My pal Rusty is wanting me and my fiancee to join his coven and I'm considering it. Not really that seriously though but I think it's interresting (not that I believe in it). \n\nThis is some of the stuff he's told me: \n\nwell, he's the High Priest of his coven and the only to get intiated is to do the following... \n\nThere's 3 different intiation processes (3 levels of witches a person could become). If u join a coven alone u must have sex with the High Priest or if ur a man, u must have sex with the High Priestess (my friend Kim in this case). It's nothing romantic or sexual, just in and out basically. Also ur suppose to do the five fold kiss. U Wiccans out there should know what this means... If u join with a friend or partner u can have sex with them instead of the High Priest or Priestess. To become a High Priest(tess) urself u must bed a HP no matter if u originally joined with ur mate. \n\nThis is just a generalization of what Rusty told me.
210541
Omigods! This pisses me off! I am a wiccan and I just want to say that all this sex shit you are talking about is not how its done in every coven and I don't think you should join his if its so centered on sex! This guy should not be allowed to practice! \n\nYou should never ever join a coven unless you are very serious about it and have studied for a year and a day and proven your devotion to Spirit. If all you have to do is fuck some priest to get in its not about spirtual enlightenment for them and you do not need to be involved. This coven sounds like a joke!
227740
I'm also a Wiccan in the military.  In the five years I've been in, I've asked this question several times, and about the best answer I've gotten has been that all chaplains are officers, thus you need a degree.  To be chaplain, you need a degree from a religious school.  I believe that they are considering adding metaphysical sciences as an acceptable degree for chaplains, but don't hold your breath.\n\nWicca and paganism ARE recognized as valid religions by the government and the military, though.  The chaplain's handbook has a chapter on the Wiccan faith and how to help Wiccans.\n\nI have never had the desire to see a military chaplain, however.  I prefer to look among the local community for good pagan or Wiccan groups and pose my questions and problems there.  I don't really believe that a Christian, Muslim or Jewish chaplain could help me spiritually with an open mind, and I haven't ever been stationed at a base with a Buddhist chaplain, who might have a least a little more tolerance, I hope.  The closest encounter I've had with a military chaplain was at my last base, when the pagan group I was a member of seriously considered filing an EO on the guy because he was giving us a hard time about using a room at the chapel annex for meetings once a week.  He was finding every reg in the book that he possibly could use to block us from using that space, and since we were in Japan, off base wasn't an option unless it was at someone's house, and off-base housing wasn't really all that roomy.  On base was pretty cramped, too.  He finally quit giving us a hard time, though, and seemed to just accept that we were there to stay.
159423
I don't know how you feel about 12 step programs, but someone very close and dear to me did Gambler's Annonymous and it REALLY helped him. At first he was skeptical, especially because they talked about a "higher power" and he's not the religious type and didnt want to join some cult - but he found an idea of a higher power just as a better life that is meant for him that he can have if he gives himself over to it and there were all types of people there. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but I can tell you that he has not only stopped gambling but he has a better relationship with his family, is dating and working, is a more open and honest person and just generally happier.\n\nIf anything it wouldn't hurt - you are not forced to stay if you dont want and you are not forced to pay money for it, so worth a try. \n\nI wish you the best!
95068
Wiccans are good witches. Research them, see who you can find that will appreciate your religious difference and be-friend you. There are people out there who will totally get you. My sister is a Wiccan. Don't let others opinion of you change your beliefs. You are not an evil person.
168906
This is actually a very trying question. I commend you on putting something on this Q & A, that actually makes me think. Very nice indeed.\n---------------\nIt sounds kind of like a play on words. I mean it could lead to a bunch of different things. Something like the two high beings of importance, be it the priest and doctor, take the logical way to their own way of life and easily say here is an answer now be gone with you. The doctor thinks a drug will always be the answer. The priest always thinks that a prayer and maybe a hail mary will be the answer, but in the end does that really help us out? Does it answer the question we trully asked?\n\nNow the gentleman that has been in that hole has been there before him. Basically like the saying, " ive been down that road before" So this guy knows what he is going through, and instead of just giving a quick answer he allows him to see what he did to solve his problem. Maybe something like a alcoholic that has been reformed, and then helps his friend knowing that he has been in his shoes so he knows how he can help him out of his "hole" as well.\n\n-------\nI have to agree this is not really a joke, but a story of learning or a moral, none the less it made us all think. Thanks again.. I enjoy these types of things. Seperates the adults from the kids on here.
