I am very interested in following this path, but don't know where or how to start.
Can anyone give me any information or the names of any good websites?

Thanks.

Darke.

A good place to start would be reading some books by Silver Raven Wolf, she has some good books for people starting off in the craft. I've read quite a few of her books, and have been learning what I can on the craft since I was about 12 or so when I was introduced to it by my mother. Another good author is Konstantinos (not sure if I spelled that right), who deals with night magick. Umm, when it comes to websites, well, all one really needs to do is do searches for them on yahoo or google. Or look for Forums that are created by pagans/wiccans for otehrs to share and learn. If I can find any links that I use to go to that helped, I'll try to post them so they might help you.

~DS~

I agree with Darksilence, Silver Raven Wolf writes some informative books.

'Embracing the Moon' by Yasmine Galenorn is also very good for a beginner just finding their feet in this religion. I love Moon Magic, it is my favourite kind.
I practise my own brand of wicca, tailored to suit myself. You will find as you become more adept you can change certain things to be more acceptable to you as a wiccan.
As long as you keep the basics the same, wicca is a very adaptable religion. That is one of the reasons I like it so much.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask and if I can help you in any way it will be my pleasure to do so.

there is a site that teaches u to follow the wiccan life style heres the link http://witchschool.com

Not to sound rude or anything Wolfie, but I'm sorry, a publicized school for witchcraft? I'm sorry, but this isn't Hogwarts. In my opinion, the best way to learn witchcraft is best done through teaching ones self through study, or through the teachings of a coven. Just the thought of there being a school that these people have "signed" up for seems ridiculous to me. But -shrugs- that's just my view on it, other's see the practice of witchcraft differently.

Thanks for the kind thought KillerSoul, but I would have to pay an awful lot of money for the privilege of being taught their brand of wicca, by someone I never meet and who may not actually know any more about it than I do.
Perhaps they are getting it all from a book I could buy online for less than $15. I would never know.
I am very sorry but, I think there is too much of a chance that this is one big enormous con trick, and nothing on earth would persuade me to part with my hard earned cash to these people.

I think this is good advice. I am not sure how comfortable I would be in a coven situation, because I prefer to learn at my own pace and study when it suits me. So perhaps the organised teaching regime of a coven would be too much for me to commit to.
But really I think the only way to learn anything is by hard work and much study, done willingly, through a deep and serious desire to learn.

Thankyou for the book recommendations Darksilence. I appreciate it.
Unfortunately I know there are tons of websites out there for wicca and witchcraft, that was where my problem began. The sheer volume of sites! I thought if I asked here then perhaps someone would come up with either some good books and/or some websites they had used themselves and found helpful.
And you did.
Thanks
If you could remember any of the sites that helped you that would be brilliant.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Oh no you have it all wrong it doenst cost anything to be tought there i was being tought there but when school started up i just stopped so there wouldnt be any confusion

Then we must have different places, because when I tried to join the place you left a link for it asked me for my payment options and my credit card details.
How odd.

How did you find it KillerSoul? Were they good teachers, did you learn much? Were they patient if you didn't get something first time?

Why? Do they teach you similar things where you go to school? I wish there was a school like Hogwarts don't you? It would be totally awesome!

no they didnt teach simlar things but i didnt wont it be trying to think of a question and only think of stuff about wiccan and you have the option of paying for thats only if you want to have like meeting with teachers near you etc. and it would be kind of cool if there was a hogwarts

I'll admit solitary practice isn't a bad thing, I've been a solitary Pagan for the last.......10 years, studying off and on, reading books by Silver Raven Wolf, Scott Cunningham, Raymond Buckland, and a guy that goes by Konstantinos. All four authors are quite good, the last deals with Nocturnal Witchcraft, the other three, most main stream forms of witchcraft, be it Paganism or Wicca. If you are into Celtic Magic, I'll see what I can find on that in my spare time.

Now, as for the websites, let me see what I can do about those, it might take me a couple days to find what I use to go to, it's been some time since I went to websites, and I've just recently started a new job, so my time is a little limited. But as I said, I'll see what I can do for you.

Bright Blessings, and Blessed Be.

