Until recently my I treated my faith as an intensely private aspect of my life. Only my wife and my Mother knew about this aspect of me. However in creating something like “Wiccan Supplies.org” I have been asked a few times, why Wicca?

The reasons are simple, one that like any faith it is about our own personal development, faith and betterment. Two, the Goddess and God are accessible, I relate better to this concept – rather than the Catholic concept of God. Thirdly, Wicca is a natural faith, there are a few basic tenants (including the Rede) but the rest is up to you and what you are taught/read/invest in.

I imagine that my journey into Wicca is similar to many, once the decision was made there appeared to be more questions than answers. Questions like, “where do I start?” “Where can I find a coven or teacher?” (both books I had read to this point spoke of coven initiation – see part 1 for titles), “what should I be doing, where do I get my Wiccan Supplies, such as altar tools – oh wait; how do you create an altar, should it be in a private place or where people congregate in my home? Oh shit – where do I start?”

I started looking for advice on the web, reading the often conflicting information that was there. More confusion.

Whilst the Witches House is not “wiccan” many of the themes, practices and beliefs were aligned. This wonderful place was somewhere I could go to talk to “like minded” people and discovered that much of what was discussed served as the answers to many of the questions. Lessons such as – if you are open, teachers are all around you, in nature, in the general trials and tribulations of life. That Wicca is not an escape from life, rather an integrated every moment part of it and as with any religion the primary theme is to improve oneself.

The greatest learning specific to Wicca came from books. Two I used and still reference for reminders and as references that would not hesitate to recommend are:
“Solitary Witch” by Silver RavenWolf
“Wicca – a guide for the solitary practitioner” by Scott Cunningham

Either of these two wonderful books will greatly assist you, if you choose Cunningham, I recommend investing in his follow up book “Living Wicca”.

I am a self initiated Witch, and following the advice of Scott Cunningham, have invested in the evolution of my faith within a tradition that is my own (selecting what feels and is natural for me) and living the faith. The practice of magick (or magic – whatever takes your fancy) is not core to the faith, yet the idea of not utilising something that is naturally within you seems to me like owning an expensive car and never driving it – kinda pointless.

I will finish on the point that, if Wicca is something that is of interest to you, invest in it, at very least be educated in your decision. Evaluate if this faith feels right, if it doesn’t – great at least you will be one of the educated amongst us with your selected faith. If it does, don’t just read about it – do it.

In light and blessings, Mat.