Post by Lady Silver Vixen on May 27, 2011 11:00:32 GMT -5
With the recent uptick over the years of new books flooding the market on how to become a Wiccan, how to practice, and other general information Wiccan's can learn. Do you think it's ok for Solitary Practitioners, to stay that way? Or do you believe that the only way to truly learn is to be part of a Coven?
I Quote from a Wiccan High Priestess off of Yahoo Answers in response to a young girl who was asking about wearing a pentagram" Regarding choosing to "be by yourself," and not in a coven, let me clarify something for you. Wicca is passed on from initiated teacher to student and is NOT learned by reading books and making things up. It is NOT true that Wicca is "anything you want it to be." Years ago, an author called Scott Cunningham wrote books for people who had no access to Wiccan teachers and no real hope of having access to a coven, in order to help them have at least some way to reach the Gods. This was before the internet, before e-mail, and before it was safe to be "out" as a Wiccan. He DID NOT intend to EVER imply that Wicca is better done on one's own, nor that one should reject having a qualified Wiccan teacher if one had any hope of finding one. If you simply read books and make up your own practice, you are a solitary Neo-Pagan practitioner, not a Wiccan.
Further, you do yourself an enormous disservice to assume that you can gain anything even remotely close to the level of spiritual and energetic skill that a coven trained initiated priest or priestess gains by studying on your own.
I strongly encourage you to visit WitchVox.com and take a look for a true, credentialed Wiccan teacher. You don't have to join a coven in order to be properly trained (some teachers will teach 1-1). The least you can do for yourself is talk with some trained Wiccan clergy persons so you understand the choice you're making. Then, if you want to read books and make things up, you'll at least know that you made an actual, authentic choice to do so."
Now my personal views on this are a little conflicted because I can agree on somethings, but not everything. To Marcassa and Brysing Especially, what are your thoughts about what this woman has stated, and your own experiences in the craft (how can you relate?). I was and have been a Solitary Practitioner for over 3/4's of my time as a Witch and as a Wiccan. I have taken formal training through Witchschool as well as another group. I've been running an online coven for about 3-4 years now (this coven) and was even the leader of a Teen coven when I was younger under the guidance of a 3rd Degree Practitioner of Wicca who just happened to be one of the Teachers at the School I attended. Granted I do have formal training, but what are your views on formal training versus informal training? Does Coven work make you, as the High Priestess said in her statement, A Real Wiccan? or does it just make you a witch to practice in a solitary manner?
(On a quick side note, I'm still trying to figure out this "make stuff up" crap she mentioned. And the part about energy skills just seems a bit closed minded to me, I can see her point, but at the same time it seems she does take into account others who really do put their heart and soul into their practice and learn everything they possibly can.)
Anyone, feel free to reply.
I Quote from a Wiccan High Priestess off of Yahoo Answers in response to a young girl who was asking about wearing a pentagram" Regarding choosing to "be by yourself," and not in a coven, let me clarify something for you. Wicca is passed on from initiated teacher to student and is NOT learned by reading books and making things up. It is NOT true that Wicca is "anything you want it to be." Years ago, an author called Scott Cunningham wrote books for people who had no access to Wiccan teachers and no real hope of having access to a coven, in order to help them have at least some way to reach the Gods. This was before the internet, before e-mail, and before it was safe to be "out" as a Wiccan. He DID NOT intend to EVER imply that Wicca is better done on one's own, nor that one should reject having a qualified Wiccan teacher if one had any hope of finding one. If you simply read books and make up your own practice, you are a solitary Neo-Pagan practitioner, not a Wiccan.
Further, you do yourself an enormous disservice to assume that you can gain anything even remotely close to the level of spiritual and energetic skill that a coven trained initiated priest or priestess gains by studying on your own.
I strongly encourage you to visit WitchVox.com and take a look for a true, credentialed Wiccan teacher. You don't have to join a coven in order to be properly trained (some teachers will teach 1-1). The least you can do for yourself is talk with some trained Wiccan clergy persons so you understand the choice you're making. Then, if you want to read books and make things up, you'll at least know that you made an actual, authentic choice to do so."
Now my personal views on this are a little conflicted because I can agree on somethings, but not everything. To Marcassa and Brysing Especially, what are your thoughts about what this woman has stated, and your own experiences in the craft (how can you relate?). I was and have been a Solitary Practitioner for over 3/4's of my time as a Witch and as a Wiccan. I have taken formal training through Witchschool as well as another group. I've been running an online coven for about 3-4 years now (this coven) and was even the leader of a Teen coven when I was younger under the guidance of a 3rd Degree Practitioner of Wicca who just happened to be one of the Teachers at the School I attended. Granted I do have formal training, but what are your views on formal training versus informal training? Does Coven work make you, as the High Priestess said in her statement, A Real Wiccan? or does it just make you a witch to practice in a solitary manner?
(On a quick side note, I'm still trying to figure out this "make stuff up" crap she mentioned. And the part about energy skills just seems a bit closed minded to me, I can see her point, but at the same time it seems she does take into account others who really do put their heart and soul into their practice and learn everything they possibly can.)
Anyone, feel free to reply.