Initiation

[mitsuki5561]

Is it necessary for solitary practitioners? Does one have to hold some private ceremony to the Divine? I've read that it's not necessary but in forums I keep reading how everyone is being initiated and it just seems so important. I have been reluctant to hold this ceremony because I want to have the freedom to change religions if I change my mind. (I'm not usually good with commitment.)  

[kage no neko]

When I think initiation, I think into a coven.
You probably mean dedication. Which isn't necessary if you don't want to do it. I've been solitary for 6 years now and I haven't ever done a dedication.  

[aoijea23487]

You cannot self-initiate.

The necessity of initiation depends on the religion.

Do not make promises you do not think you can keep. If you have a hard time with commitment, making oaths is not for you. Initiation does not necessarily entail the taking of oaths, so don't go putting all initiation rituals into the same box.  

[mitsuki5561]

Illiezeulette

You cannot self-initiate.

The necessity of initiation depends on the religion.

Do not make promises you do not think you can keep. If you have a hard time with commitment, making oaths is not for you. Initiation does not necessarily entail the taking of oaths, so don't go putting all initiation rituals into the same box.

Sorry, I'm dumb. sad  

[aoijea23487]

mitsuki5561

Illiezeulette

You cannot self-initiate.

The necessity of initiation depends on the religion.

Do not make promises you do not think you can keep. If you have a hard time with commitment, making oaths is not for you. Initiation does not necessarily entail the taking of oaths, so don't go putting all initiation rituals into the same box.

Sorry, I'm dumb. sad

No, don't say that! For me there is a difference between being "dumb" and just not knowing something.

A lot of authors claiming to be writing about Wicca are eager to perpetuate the idea of self-initiation. It's everywhere, and it's wrong. "Self-initiation" is a nonsensical term: to be initiated is to join a group. The group therefore must initiate you, not the other way around. If you're not even being initiated into a group... why are you calling it initiation? It's that sort of thing these authors do not seem to understand, or sometimes they lie about it straight out because "initiation" sounds cool and can make them a few bucks.

You can, of course, self-dedicate. That is, you dedicate yourself to your path, whatever it is. It's different from self-initiation because initiation is into a group, whereas a dedication is for yourself alone.

If you're writing your own dedication ritual, you don't have to stick in any oaths if you don't feel like you are ready to make them.