@Roph: Wicca, or paganism, or Neo-Pagan Witchcraft, kind of fell into my lap one day while at a bookstore. I found a "beginner's manual" on the subject, and the more I read, the more it appealed to me. It just... felt right, whic as far as I'm concerned is just as good of a reason as any. After all, people want spiritual satifaction from their faith, and Wicca gave it to me.
Proof? Well, that's the thing about faith. I don't have any. I just know it works for me, and likewise, I can't say that I am any more "correct" than the Christian, Jew, or anyone else.
Paganism is diverse to be sure; no two organizations, or "Covens", have the exact same take on it. What does appear commonly across the vast majority of traditions, however, is belief in a male and a female principle of creation- we are essentialy ditheistic. Also common is the belief in cycles of nature, and the pattern of birth-life-death-rebirth. We feel that we are all capable of oneness with diety in and of ourselves, that diety is within. Our "commandments" are few; "An'it harm none, do what thou wilt."
@Holk:I think I understand where you're coming from. I have seen a LOT of people cry out "I'm a witch!" just to get a reaction from those around them. They're the ones out in your yard at midnight, dancing nude in the full moon trying to summon demons or some crap like that.
![Embarrassed :-[](https://rmrk.net/Smileys/default/embarrassed.gif)
That's not me. I do not want to shock anyone, nor do I want to convert anyone. But, having recently been the target of faith-based discrimination, I would like to see more people know what it's about.
The high, priest thing? Each body of believers, or coven, typically (but not necessarily) has a high preist and high preistess- they would be like the elders of a church or synagogue. These two are typically the most experienced members of the coven and will likely perform the opening and closing of a group ritual. It just so happens that since my coven last split (amicably,btw) I was the eldest male with the broadest knowledge base, and by consensus was made high priest. I find it very fulfilling. I recently was ordained through the Universal Life Church so I can now perform legal marriages in my state.
Thank you both for your questions!