I Am New To Wicca How Do I Get Started

That's a question that comes up a lot, and unfortunately
it's not a simple answer. It's not like you can just fill

there. Even if you can only reach them online at first. You
can only get so much from book work and self teaching.

out an application and get your handy membership packet.
Instead, there are several things you should think about

Eventually you have to interact with likeminded folks who
share your struggles and understand your lifestyle and your

doing.

choices. Even as a solitary practitioner there are places
you can go to bounced ideas off people with a solid

For starters, evaluate where you stand and what your goals
are in studying Paganism or Wicca. Here are some great tips

background in magic.

from Brahnamin, one of our regular posters over on the
Pagan/Wiccan Forums.

In addition to these basics, you should probably read over
the following articles for references of use to new

* Get Specific. Reading generic Pagan/witchy books will

Seekers:

leave you feeling like it's all just one big melting pot of
gooey tree hugging goodness. So go online and research

* Beginner's Reading List: This is a list of 13 books
every Wiccan or Pagan should read. Not all of them will be

different Pagan paths or Wiccan traditions, just to get some
specific names. Like Discordian, Asatru, Neo-Shamanism,

of interest to you, and you might even find one or two of
them hard to understand. That's okay. It's a good foundation

Neo-Druidism, Green Witchcraft, Feri, etc.
* Get Basic. Go online again and get the basic

to build your studies on, and will better help you determine
what road your path will eventually take.

background for each specific type of Paganism that catches
your eye and see which really interests you. There may well

* Ten Things You Should Know About Wicca: Here are some
of the misconceptions and myths about Wicca and modern

be more than one. Look for initiation requirements and find
out how much you can do on your own if you decide it is a

Paganism. Read through these, and make sure you understand
exactly what it is you're about to start studying.

path for you (to follow a Druidic path, for example, you
can't really self initiate. It is an organized group with

pretty strict rules of advancement and titles to go with
each level of achievement).

Wiccan principles fit in with your existing belief system.
* Living a Magical Life. Being Wiccan or Pagan isn't

* Get Real. The library is a great starting point and
they can often order in specific books for you, but once you

just about reading some books and buying a pentacle
necklace. If you're going to walk the walk, not just talk

have chosen a specific group (or groups) to study you are
probably going to need to hit used bookstores or online

the talk, eventually you'll want to think about how you can
incorporate your beliefs into daily life.

markets to obtain the materials you need. This would be a
good time to go to the Pagan/Wiccan Forums and see if anyone

Finally, if you're a teenager, read My Parents Won't Let Me

is already a practitioner or knows where to best get started
in the tradition you're interested in.

Be Wiccan and Ten Things to Learn Besides Wicca. If you're a
mom or dad of someone who's interested in Wicca and