The following is a question asked on Yahoo Answers. The comments reflect the views of the individual and not the website as a whole.
Question:
I’ve been reading about Wicca for just over 5 years. Granted, I started looking into it when I was 14, so let’s just discount the first few years of hilariously inaccurate fiction and historically abominable “academic sources”. Nevertheless, I’ve sorted out what I actually believe (regardless of a certain religion or tradition) and after a long process of comparing and contrasting a bunch of different world faiths, I’ve come back to Wicca just as enthusiastically (albeit much more grounded and better educated) as when I was 14.
My question (sorry for the long back-story) is: what exactly happens during the recommended year-and-a-day (or longer) of studying that one is supposed to do before dedicating oneself to the gods and faith? Even after 5 years of familiarising myself with the ethics, worldview, practices and general beliefs of Wicca I’m not quite ready to have that conversation with the gods and would like some suggestions on the sorts of things, besides reading, I should experience before dedication.
Serious answers and non-proselytising comments only, please (I was raised United, I’m well aware of the Christian teachings about following other gods, I accept all other systems of faith as valid and equal, but this is the one I choose and I would appreciate it if people kept Bible verses to themselves and answered the question above).
Thanks for the great answers so far! I just wanted to add a bit more detail in response. Although I live in a fairly large city in Canada, the feel I’m getting from the Wiccan community is largely a solitary vibe. So far I haven’t come across too many people working in large groups. However, a great new age store does offer free classes and information sessions on certain topics that I’ll be checking out. Nonetheless, I’m working on a very solitary basis, here.
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about 1 month ago
The idea of studying for a year and a day is only applicable if you are part of a coven. Wicca is much more than study though. The only way to really learn is through experience, so just get into meditation, pathworking, working with a particular deity, exploring totem animals and spirit guides. Join some online forums (like maybe Children of Artemis or Witch Vox) and interact with other folks online and get opinions on what others have experienced.
Forget the year and a day stuff, it’s not applicable to you. Just get on with experiencing as much as you can and honing your meditation skills and your ability to control your Will.
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about 1 month ago
Really, what happens depends on the individual. Like you said, we recommend a year and a day *or longer*. I studied for five years before dedicating, and in retrospect I still jumped the gun a bit. If you don’t feel ready, follow your gut. Identify where you feel you are lacking and tackle those topics.
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about 1 month ago
You should practice ALL the ritual occasions within the Wiccan year: thirteen esbats and eight sabbats, as well as other necessary occasions for creating the temple space (working healing magic, for example).
In the process of creating rituals for the esbats and sabbats, you’ll learn about ritual construction and how to put together (and take apart) ceremonies to create powerful ritual theatre.
You should, though the festivals above, attune yourselves to the rhythms of the natural world and thereby to the Goddess and the God, Whose living body is the universe itself.
You should learn the theory behind the Wiccan practice of magic, if you haven’t done so already. The following book is quite good: http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-Witchcraft-Magick-Spells/dp/0572027044
You should become familiar with the history of Wicca. “The Triumph of the Moon” by Ronald Hutton is an excellent book on the subject.
I’d also recommend becoming more familiar with the animals and plants in your area, as well as the ritual and medicinal uses of any herbs which might be native to your region.
ETA: In response to the post above me… the ritual material of most covens is strictly oathbound and they will NOT be inclined to share it with you. However, if you can find a coven which runs a year-and-a-day outer court program and they’re willing to teach you, that would probably be quite a valuable experience.
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about 1 month ago
Why don’t you locate a coven and ask to visit some of their rituals? They are very open to visitors, and will talk to you about anything you want to know.
I was Wiccan once. Atheist now.
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