help

Im deffinatly a newbie. I can't tell anybody about my new faith cause everyone I know would have a cow and start saying I was worshiping the devil. Basically Im teaching myself and Im looking for some good suggestions on some books to start me out.

Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by Higginbotham

I still recommend The spiral dance: by Starhawk

But you might want to get The Truth About Witchcraft Today by Scott Cunningham for your family. (you can pick it up used on Amazon for .98)

I don't recommend The Spiral Dance to beginners because, while a classic, it has a lot of incorrect history and is overly feminist-oriented.

The Cunningham is excellent to give to others.

It doesn't have "a lot" of history to start with so it can't have that much "incorrect" history.

And "overly feminist" is an opinion I happen to disagree with.

Hi bella,

There are a lot of great books to start with, some concentrating more on the principles of Wicca, and some concentrating on basic how-to's.

A book I loved was Positive Magic by Marion Weinstein, which is more focused on principles/ideas.

To Ride A Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf is focused more on how-to's (with a bit of history thrown in), and covers a lot of aspects of Wicca (simple spells, sabbats, ritual, etc.).

Some other names to check out (which you can't go wrong with) are Raymond Buckland, Gerald Gardner, Scott Cunningham, Margot Adler, and Janet and Stewart Farrar.

Lastly, I have to agree with Morphidae that The Spiral Dance may not be the best well-rounded choice for beginners. While I expected it to be very feminist, I found it to be too aggressively feminist. Not only that, but many of Starhawk's ideas are personal and specific to her philosophy, which don't always jibe well with Wicca as a whole.

In any event, good luck in your search!

A couple of years ago I created the following list of the most recommended books for Pagans.

Compiled from the following fifteen sources:

Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler, Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland, The Wicca Sourcebook by Gerina Dunwich, A Witch Alone by Marian Green, Covencraft: Witchcraft for Three or More by Amber K, The Well Read Witch by Carl McColman, Amazon books at (www.amazon.com), Isaac Bonewits' web site (www.neopagan.net), Church of all World's website (www.caw.org), Covenant of the Goddess' website (www.cog.org), Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans' website (www.cuups.org), PanGaia's web site (www.pangaia.com), Pagan Educational Network's website (www.bloomington.in.us/~pen - PEN's and Pagan Leader's Recommended Reading) and The Witches' Voice website (www.witchvox.com).

*Fifteen recommendations

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

*Thirteen recommendations

Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler

*Eleven recommendations

A Witches' Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar
The Witches' Goddess by Janet and Stewart Farrar

*Ten recommendations

The Witches' God by Janet and Stewart Farrar
The White Goddess by Robert Graves
Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft by Rosemary Ellen Guiley

*Nine recommendations

Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland
Wheel of the Year by Pauline and Dan Campanelli
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practioner by Scott Cunningham
Witchcraft Today by Gerald Gardner
To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf
ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present by Doreen Valiente

*Eight recommendations

Wicca by Vivianne Crowley
The Golden Bough by James Frazer
Great Cosmic Mother by Monica Sjoo
Jambalaya by Luisah Teish

*Seven recommendations

Real Magic by Isaac Bonewits
Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Holy Book of Women's Mysteries by Z Budapest
Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Earth Power by Scott Cunningham
Chalice and the Blade by Riane Eisler
Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald Gardner
People of the Earth by Ellen Evert Hopman
Aradia by Charles Leland
Witch Cult in Western Europe by Margaret Murray
Family Wicca Book by Ashleen O'Gaea
Circle Round by Starhawk
Dreaming the Dark by Starhawk
Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk
When God was a Woman by Merlin Stone
Witchcraft for Tomorrow by Doreen Valiente
Positive Magic by Marion Weinstein

*Six recommendations

The Truth About Witchcraft Today by Scott Cunningham
Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe by Hilda Ellis Davidson
The Pagan Path by Janet and Stewart Farrar and Gavin Bone
Goddesses and Gods of Old Europe by Marija Gimbutas
Never Again the Burning Times by Loretta Orion
The Druids by Stuart Piggott
Pagan Celtic Britain by Anne Ross
Pagan Book of Living and Dying by Starhawk
Truth or Dare by Starhawk
Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets by Barbara Walker

Hello, I'm not a Wiccan or a Pagan, but the existance of this group has made me curious, and I have some questions. Sorry if they seem rude or ignorant.

