Wicca and you (rituals, moral, beliefs, myth, pagans)

[Seeking Knowledge]

Does Wicca play an important role in your life?

Can you identify challenges in practicing Wicca?

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by Seeking Knowledge

Does Wicca play an important role in your life?

Can you identify challenges in practicing Wicca?

well, for Wiccans, i rather do suspect that Wicca plays an important role in their life as for non Wiccans, Wicca does still play some role in the life of the general Pagan, and in the life of those who follow specific paths like Asatru, or one of the reconstructionist movements, because Wicca is the neo-Pagan religion most know, so it's almost become the base of reference when discussing Pagan issues with non Pagans.

i'm not a Wiccan, though i used to be, and i still draw heavily on aspects of Wicca. what are the challenges in practicing Wicca? hard to say, because different people will find different aspects more challenging than others.

to speak in general terms however, a few aspect Wicca that could be challenging are:

1) morality. Wiccans have the Wiccan Rede (These eight words the Rede fulfill, do harm to non, do as you will) and the law of return (or Karma) to guide their actions. what counts as harmful and what consequences from causing harm you are willing to accept come down to personal insight and judgment, there are no set moral codes of conduct. this could be challenging for someone if they are not used to working autonomously.

2) the really complicated mythology. at various parts in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, different deities have relations with others, give birth, die, are reborn, gain powers, loose powers etc. while the concept of this is not a challenge in itself to understand, it could be challenging to follow, because there is no logical sense in it. i'm honestly a bit wary of posting that, because that is how i understand it from various Wiccans who i have spoken with, i have not myself studied the details of the Wheel of the Year...

i'm sure a few more examples will come to mind over the next few days, but these are the ones at the forefront of my mind. i'll post more later, and i'm happy to answer any specific questions you may have

[Draka]

Originally Posted by Seeking Knowledge

Does Wicca play an important role in your life?

Can you identify challenges in practicing Wicca?

My beliefs do play an important role in my life. I think they do for most people regardless of religion.

The only challenges I can think of in practicing Wicca is when you would really like to do an outdoor ritual but you just can't drive out in the country or anything at the time and you live in a city where you have very close Christian neighbors that tend to react differently. It all depends on where you live and what you are willing to put up with. Though there really isn't anything wrong with doing rituals in your bedroom or livingroom. Just nice to do them outside every now and then.

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by Draka

Though there really isn't anything wrong with doing rituals in your bedroom or livingroom. Just nice to do them outside every now and then.

hmmm, you mean like, those occasional rituals that just feel like they need a bonfire? yeah, good luck doing that in your bedroom

[Draka]

Originally Posted by Mike182

to speak in general terms however, a few aspect Wicca that could be challenging are:

1) morality. Wiccans have the Wiccan Rede (These eight words the Rede fulfill, do harm to non, do as you will) and the law of return (or Karma) to guide their actions. what counts as harmful and what consequences from causing harm you are willing to accept come down to personal insight and judgment, there are no set moral codes of conduct. this could be challenging for someone if they are not used to working autonomously.

2) the really complicated mythology. at various parts in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, different deities have relations with others, give birth, die, are reborn, gain powers, loose powers etc. while the concept of this is not a challenge in itself to understand, it could be challenging to follow, because there is no logical sense in it. i'm honestly a bit wary of posting that, because that is how i understand it from various Wiccans who i have spoken with, i have not myself studied the details of the Wheel of the Year...

1. Morality - I don't really have issues with. Maybe because I have no real problem working autonomously.

2. I guess this would depend on if you are very eclectic or not. It's much easier to follow the Wheel of the Year and the significance of the Sabbats if you follow one pantheon either exclusively or, at least, more devotedly than the others. Being eclectic you have more a tendency to "pick and choose" what works for you from different mythologies. This lends to confusion trying to make them work together for storyline purposes when it comes to the Sabbats. You certainly don't have to be a reconstructionist, but you can definitely devote your beliefs to one main pantheon.

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by Draka

1. Morality - I don't really have issues with. Maybe because I have no real problem working autonomously.

2. I guess this would depend on if you are very eclectic or not. It's much easier to follow the Wheel of the Year and the significance of the Sabbats if you follow one pantheon either exclusively or, at least, more devotedly than the others. Being eclectic you have more a tendency to "pick and choose" what works for you from different mythologies. This lends to confusion trying to make them work together for storyline purposes when it comes to the Sabbats. You certainly don't have to be a reconstructionist, but you can definitely devote your beliefs to one main pantheon.

thanks for that Draka! that was the point i was struggling to get at

[Draka]

Originally Posted by Mike182

hmmm, you mean like, those occasional rituals that just feel like they need a bonfire? yeah, good luck doing that in your bedroom

Yeah, those can be a little tricky

Though, if you knew me as a child I could find a way to get around them. I had one of those tent things on my bed and every now and then I would pretend I was camping. Well...can't go camping without a campfire. Old round hamper lid and wadded up notebook paper it was.... I was a naughty little girl!

[Seeking Knowledge]

Originally Posted by Draka

1. Morality - I don't really have issues with. Maybe because I have no real problem working autonomously.

2. I guess this would depend on if you are very eclectic or not. It's much easier to follow the Wheel of the Year and the significance of the Sabbats if you follow one pantheon either exclusively or, at least, more devotedly than the others. Being eclectic you have more a tendency to "pick and choose" what works for you from different mythologies. This lends to confusion trying to make them work together for storyline purposes when it comes to the Sabbats. You certainly don't have to be a reconstructionist, but you can definitely devote your beliefs to one main pantheon.

Thanks Mike and Draka -
I guess another question would be how has wicca changed your life?
Of course, I am just starting the learning process and have a million questions.