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Wicca

PoetPhilosopher

Veteran Member
I still follow Wicca, but I believe that since the reported founding of the religion, if you will, that there has been revelation that has progressed rapidly, private revelation, not necessarily always among leaders, that makes the original texts and old books on the subject a bit dated. But I hold the belief that among old texts, it sets the path right to begin with, but the further, more advanced methods, like practice of witchcraft, are starting to improve, so older texts may not always be something I want to read except to do the occasional error-check on my current ideas. Of course, sometimes they do contain insight too, but I feel that if we're talking spells, that newer books often do it better still, for me.

Just my opinion.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I still follow Wicca, but I believe that since the reported founding of the religion, if you will, that there has been revelation that has progressed rapidly, private revelation, not necessarily always among leaders, that makes the original texts and old books on the subject a bit dated. But I hold the belief that among old texts, it sets the path right to begin with, but the further, more advanced methods, like practice of witchcraft, are starting to improve, so older texts may not always be something I want to read except to do the occasional error-check on my current ideas. Of course, sometimes they do contain insight too, but I feel that if we're talking spells, that newer books often do it better still, for me.

Just my opinion.

There's a lot of texts about Wicca, but it always struck me as a fairly textless faith, more based on trial, error, and personal study than any one or several books.

Do you mind elaborating on this, or what texts you're referencing?
 

Guitar's Cry

Disciple of Pan
There's a lot of texts about Wicca, but it always struck me as a fairly textless faith, more based on trial, error, and personal study than any one or several books.

Do you mind elaborating on this, or what texts you're referencing?

Even Gerald Gardner's Book of Shadows was like a workbook (I believe he used the term "cookbook") rather than a set text.
 

PoetPhilosopher

Veteran Member
There's a lot of texts about Wicca, but it always struck me as a fairly textless faith, more based on trial, error, and personal study than any one or several books.

Do you mind elaborating on this, or what texts you're referencing?

I felt that even the Scott Cunningham book, Wicca: Solitary Practictioner, was too dated for my needs.

I actually prefer to go by articles, ones with some meat to them, and not just random news articles or what-have-you. Maybe I'll link to some when I have more time.

One issue I have is that some books of course talk about using knives in your witchcraft practice as a part of magic. I'll never do that for a couple of different reasons, one of them being in an environment in which kids are sometimes around, and you know, kids are prone to get into things and I worry about that. So I'm cautious about media that talks about knives as if they are super important in witchcraft, as personally, I feel they're not, and the more modern texts that I have read, seem to feel similarly.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I felt that even the Scott Cunningham book, Wicca: Solitary Practictioner, was too dated for my needs.

I actually prefer to go by articles, ones with some meat to them, and not just random news articles or what-have-you. Maybe I'll link to some when I have more time.

One issue I have is that some books of course talk about using knives in your witchcraft practice as a part of magic. I'll never do that for a couple of different reasons, one of them being in an environment in which kids are sometimes around, and you know, kids are prone to get into things and I worry about that. So I'm cautious about media that talks about knives as if they are super important in witchcraft, as personally, I feel they're not, and the more modern texts that I have read, seem to feel similarly.

I haven't read that one. :)

I suppose anything becomes dated after awhile... and certainly not all books fit the needs of all people. I'm glad you've discovered that articles work well for you.

I don't feel knives are important, either. I have used them, but I don't feel there's anything a knife can do that a wand, or even a finger can't do in a ritual setting, if one puts enough energy into it. (Unless it actually involves cutting something, but that's seldom the case).
 
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Viker

Häxan
One issue I have is that some books of course talk about using knives in your witchcraft practice as a part of magic. I'll never do that for a couple of different reasons, one of them being in an environment in which kids are sometimes around, and you know, kids are prone to get into things and I worry about that. So I'm cautious about media that talks about knives as if they are super important in witchcraft, as personally, I feel they're not, and the more modern texts that I have read, seem to feel similarly.
I agree. It's not the implement that matters, it is the effort put forth. I use an athame but just because I want to. I've corresponded with convicts interested in witchcraft. They can't legally use knives or anything closely resembling them. I've suggested using their index and middle finger held together instead. In many situations it's good to learn how to improvise. Anyone insisting that knives or swords are an absolute is full of it. Fingers, sticks, writing pens will do just as well.
 

Guitar's Cry

Disciple of Pan
One issue I have is that some books of course talk about using knives in your witchcraft practice as a part of magic. I'll never do that for a couple of different reasons, one of them being in an environment in which kids are sometimes around, and you know, kids are prone to get into things and I worry about that. So I'm cautious about media that talks about knives as if they are super important in witchcraft, as personally, I feel they're not, and the more modern texts that I have read, seem to feel similarly.

I agree that one doesn't need a knife. I've used a pen before, based around the symbolism of me being a writer.

I do have a ritual knife: I made it myself from an old file when I was a teenager and have made various handles for it icer the years. I use it camping, and so it has a functional and spiritual connection for me. But for someone without that connection I personally don't see need.
 

Callisto

Hellenismos, BTW
I still follow Wicca, but I believe that since the reported founding of the religion, if you will, that there has been revelation that has progressed rapidly, private revelation, not necessarily always among leaders, that makes the original texts and old books on the subject a bit dated. But I hold the belief that among old texts, it sets the path right to begin with, but the further, more advanced methods, like practice of witchcraft, are starting to improve, so older texts may not always be something I want to read except to do the occasional error-check on my current ideas. Of course, sometimes they do contain insight too, but I feel that if we're talking spells, that newer books often do it better still, for me.

Just my opinion.

There are a lot of eclectic/solitary practices these days that identify as Wicca but they vary from one another and from traditional Wicca so, I'm not entirely sure what you're referring to. By referencing the origins, that pertains to Traditional Wicca which isn't a revealed religion but more precisely a religious order, one without laity. It's a modern mystery cult with patron deities. Much that's published isn't about it, rather it's the authors' innovations for a type of generalized religion that's Wicca-influenced, the extent depending on what they borrowed.

Traditionally, Wicca doesn't focus on spell casting and magic for personal/material gain. The majority of magic employed is the religion is theurgy. Whether Wiccans (again, traditionally speaking) engage in witchcraft/folk magic for material purposes is up to the individual, and typically it's something in addition to the religion.
 

Callisto

Hellenismos, BTW
I haven't read that one. :)

I suppose anything becomes dated after awhile... and certainly not all books fit the needs of all people. I'm glad you've discovered that articles work well for you.

I don't feel knives are important, either. I have used them, but I don't feel there's anything a knife can do that a wand, or even a finger can't do in a ritual setting, if one puts enough energy into it. (Unless it actually involves cutting something, but that's seldom the case).

It depends on what you're practicing. In traditional Wicca, there is very much a difference between an athame and a wand, they're not wholly interchangeable. Subsequently, there are aspects that employ one and not the other nor would the person substitute one for the other in a pinch.

But if someone is eclectic, they're doing things their own way. So it's entirely possible a solitary practitioner can either use objects in a different way or find they don't use them at all.
 

Callisto

Hellenismos, BTW
Even Gerald Gardner's Book of Shadows was like a workbook (I believe he used the term "cookbook") rather than a set text.

Gardner had more than one BOS as he went along and refined things. But a BOS is not the entirety of the tradition. It's basically a type of shorthand, it only has some of the components. Much is not written down but is conveyed in person, orally and experientially, from one initiate to the next. Parts in the BOS seem to indicate one thing to a non-initiate but what they actually convey means something different to the initiated who knows the part not written nor alluded to, a key. It's one of the ways fakers trying to pass themselves off as initiates are found out.
 
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