What is your expertise in Wicca? Your experiences?

Since I originally started with Wicca, I know more about it than Druidry. I'm getting good with both my tarot decks, the Celtic Dragon tarot and the Druid Tarot. So I'm okay-ish-decent with Divination. I'm also good with precognition and meditation. I meditate more than I think I do. Do you remember your initiation? I barely do because I was in such a deep trance.. >.<

Well, I was a self-initiate, and even though I was in pretty deep I still remember what happened. You can laugh all you want, but this is what happened.

I was meditating, I went into a deep trance and called to the Goddess and God. I wanted to meet them in a nicer setting than any I could provide in the physical world, so I used the spiritual one. It's the place I put myself when I meditate to destress, a forest area by a river. The only difference this time was that it was night, and there was a campfire. They came at my call, both of them. We talked, about what I can't really remember, but I do remember them giving me my name, Elara Dreamstar. They said that the name was a true part of my soul, and I should use it proudly.

I've been a Wiccan for 6 years now, and by and large I am a solitary. I read what I can, and I do my best to observe the sabbats, but since as far as my mother is concerned I am a Lutheren it's more than hard. I have yet to try Rune stones, I tend to stick towards Tarot cards (Unicorn Tarot), scrying crystals, and Prophet's Pebbles. I'm really good with healing and protection magick, even my mom comes to me for healing, it's funny.

I have a friend.. who is extremely good with telepathy, and he searched for my soul name. It's Kailaynna. It really kind of fits me more than my given name.. =P

I tried working with other two people, so we had the power of three. I found that I reeaally enjoyed having that much magick shared between the three of us, but they had a lot of bad karma, and it stuck to me too, by association. So, once a random demon decided to take out it's anger on us three, I split from them. I found I liked be solitary better.

it seems to me tha tbeing with two others could be better than solitary you just gotta make sure the two you work with are of similar minds and you get along with them and trust them.

Oh, I trusted them well enough, and we were all ends of the spectrum, from 'good' and 'evil'. Or black and white, if you will.

I found this really interesting little short essay about druidry and wicca written by a member of the the OBOD (Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids). It's interesting little piece that I think you all might find interesting:

THE HARMONY OF WICCA & DRUIDRY

by Donata

I'm both a Druid and a Wiccan. These are my very personal feelings about the two pagan paths I'm on and don't reflect what anyone else may feel or believe. I'm a Druid in OBOD. I'm also a Traditional Wiccan, of Gardnerian and Alexandrian lineages.

Both paths honor the Earth. Both recognize that we must care for the Earth if we are to survive. Both seem, to me, to see the divinity (however defined) in all beings on the Earth - humans, animals, trees & plants, and in less 'animate' beings such as stones and crystals. Both paths recognize the equality of women and men, as partners. Both seek to view the world through intuitive inner knowing at least as much, if not more, than the more 'mainstream' linear analytic way. Both emphasize the importance of accepting personal responsibility for our choices in life. Most people in both of these paths believe in reincarnation and karma, and a version of the Wiccan Three-fold law - what you send out will be returned to you (3-fold, per wicca!).

Wicca is a religion as well as a spiritual path. It is non-dogmatic, but has definite ethical codes, the most prominent being the Wiccan Rede, "Do as ye will and ye harm none". Wicca believes in a Source and worships Its emanations of God and Goddess. Our Circles are fairly structured, and honor the elements, the Guardians of the four Quarters (or directions) and the God and Goddess. In Wiccan Circles, these powers are strongly invited to join us. In traditional Circles, we have 'cakes and wine', which is seen as a sharing with the God &Goddess, and an offering to them. Wicca works with the polarity of the God & Goddess, as seen in the Priest and Priestess in Circle. Wicca practices magic, in which we do positive work to change events/energies/situations according to our will. Magic should not be done when a clear practical, pragmatic course of action is apparent - it is not a subsitiute for action, or for responsibility. (remember the 3-fold law? - it WILL return to you! Magic should also never be done to manipulate the free will of another.) Wiccan is usually considered to be more female-oriented, more lunar oriented. We celebrate the Eight Sabbat fire festivals, and the Full Moon. (some of us also honor the Dark/New Moon). Although lunar, I find Wicca to be more outer-directed than Druidry! We do active work, and then send the results out to complete our will.

Druidry, as taught in the OBOD course, celebrates the same 8 fire festivals (Samhain, Winter Solstice, Imbolc, Spring Equinox, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lammas/Lughnasadh, Fall Equinox) as Wicca, but not the moon cycles. The Circles are less structured, and less firmly inviting - there is no "I call you..." but rather, an invitation & waiting for the energy, e.g. of the quarters, to come into the Circle. Druidry is more a philosophy, a spiritual path, than a religion per se, as I see it. OBOD focuses on the Divine Child (the child we are all birthing) rather than on the polarity of the male and female. The OBOD course is very inner directed, an excellent way to get to know onself and understand ourselves. Magic is not taught. Methods of personal growth are emphasized, including meditation and visualization. It is, in a sense, a gentler path. Druidry is solar -oriented, yet I find it to be more inner, concerned with developing the intuitive, than outer, as in Wiccan magic work. Druidry (OBOD) is not a religion so is compatible with other religions. While most OBOD members are pagan, there are Christian members as well. For myself, these two branches of western spirituality work very well together. They dovetail together and complement one another to make a harmonious whole. Both are very important to me, and make up the major part of my spiritual path.

That's very intriguing. I felt the same way for awhile... then figured I'm more of a spiritual kind of person (Druid-like), rather than having an outward effect (Wiccan).

Well, since I am both as well (though still only a Bard in Druidry) I relate well with the article. Very informative indeed.

I know about wicca and all, for my friend is too a wiccan, but..out of curiosity, what is druidry?

Originally posted by ff_freak

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I know about wicca and all, for my friend is too a wiccan, but..out of curiosity, what is druidry?

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I'll answer your question, but I'll post it in the Druidry forum to keep things on topic.

I was never Wiccan nor a Druid, but i have EXTENSIVELY studied Wicca (Gardenerian and Alexandrian... Celtic and a few other traditions)

I have studied Druidry from OBOD (ordered their set), and the ADO.

I could write a HUGE book lol.

Honesly i dont follow WIcca or Druidry, and I agree wit hthe author of http://www.whywiccanssuck.com

Wicca is a bit to *i hate christianity but i want to be a good person*

I have my faith, but on the side i study the Dark arts, the Left Hand Path if you will.... It is a little hobby... I observe, and experiment when it is not a danger to my health...

Meh, that is your opinion. I just follow my own little path and it agrees mostly with Wicca so I consider myself Wiccan.

True, the thing is many a person as you said could call yourself a wiccan.

I think if you are truly ready for the Pagan Path you would not follow every ideal or belief of any established path, but you would have your own.

If your own branch of paganism closely resembles wicca then that is fine, it is still your own path, as i believe all true pagans do follow their own path.

Just my 2C

Originally posted by binaryatrocity

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True, the thing is many a person as you said could call yourself a wiccan.

I think if you are truly ready for the Pagan Path you would not follow every ideal or belief of any established path, but you would have your own.

If your own branch of paganism closely resembles wicca then that is fine, it is still your own path, as i believe all true pagans do follow their own path.

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I really like how that was said. <3 I as well follow my own path, and it relates to nocturnal and Druidic paths..