CollegeWicca.com - You Konw You're Ready When...: A FAQ

I get asked many things through e-mail, and most of those questions involve how to get started with Wicca. In an attempt to put together a list for one-stop question answering, I present you with these answers:

Q: How do I know when I'm ready to make an altar? Tools?
A: Your altar has a tendency to come together on its own. Don't be in a rush to buy all the fancy-schmancy tools that you see in the on-line catalogues or at your local witchnook. Those can be great and beautiful, and I'll admit to wanting to get the $150 athame that just looked *perfect*...but I assure you that it takes time to find the *right* tool. For example, I had the "perfect" chalice pictured in my mind's eye for a long time and nothing seemed to measure up. Instead of settling for one, I waited...and in the summer of 2003 I finally found the perfect silver goblet being sold from an estate auction on eBay for $6. When you're beginning, use your finger as your wand/athame, or pick up a stick that "feels" right to you. Use a favorite glass or a wine glass as your chalice. Get creative, but don't splurge unless you feel that is THE tool that you will cherish for the rest of your life. The tools you make usually have more personal energy in them. So when you're beginning, depend on your own resources to practice and don't feel the need to collect the tools before you can do anything. If you have a table or corner of a bookshelf, etc. that you want to use as an altar, great, but again, don't feel the need to HAVE it before practicing. Your altar and set of tools will find their way to you.

Q: How do I know when I'm ready to cast a spell?
A: Spells require a few things: Thought, need, concentration, will power, and emotion. Just "trying out spells" is not how you get good results. When you think of a situation in which you're tempted to cast a spell, ask yourself a few things: "Have I exhausted the mundane methods of getting what I need?" "Do I have the knowledge to try casting a spell?" "Do I really need this?" "What is my driving force behind casting a spell?" and "Do I have any doubts about doing this?" The last question is the most important...when in doubt, DON'T. If you can honestly answer the above questions and think a spell is your best method, go for it, but no one can answer if you're ready but yourself. Just be sure that your emotions are in check (never EVER do a spell while angry! I say this from experience!) and you can proceed with a clear head.

Q: How do I know when I'm ready to hold a ritual?
A: As with the above question, ask yourself if you're ready. Can you write out the entire ritual on your own? Do you understand the meanings behind all the steps in a ritual? Do you have a reason for the ritual other than "just because"? The best way to understand what you're doing is to write your ritual...and to write it, you have to understand all the parts. If you can do that and say you understand it, you are probably ready for ritual.

Q: How do I know when I'm ready to find a familiar? A spirit animal? A patron deity?
A: Familiars, spirit animals, and patron deities usually find you. If an image or a name or a sound keeps repeating itself in your mind or in your dreams or shows up in symbolism all around you, they're probably trying to make themselves known to you. Be open...while many people want the popular or powerful deities/animals to be their guides, don't underestimate the strength in those that seem more ordinary or unimpressive. But don't worry about seeking them out or claiming a deity as your patron. They'll let you know when you're ready.

Q: How do I know when I'm ready choose a magickal name?
A: Some people have written to me giving me a list of their likes and dislikes, their birthdays, favorite colors, favorite animals, etc. and asked me to tell them what their magickal name should be. I've seen it happen on message boards too, and every time a person made a suggestion to the querant, the suggestion was shot down because the querant didn't like it. You know what? No one else knows you better than you know yourself. Again, your magickal name will come to you eventually. Sometimes meditating on it will help. Sometimes you just need to keep your eyes open to what's around you. Don't be in a rush to choose...let it fall into place. (In the meantime, feel free to use a handle for on-line communication...a lot of people don't use their magickal name as their on-line persona anyway.)

Q: How do I know when I'm ready to go on a spiritual retreat? Attend a Pagan gathering?
A: This one is up to you and how comfortable you feel around others. I've been to gatherings where I felt completely comfortable, and others where I just felt out of place. Being around others is great, but not for everyone. If your curiosity is piqued, try to go with friends. But it's not the end of the world if you choose to be solitary all your life.

Q: How do I know when I'm ready to find a circle or coven? (Or create a circle or coven?)
A: Finding a group can take time because you want to be with a group you're comfortable with. If you don't fit in with those people, it will be miserable for you and put a bad taste in your mouth for group work. Just keep looking if that's the way you want to go. As for creating your own...ask yourself if you have the knowledge to teach, the energy to lead rituals, the organization to keep the group informed, and the patience to deal with *gasp!* people. It's a tough job. It's a VERY tough job. It is probably the most rewarding, tiring, happy, exhausting, beautiful, and frustrating things you can do. But it is not for everyone, and I don't suggest that someone who has no group leadership experience try to launch into creating a group from scratch.

Q: How do I know when I'm ready to be initiated? To initiate myself?
A: Once again, it depends on yourself. Initiation is not to be taken lightly, and some people even look down on self-initiation because of the number of people running around without the knowledge or experience to warrant it yet. Take your time, and remember that the standard period of study before initiation is a year and a day.

Q: How do I know when I'm ready to call myself Wiccan? (Or am I Wiccan already?)
A: Do you feel like you're Wiccan? Can you write and hold your own rituals? Can you answer questions about the religion while quoting informative sources? Can you be a spokesperson? Do you feel touched by the God/dess? A lot of people say that discovering Wicca feels like coming home. They may say that they were always Wiccan, they just never had a title for it. Just don't fall into the idea that "You've believed all this since you were 4, so therefore you've been a Wiccan all your life." A lot of people won't take that seriously. Be honest...if you've discovered Wicca and studied it intensely for a year, you will probably feel comfortable calling yourself Wiccan already.

Q: How do I know when I'm ready to tell my family and friends?
A: That depends on your family and friends, and be ready for them to surprise you. You know them better than anyone else, so when you feel like you can answer questions clearly and rationally, and you feel the need to tell them, do so. Just don't make it into a super-big secret, or they might not trust you. Just remember that people can take away your books, they can take away the internet, but they can't take away the convictions you have in your heart.