New To This Forum ..... But Indeed Very Interested Thus far !!!

[MoonShadow1]

Greetings,

It is most refreshing to read the many excellent Wiccan posts on this forum !

There appears to be a vast level of knowledge by most folks on this site pertaining to this extremely facinating subject.

If I may so inquire of you good folks .... What started book(s) or other informational source would be most appropriate for a novice such as myself o begin a study of Wiccan ??? :help:

Thank You / M/S

 

[Anodyne]

It's a varied subject, but as with most things, history of the topic is the best place to start. Of course you could being reading about specifics, such as spells, or traditions, and such but without the context it's hard to exactly understand the act.

So, I would start with something that cover the history of the subject, and then something else that covers the beliefs of the varying branchs of wicca.

 

[YmirGF]

Welcome to the nuthouse known as RF.

Enjoy your stay, friend.

 

[MoonWater]

Wicca for the solitary practitioner is a good place to start and a book that I read a bit of when I was looking into Wicca. Also Margot Adler's drawing down the moon is a great resource for a history of the pagan religions in general including Wicca. Those are the main two sources that come to mind for me. Hope it helps.

 

[enchanted_one1975]

Welcome! Make yourself comfortable. There are great people here. There are some overly evangelistic folks in other areas of the forum though so use the buddy system when you go there. The first Wiccan book I read was Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin. It is a very inexpensive paperback and I am very glad it was my first. I have gone back to it and used it as a reference already. She tells how to do the basic in very plain English. It is a must read, even if you decide to make it your second book.

 

[MoonShadow1]

Greetings,

A most sincere thank you to those of you whom have provided the excellent book suggestions.

If I may relate an event that has influenced me greatly regarding what I assume to be Wicca related :
At a local resort several summers ago on a beautiful late summer/early fall evening while the moon was brightly shinning I had the opportunity to observe a tremendous bonfire blazing away on the opposite side of the river. There were some people of various ages moving aroud the fire and adding pieces of tinder as they sang some unfamiliar yet beautiful verses of song. Male and female participated in this possible ritual and all continued to slowly move in a circular direction around this massive bonfire. Some of the folks appeared to be dressed in a long type of robe and others simply had light colored summer type clothing on. This event took place at approximately 9:00 p.m. It was very impressive and in a strange way a most pleasant event to watch.

Some of the resort residents stated to me that the folks around the fire were witches and that this type of event was performed several times a year at the old farm site across the river. It was a most welcome sight at the resort and good relations had existed between the folks at the farm across the river and the resort for many years. I observed several other occassions of those folks around the bonfire and never forgot how truly appealing it was.

My question is simply this : Would this type of event represent something that Wiccans would participate in or is it perhaps something else non-related ???

Thank You / M/S 1

 

[MissAlice]

Hello and welcome MoonShadow1!

 

[Gentoo]

Greetings,

A most sincere thank you to those of you whom have provided the excellent book suggestions.

If I may relate an event that has influenced me greatly regarding what I assume to be Wicca related :
At a local resort several summers ago on a beautiful late summer/early fall evening while the moon was brightly shinning I had the opportunity to observe a tremendous bonfire blazing away on the opposite side of the river. There were some people of various ages moving aroud the fire and adding pieces of tinder as they sang some unfamiliar yet beautiful verses of song. Male and female participated in this possible ritual and all continued to slowly move in a circular direction around this massive bonfire. Some of the folks appeared to be dressed in a long type of robe and others simply had light colored summer type clothing on. This event took place at approximately 9:00 p.m. It was very impressive and in a strange way a most pleasant event to watch.

Some of the resort residents stated to me that the folks around the fire were witches and that this type of event was performed several times a year at the old farm site across the river. It was a most welcome sight at the resort and good relations had existed between the folks at the farm across the river and the resort for many years. I observed several other occassions of those folks around the bonfire and never forgot how truly appealing it was.

My question is simply this : Would this type of event represent something that Wiccans would participate in or is it perhaps something else non-related ???

Thank You / M/S 1

Sounds like something that would be done. Every group celebrates the Wiccan holidays differently. But it sounds really nice

 

[enchanted_one1975]

Yes, I could see that happening. There may be a reason that you were there to see it too. I am of the belief that not all of us find Wicca. For some of us, Wicca finds us.

 

[MoonWater]

It certainly sounds like something a group of Wiccans would do. But then bonfire celebrations are common in many Pagan traditions. And one rule of thumb to keep in mind, being a witch doesn't equate one with being Wiccan. In other words you don't have to be Wiccan to be a witch. Though I'm not sure if you could be a wiccan without being a witch. So these people may very well be witches but that doesn't necessarily mean they follow the Wiccan tradition.