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Click on the Witches Meetup icon and sign up to meet with other real witches in your area. The Meetup organizers have the United States into 477 areas and have organized some international areas as well. I have personally attended one of the meetups in Odessa, TX and had a great time. This really is legitimate, and it works.

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This page has been visited times since October 8, 2001.

The divination section has moved to it's very own page. See the menu above for the link.

Meditation

Here is a wonderful meditation. It is called "The Tree Meditation" and is for pulling your energy back to your center.  For more information on meditation, please visit the meditation page.

The Witch's Ballad
by Doreen Valiente
from Witchcraft for Tomorrow

Oh, I have been beyond the town
Where nightshade black and mandrake grow,
And I have heard and I have seen
What righteous folk would fear to know!

For I have heard, at still midnight,
Upon the hilltop far, forlorn,
With not that echoed through the dark,
The winding of the heathen horn.

And I have seen the fire aglow,
And glinting from the magic sword,
And with the inner eye beheld
The Horne'd One, the Sabbat's lord.

We drank the wine, and broke the bread,
And ate it in the Old One's name.
We linked our hands to make the ring,
And laughed and leaped the Sabbat game.

Oh, little do the townsfolk reck,
When dull they lie within their bed!
Beyond the streets, beneath the stars,
A merry round the witches tread!

And round and round the circle spun,
Until the gates swung wide ajar,
That bar the boundaries of earth
From faery realms that shine afar.

Oh, I have been and I have seen
In magic worlds of Otherwhere.
For all this world may praise or blame,
For ban or blessing nought I care.

For I have been beyond the town,
Where meadowsweet and roses grow,
And there such music did I hear
As worldly-righteous never know.

This page starts out with some very basic information, including my own essay on what I believe magick is, with lots of important links toward the bottom. Headline news pertaining to Wicca and witchcraft follows my essay.
For starters, Wicca is a religion, witchcraft is a practice. While nearly all Wiccans consider themselves to be witches, not all witches are Wiccan. Witches use magick with a "k", illusionists use magic without the "k". The "k" was added to the magick that witches use so that it wouldn't be confused with those slight of hand tricks that illusionists use in their acts.
There are many different traditions of Wicca and types of witchcraft, just as there are many different Christian denominations. The different traditions are too numerous to list, and there are sub-groups within the various traditions. However, some of the most well-known traditions are Gardnerian, Alexandrian and Dianic. Also, someone may be a green witch or a kitchen witch, for example, and not  follow the Wiccan religion. Asatru is not a form of Wicca or even really witchcraft, and will be covered on the General Paganism page.

My Thoughts On What Magick Is

I will try to explain the way I view magick to non-Pagan readers of this page. I believe that Pagan magick and Judeo-Christian/Islamic prayer are similar, in that their purpose is to accomplish a specific goal, such as helping someone who is sick to heal.
Have you ever heard of the power of positive thinking, like in the Dale Carnegie courses? To me, magick is like prayer and the power of positive thinking. I see magick as the focus of one's mental energy, directed toward a specific, desired outcome. Like in Christian prayer, Wiccans ask for the help of their God(s) and/or Goddess(es).
In Wicca, we have two "laws" that are somewhat similar to the Ten Commandments in Christianity. The shortest version of the Wiccan Rede is: "An it harm none, do what ye will."
That only sounds simplistic until you really think about it. Harming none applies to the practitioner as well as everyone else. Therefore, unhealthy or possibly lethal activities violate the rede, even though the practitioner is the only one directly affected by the immediate action. Harming none also applies to actions that affect the free will of others.
For instance, trying to force a specific person into a romantic love relationship is in violation of the rede. The only type of love spell that would really be acceptable would be a spell to draw love in general to you. That might result in your mother forgiving a past quarrel or in the attention of a suitor you had never considered before.
The other "law" is usually called "The Rule of Three" or "The Law of Return". The idea is that whatever actions a person takes or whatever energies they send out will be returned to them threefold, or three times as strongly.
This is similar to the Golden Rule. We've all heard the expression, "What comes around, goes around."
So, everyone is already used to this concept. Wiccans just have their own phrase for the idea.
So, basically, magick is the practice of focusing your mental energy, or will, toward a specific goal without harming or impeding the free will of anyone else.

The Wiccan Rede

Bide the witches' law ye must

In perfect love and perfect trust

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill,

An' it harm none, do what you will.

And ever mind the rule of three,

What you send out comes back to thee.

