Merry meet everyone ^.~! I'm setting up this thread as a haven for those on this site who are Wiccan (as I have found there are more then I thought). So if you want to ask a question or just discuss the religion feel free to come and talk! I too have questions so please join us!

Blessed Be everyone!!

Warning! All those who oppose the religion Wicca or feel the sudden urge to post in this thread anything insulting of Wiccas or the religion please shove the impulse back down cause it will not be tolerated. This is a thread to have calm and friendly talk not an area for debate. If you really do have the need to ask insulting questions ask in pm, but do not post them here! You know... just don't slam religions at all. Friendly area! ^.^

I am not "for" wiccan's as I believe in the Christianity (non denominational) I love all people and understand that God made us each as unique individuals that express ourselves in our own special way. I also am no more "for" the standard traditional 'religious' Churches because they follow 'man made' doctrine. I do not oppose wiccan because I know they are misunderstood by the majority and not the 'threat' many make them out to be. I also believe you can learn something from EVERYTHING and anybody.

lol no kidding :P well it's good to have you here. Welcome! ^.^

I used to have a Wiccan Priestess that worked for me and I loved her! She worked every Christmas and Easter and I made sure to give her every Soltice and Hallow's Eve off.
Her login to our system was Witchipoo.

Lol XD nice. I've never met a priestess me and my friend were working together at first but now we only do sabbats together. I've never been in a coven though I think it would be fun! I wish I had a boss who gave me all holidays off :P, though I have to admit working halloween at wendy's won't be to bad I get to work in costume XD

Moving a bit of conversation from the other thread--

By tradition, I mean there are major traditions of Wicca--primarily the Garderian or Alexandrian, though many are Eclectic, which is where I'm guessing you'd probably be.

Wiki has a pretty good entry on Wicca--good reading, if nothing else. Wicca - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca)

I don't have access to some of my books right now, but I will try to get you a list of recommended reading at some point.

Wicca is generally unaccepted because if you get more than 10 of us together, we can't agree on much. Every pagan I've ever met pretty much laughingly agrees with that.

If you can, I suggest you train with a Wiccan priestess in your area--even if you don't STAY in a Circle/coven, it's really better to have trained with those who have been in larger Circles, then take what you want/need from that tradition and go forward as a solitary.

I was solitary for 10 years, and I've learned more in the last year by training with an older Witch than I did in the 10 years doing it on my own.

As for crystal healing--I believe in it, though I am not a healer. I'm more of a seeker, myself. Your best bet is to just start learning the metaphysical traits of ALL stones.

Oh! Ya I'm pretty sure I'm Eclectic... I remember me and D going over that when we first started cause I remember one included doing rituals in skyclad but I wasn't comfortable with that and neither was she. As for a priestess I only know of one in the area but a very knowledgeable friend of mine who owns and runs a shoppe in my town that sells wiccan supplies and renassance stuff said she is not a real priestess (I had asked her about the priestess cause I heard of a coven in the area but wanted to confirm it with her if anything else cause I highly respect her and go to her for help when I need it). So right now I think I'm going to have to stay solitary (sorta O.o) cause I don't know of anyone with all the knowledge of a priestess in my area but the lady at the shoppe is as close as it gets.

As for christal healing I've been studying it a while and believe in it a lot and have been practicing but my problem is I can't find a book with recommended spots to put stones for certain things. I just find lists of what they do in and what they can be used for but not the positions.

Oh and what would you recommend for a herbal bath? I'm using mint cause that's the only herb I know anything about really (and a little about basil). Any advice?

I use salt for cleansing.

I think for the crystals, you'll have to go with what you feel.

Personally, I think you are too caught up in what is right and what's not. There IS no right way--and the wrong way to do things always means that you are subjugating someone's free will. As long as you do things with the free will of all, and the good of all, in mind, you should be okay.

^.^ thanks, I always try to keep it in mind but sometimes I guess I lose myself in making sure I do thinks "right". Btw- nicely put in misconceptions on religion. I got to admit when I found out where the idea of the bunny for easter I couldn't help laughing. I always wondered when I was little why there was a bunny and eggs on the day of rebirth. I confused the heck out of me.

Hey, what's up! Just sayin' hi to all my fellow Wiccans out here! I'm also interested in crystal healing. If anybody knows any good info on it, let me know! Thanks!

Hey peggy! Well the most I can say right now is get some books by Judy Hall, she is a very good healer and very knowledgeable in the subject... I think she has... 8 books?

