Dria El
December 4th, 2001, 11:43 AM
Beginning as a Solitary
It can be difficult to get started in the Craft; even today, with Pagan/Wiccan publications and more networking going on than ever before, it isn't easy to know what to do, who to turn to, or even if you want help from someone else. So how does one go about getting started as a solitary?
First of all, read! Read everything you can get your hands on, the good stuff and the bad. Before long, you'll be able to sort out one from the other. But the next most important thing is to actually do it. Reading won't do diddly for you, if you don't put what you're learning to good use. Stepping into something like this as a brand-new Wiccan or Pagan can seem daunting, but don't let it frighten or intimidate you. Even the most experienced of us had to start somewhere.
After you've read a few books, the easiest thing to start with is an altar. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. A mantle, bedroom dresser, shelf, corner table, anything can serve as an altar. If you are fortunate enough to have a flat surface you can set up permanently, so much the better.
Altars are very personal, and you should make yours reflect your own tastes. Of course you'll want a candle; whether it be a votive, a taper or a pillar candle is up to you. Votives are inexpensive, but they burn away more quickly. However, if you're just starting out, I suggest you start with them. There are all kinds of decorative holders available, and you can choose whichever style suits you best. Most folks want a representation of the God/dess on their altar. This can be anything from a statuette, which can be fairly expensive, to a seashell for the Goddess and a piece of antler for the God. Use items that symbolize them for you. You'll also want a small censer, or incense burner. The question here is, what kind of incense will you burn? Powdered incense requires charcoal briquets, and these tend to make the censer very hot, so if you go with this option, be sure to put a heat-safe pad or tile beneath your burner. Stick or cone incense is easiest, and there are many burner/holder styles to choose from. Use whichever you prefer. With a candle, censer and deity representation on your altar, the basics are covered. If you choose, you can also add symbols of the Elementals; that is, a representation of Air (perhaps a feather), Fire (the candle will serve nicely), Water (a cup or seashell), and Earth (a stone or salt). Some people like to have some sort of seasonal item on their altar, too, something that can be changed as the seasons pass to help remind them of the turning of the Wheel. Perhaps you could use flowers or painted eggs in spring, a sun image in summer, some gourds or apples in the fall, and some holly or other evergreens in winter. Other symbols can be chosen to symbolize the actual Sabbats if you so choose. If your spouse, parents or roommates are unaware of your religious choices and you'd like to keep it that way, you can still have an altar. Just keep it subtle, or use everyday items. And if you simply cannot have an altar, don't worry. It's nice, but it isn't necessary.
The next thing you'll be asking is: do I need tools? Well....truthfully, no. You don't. Again, they're nice, but not required. However, if you should choose to use them, you don't have to break into your savings to get them. Haunt flea markets, go to garage sales, check the second hand stores. Pick stuff with personality, things that speak to you. Perhaps before you go out to shop for your special tools, you can stand at your altar, light your candle and incense, and spend a few moments in quiet meditation. Know that your tools are already out there, just waiting for you to find them. Send out a mental call to them. Once you have done this, blow out your candles and start out on your search (never, never leave candles burning unattended!). As you shop, don't settle for anything that isn't right. And believe me, you'll know when it is right. Trust your own instincts. If you don't find everything that you wanted in one day, don't be disappointed...there will be other days. Better to take a while longer to find it that to waste money on the wrong tool. In the meantime, though, don't wait until all this preparation has been completed before starting your ritual practice. You can perform rituals, magick and seasonal celebrations with no altar, no tools, and no companions. The only thing you need is your own desire to do so and a quiet space where you won't be disturbed.
But, you wonder, how can I do a ritual? I don't have one to work from! Ok, some folks need a written script to perform a rite, and there is nothing wrong with that. But again...it isn't necessary. Magick and ritual comes from the heart. To cast a circle, all you need in the beginning is the belief that your magick will work; as you practice it, your abilities will become more refined. Learning to work with bigger magickal energies will come later, with time and practice. If you want to call the quarters, you can do that. Just close your eyes and imagine the Elemental Beings that are associated with them (East-Fairies; South-Salamanders or Dragons; West-Undines or Merpeople; North-Gnomes). If this is not your style, picture instead the forces that the Elements control (East-Air, intellect, winds, storms; South-Fire, passion, hot summer days, deserts; West-Water, emotions, rain, oceans; North-Earth, stability, fields, mountains). Once you have an image of the forces you are calling to, you can simply say, in your own words, that the Guardians of those portals are welcome at your rite. As for calling the Goddess and the God, it is basically the same thing. You simply imagine them as they might look, or you picture the energies you feel from them, then call to them in your own words, and ask them to attend your rite. The words need not be flowery to be heard.