Obey these with mind and heart,

And merry ye meet and merry ye part

The Full Wiccan Rede

Bide ye the Wiccan laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust.
Ye must live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about, to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be spoken in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch, speak ye little and listen much.
Deosil go by waxing moon, chanting out the Wiccan runes.
Widdershins go by waning moon, chanting out the baneful tune.
When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak, then the heart's desire seek.
Heed the North wind's mighty gale: lock the door and trim the sail.
When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the Moor wind blows from the West, departed spirits have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.
Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn them quick and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
When the wheel begins to turn, let the Beltane fires burn.
When the wheel has turned to Yule, light the log and the Horned One rules.
Heed ye flower, bush and tree, by the Lady, Blessed Be.
Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone, the truth to know.
When ye have and hold a need, hearken not to others' greed.
With a fool no seasons spend, or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should, three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow, wear the blue star on thy brow.
True in love ye must ever be, lest thy love be false to thee.
These words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: An ye harm none, do what ye will.

Witchy Word Definitions

Athame: a dull, double-bladed knife used to symbolically open the circle in ritual, traditionally has a black handle
Burning Times: the time of persecution and execution of supposed witches during the Middle Ages in Europe
Circle: where rituals are held, usually marked if in a permanent location, also the ritual celebration itself
Deosil: clockwise, the way to enter a circle, (should be done from the east)
Esbat: full or new moon gathering for ritual, a lesser sabbat
Handfasting: a Wiccan marriage ceremony
Path: belief system, "denomination"
Quarters: the four directions, sometimes called towers
Sabbat: holiday, festival, one of the four greater celebrations of the year
Skyclad: without clothing, jewelry optional, clad only by the sky
Widdershins: counterclockwise

The Eight Wiccan Sabbats
(Celebrations)

There are eight major Wiccan celebrations during the year, called SABBATS. Some view the solstices and equinoxes as the low Sabbats and the rest as the high Sabbats. Not everyone makes these distinctions. I will describe the Sabbats in order of the calendar year. They all were related to agricultural or astronomical events in the old days. Please note that the ancient Celts began their festivals at sunset. As we measure time, that would be the night before, as we generally consider a holiday to begin with the new day. A lot of modern Wicca and witchcraft has roots in the Old Religion of the Celtic tribes of Europe and the British Isles.
IMBOLC - February  1/2. AKA Candalmas, Lupercalia, Feast of Pan, Feast of Torches, Feast of Waxing Light, Oimelc, Brigit's Day, The Festival of Lights. Celebration of the first stirring of rebirth within the earth, symbolically within the womb of the Goddess, a time to encourage the rebirth of the sun after a dark, cold winter.
OSTARA - around March 21. The Spring Equinox, or Vernal Equinox. This is one of two times during the year when day and night are of equal length. This is a fertility festival, a time to reflect on all of the rebirth happening in nature and to recognize the lengthening days, bringing more sunlight to the budding plants. Please note the similarity between the Pagan celebration of rebirth and the Christian Easter, which sounds similar, is celebrated around this time of year, and celebrates the renewal of life to Jesus.
BELTANE - April 30/May 1. AKA May Eve, Roodmas, Walpurgis Night, Cethsamhain. The festival of the hunt and celebration of the wedding of the God and Goddess, celebrating the return of fertility to the land and its inhabitants. In the old days, large bonfires were lighted and maidens hoped to conceive a child of the Goddess. Children conceived at Beltane were considered special. In many areas, dancing around the Maypole on May 1st is still practiced.
LITHA - around June 21.  AKA the Summer Solstice, Midsummer. A time of great magickal power, long days full of sun, a time to work, and short nights, the time of leisure.
LUGNASADH - July 31/August 1. AKA Lamas, August Eve, Feast of Bread, the First Harvest. The first harvest festival and a time of thanksgiving and the last of the Celtic fire festivals,  Lugnasadh signifies the death of Lugh, the Corn King. Breads are traditionally formed in images of the Goddess to honor her for her blessing of grain. This is a time to give of your own gifts for the benefit of others. In modern celebration, this is a good time to participate in a food drive. Other activities may include gathering of seeds from the harvest and making corn dollies to represent the God and Goddess, then burning the dollies from last year in the fire.
MABON - around September 21. The Autumnal Equinox, the second of two times per year when day and night are equal. This time, the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer. This is the time to celebrate the second harvest and thanksgiving, the feast is similar to the American holiday of Thanksgiving.
SAMHAIN - October 31. (pronounced sow-wen) AKA November Eve, Hallowmas, Feast of Souls, Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples, and Halloween, today. This holiday marks the end of summer and the growing season. It is also a time to honor the dead, believed to be the day of the year when the veil between the living world and the one beyond is at it's thinnest, and easiest to cross. Like Christmas and Easter, much of the current celebration of Halloween is "borrowed" from the old, Pagan celebrations, but Halloween is a societal holiday, not a Christian holiday. Samhain was also the Celtic New Year and many modern witches, especially those practicing Celtic traditions, celebrate it as such. For really in-depth information on Samhain and it's history, read the article "Samhain: Season of Death and Renewal" by Alexi Kondratiev, which is presented in its entirety, including bibliography. Although it is not exactly the same , a similar holiday called Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is still celebrated in Mexico as a Catholic holiday.
YULE - around December 21, AKA the Winter Solstice. Yule is celebrated with a festive evergreen tree (decorated with things such as strings of cranberries), songs, feasts, and a Yule log, which have been adopted as parts of the Christian Christmas. However, the ancient practice was not to cut the tree down and drag it inside the home to be decorated then discarded. Christmas is celebrated on the day the ancient worshippers of Mithras celebrated the birth of Mithras instead of on the Winter Solstice. The worship of Mithras was still active among the Roman legions around the time they conquered western Europe and the British Isles. This is a time for rest and renewal during the cold, dark days of winter, while Mother Nature rests in preparation for the next cycle of fertility. This page about why Muslims shouldn't celebrate Christmas tells about the adaptation of Yule and Mithras into the Christian Christmas and Jesus.

