Wiccanism

[Yuuki]

I am a wytch though.
I've been studying for a few months now.
And yea, i'm a bit of a cliche, because i actually like the whole hat and broomstick...but away from my sad interests..

Yes, i am wyccan. I focus mostely on natural magik and aura's, and take interests in herbalism, along with independent energy resourse...

[Kei]

Interesting. I myself am a naturalist... i.e. I believe everything follows natural laws, and I don't accept the existence of anything supernatural without empirical evidence. That viewpoint got me out of jury duty too. :3

[Yuuki]

I see.
I alologise ><
i never meant to be so open about it

[Kei]

Nah, I enjoy discussing other people's worldviews. I try to study every new belief system I come across, because each one has a unique and fascinating perspective worth learning about.

[Yuuki]

I was brought up christian, but, because of that, i actually found many flaw in the scripts of the bible, that even made me laugh. I became wyccan after a friend of mine asked if i was indeed wyccan, because of the way i acted in the wood behind my house, funny. I found myself wanting to actually reshearch what there beliefs were, and in no less then a week, i found myself joing a comunity, and started to study wyccan rites, traditions etc.

[Kei]

I went ahead and split this into it's own topic.

The only nature-based religions I've studied thus far are Shinto and Asatru (neo Norse Paganism), although I guess Buddhism kinda counts too. Can you recommend any good resources for learning about Wiccanism?

[Yuuki]

Well, i could go two ways with this.
I could show the (very very friendly and inspiraing) Pagn community i am part of. They're very helpful and kind, and have taught me alot.
Or i could reccomend some good books. It depends what you're looking for.

(i use wyccan and pagn becaus i have a word blocker on my computer ¬,¬# )

[Kei]

I wouldn't mind hearing about the community, but you should probably send information like that via PM, for privacy's sake. As for the books, feel free to list 'em here... I'm making a bookstore run tomorrow so I'll keep an eye out for them. Thanks!

[Yuuki]

ok, i'l do that in a another poss (while i gather the list)

[Yuuki]

Complete book of Wytchcraft by Raymond Buckland. is a good start, filling the basics and more complex traditions.

A Wytches Bible (isnt what it is called don't be scared), contains, in one volume, Janet and Stewart Farrar's two books, "Eight Sabbats for Witches" and "The Wytches' Way." These two books are classics in the genre of New Age literature and a necessary addition to the library of every Wyccan and Pagn

Wycca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner is an introduction to Wycca and is about how to live life magically, spiritually, and wholly attuned with nature. It is a book of sense and common sense, not only about magick, but about religion and one of the most critical issues of today: how to achieve the much needed and wholesome relationship with our Earth. Cunningham presents Wycca as it is today: a gentle, Earth-oriented religion dedicated to the Goddess and God.

those are probebly the best three i would recommend. just...change the y's into i's

I hope this helps >< (is bad at helping)

[Kei]

It helps, thanks!

I'm also going to put a couple of books up here, just in case anybody is interested in learning about Shinto (Japan's nature-based religion).

Shinto: The Way Home, an academic look at Shinto philosophy and spirituality.

The Looking Glass God, one Shinto priest's insightful guide to Shinto's cosmology and philosophy. This book is out-of-print, but it's easy to find used.

Hmm, we should just call this topic "The Religious Ideas Exchange."

[Kei]

From the first chapter of Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner:

Unlike some religions, Wicca doesn't view deity as distant. The Goddess and God are both within ourselves and manifest in all nature. This is the universality; there is nothing that isn't of the gods.

This is extremely similar to Shinto's philosophy of the Kami, with the exception that Shintoists believe in an infinite number of deities instead of just two. Fascinating...

[Kei]

Also, the self-dedication rite he describes is similar to that of Asatru. It would appear the idea of consecrating yourself before the gods in a natural environment is a popular one; however, Wicca has the most ritualized version of this rite I've yet encountered.

[lazysunside]

Do you have a religion for me? I always stay neutral, dont follow both science and God. Is there any place for me?

[Kei]

Well, that depends. Do you believe in the supernatural? Do you need empirical evidence before you'll accept the existence of something? What do you think God is... an actual sentient being, or the personification of a force beyond human understanding? Do you think living creatures have a soul?

[lazysunside]

Hm God is just something man made up to answer what he don't know.

[Taiga]

That could be said for all religions.

In my opinion it's whether you believe in the phiolosophy, not what they take as fact, that matters.

[lazysunside]

What's your religion? I believe it is atheism is it, pando-kun? (I forgot your name, sorry)

[Taiga]

I'm what you might call an agnostic. I don't deny that something like a god could exist, since to be wrong is human... but I doubt it.

Much like Haruhi herself I REALLY want gods, ghosts and such to exist, but common sense tells me they won't.

[lazysunside]

Thats right one Pande, Interesting.