Stupid question but I've heard a lot of the pentagram. What's your thoughts on it BiWiccaAndProud? Could you tell me what its used for in your religion? Thanks! ^_^

Many Neopagans, especially Wiccans, use the pentagram as a symbol of faith similar to the Christian cross or the Jewish Star of David. It is not, however, a universal symbol for Neopaganism, and is rarely used by Reconstructionists. Its religious symbolism is commonly explained by reference to the neo-Pythagorean understanding that the five vertices of the pentagram represent the four elements with the addition of Spirit as the uppermost point. As a representation of the elements, the pentagram is involved in the Wiccan practice of summoning the elemental spirits of the four directions at the beginning of a ritual.

... taken from Wiki.

Basically, a pentagram is 5 pointed star that represents Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit--the 5 major elements. A Pentacle is a pentagram in a circle.

It's not worshipped the way the cross is in Christianity, but it IS a symbol of power for most pagans.

That's basically it but if anyone needs a visual here's a pic with the location of each element on each point of it. It's not a penticle I know but those are the points that normally represent each element.

5051

Thanks both of you!
I may have more questions later. >_<

lol well ask away ^.^

Hey,
I'm Katrina and I just started Wicca yesterday so I still have quite a few questions. LOL What should every beginner learn about first? Does anyone know if there are any stores for supplies in St. Cloud, Minnesota? What are the things beginners ahould first?

Check out the Occulte or religion section of any Half Price Books.

There's a lot of great stuff to get you started.

Remember that there are many forms of Wicca, and many people with varying opinions wrote books, so when you read, make sure you are reading some of it with a grain of salt.

You could also use Amazon and look up Wicca and Witch and Witchcraft for your key words. You can get a lot of information that way.

I'm in the Minneapolis area, and unfortunately don't know of any good pagan stores that are still open.

I recommend Wicca: The solitary practionar by Scott Cunningham and The Wiccan Bible by Ann-Marie Gallagher. The Wiccan Bible is what I read to get started... but other then that I agree with Synnen. Any book store will carry at least one book (Hastings has a lot of good ones in the New Age sections)

Hello everyone! Yule is here! What is everyone doing to celebrate? As you guys already know this is my first year in the religion and I'm not to sure what to do as a celebration.

I'll be having a fire, and a solitary celebration on Saturday night. I'm going to do it outside, in the snow, so I hope it's not TOO cold!

I wish I could do that, but my mom would never let me. I'm doing my celebration solitary tonight too. I have no idea where my friend Deirda is so I'm at a bit of a loss here. I have been studying so much lately I completely forgot that Yule was on the 21st! I'm going to feel terrible if I don't get to do something special for Yule, I didn't get to celebrate Samhain already! The was the one I was most looking foreword to. T.T

P.S. Someone told me the other day that I shouldn't call myself Wiccan just cause I continue to celebrate holidays that are not Wiccan, like Christmas and New Years. They said that the Wiccan New Year is Samhain and there is no reason for me to celebrate the more known New Year. It didn't hurt me or anything, but it did kind of tick me off. This isn't a common view is it? Just out of curiousity...

It IS a common view--and my answer to that is generally that I am helping my friends and family celebrate THEIR holidays. If my friends or family want to join me in mine, they are welcome to do so, but I have enough respect for them that I prefer to help them enjoy their days.

And Yule is on Saturday the 22nd this year, you know. Today is the 21st, yet tomorrow is the Solstice.

Light a candle, draw a Circle, do it yourself. I've had complete rituals where I never moved except to honor the Elements and actually draw the Circle.

Thank you so much Synnen... it's not like I'm celebrating Christmas for christ or anything, it's just that I celebrate it as the day of giving more then anything else.

And thank you for correcting me on that! I thought it was on the 21st! I looked it up online cause I couldn't remember if it was the 21st or 22nd and a lot of places said the 21st. Don't the days vary on the time zone? It's a big relief though cause I'm at work till 11:30 tonight and I didn't know if I would be awake enough to do anything when I got home.

And thank you for the advice. Again I didn't get to celebrate Samhain and I don't want to miss celebrating Yule.

It DOES vary on the timezone, actually, as to when the actual Solstice happens locally--but most Pagans I know celebrate it based on GMT (Because of planning issues with Circles, etc).

For me, locally, Solstice will be at 12:08 AM, tomorrow morning (just after midnight tonight). For California, it's at 10:08 this evening.