"Secrets of the Inner Circle"
By: Elizabeth Barrette

"Here upon request is an essay entitled "Secrets of the Inner Circle" with tips on getting involved in the Pagan community. Most of this stuff is stuff I've been saying for years, in various configurations.
I did include one really cool quote from Charlie Denney and she helped with feedback on the rough draft. I don't mind if you want to forward this around all over the place, as long as you keep the credits intact -- that's part of the reason for the catchy title. Thanks to everyone on OurFreedom for making the original thread so lively, too!
Bright Blessings, Elizabeth Barrette"

* * * Secrets of the Inner Circle: Simple Ways of Getting Involved in Pagan Groups This essay began as a thread (beginning 6/29/01) on the OurFreedom mailing list, a forum dedicated to Pagan leadership and activism. We got to talking about community service, and people complained about a lack of much-needed volunteer labor. Others pointed
out the difficulties in novices finding groups/teachers and in groups/teachers dealing with the large numbers of novices. So I decided to write out a few helpful tips...

1) YOU are the Pagan community, whether you are a novice or an expert. Teach what you know. Study what you don't know. Get involved. There is no one ultimate authority in this community; there is no clique to shut you out; there is nothing stopping you but yourself. Decide what you want and then figure out a responsible plan for achieving it. Most skills can be learned if you're willing to put in the necessary time and effort. Community is all about forming bonds, exchanging energy, and celebrating both our unity and our diversity. You get out of it what you put into it. Lack of grassroots involvement causes leaders to burn out, and then all the lovely services disappear. So pitch in and
do your part.

2) When networking, offer someone a favor before you ask for a favor. We all have knowledge, skills, contacts, experience, etc. to draw upon and exchange. If you're a reviewer and you want to connect with authors, offer tearsheets when you have reviewed their books. If you want people to subscribe to your periodical, offer free sample issues
at a festival. If you want people to attend your lecture on "13 Ethical Rules for Coven Leaders," announce on the flyers that you'll be serving tea and cakes there. If you want help with your current project, offer to help the other person with theirs. You get the idea.

3) Jump right in. You can get terrific results by showing up at a local meeting or a national event and saying, "Hi! I'm Daniel Oakleaf and I this is my first trip here. Can you tell me what's going on?" or the like. Pagans tend to be gregarious folks, who usually try to make
sure that novices have a good time. More advanced attendees can help you make the most out of the experience.

