Wiccans/witches/pagans/etc., have you had an experience so frightening that you considered giving up wicca?
Or have you gotten used to them?
2007-10-02T07:25:47Z
I should have said "...giving up your practices," excuse me.
2007-10-02T07:30:27Z
And uh, please don't judge me or I'll be forced to ignore you ;)
2007-10-02T07:49:02Z
I'm a wiccan and I can understand the defensive answers. I am only asking because one of my closest friends who frequently works with tarot cards had a vision of a spirit that she says looked "evil" and is calling the vision a "demon." Anyhow she threw out ALL her things (and is suddenly living in an emptier looking house and is back to christianity, in which she was raised.) I am quite shocked and just wondered if anything like this has happened to another wiccan and how did they handle it. But if we can't get around this judgemental stuff- I mean I dont' know about your "wicca" but my wicca is about religion and magick, not JUST religion. Thank you if anyone has a helpful answer, and BB.
2007-10-02T09:52:43Z
To those pagans who, for some reason, are answering questions about magick but are not in the practice of using it/believing in it, "silverentrantress" and "daughter" etc.- yes, I am referring to magick (wicca, tarot, hello?). It seems you answered this question (that had no relevance to you) just to shout to the world that there are pagans who are not witches. Congratulations. Point taken, and the next time I try to be polite by including other religions/practices in my thoughts and questions, I might reconsider.
Lupa2007-10-02T16:20:44Z
Favorite Answer
As a pagan and magician, I've had a number of experiences that did seriously shake up my worldview. However, this is what happens once you get past th e basics, and realize that this isn't just symbolism and ease. Some people find they can't handle being responsible for their own realities, and so go running back to the religion they knew before.
For my own part, yes, magic and pagan beliefs have at times evoked situations that were tough to go trhough. However, I got through them and I learned a lot from the experinces. Therefore, they were well worth it.
First off, I'm going to guess you're talking about Magick here? Not all religious folks are Witches. Witchcraft and Pagan religions are very different groups. Moving on...
Being a practicing Heathen, I've not come across anything that ever frightened me in any way. Being a practicing witch, I've also never come across anything frightening. Actually, with both, all my experiences have ~encouraged~ me to continue what I'm doing!!
I'm afraid that you've been misinformed about Paganism (Wicca is a field of Pagan belief) and Witchcraft. It's good that you're asking questions to learn the truth though - whom better to ask than those that actually practice it!!
You're Wiccan the moment you think you are. You may not be a very good Wiccan, you may, in fact, be a crappy Wiccan, but the year and the day does not prevent you from being clueless or make you not clueless. Indeed, many people with many years and days behind them are clueless. UNLIKE the title "Witch" or the title "One of the Wica" or even the title Wicca (for a male) or Wicce (for a female) the title of Wiccan, used to refer to a PERSON, as a noun (well, as an adjective with the noun person implied) IS NOT OWNED by any tradition. It is a new title, and essentially meaningless when it comes to implying ability or knowledge. (Unless prefaced by a tradition type, or an adjective describing a type of Wiccan.) In regards to the comment: "99% of of Wiccans would not be considered Wiccan by Gardner. A majority of Wiccans today are "Eclectic", while most covens were started by Eclectic Wiccans." This is incorrect. 99% of "Wiccans" would not be considered WITCHES by Gardner. Gardner would have no clue what the heck a Wiccan (especially if pronounced Wick-en) was.
Nope. After practicing for a long time now I can say I have never ran into anything that scared me even the slightest about it. Its not even something that I have just "gotten used to" there absolutely has been nothing frightening that I have experienced. I think its a matter of common sense. Anyone who says they have had a frightening experience that almost made them give it up more likely than not did something wrong, was trying to do something that they were not prepared for, or was playing with something they shouldn't be. Like a Ouija board. Those things are evil. but that has nothing to do with Wicca.
Edited to add: And like soupcan I have had experiences that have deepened my faith as well. So I'm not sure why you have asked this question? are you experiencing fear due to a path that you chose? or are you simply a christian trying to get ammo for your "pagans worship satan" speaches?
I'm with Daughter here. My experience with my Gods and Goddesses has been one of feeling at peace and at home. I have DAILY interaction with my Gods through UNGRUDGED worship. Why would I consider that something to panic over instead of having a sense of wonder that the Universe is so full of enriching experiences?
A friend of mine named Sannion wrote a tongue-in-cheek "Top Ten reasons NOT to practice Hellenismos" and guess what his "Number 1" reason was...... *drum roll please*
"And the number one reason not to be a Hellene:
1. The Gods actually listen to your prayers. You'd think this would be a good thing, wouldn't you? Especially coming from Christianity, with Yahweh the neglectful absentee Father God. But that's only because you haven't had Dionysos drag you into the desert to have a little heart to heart, while the temple where you were worshipping starts to burn down. Or have your wallet stolen every time you pray to Hermes. Or have four people proclaim their undying love to you within 24 hours of complaining to Aphrodite that you're feeling lonely. Or have your your telephone shut off after praying to have the chaos from your online life removed. The Gods have only had a handful of worshippers within the last 1600 years. This is a big change from the way it used to be, when whole cities would gather and burn oxen on their altars. They haven't had much to do in that time, and I think they're a little bored, you know. So they tend to take a very keen interest in our lives. Too keen sometimes. I saw a nymph watch me take a shower once. That was a very disturbing experience."
(You can read the entire essay here: http://www.winterscapes.com/sannion/top_ten.htm )