There are plenty of sites and articles that tell you what you want to hear, but where are they when your religious choice becomes a struggle? Here are a few honest ways to tell if Wicca really is right for you.
Real Signs that Wicca is Right For You
I remember the first website I found that had information on paganism. It was one of those cheesy “is Wicca right for you” sites. At the time, I was probably about thirteen or fourteen and didn’t think the site was cheesy at all. Eventually, I would develop a sense of my own ideals
and beliefs, forming the basis of a belief system that was vaguely Wiccan, but completely pagan. Throughout the years I have read a great deal of material on Wicca and paganism, both in print and on the Internet. In that time, I have been amazed at the number of websites I have stumbled across that were exactly like the first Wiccan site I found. If you’ve never seen a site like this, let me explain.This type of website promises to give you an idea of the likelihood that Wicca is the right religion for you. To discover this, you simply have to read through a list of simple traits. If a lot of them apply to you, then Wicca is probably a good choice. If not, maybe you should look elsewhere.
The problem with these sites is in the list itself. It looks something like this:
You are drawn to the outdoors
You collect stones, rocks, or other natural found items
You prefer natural stones to man made jewelry
You prefer natural remedies to man made medicines
You feel you have natural psychic abilities
You make a point of remembering your dreams.
Honestly, I could go on like this for an entire page, but I’m sure you get the idea. If you like nature, Wicca is probably a good fit for you. Or so they say.
Honestly, I think that it i
s because of lists like this that so few outsiders have a real understanding about what Wicca truly is. They think Wiccans are just a bunch of naturalist hippies. Maybe some of them are. Maybe even most of them are. But that is beside the point. This list does nothing to prepare a person for the spiritual journey that is Wicca. This list, quite frankly, is a crock.
So, I decided to write my own list. This is an all new “is Wicca right for you” article. Not only does it give you an idea of whether Wicca will probably be a good fit for you and your life, it gives you an idea of what to expect in the years to come. So, here it is; a new, improved, Wicca list. Note that liking nature is only one question of five.
Is Wicca Right For You?
If you can answer ‘Yes’ to most or all of the following questions, there is a high chance that Wicca will be a good choice for you, should you choose to pursue it.
1. Do you like the idea of a nature based religion?
While there is much more to Wicca than loving and revering nature, the great natural world is a big part of the faith. As a Wiccan you will be expected to spend a lot of time outdoors, preferably alone, so that you can clear your mind of unnatural things and allow your inner voice and the wisdom of the divine to speak to you. You may also be expected to take parts in simple rituals involving natural elements such as earth, air, fire, and water. Wicca also puts emphasis on finding the divine in the natural. If you look at a gemstone and see a boring old rock, you will have a more difficult time understanding some of the lessons Wicca has to teach.
2. Are you prepared to spend a great deal of time reading?
Most organized religions rely very heavily on the spoken word. From sermons and prayers to public readings of religious texts, you can learn a great deal about the religion just by listening. If you expect to learn Wicca just by listening to someone talk, you’re either going to be sadly mistaken or you’re going to end up with a head full of nonsense.
Wiccans believe in self study and since there is no standard religious text, that means doing a lot of reading about a lot of different things by a lot of different authors. See a pattern here? If you enjoy reading about new ideas, this is great. There is a large list of books on Wicca that are as near to authoritative as possible. Keep in mind, though, that one of the main beliefs in Wicca is that there is no one right answer and no completely authoritative book.
3. Are you prepared to define your own moral code?
There is one solid rule in Wicca. As it harm none, do what ye will. In plain English, that rule is “Do what you want, just don’t hurt anyone.” While most groups have a moral code of their own, and most Wiccan leaders have a moral code that they share, you will largely be expected to decide right and wrong for yourself. For some people, that is no problem. They simply take the moral code set forth by the laws of their respective country, state, and city and add them to that of their specific location. For example, most people always follow the laws, but follow the rules of their school while in class and the rules of their employer while at work. The moral code of their religion are just one more set of rules. These are the people who easily answer yes to number three. They set their own moral code based on their situation and their own sense of right and wrong.