4) Here is a foolproof way of getting involved: Volunteer. Back in my fangirl days, I decided I wanted to do panels and get to know cool folks in the science fiction community. So I'd show up a convention and volunteer for whatever needed doing that didn't require vast experience. I never got turned down. NEVER. And I met a lot of
exciting people while checking badges and emptying trash cans and carrying coffee ... people who were very appreciative of my willingness to spend an hour or two helping, after spending $30 to get into the con. Now? I almost never have to pay my way in; I volunteer for two or three panels instead. Everybody wins. And I've networked my
way very successfully into what I wanted. So when I started getting involved in the Pagan community, I used a lot of the same tactics. It really does work. Whenever someone asks me how to "break into" a group, I tell them to show up and offer to help. You want to get in with the Big Name Pagans? Volunteer at events and within a year or two, you will have lots of friends and contacts, plus some highly valuable experience. Almost the entire Pagan community runs on volunteer power. Some events require attendees to help with chores, programming, etc. so be prepared for this - but they too will appreciate it if you do more than required. Want to learn more advanced skills like directing traffic (for parking lots), facilitation (guiding meetings), cooking for the masses, large-scale ritual design? Just ask! The organizers can probably pair you with a more experienced volunteer, and by the end of the event, why, you'll have that kind of experience too. Of course there are other methods ... but this is one of the best. Just to share input from another source, so that you can see this is not a unique experience, Charlie Denney who works in the Council of Magical Arts has this to say on the topic: "Elizabeth and I evidently did our 'time' in the same circles - I started volunteering in F&SF conventions back in 1979. I've YET to do a convention where I paid my money to get in; I've always worked them because that was how you got the great access to the good stuff (people, events, etc.). I've done dealers' room, the security squad, gopher squad, art show, auction, convention committee (in every conceivable position from Assistant Director to Publicity), and last weekend, I FINALLY made it in as a guest speaker - speaking,
incredibly enough, on Paganism in SF and doing a Tarot workshop. I also got to play "Once Upon a Time" (a participation story panel) with the convention guests of honor!" Basically it works like this. Find the organizer(s), introduce yourself, list any special skills you have or volunteer for general labor, and tack on a timeframe. If you're at a small event, like an evening Pagan tea party and social, look around for the host(ess) and say something like, "Hi! My name is Carol Meadowlark. I'm new at this and I'd really like to pitch in. Do you need somebody to stay after and help clean up?" If you're at a large
event like a festival, the organizers will probably have an office, tent, desk, etc. serving as a central meeting point for logistics. Go there and say something like, "Hi! I want to help make this event a success. I'm new at this but I could spend a couple hours doing fetch
and carry, or washing dishes, and by the way I have Red Cross certification if you need someone in the first-aid tent."

5) Do not let limitations stop you. If you ride a wheelchair, maybe you can sit behind a table and help people sign in when they arrive at the event, instead of gathering firewood. If you have small children requiring lots of attention, maybe you can help with childcare instead of the main ritual. If you're susceptible to cold weather, hey, somebody has to look after the fire! Use your imagination. And festival organizers - you do the same, please. Just because an attendee can't do EVERYTHING does not mean he or she can't do ANYTHING.

6) Feedback is crucial. Praise what works. There's nothing like spending three months setting up for an event, and then on Sunday night after it's rained all weekend having somebody tell you that the indoor ritual was the best they ever experienced. If you see something that doesn't work, don't just criticize; explain WHY it didn't work and offer any ideas you may have for improvements. Join those fireside meetings where people discuss how a ritual went or what their favorite part of the event was.

7) Be a thoughtful consumer and donor. Think of your money as a folding vote. Every time you spend a dollar, you vote for the ideals and practices of the company or organization to whom that dollar goes. Once or twice a month, you can skip a McDonald's meal and send that money to a Pagan group instead. Even a little at a time adds up. Of course, if you're blessed with abundance, take advantage of the "Rule of Three" and spread it around generously! Remember that it's extremely tacky, and ultimately counterproductive, to mooch off of a group's largesse without returning anything. You go to their Full Moon meetings, you eat their muffins, you drink their grape juice ... you drop some funds into their donation jar.

8) When you see something that needs doing, and you know how to do it, don't wait to see if someone else will notice - just DO it. This is the mark of the true leader. If you see that the privy is out of toilet paper and you don't know where it's stocked, ask. If you notice that there's an electrical short making the lights in the main hall blink on and off, and you know nothing about electronics, go find one of the organizers or a janitor or somebody who can handle it and tell them about the problem. If you see garbage lying around, don't step around it, pick it up. Taking care of the world and each other is what
Paganism is all about. Likewise, when you have a great idea, run with it. Don't let it lie around and die of old age; get it moving, get it growing. If you need help to develop it, then ask people for what you need. Also don't look for someone to take over for you. It's your idea - it's your responsibility to make it manifest.

