New to Wicca/Witchcraft

[ndeaa ,]

Hiya !
I'm new to Wicca and I have a few questions. 1) What do you think is essential for a beginner to know based on what you know? 2) What is one book that you recommend me to read? 3) My mom knows that I am interested in converting from Christianity to Wicca and she wants to get involved in it with me. But, my dad doesn't because (their separated) I know how much his family will ridicule me. What do you think i should do when they mention Christianity or when we have to celebrate Christian holidays? OH ! And , what type of divination do you use? Tarot cards, mirror divination? I knew a girl that practiced things of this sort and i'm quite interested in it.

Thanks a bunch !
--n'deaa ,

[Lark]

Hi N'deaa,

Welcome to Branwen's. As a long time Wiccan the first thing that I would recommend that you start learning about is the theology and the way that Wiccans view the interactions between our Gods, the Earth, and ourselves.  Wicca is, after all, a religion.  So it is important that you understand the beliefs that Wiccans hold so you can truly decide whether this is the religion you want to follow.

If I could recommend just one book to start with it would be "A Witch Alone" by Marian Green.  The book is designed in such a way that you read one chapter a month and then do the exercises at the end of the chapters as you go along.  Or you can do what many of us do and read the entire book, then go back and work through it one chapter at a time.  It is perhaps the best single book on the spiritual side of Wicca.

Another book that I'd suggest would be "Wicca, a Year and a Day" by Timothy Roderick.  But I would still go for Marian Green's book first.

Rather than get into arguments with the non-Pagan people in your family I would simply not bring up your interest in Wicca to them.  Or if they bring it up to you you can tell them that you are trying to learn about the beliefs of a variety of religions (something I believe all of us should do.)  Or you can say that your beliefs are very private and you'd rather not discuss them.

As for the holidays, I see no problem with celebrating Christian holidays with family.  For you it will be less about the religious meaning of the day and much more about seeing it as a time to share with family or friends.  And of course as Pagans we see all religions as having validity and all Gods as real.  So just because you've become Pagan doesn't mean that you can't still have fun with your family on the Christian holidays.  And remember too that many of the Christian holidays have Pagan roots, so you can always be thinking to yourself of the other meaning of the holiday.

In terms of divination I used runes as my primary divination method and ogham as my second.  I also do both water and fire scrying.  And for simpler yes/no questions I'll often just grab my pendulum.

Blessings,

-Lark-