669053
Goodness, no!  Why would I invite a stranger into my house?  That's a silly question.  Who knows what would happen next.  My daughter might be exposed to religion way before her time, my family might be burned at the stake because we're Wiccan, who knows.  I'd rather keep my door firmly shut.
324954
It's odd because i am always helping people understand wicca by explaining that spell casting is essentially the same process as prayer.  Different words for the same spiritual process imho.  But words are the only way we have to communicate here so we have to talk about what they mean and come to some agreement.  But it's not productive to argue over what words mean too much.  Better to try to really UNDERSTAND others.
46877
You have to decide WITCH path you want to follow.  I assume you are an adult.  WITCHEVER one gives you a greater sense of power, go with.
184285
Here is how I feel..\n\nHelp for Non-Wiccans \nThat someone you love should decide one day to be a Witch may be the last thing you ever expected. What could be more alien, more controversial, more overwhelming? \n\nYour loved one is probably exploring Wicca, a modern Pagan (Neo-Pagan) movement. Throw out all the stereotypes and the Hollywood hype you've seen or heard about Witchcraft. Wicca (like other modern Pagan religions) is actually a gentle, life-affirming, positive path. It is a religion and a way of life that connects on a very deep level with Nature and the Earth's cycles. Wicca is very individualized. Its followers do not answer to any all-powerful leader; nor are they cut off from family or friends. Wicca is not a proselytizing religion. For some, it just happens to be the religion that makes the most sense. \n\nHow should you respond to someone interested in Wicca? Try to understand that there are many positive spiritual paths from which to choose. Mainstream religion is not for everyone; give your loved one the freedom to choose for him/herself. If your under-age child takes an interest in Wicca, you have the right to insist that he/she stay away from it. But if Wicca is forbidden territory, your child may seek the information subversively; wouldn't it be better to permit overt exploration so that your child may seek information with your guidance? \n\nOccasionally you may hear the terms "white witch", "black witch", implying that there are good or bad versions of the path. This is actually a fallacy. Wiccans follow what's known as The Wiccan Rede, which states, "If it harm none, do what you will." This means one may live life as one sees fit so long as one does no intentional harm. (This includes casting negative spells and doing magic to manipulate others.) Wiccans by definition do not practice any form of negative magic. Those who do are not deserving of the title, "Witch". \n\nNo one can speak for others who claim to be Wiccan, and it is possible that there are some alleged Wiccans who are unethical. Keep in mind that in all walks of life, from every cultural, philosophical and religious background there are those who do not live up to the high standards of their community. The best thing to do is to encourage new Wiccans to be discriminatory, to use good judgement and common sense in their spiritual pursuits. \n\nFor more basic information about this path please see the other sections of this page including, "What is Wicca?" \n\nQuestions? If you have a question about Wicca or Neo-Paganism, write to Fly-by-Night psyche@flybynightbookstore.com. Your question and our answer will be posted on our web site (with only your first name for those who wish to maintain their anonymity). We may not be able to answer all questions due to volume but will attempt to respond to as many as possible.
