tree came from pagan traditions.  almost all holidays celebrated by americans and others around the world are of a pagan root.  i work with a bunch of hard headed people that try to tell me i'm "crazy" when i bring this thought up to them. 

it's a fight i'll never win with people like that...so i just carry on and keep my mouth shut.

maldonado, I hear ya!  I told some people here that I was interested in learning more about becoming Wiccan because I identified with it the most (it feels like what I have been missing) and the hardcore christians looked at me like I was going to start eating babies and sleeping with goats.  I respect the fact that they don't believe in evolution.  I respect the fact that they have a very strong faith, but I never seem to get the same respect.  Oh well.

EDIT: when I referred to the people who don't believe in evolution, I was soley talking about the people that I work with, not all Christians with strong faiths.

I don't talk about my spirituality uninvited because frankly, I don't want someone else's beliefs shoved in my face either. I can argue about organized religion in the US until I pass out from lack of oxygen, it's my hugest hot button. I've learned to just not do it no matter how much someone is pressing me into the discussion.

Maldonado...some people are just closed minded and do not want to educate themselves.  I am a Christian, and I am well aware that the Christmas tree we put in our house every year began from pagan religions.  But I have to say in general religion is a hard topic to discuss.  Most people put up their defenses automatically.  It's sad really.