I am interested in Wicca. I've just been reading various sites after doing a lot of googling, and I'm wondering, when there are so many options, how a person goes about choosing their gods? I rather like the idea of the Egyptian ones... but I'm ignorant of the implication of choosing a particular god/goddess, so what do I know? Do those who choose the Egyptian gods/goddesses use magic? I was reading that some branches don't you see. I read that your deity might choose you... but what if he/she doesn't?

What are the differences between an initiated and an uniniiated practitioner?

Oh, and is worship in the Wicca sense akin to worship in the Christian one?

Any information gratefully received.

Wiccans practice in rituals. Not the christian "Lets all gather into one massive building and give out money while we sing".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca

Go there. It'll give you the basics, and the different forms of Wicca.

GAH! OK! Don't even think Wiki will give you the information you need on Wicca. Heh..

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/wicca0.htm

http://www.glasstemple.com/basics/

http://www.witchology.com/

http://souls.eldritchs.com/ShadowMaster/


Here's a few starter sites. There's even the Witches Vox, and www.newageinfo.com

Yeah... wikipedia just left me with more questions. I found a site called "The Cauldron" and that's interesting.

Thanks for the links... I'm off to try those now...

No problem! Wicca really didn't click with me, so I don't really know the indepth stuff about it. But I keeps a host of sites like these around for the odd midnight romp of studying that I do now and then. X) Hope they help you!

Oh, they certainly are already... and I've only just gone through a few pages.

I particularly like one of the things I found on the first site... "Before Time Was" http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/before.htm

If your interested in the Egyptian Gods why don't you explore the Kemetic religion, which is a reconstruction of the ancient Egyptian religion.

http://www.kemet.org/home.html
http://www.cesidaho.org/

shadow hill, what are you looking for?

i dont get it, do you have to choose or align yourself to one deity?

Are you looking for a path or a benefactor?

im not sure what you mean. I see you are interested in wicca, but this does not merit a commitment.
keep looking, you will find YOUR way.

I'm not entirely certain... I'll know the answer when I find it.



Not at all. I believe there is a creator being or beings... male, female, whatever... I'm not sure of the nature of it/them.



A path... to be inspired... to understand what I believe. Not a benefactor, no.



I am looking. I am not making a commitment... just trying to find the best path for me. So far, from what I've read about Wicca, I am inspired to read more. So I'll read, and see where it leads me.

Thanks for the links. I remember watching a programme on TV a while back that showed a group of people who follow the ancient Egyptian religion all congregating for a ceremony, but I didn't know it went any further than that one small group.

As for joining the Kemetic Orthodox faith... it's a faith, and I'm not sure about having a spiritual leader... Her Holiness the Nisut . "Her Holiness is recognized by the Kemetic Orthodox as the current incarnation of the kingly ka, or the invested spirit of Heru, the Kemetic aspect of divinity incarnate in its spiritual leaders."

The second site has a FAQ page... one question asked is "Isn’t it arrogant and close minded...to say that..."the Egyptian faith is the only way"?" and their response is "The Egyptian faith is the BEST way"... so strike one for them... I'm only interested in the way that's best for me, and I don't want my way to be a "best way for everyone" sort of way. If you see what I mean.

Fascinating though... and it's got me looking through my old Egyptology books again too.

You obviously never attended a catholic funeral. ; )

Nah, I think that's illegal here in Dixie Land...

Why do you look outward, and feel you need to follow something? Have you no confidence in yourself? Make your own path rather than follow another's.

Not follow... I don't want to find a path to follow so much as start digging out my own. I like to look at everything on offer... see what others believe, chew on it for a while, have a think... see what causes a stir, and spit the rest out. I find the more I learn about other religions the more I move away from them for the most part... so if nothing else the exploration shows me what I don't believe. I thought I had faith until I started really questioning what it is to have faith after reading posts on this forum, and then found I didn't have it... if I'd simply asked myself "do you have faith?" I'd have replied "yes"... I'd have been wrong.

The first step is to study where you walk. I see alot of confidence in Silent just for the fact that she is asking... "what is around me?" instead of "I'll just follow..."

Wicca is just a simple stop on her way, and whatever she may gain from studying it may or may not help her. But atleast she will learn a few things about who she is by the actions she is taking.

So, why chide her for doing such?

Know your route so you don't fall off a cliff?

You are quite right. No matter how great one considers their insight to be, it does well to also recognize the insight of others. We all need a little guidance from time to time.

*laughs* Pretty much. Learn from those around you, make your own choices with the knowledge you have gained.

You'll know when the right thing for you comes along. It may come from within. If you're looking outside yourself and can't find anything *comfortable*...then, maybe, you should look inward... Trust your instincts, they seldom fail.

Confidence exudes certainty... and vice versa.

<snip>



My intent was not to chide. I asked a sincere question. You're putting your spin on my words...