However, there are some things I can tell you. This page is about witchcraft, paganism, the occult, the mysteries & so on. There are plenty of other places to find out about those:
I, personally, am a self taught Wiccan. I learned my religion from books: not the best way to learn a religion, but somethimes that's the only practical way. But the books only showed me how to practice the religion, not what to believe in. They gave a name (Wicca) to the beliefs I already had. I felt, as most do, that I had returned home. I had been pagan all my life (and, I believe, in previuos lives), and finding the pagan movement was like finding my family.
As I said before, pagans are all diferent, so each has his/her own slant on deity.
Introducing my gods....
Mother Nature or The Great Mother is a mature goddess, young enough to be full of life and warmth, old enough to be wise. Her mysteries are birth, sex & love. She is the fertile Earth personified.
The Young God is strong and lively. He often runs through the forrest in the form of a stag. His mysteries are fun, strength & potency (sexual & otherwise). He also can be foolhardy at times, as young males often are.
The Elder God is a hunter, warrior & magician. One of the mysteries he teaches is strength, but a strength tempered by experience and a cool head. Everything he does is for a reason. He teaches maturity, not just of body, but of mind and spirit.
The Crone is mistress of the dark. Wisdom and powerful magic are her secrets, as are the mysteries of death. The elderly (souls) are her equals. There are few she will smile upon in life; but she rejoices in death, for life is a prison in which the soul is locked. Such is the melancholy nature of the Old Crone.
Version 1:
_REDE OF THE WICCAE_
(Being knowne as the counsel of the Wise Ones)
1. Bide the Wiccan laws ye must
in perfect love and perfect trust.
2. Live an let live -
fairly take an fairly give.
3. Cast the Circle thrice about
to keep all evil spirits out.
4. To bind the spell every time,
let the spell be spake in rhyme.
5. Soft of eye and light of touch -
speak little, listen much.
6. Deosil go by the waxing Moon -
sing an dance the Wiccan Rune.
7. Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane,
an the Werewolf howls by the dread Wolfsbane.
8. When the Lady's Moon is new,
kiss the hand to her times two.
9. When the Moon rides at her peak,
then your heart's desire seek.
10. Heed the Northwind's mighty gale -
lock the door and drop the sail.
11. When the wind comes from the South,
love will kiss thee on the mouth.
12. When the wind blows from the East,
expect the new and set the feast.
13. When the West wind blows o'er thee,
departed spirits restless be.
14. Nine woods in the Cauldron go -
burn them quick an burn them slow.
15. Elder be ye Lady's tree -
burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
16. When the Wheel begins to turn -
let the Beltane fires burn.
17. When the Wheel has turned a Yule,
light the Log an let Pan rule.
18. Heed ye flower, bush an tree -
by the Lady blessed be.
19. Where the rippling waters go,
cast a stone and truth ye'll know.
20. Whenever ye have need,
hearken not to others' greed.
21. With the fool no season spend
or be counted as his friend.
22. Merry meet an merry part -
bright the cheeks an warm the heart.
23. Mind the Threefold Law ye should -
three times bad an three times good.
24. When misfortune is enow,
wear the blue star on thy brow.
25. True in love ever be
unless thy lover's false to thee.
26. Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill -
an it harm none, do what ye will."
Bide the wiccan laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust. Live ye must and let to 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 spake in rhyme. Soft of eye and light of touch, speak ye little, listen much. Deosil go by waxing moon, chanting out thy baleful tune. Widdershins go by waning moon, chanting out a wiccan rune. When the Lady's moon is new, kiss thy hand to her times two. When the moon rides at her peak, then thy heart's desire speak. (might be 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 wind blows from the west, departed souls will safely rest. When the wind blows from the east, expect the new and set the feast. Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn them fast 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 thy Beltane fires burn. When the wheel hath turned at Yule, light the log, the Horned One rules. Heed the flower, bush and tree, by the Lady, blessed be. Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone, the truth ye'll know. When ye have and hold a need, harken not to other's greed. With a fool no season 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 star upon thy brow. True in love must ye ever be, lest thy love be false to thee. These eight words the rede fulfill; An harm ye none, do what ye will.
The idea behind "An' it harm none, do as ye will" is the first, and to some, only, rule the Wicca live by. Doing harm is against all we believe. The words "harm none" refer not only to other people, but to animals, plants, rocks, the Earth herself, and even ourselves as well.
We realise it isn't always easy, or even possible sometimes, to do good. What's good for one person may be bad for another, or you may have to be cruel to be kind. In such a case we try to do the least harm or balance out the harm with the good that comes of it. And we don't make excuses. We take responsibility for our actions, good or bad. We have no Devil to blame for the mistakes we make. We think about our actions before doing anithing.
Tune in another time for more from the Web of Darkness.