Are you interested in becoming a Wicca? The practice of traditional Wicca is often incorrectly aligned with various Pagan religions or even Satanism and other traditional magical practices. A fundamental aspect of traditional Wicca is the idea that its practitioners have freedom to practice Wicca in the way they choose.

This flexibility is one way in which Wicca is set apart from many other religious practices. However, there are some basic principles that are central to becoming a Wicca that can help you to understand what it really means to those who choose to practice it. Wicca has, of course, also been distorted by many groups over the years. This means that not everybody who claims to practice Wicca is following its ethical principles correctly.

If you are considering becoming a Wicca it is important that you understand what being a traditional Wicca really means. This is because many people use the term “Wicca” to hide practices that are undesirable, even evil.

In basic terms Wicca is an initiatory religion and has its roots in the Ancient Mystery Religions. But what is a “mystery religion”? A mystery religion is not like orthodox religions where a priest acts as a mediator between the worshipper and a God and it does not rely on a sacred text to provide guidelines to living and communicating with its deities. Instead, becoming a Wicca means that you base your beliefs on personal experience and responsibility.

Wiccans are urged and instructed to develop continual, positive and direct communion with the God and Goddess. Often it is this ethic that opens the practice of Wicca up to criticism and distortion. Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Shinto could also be classified as “mystery traditions”. Wicca is more “modern” and not really similar to these eastern religions. But becoming a Wicca means starting with an understanding of its roots.

Are all Wiccas witches? Does becoming a Wicca mean you are a witch? This would be a fair statement and most Wiccas feel that they alone are entitled to the name. However witchcraft is also practiced by non-wiccans or those who claim to practice Wicca but do so impurely. You should question those who call themselves Wiccas to find out if what they practice is really Wicca.

Central to becoming a Wicca is the worship of an equal and mated Goddess and God. These gods are linked to nature, love and children and have nothing to do with Christian gods or Satanism.

Becoming a Wicca means that you will take on a particular obligation to personal development throughout your life. This goal will be achieved through hard work and dedication and is called the “True Will” i.e. the best outcome for your life. Wicca honors yearly holidays and festivals and is a positive practice. Fun and merriment is considered part and parcel of its traditions.

One of the central beliefs that you will learn if you are interested in becoming a Wicca is the Wiccan Rede (rule) which reads: “An (if) it harm none, do as ye Will”. This rule needs to be properly understood to be practiced and it can be quite hard to do so. Initiation into Wicca means that by becoming a Wicca you form a good relationship with the Gods and Goddesses.

It can take about a year of study before becoming a Wicca. Initiation is always performed by a qualified Wiccan Priestess and Priest. Women are very important in Wicca. The traditional Coven is always headed by a High Priestess. This is a third degree female witch with at least three years and three days of specific training. Becoming a Wicca is not possible if you want to remain a practicing Christian, Muslim, Jew, etc. This is because such religions reject the existence of and worship of other gods and goddesses.

The exaltation of the female is also not a part of these religions. Training in magic uses natural forces to change consciousness and material conditions but is never used to cause harm – this is in accordance with the Wiccan Rede and the Law of Three. In short a Wicca may not harm himself or any other person. If they use magic to do so it will return to them “times three”.