I looked into Wicca a while back...I had this book called Living Wicca by Cunningham..and he said if you are Wiccan you can be either in a coven or solitary. A little while later I was talking to a couple of my friends. They're Wiccan. And according to them...you have to be in a coven. So I googled my question and got mixed answers. if someone who knows a lot about Wicca could answer my question, that would be cool. im just confused i was pretty sure you could be solitary.
No, you do not have to be in a coven. There are those who work alone. There are no rules. Anyone who tells you otherwise is more interested in the rules than anything else.
Yeah I didnt think ud have to be in a coven. and Wicca isn't the type of religion that says "you have to do this" "you can't be like that" "you sinner,"
Why the heck not?! Your body is the moving temple, no other place or other body is that temple. Love that Christianity reference, one of my favorite ones actually.
Some Wiccans feel very strongly about the tradition of being intiated into a coven. I've seen this discussion go back and forth before. My personal thought is that modern day Wicca is a best guess at what the orginal ancient form of witchcraft actually looked like. Being a witch is more than what some book tells you it is. Being magical involves finding your inner magical self on your own and in your own time. A coven will come along for you eventually if it is what you want but a great deal of your journey ends up being personal and solitary anyway and you can contribute more to a group when your own growth has taken place. Be at peace over this.
In the most traditional sense, yes. 8,000 years ago it was a slightly more controlled religion. But Neo-Paganism has sprung up and has given people different options such as branches of the Wiccan religion including Solitary Wiccan practices. Paganism has definitely grown in the past centuries, and for the better I would say.
8,000 years ago Wicca didn't exist. In it's present form Wicca is a relatively new religion based off of the books written by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's. It's not really the "old ways" like a lot of people make it out to be... Most of the true old ways have been lost because they were not written down and recorded. This doesn't make Wicca bad or wrong, just don't make it out to be something it's not. It's actually a good path for a lot of people.
Ooops.. You are completely correct. I meant to actually put "pagan" instead of "wiccan." Thanks for catching that for me! <3 I kind of screwed up my post and didn't notice it. xD
Here is another way of looking at the answer, who has the power to say that you can't be solitary? If you want to be solitary, be it, and anyone who has a problem with it can just scram I say.
Actually where I am there are a lot of solitary Witches, Wiccans tend to be Coven based! Yes, it was supposed to be a controversial statement You may find that the argument is further confused by the regional terminology. My association with Pagans from an Irish and Cornish traditional background view Wiccans from the Alexandian/Gardnarian root as modern ceremonial magicians who work in groups. Wicca is often viewed as a religion and thus group association is important. However Witches or Cunning Folk as we often call them are solitary. Everything else in between (of which most modern witches fall) are eclectic and vary between group and solitary practice. Regional perceptions like this may lead to confusing information. We are creatures of free-will with mind and sense to follow our own path. Others may need the support and guidance of a group. Socialising is often also important. But most importantly.. if it harm none, do what you will. Blessings Shayla x
Cunningham has another book specifically written for solitaries. You should check it out. I've found it quite helpful. http://www.amazon.com/Wicca-Solitary-Practitioner-Scott-Cunningham/dp/0875421180"]Amazon.com: Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (9780875421186): Scott Cunningham: Books He's also got another one for using just things found in nature for your rituals rather than buying a bunch of stuff. You use stones, streams, even the stars can be used for divination. It's pretty good for a budget: http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Power-Techniques-Llewellyns-Practical/dp/0875421210/ref=la_B000APBR5W_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1367706800&sr=1-8"]Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic (Llewellyn's Practical Magick): Scott Cunningham: 9780875421216: Amazon.com: Books Sorry, I'll stop plugging him now. I came across these books independently of each other and bought them, brought them home and didn't realize until then that they were by the same author. I had heard he was an author to look for, but didn't really pay attention. Turns out I was a fan and didn't even know it. Also, I am quite new myself, but from what I am reading, a lot of it is following a very loose structure to find your own ritual and beliefs. If you feel comfortable working on your own, do it. No one has all the answers. There are no laws that anyone is enforcing. If somebody gives you crap, say "blessed be" and walk the other way. There's no use arguing about it.