So... you can celebrate at local time, or you can use Universal time (GMT).

I have no clue what it would be for me. I like smack dab in the middle of the United States... good old Kansas...

Central time, right? 12:08 AM tomorrow.

Thank you Synnen! You're a huge help! I can't wait to celebrate!

My partner is Wiccan- I've wanted to learn more about it, as it seems like a fairly open-minded and accepting religion. I was raised Catholic- was an atheist for a rebellious year at 13- went back to church and became a bible-thumper- came out of the closet at 18, and decided a church that labels me as 'intrinsically disordered' isn't my cup o' tea- and now, years later, I guess I'm more agnostic than anything else-

So I figured I'd pop in, say hello, and see what I can learn from you all. Although I'm certainly not Catholic any longer, Christianity is where the bulk of my religious knowledge lies... and I feel that it's about time to expand my knowledge a bit and see what else is going on out there.

BTW- you work at Wendy's? I did too, for about a year and a half when I first started college- nobody believes me, but it was really once of the best jobs- great people, not too uptight, and just a lot of fun- =)

lol I'm glad to know that all wendy's are like that! I've had a few run ins with a girl who doesn't like me but other then that I'm fine there and love it. I even met my boyfriend there ^.^.

So what do you want to know?

Well... I've done some reading a while back, but it's all very hazy in my mind. Do wiccans believe in one god or many gods? I vaguely remember reading something about the god and goddess... but that they were one force, and that they represented the masculine and feminine elements? Sort of like how christians believe in the trinity, but still believe in one god? Or... I don't know.

And do wiccans believe in a god and goddess, like... as though they are PEOPLE, or is it more like... they believe that there is a spirit that has both masculine and feminine aspects and by personifying it into a god and goddess it makes it easier to understand and grasp?

I know that a lot revolves around nature as well, if I'm not mistaken- but not too sure on the specifics.

I guess I just want to know the basics-

Also, what is the difference between Wicca and other forms of Paganism? It seems, as far as I can tell, sort of like Christianity- Pagan and Christian are the main categories... and then you have separate denominations of paganism or christianity- so wiccan would be a form of paganism, just like pentacostal is a form of christianity- is that right?

Drawing those types of parallels when applicable helps me understand it because I was raised catholic and that's where a lot of my religious knowledge lies-

Basically any clarification of the things I said, as well as any other info or even any links to basic wiccan or pagan sites would be helpful.

Thanks!

Well... I've done some reading a while back, but it's all very hazy in my mind. Do wiccans believe in one god or many gods? I vaguely remember reading something about the god and goddess... but that they were one force, and that they represented the masculine and feminine elements? Sort of like how christians believe in the trinity, but still believe in one god? Or... idk.

And do wiccans believe in a god and goddess, like... as though they are PEOPLE, or is it more like... they believe that there is a spirit that has both masculine and feminine aspects and by personifying it into a god and goddess it makes it easier to understand and grasp?!

We believe, essentially (and you will find this varies a bit, depending on the TYPE of Wiccan) that there is a God and a Goddess, and that they are both one force AND separate forces. They are definitely a god and goddess, not people! However, we believe that they have more direct influence in our lives than most religions believe. For instance, *I* could talk to my Goddess directly (and do, all the time!) even though I'm not a priestess (I still need to test to priestess level, which is hard to do, because you need higher level priests/priestesses to witness your testing). She (or He, if you're talking ot the Lord) answers, but seldom with a direct "DO THIS" answer. Usually it's in signs, or in Karma (or however you want to word "what goes around comes around"). If She is asking you to do something, and you don't hear Her, or ignore Her the first time, believe me, she'll make sure you know what you're supposed to do.

As far as the one or many question--we believe that all gods are one god, and all goddesses are one goddess, and all people just call them by different names. We ALSO believe that there are many aspects to each--the Dark Goddess, the Maiden, the Mother, the Crone, etc; or the Horned One, the Oak Man, the Son, the Father, etc.


I know that a lot revolves around nature as well, if I'm not mistaken- but not too sure on the specifics.!

We respect and rever the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit, and believe that Nature is sacred to some extent--Everything is part of the whole, so to hurt the Earth, to harm nature, is to harm yourself.


