A Wicca beginner's guide will only ever be able to whet your appetite and give you the basics on what is a rich and complex faith and way of life. This is not only due to the huge amount of reading material out there but actually it's also because of the deeply personal and flexible nature of Wicca. No two Wiccans ever practise in exactly the same way. So if you've ended up here due to an overload of info, this Wicca Beginner's Guide aims to give you the confidence to take your first tentative steps and makes some suggestions on what those steps should be.

Wicca or Witchcraft?

Wiccan and witchcraft actually have the same roots and in fact Wicca is a neopagan form of witchcraft that branched off to avoid being stigmatised after the centuries of persecution of witches. This leaves a lot of room for personal choice in the way you practise. Many prefer to stick to the ancient ways as much as possible (although there is a lot of dispute as to how much we know of what is genuine and what isn't), while others opt for a modern version. An example of this would be that most modern Wiccans choose to write spells in the modern tongue in order to avoid misinterpretation of the wording. However, what binds them all is usually an adherence to the original values. The powers of the universal elements that were honoured by our forbearers are still cardinal.

The Pentacle - The Symbol of Wicca

No good Wicca Beginner's Guide could fail to include the 5 pointed Wiccan symbol of the pentacle. This represents the universal elements of air, fire, earth, water and the spirit. These respected powers are both honoured and also garnered in spell work and rituals, each giving their unique characteristics to your spell. Take the time to study these and you will find much acim app  what Wicca is truly about starts to become clear.

The Wiccan Rede & Three Fold Law

Sadly some people still associate 'the dark arts' with Wicca and so I feel this Wicca Beginner's Guide should address this by stating that the 2 main rules actively discourage this. There are very few rules to Wicca and few would have it any other way. However, a Wicca Beginner's Guide should most certainly include what could be described as the Wicca code of conduct - the Wiccan Rede, which goes "An ye harm none, do as you will". It is a simple but powerful morality which asks that you do not bring harm upon yourself or to others, and with this request met, you are free to do as you please.

The three fold law states that the energy you give out will come back to you but with three times the force. If your act or deed is one of kindness, this will be returned to you multiplied by three. If your actions or intentions are harmful, you should consider the outcome seriously.

Spells

It is very common for those who seek out a Wicca Beginner's Guide to actually be looking for info on spells! And it's no surprise, this being one of the most exciting aspects of Wicca. Spells are not actually essential and many choose not to work with them but for those who do, it is more about learning how to work in tune with the natural energies, to respect the elements around us, rather than creating miracles. Spell casting should be an emotional response rather than a desire to control.

It is very important to start off with something simple. This will give you the right grounding in what works for you and what your particular skills are. It is fine to use spells written by others but writing your own spells should be what you are aiming for so don't be afraid to make small adjustments here and there in order to make it more personal and therefore more effective. Find the right combination of ingredients, tools and wording that speaks to you and you will find you progress so much more quickly.

I hope you have found some useful suggestions here in this basic Wiccan Beginner's Guide. All that remains to be said is merry meet and welcome to you!