Am I right in thinking that the main difference between Wiccans and Pagans is that in Wicca there are two deities, a Goddess and a God while in Paganism there are many deities?

Do Wiccans and Pagans really believe that magic works and that the deities they worship exist as persons?

How easy is it for Wiccans and Pagans to meet others who share their beliefs, and how important is it to be part of a group?

How much effect does being a Wiccan or Pagan have on your life? Do you spend a lot of time in prayer and rituals? Does it have tangible benefits? Does it affect your attitude to the world and to other people?

The book recommendations here are very good. I may look some of them out. I had a friend who was a Wiccan when I was at university, but we didn't talk about it very much. I was never sure how seriously she took it.

Re Message 8
Hi Akiyama,

Those are a lot of tough questions.

#1 Wiccans are pollytheistic just like other pagans, we just have more of an emphasis on balance. And a particular form of ritual practice. Other types of Pagans have other forms of ritual.

#2 Yes, and no. It depends what you mean by "magic" and "dieties" and "exist". American Wicca is mostly non-creedal. We tend to believe that every individual must reach their own conclusions about that is and is not true. But yes for many that means magic works and gods exist.

#3 With the internet it is getting easier all the time to meet others. But people who choose this path tend to be independent. As my favorite author Terry Pratchett says we're "nothing but a pack of ringleaders!"

People used to say you could not be a Witch alone:. But now-a-days there are many books avalable for the Solitary Practitioner

#4 Religion is really about worldview. Being Wiccan is all about how I see the world, it affects everything. I don't spent much time in Prayer or Ritual but then that isn't what my religion is about to me. I can't imagine being anything else.

Most people who are Pagan (including Wiccan) didn't start out that way. We had to choose this path. Which means we had to think about what we believed in and find a place where we fit.

Message #1

Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by Joyce Higginbotham is a great starter for whichever of the pagan paths you may end up treading.

Message #8

“Am I right in thinking that the main difference between Wiccans and Pagans is that in Wicca there are two deities, a Goddess and a God while in Paganism there are many deities?”

The official, initiated Wicca are duotheistic, as you stated. There are many that call themselves wicca, but are really just pagans (aka neo-pagans), who can be polytheists, duotheists, pantheists, panentheists, atheists or monotheists. Others just do not “do deity” at all.

“Do Wiccans and Pagans really believe that magic works and that the deities they worship exist as persons?”

The official, initiated Wicca believe magic works as they incorporate it into their practices. Not all pagans have a belief in magic, in fact there are many that think its bunkum.

As to how people understand deity, you may not get any consensus on that, even amongst pagans of a similar faith. People experience deity differently. Some believe “all gods are one god” and some don’t’, etc.

“How easy is it for Wiccans and Pagans to meet others who share their beliefs, and how important is it to be part of a group? “

Its not always easy, especially for those that live in remote areas. The internet makes it easier. How important is it to be a part of a group? Again, this is an individual question, but it would just as easily apply to Christians, would it not?

“How much effect does being a Wiccan or Pagan have on your life?”

Again, its different strokes for different folks. For me, personally, being pagan relates every thing I do in my life. My beliefs colour every action I take and every decision I make, from minute to minute, hour to hour and year to year.

“Do you spend a lot of time in prayer and rituals?”

It varies from pagan to pagan. I don’t pray. I am not sure of your definition of ritual. Can you clarify? I have daily rituals, I have seasonal rituals, etc.

“Does it have tangible benefits?”

I am not sure for others; for me, yes.

“ Does it affect your attitude to the world and to other people?”

See my answer above.

I am curious, though, would you ask these same questions of a Christian? A Muslim? A Jew?

Message #9:

"People used to say you could not be a Witch alone:. But now-a-days there are many books avalable for the Solitary Practitioner"

Really? I have always understood witches prefer to work alone, but you cannot be a solitary Wicca (unless you have been initiated into a coven and then left).

scheharazade and Foghorn, thankyou for your answers. :-)

Foghorn:
I am curious, though, would you ask these same questions of a Christian? A Muslim? A Jew?

I have asked Christians and Muslims about their religious beliefs lots of times in the past. Some of the questions were different, and some were similar. I've never known any religious Jews, but my curiosity has prompted me to buy The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Judaism (it wasn't as informative as it looked).

I just found another book to give to relatives.

When Someone You Love Is Wiccan: A Guide to Witchcraft and Paganism for Concerned Friends, Nervous Parents, and Curious Co-Workers
by Carl McColman