Ok, your circle is cast, and you've got all the Big Wigs in attendance. What do you do for the ritual? Well, hopefully you've read a few books at this point. You know, for example, that Litha, or Midsummer, is the celebration of the summer solstice, and what that entails. You know the symbolism commonly used, and the traditions associated with this sabbat. So stand a while in your quiet space, thinking about all of this, and when you're ready, simply say whatever comes to mind. Speak from the heart! If you like, state the name of the sabbat, and what it means out loud. This might help you get started. Once you start, the ritual will gain momentum and get a little easier. It doesn't have to be long or involved. In fact, in the beginning, it is probably better if you keep it short. If you give all this some thought beforehand, you might want to bring a few simple props or other items into the ritual with you, to be used as part of the celebration. For our Litha example, maybe you spent some time yesterday making a small sun wheel, with small holders at the eight spokes to hold birthday candles. You sit this on your altar and as you speak of the Sun's peaking energy, you light the candles and watch them burn, envisioning the Sun's radiant warmth empowering you and your ritual, as He gives us all Life. As the candles burn away (birthday candles take around 15 minutes to burn all the way down), you can visualize His strength waning, and finally going out, as the Wheel turns still more toward harvest, and His sacrifice. Part of the point of Sabbat rituals is to help us keep in tune with the cycles of Nature, and while that means celebrating what is already here, it also means keeping in mind what is still to come. Once your candles are burned away, you can thank Lugh (rhymes with too) or whatever God figure you have chosen to honor in this rite, and go on to recognize the Goddess' place in all this, maybe by a little song or simple dance in celebration of Her fertility. If singing or dancing isn't comfortable for you, try some other symbol of Her fruitfulness. Use your imagination!
Whatever its purpose, once your ritual is completed, you'll need to close the circle. This can be as simple as thanking the Elementals (if you called them), thanking the God/dess, and proclaiming that the circle is open. Blow out your candle, put away your tools, if any, and you're done.
Rituals don't have to be done indoors, either. Finding a peaceful spot outside where you can be undisturbed in the midst of Nature is a treasure; guard its secret closely! In addition, pomp and ceremony isn't necessary to ritual either. If you feel uncomfortable speaking out loud, do your ritual in your mind, and in your heart. No words need be spoken to talk to the God/dess. Some simple time alone in a quiet space, will suffice to commune with them, and that's the main idea behind ritual anyway.
Now you're on your way down the Wiccan or Pagan path as a solitary. But maybe a few words on ethics and other miscellaneous items would be appropriate here. Anyone who has read even one good book on Wicca will be familiar with the Rede: "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill; An' it harm none, do what you will." This is a good guideline on which you can base your personal ethics. In addition, there is the challenge "to know, to will, to dare, and to keep silent." Before you can practice the art of witchcraft, you must have the necessary knowledge; some of this you can get from books. Study, study, study! Once you have the knowledge, you must have the will to perform the rites and practices. You must want to do it. With that accomplished, you must dare to step into the circle and take the plunge. You must overcome any intimidation and fear of the unknown, and dare to try, dare to succeed. And once you are actually practicing, you must learn to keep silent. This is sometimes the hardest part; all too often, new Witches want to tell all their friends what they've been up to. Don't bother...most likely, they wouldn't understand it without having experienced it. How do you put something so ethereal into words? One thing you should be aware of here; once you get involved in ritual and magick, it creates a sort of distance between you and your non-Pagan friends, simply because you can't discuss it with them. Don't let this discourage you. There are always others of like mind...you just have to find them. In addition, sometimes new Witches want to brag that they can do this or that with their magick. Know this: true power is silent. It does not boast or brag. Most people in the Craft or Pagan community will not take you seriously if you do this. Another part of the silence challenge is to keep the names and identities of other Pagans and Wiccans to yourself. Many folks in our community cannot afford to be public about who and what they are. Let them make the decisions on who to tell, and when.
Ok, let's recap...if you've got the desire and the will to work the Craft and worship the Old Gods, you've got all you need to be Pagan or Wiccan. Hesitation or intimidation when starting something new like this is natural. Don't be too hard on yourself. Take it slow, move at your own pace, and do what feels most comfortable for you. Remember, if it feels wrong, it probably is. So let your heart be your guide here, and know that you're not alone. You're joining one of the many who have "come home" to the Pagan lifestyle.
