How eclectic is too eclectic ?

[Tigerlily]

The only pagan religion that I have studied and practiced as been Wicca. I consider myself to be Wiccan although I say to other that I'm an eclectic Wiccan.

I don't follow the Wiccan path exactly...
I don't do circles
I don't invoke God very often during my rituals
I don't do Sabbats all the time
I don't do moon rituals/Esbats every moon phase, only when I feel the need
I don't really like the Celtic way
I don't believe in the magic of witchcraft to be physically real but more as a metaphor/representation although I have conflicting ideas and somethings I think are real (like spirits) but others I don't really believe in 100% (karma...eeep! or fairies)

I do pray and I do observe nature frequently.

Am I still Wiccan? Or am I too far off and should consider myself just as Pagan following a personal Wicca-inspired path? I think I want to read books on Buddhism, Hinduism, Kabbala, etc, to open up my spiritual eye and try to incorporate other beliefs into my path.

[AlAskendir]

The only pagan religion that I have studied and practiced as been Wicca. I consider myself to be Wiccan although I say to other that I'm an eclectic Wiccan.

I don't follow the Wiccan path exactly...
I don't do circles
I don't invoke God very often during my rituals
I don't do Sabbats all the time
I don't do moon rituals/Esbats every moon phase, only when I feel the need
I don't really like the Celtic way
I don't believe in the magic of witchcraft to be physically real but more as a metaphor/representation although I have conflicting ideas and somethings I think are real (like spirits) but others I don't really believe in 100% (karma...eeep! or fairies)

I do pray and I do observe nature frequently.

Am I still Wiccan? Or am I too far off and should consider myself just as Pagan following a personal Wicca-inspired path? I think I want to read books on Buddhism, Hinduism, Kabbala, etc, to open up my spiritual eye and try to incorporate other beliefs into my path.

Do you know any Wiccans who get offended when you call yourself Wiccan? I'm eclectic myself, so I couldn't really say what is TOO eclectic....when you pray or do Rites, do they work? Is your way of thinking and begin helping you progress in some fashion? I have run into people who seem to feel that they can take a sentence or even almost a phrase from every way of spirituality in the world and create something that works thereby, but in my experience the result is kind of like discovering that Chop Suey is an American dish...(lol!)

[Tigerlily]

I only ever met one Wiccan and we didn't discuss specifics in our practices.

I guess my prayers and rites work. I never usually ask for anything. Most of rituals are just to honour the Goddess.

[Kudzu]

Well, since you asked... No, I wouldn't consider you Wiccan, but simply a Pagan following a Wicca-inspired path. But, I subscribe to the belief that Wicca is an oathbound, Initiatory, mystery religion. For this reason, I don't consider myself Wiccan yet, either, even though I do circles, invoke the God, I do Sabbats and Esbats, and believe the magic of witchcraft to be real, etc.

[Bix]

You'd probably need to define what exactly Wicca is, first...and that in itself is difficult.

[RedRaven]

by what you descibed Id have to say no. maybe eclectic pagan but not Wiccan in my view.

RR

[elfmage]

Not really, in my opinion. But my opinion is precisely that.

Then again, come to think of it, neither do half the people who call themselves "Wiccan," so I guess it really all depends on who you ask!

[KEishin]

It would depend on as many said, what defines Wicca. I have a list, but it's likely different from others on this board.

But my personal opinion on the matter is that there are certain core elements to the Wiccan religion and if you take them out, then you are not practicing Wicca. Like Kudzu said, it then becomes a "Wicca-inspired path."

I, like Kudzu come from a very formal tradition, which has strict rules for what is and is not part of the tradition. That doesn't mean we don't borrow from elsewhere . . . just that we never ever remove the core parts, for if we do it is then no longer Wiccan practice.

[Lunacie]

You have said what you don't believe or do, but you haven't really said what you do believe and do.

Someone who holds the same beliefs as a Wiccan but does little or none of the practices may still be Wiccan, just a non-practicing Wiccan.

By the way, Wicca isn't really Celtic, it's roots are in merry old England. But there is a Celtic-flavored way of practicing Wicca, and some do worship the Celtic pantheon.

And not every Wiccan feels it necessary to practice magic, but I think once you've actually done some magic working (or energy working) you can't imagine not being able to use it when feel the need. I don't feel I need to very often, but then there are other 'tools' I don't use everyday either.

Yes, read more about other religions, and read more about Wicca as well. See if there is a class on Wicca being offered in a town near you. Learn, learn, learn. That's one of the major tenets of Wicca.

[DebLipp]

I don't do circlesCircles are the fundamental religious form in Wicca. If you're not doing circles, you're not doing Wiccan ritual.