I guess I just want to know the basics-

Also, what is the difference between Wicca and other forms of Paganism? It seems, as far as I can tell, sort of like Christianity- Pagan and Christian are the main categories... and then you have seperate denominations of paganism or christianity- so wiccan would be a form of paganism, just like pentacostal is a form of christianity- is that right?

Drawing those types of parallels when applicable helps me understand it because i was raised catholic and that's where a lot of my religious knowledge lies-

Basically any clarification of the things I said, as well as any other info or even any links to basic wiccan or pagan sites would be helpful.

Thanks!

That's exactly right! Other forms of paganism include Druidism, direct Nature Worship (which is something like the Hippies of the 60s), or worship of a specific element. There are at LEAST 3 sects of Wicca, not including the solitary Witch. To get an overview, you might check out the Wiki entry on Wicca, because it's actually pretty acurate.

The hardest thing for most people coming from organized religions to understand is that Wicca (and most paganism) is not organized. We seldom meet in groups greater than 25 or so, and even those groupings are not regular groups. My Circle currently has 3 members. We got together with another 2 groups for Samhain (Halloween) for a larger ceremony--and there were still only about 10 of us. We all pretty much agree to disagree on the particulars, and do what feels best to us, with the major rules being to do no harm to others or to Nature, and that anything you do will come back on you sevenfold, and that you MUST not bend another's free will for your working. I end most workings with "Maintaining the free will of all, for the good of all".

While we do cast spells, that's generally NOT what most Witches do--simply because the reprecussions are so many, and so unpredictable. Plus, the energy required to do a spell is based on how big the spell is. A spell of protection for myself, maintained by my own personal energy, isn't that hard. Protecting someone else--not so much. But protections are the easiest spells--if I wanted to cast a circle of protection on my home, that's not as difficult as, say, casting a spell to meet someone I'd like to date. The particulars get too complicated!

In general, I hope that gives you an overview! Please feel free to ask more questions, and I'll answer as I can!

I didn't know it bothered those of more public religions that I celebrate on both my sacred day and theirs. Yes, helping them with preparations is something I do to be supportive. They don't talk to me about what I celebrate. They just kind of ignore what I do. Too bad so many of us hide what is sacred to us.

I am not Wicca, but I have a question. Is Wicca the religion who's members sometimes talk to trees and was it a Wicca family that was once featured on either "Wife Swap" or "Trading Spouses" ?

Druids are more likely to talk to trees than Wiccans, but since one of the aspects of our God is the Oak Man--it might be.

I don't watch TV at all--couldn't tell you on the second question.

I don't watch TV at all either. Mass media and the press want to sell viewership, and thus commercials. My first thought of putting a Wiccan family on one of those shows was as a commercial venue. They sell more ad time, the more controversial or "talked about" something is. If you want to learn intelligently about anything, balance your TV information with books, internet, conventions and conversations and trying safe things yourself. Always ask yourself, "does this source of information want to inform me, or sell something?" A tree has never tried to sell me anything. So I do have occasional conversations with them.

I very much agree with you on that simoneaugie! I watch a lot of TV but the only things I ever take seriously... are things I see on the travel channel and discovery channel! To many lies come from TV... but then again it is the same with the internet. At my school we are never supposed to use Wiki cause it is a source that can be edited by anybody any time and so is unreliable. It's always going to be my firm belief that books are the best way to go. Though sometimes it's hard to find a reliable source in books too. When I first became Wicca and was researching it I went to Hastings to get my books. I found one IN THE NEW AGE SECTION (why wicca books are in NEW age I have no clue), that went into detail about how to protect yourself against zombies and vampires, and one of the spells included ingredients such as a sparrows heart and eye of newt, I couldn't stop laughing!! So in all aspects you got to be careful with what ever source you look at, cause that book I just described actually had some accurate info about wicca... IN THE BEGINNING of the book. I've found though that Scott Cunningham is the best author of Wiccan books out there, but that's my opinion.

Say on the subject of books, does anyone know any good books on Crystal Healing? I've looked at many Judy Hall books but a lot of them contain the same info. I'd like to find a book that tells me what specific places a stone should good for certain symptoms. Thanks guys!

Imbolc is almost here guys!! And unfortunately... I'm the most unorganized person >.<. I understand what Imbolc celebrates yes, but I have not been able to find any celebration rituals or write my own. I'm also at a loss cause my friend got taken into the system for not going to school (come to find out she has social anxiety) and is in Nebraska! Normally we go to her house to do sabbat celebrations cause we have a perminate circle in her back yard and we can have fires and everything. With her gone though I can't just go to her house for the celebration, and I wanted to do a fire but I have no where else to go. So does anyone know a simple but fun ritual I could do inside or outside for Imbolc?