Welcome home!
It can be difficult to get started in the Craft; even today, with Pagan/Wiccan publications and more networking going on than ever before, it isn't easy to know what to do, who to turn to, or even if you want help from someone else. So how does one go about getting started as a solitary?
First of all, read! Read everything you can get your hands on, the good stuff and the bad. Before long, you'll be able to sort out one from the other. But the next most important thing is to actually do it. Reading won't do diddly for you, if you don't put what you're learning to good use. Stepping into something like this as a brand-new Wiccan or Pagan can seem daunting, but don't let it frighten or intimidate you. Even the most experienced of us had to start somewhere.
After you've read a few books, the easiest thing to start with is an altar. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. A mantle, bedroom dresser, shelf, corner table, anything can serve as an altar. If you are fortunate enough to have a flat surface you can set up permanently, so much the better.
Altars are very personal, and you should make yours reflect your own tastes. Of course you'll want a candle; whether it be a votive, a taper or a pillar candle is up to you. Votives are inexpensive, but they burn away more quickly. However, if you're just starting out, I suggest you start with them. There are all kinds of decorative holders available, and you can choose whichever style suits you best. Most folks want a representation of the God/dess on their altar. This can be anything from a statuette, which can be fairly expensive, to a seashell for the Goddess and a piece of antler for the God. Use items that symbolize them for you. You'll also want a small censer, or incense burner. The question here is, what kind of incense will you burn? Powdered incense requires charcoal briquets, and these tend to make the censer very hot, so if you go with this option, be sure to put a heat-safe pad or tile beneath your burner. Stick or cone incense is easiest, and there are many burner/holder styles to choose from. Use whichever you prefer. With a candle, censer and deity representation on your altar, the basics are covered. If you choose, you can also add symbols of the Elementals; that is, a representation of Air (perhaps a feather), Fire (the candle will serve nicely), Water (a cup or seashell), and Earth (a stone or salt). Some people like to have some sort of seasonal item on their altar, too, something that can be changed as the seasons pass to help remind them of the turning of the Wheel. Perhaps you could use flowers or painted eggs in spring, a sun image in summer, some gourds or apples in the fall, and some holly or other evergreens in winter. Other symbols can be chosen to symbolize the actual Sabbats if you so choose. If your spouse, parents or roommates are unaware of your religious choices and you'd like to keep it that way, you can still have an altar. Just keep it subtle, or use everyday items. And if you simply cannot have an altar, don't worry. It's nice, but it isn't necessary.
The next thing you'll be asking is: do I need tools? Well....truthfully, no. You don't. Again, they're nice, but not required. However, if you should choose to use them, you don't have to break into your savings to get them. Haunt flea markets, go to garage sales, check the second hand stores. Pick stuff with personality, things that speak to you. Perhaps before you go out to shop for your special tools, you can stand at your altar, light your candle and incense, and spend a few moments in quiet meditation. Know that your tools are already out there, just waiting for you to find them. Send out a mental call to them. Once you have done this, blow out your candles and start out on your search (never, never leave candles burning unattended!). As you shop, don't settle for anything that isn't right. And believe me, you'll know when it is right. Trust your own instincts. If you don't find everything that you wanted in one day, don't be disappointed...there will be other days. Better to take a while longer to find it that to waste money on the wrong tool. In the meantime, though, don't wait until all this preparation has been completed before starting your ritual practice. You can perform rituals, magick and seasonal celebrations with no altar, no tools, and no companions. The only thing you need is your own desire to do so and a quiet space where you won't be disturbed.
But, you wonder, how can I do a ritual? I don't have one to work from! Ok, some folks need a written script to perform a rite, and there is nothing wrong with that. But again...it isn't necessary. Magick and ritual comes from the heart. To cast a circle, all you need in the beginning is the belief that your magick will work; as you practice it, your abilities will become more refined. Learning to work with bigger magickal energies will come later, with time and practice. If you want to call the quarters, you can do that. Just close your eyes and imagine the Elemental Beings that are associated with them (East-Fairies; South-Salamanders or Dragons; West-Undines or Merpeople; North-Gnomes). If this is not your style, picture instead the forces that the Elements control (East-Air, intellect, winds, storms; South-Fire, passion, hot summer days, deserts; West-Water, emotions, rain, oceans; North-Earth, stability, fields, mountains). Once you have an image of the forces you are calling to, you can simply say, in your own words, that the Guardians of those portals are welcome at your rite. As for calling the Goddess and the God, it is basically the same thing. You simply imagine them as they might look, or you picture the energies you feel from them, then call to them in your own words, and ask them to attend your rite. The words need not be flowery to be heard.