313637
She very much has the right, I know the case you speak of, I believe his name is Patrick Stewart, i don't remember his rank.  I think that its horrid that the military has not taken the steps to allow the pentagram to be an accepted religious symbol.  Afterall, it was taken of the hate symbol list a long time ago.  \n\nThis is a story you might enjoy about the military who is trying to put up appearances to get Wiccan solidiers to join,but then dropping the ball of equality.  \n\nI was recently on a military base visitin a friend of mine, she's Gypsy Pagan and I'm Wiccan.  The military ONLY recognizes Wicca and no other pagan religions, so if she wants to go to circle on base, she has to do it with the Wiccan group, but on Andrews AFB, there is no Wiccan group, because they require you have specific accredidations to be the Chaplain representative for that base, you can't just go get a ULC http://www.ulc.org/?destination=ordination ordination, you have to go to college.  (Very hard to find college classes for Wicca)  But there is a circle of nearby Fort Meade, they meet in the chapel like every other relgiion and their meetings are even mosted on the sign outside with all the other meetings with a day of the week and time.  \n\nSo we go to Fort Meade on April 30th for the Beltane ritual and meet in the parking lot, we arrived a little early and were suprised to see what seemed like a SOuthern Baptist group heading into our part of the chapel.  As our chaplain representative arrived, she became bold enought to enter and ask them to move out because, as the sign outside stated, we are alotted this time and had reserved it as an ongoing reservation.  The person she talked to, I believe one of the deacons, asked her what group she was from and then, when she answered, started laughing, he said they had reserved the time slot with the chaplain last week and that they weren't moving.  We called the chaplain, but he never picked up his cell phone, we left several messages, but then just continued our ritual outside while children from the Baptist group continued to gawk at us and make comments.
647830
Hey Colleen, \n I feel I should inform you that Wicca is a religion with a great reverence for nature. It is not a teen clique you can join, and learn to do "spells and stuff". If you are really interested in Wicca as a religion, you can do a search on the internet, and get the basic idea of what Wicca is all about. If all you want to do is "cast spells", please do not even consider Wicca. It is not for you.
653789
heck yes! read some of the reviews on them at yahoo merchants. I had gotten stuff from them and it really helped alot with issues I had long term problems with. Of course prayer from ANY faith helps too. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs/religion/practices. You have to decide for yourself what is right or wrong and not let others influence you. If you want to try something from that buisness that is your choice. I am wiccan (a positive earth based spirituality) and proud of it. I do cast spells as long as nobody-including yourself-is hurt/suffering. My life has gotten nothing but better since following this path. I even feel more spiritual. I think a spell to help with your career would work better than one to bring a lover back.
214135
"i have choosen my path for pagan whis is celtic what is next?"\n\nYour next step is to start reading through Celtic Pagan websites, and trying to meet other Celtic Pagans for guidance.\n\nHere are some recommended websites:\nhttp://imbas.org/\nhttp://www.adf.org/core/\nhttp://www.keltria.org/index.htm\n\nI highly recommend that you join the forums and discussion lists of these organizations, and read through their reading lists.  Stay far far away from DJ Conway, OBOD, and Wicca - none of which is authenticly Celtic.\n\n"i need to fine god and goddess right? "\n\nNot necessarily.  There's no rule in reconstructionist Paganism that you have to limit yourself to the worship of only one God and one Goddess from the pantheon you've dedicated yourself to.  Perhaps you've confused Celtic Paganism with Wicca.\n\nHere are some links on the Celtic Pantheon(s):\nhttp://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=celtic+pantheon&btnG=Google+Search\n\nAnd here's an article on why Wicca is not Celtic:\nhttp://home.comcast.net/~uberrod/text4.html\n\n"do i also have to find my lenage like find if i am a star or a bubble or a monkey?"\n\nHuh?  Lineage is a Wiccan concept, which is again not Celtic.  I'm not sure where you're getting this star/bubble/monkey business.  Sounds like you've possibly got some really strange ideas of what the phrase "Celtic Paganism" means.
630967
I'm not Wiccan but this is not limited to Wiccans only.\n\nThere are different kinds of spirits of different levels of spiritual evolution. Some can still be attached to the earthly plane and try to attach to an individual and live and exist through that individual. That spirit would not have the individual's well being and highest good at heart.\n\nThere are some spirits that are high-level spiritual guides from the higher realm. They can be enlightened beings, Masters, Angels, etc. They work in service to God and continue to assist human beings in their spiritual growth. They vibrate in a much higher energy level. So one needs to increase their vibration in order to be able to connect to the highest level spiritual guides. They only speak of love and wisdom. Never anything negative or egoistic.\n\nThe ouija board is just a divination tool. What the user knows beforehand determines the outcome of using it. If one uses it with ignorance, then they will get a ignorant experience. If one uses it properly, knowing how to protect themselves, knowing how to call the highest good guides and know how to send them back and close it properly then it is all good.\n\nSo if anybody is going to have the intent to communicate or work with spirit guides, they should be knowledgeable about such matters first so they can be in control and recognize who they are dealing with.\n\nI highly recommend books by Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer. I've read many of their books, and give them        up! http://www.orindaben.com Their books are very easy to read and understand and are full of love and light.\n\nAs for communicating with the      if they are already in a new life, that is a good question. I don't know if I have the correct answer, but it is just a theory. The Over Soul can be looked at as one circle with several smaller circles each living a life. All of those lives living are connected to the same individual (Over Soul). Time itself is a man-made concept. Time is truly not linear, it does not exist, so therefore "past lives" are actually "parallel lives". When the medium is communicating with the deceased person, I believe they are only talking to the lower self (the smaller circle) of that person while there is already another lower self of the same Higher Self (Over Soul) is already living a life stimultaneously.\n\nMany psychics can not only see the past lives they can also see into the future lives, so that means it is like taking a peek into another life and watching it real time. Time is just an illusion.\n\nI know complex ugh? But it is good to wonder about such things like that!
