--Lucas

A: The first thing that any witch comes to realize is that practicing Wicca involves transformation of the self. The quest for power and knowledge becomes the quest for power over one's actions and knowledge of one's inner self, both dark and light.

Spiritualitea Recommends: 21st Century Wicca: A Young Witch's Guide to Living the Magical Life by jennifer hunter Living Wicca : A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by scott cunningham To Light a Sacred Flame : Practical Witchcraft for the Millennium by silver ravenwolf

This isn't to say that you shouldn't look for others to help you on your path. Places on the Internet, like this web site, offer possible meeting places for intellectual and magickal conversation and exchange. Other websites, such as The Witch's Voice can also assist you in your search.

Unless you live in a very small, secluded town or one that's quite rigidly conservative, chances are you can find other Pagans and Wiccans in your area. The first place to check is a metaphysical bookstore or supply shop. Also, check to see if there are any Unitarian Universalist churches. UUs are usually open to pagan faiths and there may just be a Covenant of Unitarian-Universalist Pagans group near you. College towns also usually have a few pagans and may even have a student group.

If there do happen to be these types of resources, don't automatically approach anyone you see there and ask them if they're a witch. Many are "in the broom closet" or are wary of groupies who've seen The Craft one too many times. Hang out in these places, get to know the people who run the shop or are members of the church. Perhaps ask them if there are any goddess or earth spirituality groups in town. Above all else, be careful. Coming out in the open about your beliefs as a witch can possibly draw unsavory individuals to you.

If you're under the age of 18, there are additional considerations because of your legal status as a minor under parental care. As difficult as it may seem, obey your parents wishes when it comes to spirituality, even if they forbid you to pursue wicca under their roof. Learning to honor their wishes will make you a better witch in the long run. Try to find other ways to learn from them in areas that will benefit your knowledge in the craft -- perhaps your father is an excellent gardener and can guide you to attune to the cycles of the land or your mother is naturally intuitive and can aid you in trusting your instincts. Showing elders that you respect their beliefs, even though you may not agree with them, is a sign of maturity that will earn their trust in your beliefs and activities.

One of the best ways to become a better witch is to do. Depending on how long you've been learning about Wicca, you may or may not have already integrated deity and magic into your daily life. Write a devotional to your patron god or goddess (or to the Lord and Lady in general) and recite it every morning when you wake up or before you go to bed at night. Work on your altar, changing it to reflect the turning wheel of the year. Work on understanding each element. Research an unfamiliar pantheon. Meditate every day, if you can, or at least once a week. Observe how the Wiccan Rede, "An it harm none, do what thou wilt", can be applied to everyday life. Do research into the history of Wicca and how the various traditions came about. Experiment with different methods of divination and see which one speaks to you.

As you find new things to learn and practice, be ever attentive to your personal moral take on what you're learning. Develop a strong set of ethics and allow these to be your foundation in any work you do.

Wicca is a religion and it can permeate every aspect of your life, if you wish it. There are almost infinite ways to practice and learn if you are open to them. As the Charge of the Goddess says, "if that which you seek you find not within, you will surely never find it without."