Imbolc is preparation, really.

One book I read said that a great celebration of Imbolc by a solitary witch is to cast the circle around your home, call the elements and the goddess, and then CLEAN.

My mom would ask me what was wrong >.< lol...

You can have a fire. A candle will do. Even a symbol of a candle will be adequate. If your mom may have an unexpected reaction to you cleaning, lol. You and your friends could clean and rearrange your room. You can decorate with what flowers are in bloom this time of year. It's a time to clean up inside as well, to give up unhealthy habits. Symbols of these can be burned in a cauldron safely placed where it will not catch anything on fire.

Thank you ^.^ you guys are a lot of help

Hi. I was wondering if anyone here had experimented with HooDoo at all?

Hoodoo isn't really even close to Wicca, you know.

Can a wiccan do a money spell for me? Anyone here?
Thanks!

1. Most Wiccans won't do a spell for someone they don't know.

2. Soliciting spells from someone YOU don't know can have karma coming back to bite you in very interesting ways.

3. Casting a spell for money takes more energy than just getting off your butt and going out and EARNING it. Money unearned is bad karma anyway.

4. Anyone offering to cast you a spell without a LOT more details is probably going to rip you off---and the spell probably wouldn't come out the way you wanted, even if it DID work right.

Forget spells. They don't work like they do in the movies, and they certainly aren't like the genie in Aladdin. Just WORK for what you want.

Haha yes I realize... but of all the threads, I thought this one might be the best one to get an answer on.

P.S. Someone told me the other day that I shouldn't call myself Wiccan just cause I continue to celebrate holidays that are not Wiccan, like Christmas and New Years. They said that the Wiccan New Year is Samhain and there is no reason for me to celebrate the more known New Year. It didn't hurt me or anything, but it did kinda tick me off. This isn't a common view is it? Just out of curiousity....

I've never been told that, but I'm pretty solitary for that very reason. NO ONE tells me what I can or can't do or can and can't believe in! And what kind of person stops giving their family and friends Christmas gifts when they convert?
I can think of a reason to celebrate December 31.. . PARTY!! DUH!! :D
But the easiest answer for that is to call yourself "Pagan" because that's a very broad term.

Hey guys Ostara's coming up! What are you all going to do? I'm excited cause my wiccan friend who was in the system is finally out! YAY!! I FINALLY HAVE SOMEONE TO CELEBRATE WITH!! *does happy dance*

Ostara is a good time to tell all my neices, nephews and to remind my daughters why this particular holiday is called Easter. Everyone who celebrates, insisting that I do, Christ's rising from death should know the original Ostara myths.

Lol you, really I find the reason behind the bunny really funny XD but it is nice to know. I wondered all the time when I was growing up mormon why there was a bunny on that day. I told my sister though and she said I was lying >.<

Merry Meet all.
I am a wiccan that started on my own. I taught myself. Read every book that I could get my hands on. I live Im Ma. And In my Area there is a very large following. I am of the Saligon tradition with its lineage is the Cabot tradition. I was a solitary for like 5 years but was around the Salgion Coven members so when I felt I needed to know more and needed to see a ritual I got myself invited to there open circles. I went to them all for ab out a year until I felt I was ready and that I found out enough about the coven to actually join. My Advise is not too join just any coven. Research it out fully. Get to know the people involved it them. Anyone can call them a high preistest or Hi priest . Be leary of anyone that asks for money to join. There usually are coven dues but they are like 5 bucks a month and used for supplies within the coven. There are a lot of people out there trying to make a quick buck by teaching classes when the best teacher is yourself. You know what feels right and you know what you should be doing. HARM NONE. Is what you should base all your magick on. Which means do as you want as long as you are not Manipulating anyone or hurting anyone. And the self gain thing is perfectly OK. Just ask for only what you need and don't be greedy because greed comes with a cost as well. I hope this helps.

I've never been told that, but I'm pretty solitary for that very reason. NO ONE tells me what I can or can't do or can and can't believe in!! And what kind of person stops giving their family and friends Christmas gifts when they convert??
I can think of a reason to celebrate December 31 . . . . PARTY!!! DUH!!! :D
But the easiest answer for that is to call your self "Pagan" because thats a very broad term.