I don't invoke God very often during my rituals"God" as in Yahweh? He's not Wiccan anyway. "God" as in the male aspect? Wicca works polarity. Goddess-only religion is not Wicca. "God" as in an overweaning One beyond the individual Gods? Not necessary to Wicca although many Wiccans worship It.


I don't do Sabbats all the time
I don't do moon rituals/Esbats every moon phase, only when I feel the needMany Wiccans sometimes miss rituals or get out of step. Assiduously practicing your religion and being a member of your religion are two different things.


I don't really like the Celtic wayWicca isn't Celtic.


I don't believe in the magic of witchcraft to be physically real but more as a metaphor/representation although I have conflicting ideas and somethings I think are real (like spirits) but others I don't really believe in 100% (karma...eeep! or fairies)Wicca isn't the Thought Police. It's not what you believe, it's what you do.


I do pray and I do observe nature frequently.Prayer isn't particularlly Wiccan, and observing nature can be done by anyone.


Am I still Wiccan? Or am I too far off and should consider myself just as Pagan following a personal Wicca-inspired path? I think if you're not interested in practicing the ways of Wicca, it doesn't make sense to call yourself Wiccan. What does the word mean if it's just a label assigned to any ol' thing?

[Tigerlily]

Hmm, so I guess I'm not Wiccan then...

[Ben Gruagach]

Hmm, so I guess I'm not Wiccan then...

And that is perfectly fine. Practice and believe what speaks to your heart as being best for you. Does it have to have a formal name to be right for you?

[Tigerlily]

And that is perfectly fine. Practice and believe what speaks to your heart as being best for you. Does it have to have a formal name to be right for you?

Yes, I'm quite compulsive and I want everything to be ordered and perfect. :lol:

[Lunacie]

Yes, I'm quite compulsive and I want everything to be ordered and perfect. :lol:

Life is messy. Learn to deal with it and enjoy it. :rotfl:

[Tigerlily]

:)

[KissMeImIrish!]

I'm kind of in the same boat as tigerlily here...so if im not wiccan because I don't ascribe to a few of the wiccan beliefs (namely casting circles, thw rede, and worshiping a god beside the goddess) than would I just be a pagan? Personally I've always called myself a wiccan because in a way labels are important. when that time comes and somebody asks you what religion you follow, you want to tell them something. I have found in my experience (maybe it's just where I live i don't know) people know what wicca is, but don't understand the term paganism (specifically, they think I don't believe in anything at all). I never thought it was a problem to call myself wiccan before i read it on the boards here, even though I don't follow everything 100%.

[Elderbush]

What about looking into the Dianic branches of Paganism? They are goddess oriented and may be a better fit.

Duality, worshipping both a god and goddess, is pretty basic to Wicca. So are circles and the law of return.

[Tigerlily]

The thing is, I accept the fact of duality, just at this time in my life, I feel no spiritual connection to the God aspect at all. In rituals, I try to invite him but his candle never lights up or stays lit (I have tried many different candles!). So, I sort of stopped pushing for his presence in my workings.

[Elderbush]

All the more reason, don't you think, to look at the goddess oriented branches?

[Morgandria]

Don't try to push yourself into a box if the box doesn't fit.

[Tigerlily]

Yeah but it's really bothering me.

I've "identified" as Wiccan for almost five years. It's hard.

[Tigerlily]

All the more reason, don't you think, to look at the goddess oriented branches?

But I do accept the fact that there is God! Goddess oriented branches only think there's the Goddess, right?

[Morgandria]

No...Dianics also acknowledge there is male Divinity - they just don't honour it in their rites.

It may be hard, and I can empathize, but you're really applying a word to your practices that they don't fit. So...either you can practice what the word actually describes, find another word to describe your practices, or not worry about what you're calling yourself and do what you're doing anyway.

[Tigerlily]

Hm, okay.

[Silver Ivy]

Hi Tigerlily :) I could relate to your post ...

I have pretty eclectic beliefs too .... and had considered calling myself a Wiccan too ...
After thinking about it for a while, since I don't really fit into all the categories, I think of myself as being a Pagan following a Wicca inspired path, as Kudzu has written below ....



Well, since you asked... No, I wouldn't consider you Wiccan, but simply a Pagan following a Wicca-inspired path. But, I subscribe to the belief that Wicca is an oathbound, Initiatory, mystery religion. For this reason, I don't consider myself Wiccan yet, either, even though I do circles, invoke the God, I do Sabbats and Esbats, and believe the magic of witchcraft to be real, etc.

I feel way more comfortable now, following a wiccan inspired path, rather than a wiccan ... because I really didn't feel like it was a fit for me ... :)

[Tigerlily]

Okay thanks. :)