The people who have issue with this are most often the people coming to Wicca from
another religion. Though there is always debate about how a particular religious group defines specific moral codes, one thing is always certain. Sin exists. Sin is bad, wrong, immoral. And somewhere in the pages of your religious text, if you look hard enough, you will find the definition of what is sinful. Wicca has no such text. Each person is expected to discover right and wrong on their own. While that may seem easy at first, in reality, it is very, very difficult. Wicca is not for the uncertain or the weak of heart. You have to know what you believe is right and wrong before the situation calls for it. Then, you have to be certain enough in your belief that you can resist the temptation, avoid the sin, or stand up against the injustice. You have to be willing to let go of what you have been taught to believe about right and wrong and make the decision for yourself. It is difficult, but it is a large part of what has made Wicca such a popular religion.4. Are you prepared to go into the broom closet?
Are you prepared to hide your religion? I know what you’re thinking; Wicca is good and shouldn’t be hidden. While that may be true, no one should announce their new identity as a Wiccan the second they’ve read their first book on Wicca. Wicca is a religious path and one that takes a lot of time, study, and consideration, especially in the beginning. If you are just starting out on the path, you will be spending your first year or so determining what you believe. You will be defining your moral code, gaining an understanding of how the Divine fits into your life, and slowly developing a set of rituals. You will be in a period of transition.
While there is nothing wrong with these things, (the transition phase, in my opinion is a beautiful, wonderful thing) you will be in no position to defend or explain your religious and spiritual beliefs to anyone. And believe me, once you come out as a Wiccan, you will be asked to do both…frequently.
If you decide to study Wicca, be prepared to keep your new religious ideas to your self for a little while. Outsiders will view your quest for personal truth as a sort of attack on their own belief system. You will share an idea and they will go on the defensive or attempt to pick holes in your theory.
While there’s nothing wrong with sharing and questioning beliefs, you will want to do a lot of reading, thinking, and soul searching before opening yourself up to that. Also, if you choose to publicly state your new faith, there will be a number of curious individuals who will simply want an explanation. “What exactly do you believe,” is a question you will be asked a lot. In time, you can write out a few of the basic points of your belief system so that you can share them when asked. You could also choose a simple, polite response stating that you prefer to keep your religious beliefs to yourself. Until you know how you want to respond to such inquiries, its probably better to keep your new religious transition to yourself.
5. Are you prepared to take the mundane with the magical?
Wicca is a beautiful faith, filled with magic and spirituality. But isn’t a magical fix all. You will still have problems. You will have awful bosses, mean co-workers, family problems, bad hair days, and leaky sinks. You will meet Wiccans who are terrible people and outsiders who are wonderful. You will question your faith. You will question the divine. You will have to deal with people who make Wicca look bad.
You will have problems. Life will go on. Sometimes it will be so beautiful and filled with the divine that you are surprised you can even breathe for all the love and beauty in your heart. Other times you will struggle just to believe in the existence of the divine at all. When writing or talking about Wicca, many Wiccans tend to gloss over the mundane. As a Wiccan, the mundane world will still exist. You will still have many of the same problems you have now. The real question, I suppose, is are you willing to make your own magic, even on the darkest days. Can you connect with the Divine, on your own, even in the most unmagical moments?
So, Is Wicca Right For You
Wicca isn’t for everyone. Some people are more suited to book religions, other traditions, or completely eclectic paths. That is okay. But, if you are truly interested in Wicca, feel a connection to the natural world, and are prepared to spend a lot of time reading, thinking, and soul searching, then Wicca may be the right path for you. Don’t trust a list of simple traits to tell you what path is right for you. Find the answers for yourself. You will be happier, stronger, and more fulfilled because of it.