~Dark Silence~

I have learned a lot about wicca/paganism/witchcraft from my mother, she has been a hedge-witch and clan medicine woman all her life, learning from her mother. She instilled her attitude toward learning in me, and even though she does know a lot she is also willing to learn from others. Still attending classes, and inviting people to stay with us to teach some of them some of the things she knows and to have some of them teach her what they know. Her enthusuasm is inspiring, and her energy is amazing.
Her favourite information motto when I was growing up was "Never ignore a chance to obtain knowledge. Only a fool believes he already knows enough to see him through the rest of his life. A wise man knows each new day brings new challanges and with them the opportunity to learn new things."
I have also used books, lots and lots of books. My mother has had me reading all kinds of books, on all kinds of different aspects of magic, by all sorts of different authors, ever since I can remember.
I have not done much learning from the web, because I haven't had that available to me at home for very long. So I cannot comment on how good any information available there might be.
I would offer this word of advice on beginning your path to wicca. Ask yourself what you want from it, what you would like to be before you begin, and where you want your journey to take you.
As you travel your destination will change, that is natural, but if you have some idea of what you want before you start then the changes will not happen without your knowledge and agreement. Nothing will take you by surprise, and you are less likely to end your journey somewhere you never had any desire to be.
There are many forks on the path and the choices of which path to take must be yours.
Take from the knowledge you obtain that which suits you, and let the rest drift by without regret. If it does not feel right to you then it is not for you.
And if you want any help with anything please feel free to ask. I'll help if I can.

Darkness.

I have often been 'put off' the thought of following a magical path, as it seems too rigid and structured for me.
I would love to go outside at night and light a fire and sit thinking of the gods and godesses there might be, casting their love and energy around the world affecting the inhabitants with their healing and possitive vibes. But the thought of having to have a ritual bath, and put on robes, set an alter with cakes and wine and light candles and incense, cast a circle with salt water and call the corners, everytime I want to tap into that energy and feel the vibes for myself just stops me dead in my tracks and any real thoughts and tendencies I had towards such a calling drop away from me and I am left knowing that it is not for me.
It's a shame really, as I could do with 'something' in my life right now.

Ahh well. Never mind.

I edited this post because I wanted to say that I love your mother's motto Darkness. She sounds great.

Faith.

Ok, I must put my two cents on this one First of all, witchcraft isn't truly isn't actually that structured as you may think it is Faith. To converse with the gods and goddesses, be they of the night, day, or whenever, you don't have to have rituals, or use salt and what not to consecrate ground to talk to them. All you really have to do, and ground yourself, cast a circle (it's quite simple, w/out the need to use salt, water, fire, incense), all you need to, and picture a circle being cast around you as you move around it, creating a barrier between you and everything around you. Then meditate, relax yourself, and open up to the night, to all around you, and you will be able to converse with the gods/desses.

~DS~

Congratulations on your new job DarkSilence. I could do with one of those myself.
I hope it's all going well.

Thanks for your offer of websites too. That would be great, but whenever you have the time will do just fine. I'm not in any hurry, having waited this long I'm sure my path to wicca will wait a little longer.

Faith I'm not too keen on the idea of any organised religion, but if I understand wiccan correctly then it is only as complicated and difficult as you want to make it, and you only have to delve into it as deeply as you desire. So it wouldn't have to be full of rituals and rigid structure, it could be relaxed and fun. I could be wrong, but that is what I got from what I have been told by various people. They all seemed to have a different take on it and performed magic to various levels of ritual (and competence in the case of some of my friends. They are hopeless but they have a lot of fun!) That appeals to me a lot.

Maybe we could start together? That way it might be a bit less scary.
Let me know what you think OK?

I think that would be wonderful DarkeDesire.
It would make things much easier for me if I had someone to discuss things with.

I like being able to talk about things before I commit myself to a final course of action. Mainly because to say things 'outloud' to someone else sets them more firmly in my own mind and makes them easier to understand.

It would help too if I had someone to explain the things I don't understand.

I think it is super nice of you to offer to be my study buddy.
I am very grateful.
And if I can help you, even if it is only by listening then I will do of course.

I think this may be us soon Darke, with a little help from our friends.