Must you be initiated?

I like that Tadishi. I agree completely!

Ha, typo, I meant "who initiated the first witch" not why. Silly me. Sorry if any confusion.

But we're not talking about Witches here, we're talking about Wiccans. And we do know who initiated the first Wiccans, it was Gerald Gardner.

1 . Must you be initiated to be a 'true' Wiccan?'

The answer to that is that it depends. In British Traditional Wicca which includes such Traditions as Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Central Valley Wicca, Kingstone, etc the answer is that one has to be properly initiated by a lineaged High Priestess in order to be considered Wiccan. You might find the article at http://www.spellsofmagic.com/read_posts.html?post=609224 helpful in understanding this point of view.

However, as I said in that article, it is my opinion that the term "Wiccan" has meant something other than British Traditional Wicca for so long that we can no longer confine it to British Traditional Wicca and the beliefs and practices of that Tradition.

So in my opinion (And some other practicioners of British Traditional Wicca will disagree) One no longer has to be initiated in order to claim the tile of Wiccan.

But as a caveat here, some books will talk about self-initiation. In my opinion this is a very inaccurate term. You cannot initiate yourself. Initiation requires someone to initiate you and a specific group to be initiated into. What the books are actually talking about and what is a far more accurate term, is a self-dedication where you make certain promises that you are pledging yourself to Wiccan practices.

2. Is it OK to learn from books?

I believe that it is. However, it is a good idea to realize that there are a lot of bad books out there on Wicca from very unreliable authors. So it pays to check with other knowledgeable Wiccans you encounter as to whether a book you're considering is a good book or not.

3. Are Solitary Wiccans equal to those that have been initiated?

As I already mentioned, the answer to this depends largely on who you ask. But the fact of the matter is that these days there are more Solitary Wiccans out there than there are practicing in covens. I would view a Solitary Wiccan as a legitimate path. And I would not question their right to follow it. Some Solitary Wiccans I do consider to be easily the equal of any initiated Wiccan that I know. However, there are a lot of Solitary Wiccans out there who read the good parts of a book or two and have very poor understanding of what it means to be Wiccan, nor do they want to learn any better even when assistance is offered. I would have a hard time accepting such as that as equal to someone who has dedicated time and work to achieve the kind of knowledge expected of an initiate.

If so what would you even do if you don't go to public places or join a coven around your area because maybe you just don't know anyone that is Wiccan? Maybe someone is very shy and has a hard time going to any kind of public functions, big or small. Or is it honestly okay to learn from books, and be a solitary. Are Solitary Wiccans just as equal as Wiccans that have been initiated in a local coven? Is initiation even required at all? I've also heard people do self initiation by themselves when being a solitary, is this just as right as being initiated by a high priestess? I would love to hear what all of you have to say about all these questions

I have had many conversations with (traditional) Wiccans about initiation, and most would agree that a Solitary may very well live the Wiccan way of life,honour the Horned God, and the Goddess, but they can never know the real ceremonies and rituals of Wicca; because some of these are so secret that only the real initiate can take part.Elder Wiccans I have met have allowed me to witness one or two rituals; but not the secret ones!

Being a solitary witch myself, I really wish there were more people close to me that I could rely on for help. Sadly, most people I know are either Christian or Atheist. So, I'm forced to do everything on my own.

My nephew is Wiccan, but he lives over 1,000 miles away from me, and I never see him. He has helped me online with some things, but that's the only help I have received. I have no one living close to me that is Wiccan. Plus, I am disabled, and can't get out as much as I used to.

I wish all the people like me could get together to teach one another. :)