Wiccan in training?

[TheDeadlyEntity]

I often read people saying there a wiccan in training?

What exactly does this mean?
I can’t see how you need training myself, I would of said its an inner process and instantaneous (once you decide then surly you are).

Unless they mean they have their initiations to go though. Then again, I don’t really believe that’s right either. I think its just something that people added many years ago to keep others from just saying they were part of a set religion.

What do you all think about pagan/wicca initiations?
Are they needed at all?

I can fully understand the need to learn everything there is to learn but I cant see how you need to go through initiations into something that is a natural part of us all.

Mind you I did go through reiki initiations, even though I think it was more a mental experience then anything else.

[AnuChild]

I'm not Wiccan myself, but many Wiccan traditions do require training. I guess a "mainstream" correlation would be that adults converting to Christianity go through a time learning Christian belief and dogma before being formally baptised/confirmed/whatever. Training does make a great deal of sense, especially in oath-bound traditions.

[TheDeadlyEntity]

Training does make a great deal of sense

I totaly agree with that but were does that leave people that are alone with no group to learn from? a lot of groups dont like self learning or they dont seem to anyway lol

[Draconis]

i dont think your wording of 'training' is very good. I personally am Wiccan and do abide by the learning of a year and a day before becoming intiated. Im lucky because i am in a coven i helped set up. My friend who is teh most experienced of us is self-intiated because she was the only Wiccan she knew.

It does all depend on which path you choose to follow, some covens or people beleive that you 'need' to be intiated or learn for a certain amount of time, others dont hold intiatory rites.
Some, like myself, believe in intiation but only ask that you learn for a year and a day before becoming intiated.

So it is all to do with the path you follow, and your own beliefs, no one can tell you how to live your life.

[TheDeadlyEntity]

The word training was not my own Its one I often hear from people on other forums claiming to be Wiccans in training. I will be honest I don’t know a great deal about Wicca specifically, when I first began my research into paganism I instantly new standard Wicca was not right for me.

I do agree with the learning however I don’t agree with some definitions of it.
By this I mean, read all you can read etc. I personally believe that peoples “paths” are pre-programmed so to speak. I can’t see how someone can learn to be something. If it has to feel right, then surly you are one no matter what!

I do agree in initiations too, but I also believe in self-initiations. I believe the same for all faiths. Christians could baptise themselves (its nothing more then an agreement with yourself) again this is my personal thoughts, others might disagree. I like to hear different views actually.

It took me a long time to agree that different people should decide there own beliefs I suppose I was looking for a significant sign of 1 over all god but I don’t think this is so. Maybe one over all power (element). Anyway thanks for the views I’m still trying to get my head round certain things and it all helps even if it seems to be a pointless question I’m asking (to me there fairly important, I like to know just about everything lol)

[Draconis]

i personally am not yet intiated, will be at Imbolc, and i dont read all i can read, far from it, its quite difficult to get me to pick up a book and properly read it even when its something that i ahve an interest in like Wicca i wont read all the books on it, there are some i disagree with or just dislike the authors style, one book i bought (website so couldnt read 1st few pages) looked good but was actually rather matriarchal, and although Wicca is more matriarchal than patriarachal it was on a claim taht ONLY women could become wicca/witches, so i didnt read that. But most books on Wicca im happy to try and read most books.

But heres a tip: dont try to read 4-5 different books at once, its hard and takes a long time

[TheDeadlyEntity]

I am the sort of person that reads one or two books at a time but I normally only finish the most interesting. I am the same as you, I have started to read a number of book and found some of them to be off-putting because of things like you saw the only woman can be a Wicca thing.

I don’t believe a lot from books or others really, I like to ask questions to see what others thing about little thing. From that I can usually make my mind up on the bigger stuff.

I have to read more then one book at a time for the sole reason that I change back and fourth while my mind works out what I read in one of them. I guess everyone has there own way though.

