What are some reliable resources (books, websites) to learn about Wicca?
The Wiccans I know, mostly recommend Scott Cunningham and then go to the source Murray, Gardner, etc.The problem with Wicca is it is pretty diverse. There are many forms of Wicca. You find groups such as “Gardnerian”, “Alexandrian” or “Dianian” Wicca. Inspired by this, there are many people who form their own Wicca movement.What I would recommend is to visit various web platforms and talk with them. Ask them what kind of tradition they follow and why. You will soon experience to talk with traditionalist, who will claim that they value the roots much and they want to keep a lineage clean and that they follow strict traditions. Then you will find people who are members of the newer groups and will tell you that the Gardnerians etc are a bit too strict with some interpretations. Then there are the “free wiccans”. They do not give a damn about lineage and claim that you can be Wicca whenever you want. No need to beg for an initiation.I would really talk with them. Ask details. How they live, how they celebrate and what is important for them.Btw. also joining a coven is very different. For traditional Wiccans, often joining a coven is something sacred and there is no “lets try it out quickly and then decide”. of course you can leave when you want, but it takes a while to be invited… others follow a different approach “you wanna join? Sure come over… I hope, you have no problem that we all will be skyclad… Just get out of your clothes and have fun… lets talk about initiation later”
What are the best resources to learn old-style Celtic paganism?
"Cattle Lords and Clansman" by Nerys Patterson. It's a tough read, but a very thorough look at Gaelic culture. Fergus Kelly's "A Guide to Early Irish Law", as a useful primer to try and understand the prevailing legal system. "Celtic Heritage" by Alwyn and Brinley Rees is another excellent source. All three of those are academic or scholarly sources rather than popular ones. Avoid popular ones because there is a large amount of misinformation surrounding "Celtic" things within pop culture, largely based in Romanticist notions and some New Age notions. I'd also suggest reading some of the myths and stories, preferably the Mythological Cycle first. The other Cycles are more Christianized, though there is still a great deal of pre-Christian custom in them. As for a website, Gaelic Polytheism provides some excellent sources and the Complete Index of Questions (the CR Faq) provides a pretty solid overview. I wouldn't trust very many websites though, there is a huge amount of misinformation.---------Sadly I must edit my answer. The above poster Justin Eller has promoted misinformation and then deleted my comments arguing against his position after he distorted my position and argument to change the subject. Since he has chosen to silence criticism of himself, I am editing my answer here to note that his answer relies on a specific view of some scholars and is not the full consensus of historians, archaeologists, or linguists that study Early Medieval Ireland. Few scholars deny the pre-Christian contribution to Old Irish literature, though some extreme "anti-Nativists" deny any such contribution exists and attribute all to Christian monks and Christian literary motifs. To quote the Briathra Flainn Fhina maic Ossu 3.4, "Falsehood should be rebuked".
What are good sources on wicca?
Your first stop should be http://wicca.timerift.net The woman who authors it has an MA in history and she cites all her sources so the site is quite reliable. It's basically one big, academic article on Wicca. Check out her recommended reading list and her footnotes to find more books and websites on the topic. And I'll back up an earlier poster - anyone can register any domain name. Example: failblog.org - while entertaining, it's hardly academic. Are you in university or high school? If you're in university, you'll have access to all sorts of journal databases and academic articles about the subject. If you're in high school your resources will probably be pretty limited. If you're looking for the history of Wicca you'll want to get some books by Gerald Gardner, Raymond Buckland and "Triumph of the Moon" by Ronald Hutton. Wicca was started in England in 1954 but where it's a religion it's all over the place. You'll probably have to include something to do with Americans who practise Wicca as well as British and European followers. Try some of these articles and sites if you can get a hold of them: Gordon, Jr, William E. "Occultic Practices and Beliefs of Wicca." Southwestern Journal of Theology 46 (2004): 31-42. Hutton, Ronald. "Paganism and Polemic: The Debate over the Origins of Modern Pagan Witchcraft." Folklore 111 (2000): 103-17. Noble Beyer, Catherine. Wicca: For the Rest of Us. 2008. 6 Oct. 2008 <>http://wicca.timerift.net> Robinson, Bruce A. "Wicca: An Introduction. " Religious Tolerance. 27 Mar. 2008. 7 Oct. 2008 <>.http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_intr.htm>. Shuck, Glenn W. "The Myth of the Burning Times and the Politics of Resistance in Contemporary American Wicca." Journal of Religion and Society 2 (2000).
What are some good (preferably online) resources about Wicca that will help fill in the holes in Wicca 101 books?
Wicca is a very broad term used to describe earth based religions. What do you feel drawn to? Celtic, Native American, African, Egyptian, Voodoo, Santeria, ecclectic? Do you prefer a more free style ritual, or organized ritual? Do you want to work alone as a solitary practitioner, or in a group (coven)? There are a lot of variables to consider. I am going to add two links for you here as well. If you want to talk more on what your main focus is find me on facebook under this same name.Witches' Voice Inc. - 18 March, 2018 - 2:26:53 AMhttps://www.google.com/search?sa...
What are some good books or online resources about Wicca or Paganism in general?
First, understand that Wicca and paganism are two different things. Pagan religions are either paleo-pagan or neo-pagan. Paleo-(ie. old) pagan religions were pre-christian polytheistic nature-based religions specific to individual cultures. Neo-(ie. new) pagan religions are revivals or reconstructions of paleo-pagan religions. Despite the claims of some, not all, Wiccans, Wicca dates to approximately 1950, is duotheistic not polytheistic, and is not a revival or reconstruction of any paleo-pagan religion. It is impossible for something to be a new (ie. neo) version of something for which there was no old (ie. paleo) version so Wicca does not qualify as a neo-pagan religion. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with the religion, itself.There is no such thing as paganism in general. There are culture specific pagan religions such as Celtic polytheism, Norse polytheism, etc.. If you want accurate information about them, I suggest that you do a search for “Celtic reconstructionism”, “Norse reconstructionsim” etc.. Absolutely do not rely on Wiccan websites or books for factual information about pagan religions.If you want to learn about Wicca, I suggest that you start with Oxford historian Ronald Hutton’s “Triumph of the Moon”. He traced the actual origins of Wicca. Once you have actual facts at your command, it will be easier to separate the wheat from the chaff (and there’s a lot of chaff) when you read other books about Wicca.
Are there any good resources on the Internet to get a better understanding on paganism?
I can answer this from my personal view, from the Reclaiming Tradition (reading Starhawk’s literature). Starhawk has a facebook page and website. Often she has online rituals you can pay to be in on. I did Imbolc with her this year and it was wonderful. I bought my books from Chapters. Sometimes public libraries have books on paganism, or even e-books you can download. I find Pagan or any witchy websites to be silly from my experience. A lot of people (aka fluffs) requesting spells to turn them into dragons or whatever nonsense.YouTube has some great channels as well to learn about Paganism. Unfortunately I do not have all of them listed here because of my memory but here are a few: White Witch Parlour, Noah Tempistari (sp?), and Emily Hawthorne (Hawthorne Mystics, I think). Although not Pagan, White Raven Witch’s Lair is good for spells.Good luck to you!
Best Goth/Pagan Place to Live?
The husband and I are planning on moving and are doing research on where we want to go. Most information I find is spotty at best in relation to one particular topic. I would like other user’s opinions on places that are more open to Gothic and Pagan types and optimally have resources relating to those lifestyles as well. My only requirement is that it is not in California!