9) Having a hard time finding Pagans in your area? Join a national or regional group instead. They're easy to locate. Many of them are listed in area phonebooks, or advertise in local newspapers. They can often put you in touch with other members who live nearby - and by meeting Pagans from all around, you increase your chances of stumbling across someone near you, too. If you can't find a group, consider just starting one of your own, like a mythology study group. You can get the word out by hanging flyers in your local library, bookstore, supermarket, etc. Sometimes a public facility like a library will offer you function space to hold meetings. At each meeting, invite people to sign up for a mailing list so you can notify them when the next meeting will be. Don't wait around for somebody else to set up a group - there are probably a bunch of people already waiting for YOU to do it!

It all comes down to a matter of responsibility and connections. Pagan religions teach that you are responsible for your own actions and their consequences, and that we are all connected. So don't expect someone else to do all work for you. Roll up your sleeves and help. My mother, who is a very wise and witchy woman, puts it this way: "If you're not responsible, then you're irresponsible, and that's worse." Once you get started, you'll be amazed at how fast you learn and how much fun it is. Even the ratty chores can bring moments of grace. One of my fondest memories involves crouching on the floor, elbow-to-elbow with several justifiably famous Pagans, as we used credit cards to scrape up spilled candle wax. Everybody at that ritual was an expert in their own right, many accustomed to leading rituals in their own tradition; and instead of leaving the awkward job to just one or two people, almost everyone in the room stopped to take a few swipes at the wax. It cleaned right up - and we were reminded that a little cooperation goes a long way. That's the real secret of the inner circle.

Links

Here you will find some links which you can use to find information on Wicca and Witchcraft.
These sites may also be able to help you to find contacts in your area.
As with anything on the internet, everyone is urged to use their own judgment and common sense when accepting information or interacting with others. Remember, be true to your own self and your own path. Do what is right for you.
This site about the sacred texts of the religions and mystery traditions of the world is definitely a must-see type of site. Paganism is only one of many religions covered, so it's a great resource for looking up references to other religions.
Witchvox is a very popular site for information and articles on various aspects of Wicca and witchcraft. It is probably the most extensive witchcraft information site available on the internet. Some other Pagan information is also available. They have worldwide event and networking information. This site is a must-see for anyone who wants to find detailed information or like-minded friends.
There is also quite a bit of information available at the Circle Sanctuary website. Circle Sanctuary was founded by Selena Fox. They publish "Circle" magazine and have their own nature preserve in Wisconsin.
Here is the site where you can find the PRINCIPALS OF WICCAN BELIEF, as adopted by the Council of American Witches in April of 1974, as well as other information and current events.
Wicca 101 at Red Deer's and Elenya's offers online courses in Wicca as well as some general information. I have never personally taken the courses, so I cannot vouch for their content. This is a nice site though, so check it out and see what you think.
Dianic Wicca is practiced almost exclusively by women and a male God isn't worshipped. There is a tradition of Dianic Wicca which admits men, but most do not. Dianic Wicca is sometimes assumed to be a religion of lesbian radicals, but that is not true.
Stregha is not Wiccan, but is Italian witchcraft.
The following site explains the court cases which set the legal precedents for the identification of Wicca as a federally recognized religion in The United States of America. This page also gives the text of the U.S. military chaplain's handbook on religion regarding Wicca, used with permission of course.
W.A.R.D. = Witches Against Religious Discrimination. Visit their site and learn about the organization, join if you want, or sign up for their egroup.
Covenant of the Goddess (COG) is an international organization of Wiccan congregations and solitaires.
There is quite a bit of information at the Witch/Pagan Resources site, but it is a privately owned site that you have to join to use.
Interested in the "Burning Times"? You can read 15th century witchcraft documents from the online Medieval Sourcebook.  Then check out this site about the Salem Witch Trials from a law school's Famous American Trials site.
If you're thinking about coming out of the broom closet at work, here is an interesting article for you to read. Plus, you can read about celebrity witches who are out of the broom closet.
Rick Ross built a page listing articles about Wicca, witches and Paganism.
For a different slant, a Christian discusses Paganism and Wicca on this page.
As far as magazines go, there are several regional newsletters, and "Green Egg" is no more, but I think that "SAGE WOMAN: Celebrating the Goddess in Every Woman" is a wonderful publication. It is a magazine published quarterly by Blessed Bee, Inc. and is a member of the Wiccan/Pagan Press Alliance. The articles are both informative and uplifting.

Retail Outlets you may want to visit

Here is a Witch/Pagan oriented bookstore that I found while surfing...Magus Books and Herbs website.
If you're looking for Goddess statues, Sacred Source can help you.
From angels' wings to witches' robes, the Pyramid Collection offers a wide array of products useful to those with interests ranging from the old ways to the new age. Books, clothes, divination tools, jewelry, ritual items, and much more.