harder then i thought

[Emerald Victorianna Rose]

learning about wicca is harder than i thought... Some things are just not clicking in my head...

[NachtSorcier]

Like what?

[Anonymous]

Don't expect everything to make sense imediatley.  Take your time and learn to the best of your ability, if thing are still confusing then ask questions here.   Wicca / Witchcraft/ Paganism is a path you follow and learn about new things all the time. Its a Path of Discovery.

If you tell us what isn't 'clicking' then we may be able to help.

[Lark]

Yep, it takes work and time to assimilate all the Wicca is.

But answering questions and trying to help you out is one of the things this board was created to do.  What in particular is giving you a hard time wrapping your mind around?  Perhaps we can help you out.

-Lark-

[Emerald Victorianna Rose]

i'm having trouble with meditating.  I can't concentrate at all, I try incense, meditation music, bubble baths... nothing seems to work.  And also the moon phases.  Some of the books I read for 2006 show different moon phases, I was wondering which ones do I believe.  And sacred spaces, how do I know that I have successfuly made a safe sacred place, where evil cannot enter, or bad spirits shall I say.

[RedRonin]

Maybe you need to back off the volume of things you're trying to accomplish all at once.

Work on the meditation part first.  Stop "trying" and allow your mind to clear and focus.  There are several threads here that deal with meditation methods that you may find of use.

Working with the moon phases doesn't have to be a matter of executing at the exact moment.  You have wiggle room.

As far as "knowing" if you've successfully made a safe sacred space........................  If you need to ask, then you haven't.  There's not going to be any bolts of lightning or other over signs that you've got a proper setup.  This is a matter of focus and will.  You determine what is and isn't.

[Fillionous]

Ok first off - slow down. RedRonin has given you some sound advice.

Things don't need to (and won't) be achived instantly, today, after a few tries; Or even after a few months. People on Pagan paths spend a whole life time practicing and are still refining and learning.

As for your specific questions...
Meditation, it has been discussed a lot elsewhere on this site. Do a bit of a search and I am sure you will find the relivant threads. But basically slow down and try to stop trying... it is something that is relaxing not forced. If you can find a guided meditation (either a course with real people or even a tape) it can help in that it can give you an idea of how things should feel.

Moon cycles, these are in part only important if you feel they are, but given that you (by your questions) feel that they are, then there is some playing room. Make sure that the times and cycles that you are looking at, refure to your bit of the world. Then remember that things can be taylored to moon phases... for example a healing ritual/spell is often advised to be done durring a waxing or full moon to give lots of light and energy to power it... but I have done equelly well using the waning / dark moon to banish the disease... it is just a matter of looking at the problem from both sides. Sometimes you just cannot wait for the 'right' moon and just have to get on with it.

Creating a sacred space, again slow down. Practice your visulisations, take time to 'feel' the space you are in, its energies and 'shape'. Then when you create your circle you will be able to sence the change. You will know when you get it right.

Keep practicing, don't rush it... the statments about a year and a day are not too far off!

Be bright, be bold
Fillionous

[NachtSorcier]

It's no secret that meditation is hard to master.  I am a somewhat timid and jumpy person, so I know how tough it is to sit still and be silent inside.  The best advice I can give you is to keep at it.  Keep experimenting with different positions, music, incense, candle colors, crystals, and oils until you find what works.  In fact, try meditating without any music, scents, or candles.  Just sit in a silent, dim room and see if that helps.  You may be the kind of person who is distracted by such things and need few outside tools.  Personally, it took me several years to learn to meditate.  Persevere.

As Scott Cunningham wrote, don't let magical guidelines, such as the moon's phase, be shackles.  Work with them.  Using phases, days of the week, hours, seasons, and months can enhance your magic, but you won't fail simply because you didn't work on the right day or hour.  Often, a love spell for example will say to work on a Friday during the Venus hour when the moon is waxing.  Certainly, love is something that is worth waiting for and timing for maximum results, but performing the ritual on a Monday during the hour of Jupiter when the moon is dark won't automatically mean that you will fail.  It's about having the right frame of mind, the knowledge to know what it is you want and how to get it, and moving energy with your Will.  In short, timing enhances, it doesn't make or break your success.

When it comes to sacred space, I doubt we all have the same feelings and emotions.  Personally, when I'm in a circle, I feel very mellow and at peace.  Another person may feel jumpy and full of energy.  Your intuition will tell you.  If you feel like you did something wrong, create the space again until you feel safe and secure.  As with most things, practice makes perfect.  

Just keep at it and don't give up.  Try to avoid overwhelming yourself; do one thing at a time.  Practice casting a circle for a while, then when you feel you've gotten better at that, move on to meditation.

Oh, and one last thing, when you're stuck, there's nothing wrong with praying for guidance.

Good luck,
Christophe