Friday, February 20, 2009

Introduction: Is Wicca right for you? (Choosing a path)

Wicca is a religion, and the people who believe in it are called Wiccans (or sometimes Witches and Wizards). When choosing a religion it is important to ask yourself what beliefs you already have, and if the religion matches those beliefs. Some religions change your mind and then you believe something new. But it is important to not use religion as a buffet, where you can pick and choose the parts you believe and the parts you don’t. So if you read this and find it resonates with you and you believe in it then this may be the right path for you.

What is Wicca? Wicca is a nature based religion, focusing on attuning ourselves to the natural rhythm of life. We use prayer, spells, rituals and meditation to better ourselves and to help others. We believe in reincarnation and in Gods. Wicca does not discriminate based on race, sexual orientation or class. In fact we do not forbid any activities unless they cause harm to yourself or another. Our holidays are based on the seasons and the celebrations usually include food and beer. We have “church” groups that are called Covens, but some people are not in a Coven and are referred to as solitaries.

How can Wicca improve your life? Wicca does not make you feel guilty or judged and does not promote hate of any kind. In Wicca there is a lot more freedom to find your own path and focus on things you need to focus on. Many people find meditation and other spiritual practices relieve stress and promote health. Some people find it easier to work on themselves and "find themselves" when practicing Wicca. Many people who convert to Wicca do so because they believe in a higher power but don’t like many of the rules and constraints put on them by other religions. The only rule in Wicca is "Harm None", though some people like the longer version called the Wiccan Rede.

Whatever your reason for reading this, I hope you find a path that is right for you. If you look at the other chapters I have written (the subjects are listed on the right) you can read about all the different aspects of Wicca.

Merry meet and merry part, until we merry meet again.

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