That is nonsense, All wiccans have family that are not wiccan and of course we induldge in Christmas ( yule) and easter (ostara) Hollowen (saimhain) .Actually were lucky we have two holidays per there one. Party party. And if you read a lot of books all these holidays All these holidays were orig pagan holidays but they changed the name to easter and christmas when the Catholic religion was formed. There symbol was a star . On some old churches you will even see gogoyles and other pagan symbols. Most of the really old churches were built by pagans.

Roy... I never said spells didn't work.

I said they didn't work like they do in the movies and that people should be VERY wary of who they're asking to do spells for them, and who they are doing spells for.

Please read more carefully.

I've been a practicing witch, both solitary and in covens, for the last 15 years. I've read, I've worked with different covens, and I've learned a LOT over the years.

Roy...I never said spells didn't work.

I said they didn't work like they do in the movies and that people should be VERY wary of who they're asking to do spells for them, and who they are doing spells for.

Please read more carefully.

I've been a practicing witch, both solitary and in covens, for the last 15 years. I've read, I've worked with different covens, and I've learned a LOT over the years.

I'm sorry I must have missunderstood or mabey I read it to fast. My bad. Your right they don't work like they do in movies. But you know I find the more you know the harder it is to work a spell. To many factors. I remember when I first started. They worked like a charm but the more factors you add to them the harder they are to work. Do you find that the more you know the harder it is to work a spell?

Aside from self protection, Circle casting, purifying, and banishing spells---I hardly work them anymore.

I've had a couple backlash on me with unintended results--bad phrasing on my part in the casting. I've had one where Karma was a b!tch to me. And while I've had many successful spells, I just find the effort of most spells isn't worth it. Simple spells are easy, I can whisk most of those off with barely a thought and a phrased word--disspelling, self-protection (like Mirror spells), cleansing (basic stuff, on myself and others), good-will (like blessing the guy in the car that cut me off with a better day)--stuff like that is easy.

When I want a pretty specific outcome, though--that's where I fumble. Too many thoughts, and you're restricting the scope and power of the spell. Too few thoughts on it, and it's basically uncontrollable--you end up unleashing any doubts you have along with the spell, and since you KNOW what can go wrong with it, you end up having doubts of some kind even if you try not to.

So... I've learned that words and elbow grease tend to work better most of the time for the kinds of things that people always want you to cast spells for--money, love, fame, blah blah blah.

I've gotten to the point where when my friends ask me for a spell as a boost for whatever--aside from "I'm having a really bad day can you just send some good energy my way"--I just have a series of small amulets I cast the equivalent of a self-confidence spell on, and give THAT to them. They then have more faith that they can do it, and so they DO do it.

I never have done a spell for anyone. It only works good when you have the need for it and I really don't have the need or the feelings to work a spell for anyone else. And I agree with you fully. I don't do spells anymore either. I find its too much work. Simple ones are OK but I've also had a bad outcome on a spell that went bad. We learn from out mistakes...

Wiccan and proud here also!! FYI!!

Excellent. Its nice to find a place where Wiccans and Pagans came come and "meet" in peace. I would like to ask the entire thread a question: What Wiccan tradition do you guys follow? Are you in a coven or solitary?

Solitary personaly, but I used to practice with my friend till she moved away

Mostly Celtic, mainly solitary. Close family likes to join in, but I do best alone.

I can never remember the name of the tradition I was trained in. It's NOT Alexandrite--but I can never remember what it IS.

I've worked with Circles and solitary. I prefer solitary, but working with a Circle is nice as well.

Hey, I'm allergic to incense. Is there anything I can use in rituals instead?

You aren't alone with a sensitivity to incense. Some people burn it for a very short time, then put it out. Have you tried a diffuser? The odor helps to put you in the right mind set. With practice, almost any odor can stimulate a desired mood. Whiffing a kitchen spice does the same thing, meaning that incense isn't essential.

There are a multitude of magic-herb associations. Investigate the associations of different practitioners.

Some forms of incense don't have the dusty/allergens that the commercial kinds have.

You can get a smoke free "charcoal" (sorry, blanking on the brand name right now) and pay the extra expense for pieces of frankincense or copal to burn against the charcoal.

That's how one of the witches in a circle I spent a good deal of time with solved her incense allergy problem, anyway.

Just wanted to stop by and check out the thread. I have been practicing for some time now. Glad to see such positive people on the boards

Proud to be AmeriWiccan.

PATH