627850
well humans can "draw down" god's & goddesses into them.  It is a process known as "trance possession" whereby your body is "ridden" by a god, goddess, spirit, ancestor, etc...a milder form of this is  performed by trance mediums during "seances"... It is also known in some circles as "aspecting" where the deity aspects within the human who opens up the appropriate channels to allow the spirit to enter the body... the persons body is still a human body, but the spirit within the mortal shell is that of a god, goddess, spirit, ancestor etc... this is more prevalant in voodoo, santaria, candoble etc, but some wiccans and other neopagans practice it as well...I have had sex with "god" who had been aspected into my husband during a midsummer rite... and i have to say... it was different... not like the normal rustling of the sheets on your average friday night...but much more intense...it was not my husband in there...you could see it in his eyes...his actions were unprdictable, we have been together for 15 yrs...and i know how he is... and how we do things... but this was wild, primal & different...but as for banging Yngwie Frey during my last session of gnosis... if i could be so lucky...that has yet to happen... when i am experinceing the gods in that capacity it is more on an intellectual level, then on a purely physical level...(not that i wouldn't jump at the chance... FREY IS HAWT!!!)
117044
anyone who practices witcraft,whether it is white or black magic is an agent of darkness and worships satan. there is no neutral position,it is either you are for God or for the devil. pls RUN away from that person.Don't believe a word she says.
565375
OK. You say you're a pagan and a witch. I'm not sure if by witch you mean Wiccan, some make a point of it being two different thing while others don't. Anyway, I think I know where you're coming from. I'm Native American, and walk Red Road. I think that qualifies me as pagan. Shamans, or medicine men/women conjure, cast "spells", work with herbs to heal, etc. & etc. From just that short description I think you'll see we have things in common. MY experience with the same question you ask ... Christian belief is based on ancient texts that have been mistranslated and so changed over the hundreds of years they've existed as to, in all probability, have very little resembelance to any original documents. That, plus the fact that these are read within cultural contexts altogether foriegn to those of the original authors coupled with dire ignorance of the culture & etc. OF the authors makes for a totally misunderstood, and perhaps totally "misunderstandable", book. But its all they know. They never really study other faiths. And when they do they almost never go to the source, but rather read books by Christians ABOUT other faiths. Which thing is biased, because nearly all of those books seek out whats WRONG with the other faith, from a "Christian" perspective, rather than highlighting whats good or pointing out any common ground. The result of all this? Ignorance. Both of their own faith, and the faiths of others. Now, add this ... Scriptural quotes such as ... "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." And add to THAT sort of thing an over powering desire to see the other poor devil (pun intended) saved from eternal hell fire! The result of all THIS? Everything from witch burning to strong arm evangelization. I know its un-cool. But ... It just is what it is. The current version of Christianism simply fosters the sort of thing your question describes. Happily not all segments of "Churchanity" fall into this trap, and neither do all Christians. But enough of them do that, well, I know exactly how you feel. Its ignorance and bigotry, I sincerely believe, based primarily on the above. A simple come back might be, if you're in a situation where you feel safe in doing this, to reply to such hatred with ... "I'll pray to the Goddess that your soul be saved from hateful depravity." Smile, and walk away ... Real fast. ;-) ~ Peace & Blessings ~