Ok, your circle is cast, and you've got all the Big Wigs in attendance. What do you do for the ritual? Well, hopefully you've read a few books at this point. You know, for example, that Litha, or Midsummer, is the celebration of the summer solstice, and what that entails. You know the symbolism commonly used, and the traditions associated with this sabbat. So stand a while in your quiet space, thinking about all of this, and when you're ready, simply say whatever comes to mind. Speak from the heart! If you like, state the name of the sabbat, and what it means out loud. This might help you get started. Once you start, the ritual will gain momentum and get a little easier. It doesn't have to be long or involved. In fact, in the beginning, it is probably better if you keep it short. If you give all this some thought beforehand, you might want to bring a few simple props or other items into the ritual with you, to be used as part of the celebration. For our Litha example, maybe you spent some time yesterday making a small sun wheel, with small holders at the eight spokes to hold birthday candles. You sit this on your altar and as you speak of the Sun's peaking energy, you light the candles and watch them burn, envisioning the Sun's radiant warmth empowering you and your ritual, as He gives us all Life. As the candles burn away (birthday candles take around 15 minutes to burn all the way down), you can visualize His strength waning, and finally going out, as the Wheel turns still more toward harvest, and His sacrifice. Part of the point of Sabbat rituals is to help us keep in tune with the cycles of Nature, and while that means celebrating what is already here, it also means keeping in mind what is still to come. Once your candles are burned away, you can thank Lugh (rhymes with too) or whatever God figure you have chosen to honor in this rite, and go on to recognize the Goddess' place in all this, maybe by a little song or simple dance in celebration of Her fertility. If singing or dancing isn't comfortable for you, try some other symbol of Her fruitfulness. Use your imagination!
Whatever its purpose, once your ritual is completed, you'll need to close the circle. This can be as simple as thanking the Elementals (if you called them), thanking the God/dess, and proclaiming that the circle is open. Blow out your candle, put away your tools, if any, and you're done.
Rituals don't have to be done indoors, either. Finding a peaceful spot outside where you can be undisturbed in the midst of Nature is a treasure; guard its secret closely! In addition, pomp and ceremony isn't necessary to ritual either. If you feel uncomfortable speaking out loud, do your ritual in your mind, and in your heart. No words need be spoken to talk to the God/dess. Some simple time alone in a quiet space, will suffice to commune with them, and that's the main idea behind ritual anyway.
Now you're on your way down the Wiccan or Pagan path as a solitary. But maybe a few words on ethics and other miscellaneous items would be appropriate here. Anyone who has read even one good book on Wicca will be familiar with the Rede: "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill; An' it harm none, do what you will." This is a good guideline on which you can base your personal ethics. In addition, there is the challenge "to know, to will, to dare, and to keep silent." Before you can practice the art of witchcraft, you must have the necessary knowledge; some of this you can get from books. Study, study, study! Once you have the knowledge, you must have the will to perform the rites and practices. You must want to do it. With that accomplished, you must dare to step into the circle and take the plunge. You must overcome any intimidation and fear of the unknown, and dare to try, dare to succeed. And once you are actually practicing, you must learn to keep silent. This is sometimes the hardest part; all too often, new Witches want to tell all their friends what they've been up to. Don't bother...most likely, they wouldn't understand it without having experienced it. How do you put something so ethereal into words? One thing you should be aware of here; once you get involved in ritual and magick, it creates a sort of distance between you and your non-Pagan friends, simply because you can't discuss it with them. Don't let this discourage you. There are always others of like mind...you just have to find them. In addition, sometimes new Witches want to brag that they can do this or that with their magick. Know this: true power is silent. It does not boast or brag. Most people in the Craft or Pagan community will not take you seriously if you do this. Another part of the silence challenge is to keep the names and identities of other Pagans and Wiccans to yourself. Many folks in our community cannot afford to be public about who and what they are. Let them make the decisions on who to tell, and when.
Ok, let's recap...if you've got the desire and the will to work the Craft and worship the Old Gods, you've got all you need to be Pagan or Wiccan. Hesitation or intimidation when starting something new like this is natural. Don't be too hard on yourself. Take it slow, move at your own pace, and do what feels most comfortable for you. Remember, if it feels wrong, it probably is. So let your heart be your guide here, and know that you're not alone. You're joining one of the many who have "come home" to the Pagan lifestyle.
Welcome home!