Anyway thanks for the info

[fatalism]

It's usually used to refer to people who are taking the optional a year and one day worth of training before initiation.

[[Ebony Rose]]

Personally, I don't see how someone can be 'trained' in Wicca, let alone 'know it all' in a year and a day. If you choose to follow the Wiccan path, you shouldn't be told you can't be Wiccan until you learn a certain whatever.

Learning the Craft, as in learning anything, is an on-going process, where "practice makes perfect" but perfect is never attained. Wicca, like any spiritual path, is an ever-changing lifestyle we choose to live. You get out of it what you put into it, not what someone tells you to believe.

Your own beliefs may not be exactly those of a High Priestess (or a Catholic Priest for that matter, if you choose to be Catholic) but the generality in the nature of the religion you choose to follow is similar for everyone within that religion.

There are many different 'types' of Pagans, and the choice to follow a pagan belief system is an individual choice. Whether you choose Wiccan, Seax, Druidism, Witchcraft, Norse, whatever, the training comes from within yourself.

JMO

[N.R. Naiacinaed]

I agree with you, Ebony Rose. Oh, and I also agree with you, TheDeadlyEntity.

~*Ashley*~

[TheDeadlyEntity]

I can fully agree with Ebony Rose's way of stating it.

Is it comman for most people to take the year and a day learning time. as I have noticed some people dont agree that anyone can become a wiccan without it?

[Draconis]

i wouldnt stay its compulsory, but i think its a good idea to make sure that Wicca is the right path for you

[Skylights]

I personally don't think it's a requirement to study a year and a day before becoming a 'true' Wiccan, although I fully agree that the study is invaluable.

But if you truly believe in Wicca and are already fully committed in your mind and heart, I don't think you need an initiation at all, unless you are being initiated into a specific coven.

I don't plan to be initiated into Wicca, but if I were ever to find a coven that fit, I would gladly go through their process, out of respect to their traditions. I think a lot of people are initiated mostly out of tradition; after all, if you got through the year and a day, you're probably already feeling quite witchy indeed.

[TheDeadlyEntity]

I personally don't think it's a requirement to study a year and a day before becoming a 'true' Wiccan, although I fully agree that the study is invaluable.

But if you truly believe in Wicca and are already fully committed in your mind and heart, I don't think you need an initiation at all, unless you are being initiated into a specific coven.

I don't plan to be initiated into Wicca, but if I were ever to find a coven that fit, I would gladly go through their process, out of respect to their traditions. I think a lot of people are initiated mostly out of tradition; after all, if you got through the year and a day, you're probably already feeling quite witchy indeed.

I have looked into many religions for a lot longer then a year, I don’t intend to initiate into anything however, as you say, if I was to join a Coven, out of respect for them I would! However, I can’t see that happening. I have many of my own ideas and I view the world in a completely different view to many others. Therefore, I would be hard pushed to find a group of people just like me but you never know.

How do people go about starting their own coven?
Are there guidelines to how long you should of practised before you do etc?

[Skylights]

To form a coven, you should start by finding people who share your beliefs. Most covens have members of the same tradition, or at least have very similar beliefs. This eliminates conflict over rituals, spells, prayers, etc. Of course, you can have a coven full of different attitudes and beliefs, but it's unlikely that you will do much practicing together. And if you do choose to practice, some members beliefs may be compromised for the sake of the group, and their energy won't be contributing as much as it could.

Anyone can start a coven. A lot of Wiccans believe that leaders of covens should have attained High Priesthood or Priestesshood, or that they should at least be very old hands. I think a coven could be a wonderful learning experience, so if some members were not as experienced as others, it wouldn't matter. However, most established covens prefer you to already be well-versed in their ways before you are initiated and are officially with them.

I think the most important aspect of belonging to a coven is shared beliefs and communing with people who worship like you do, not how flashy your magic is or how much experience you have racked up; those should be frosting on the cake.