Wikipedia gives a decent overview... I own books Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, and Scott Cunningham (love him) who you can look up here.. Even if you don't believe in the religion, the books can make for a good read if just for the fantasy aspect of it. I'm sure any RPGers or Fantasy writers would find their stuff inspiring as I did. For the spirital people who do believe... their books are a must read. You can find these books in any Wicca store most likely. And bookstores... at least in Canada... usually have a section titled "New Age Religions" but most of the books I say are "fluff"stuff directed at young girls who want to change their eye color but some have good book too. Wicca Shops are the best bet and the owners are usually members that can recommend the best books to you.
My brother owns a book titled 'Witchcraft For Men' so yes... men can be witches too. There are no "wizards" or "mages" in Wicca. Though neither my brother or I are Wiccans. I first heard about Wicca from the book 'Sweep' by Cate Tiernan.... after that I just started researching it... I was a nerdy 13 year old and I was more eager to learn then than I am now. University does that I guess. XD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Wicca
That link has a link to just about everything else.... I don't have any links to the official Wiccan sites anymore but this is good for a basic overview. The thing is... the deeper you go into the Wicca the broader it gets. You'll find all sorts of opposing beliefs... like in Christianity... there are many different fractions.
This is the poem I was talking about that is like the Golden Rule.
Wiccan Rede
Bide the Wiccan Laws ye must In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
Live an’ let live - Fairly take an’ fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about To keep all evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time - Let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye an’ light of touch - Speak little, listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing Moon - Sing and dance the Wiccan rune.
Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane, An’ the Werewolf howls by the dread Wolfsbane.
When the Lady’s Moon is new, Kiss thy hand to Her times two.
When the Moon rides at Her peak Then your heart’s desire seek.
Heed the Northwind’s mighty gale - Lock the door and drop the sail.
When the wind comes from the South, Love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the East, Expect the new and set the feast.
When the West wind blows o’er thee, Departed spirits restless be.
Nine woods in the Cauldron go - Burn them quick an’ burn them slow.
Elder be ye Lady’s tree - Burn it not or cursed ye’ll be.
When the Wheel begins to turn - Let the Beltane fires burn.
When the Wheel has turned a Yule, Light the Log an’ let Pan rule.
Heed ye flower bush an’ tree - By the Lady Blessèd Be.
Where the rippling waters go Cast a stone an’ truth ye’ll know.
When ye have need, Hearken not to others greed.
With the fool no season spend Or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet an’ merry part - Bright the cheeks an’ warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should - Three times bad an’ three times good.
When misfortune is enow, Wear the Blue Star on thy brow.
True in love ever be Unless thy lover’s false to thee.
Eight words ye Wiccan Rede fulfill - An’ it harm none, Do what ye will.
If you guys want more... I'll make the effort to find more official websites with valid information. If this topic goes well... I'll post more topics on other religions... I'll also edit this post with any information people want to put in.
BorderlineAnatomy
a good book to have is raymond bucklands complete book of witchcraft.
~dragondemon326~
I have used some of the spells and they work very good sometimes you just have to worry about karma the types of magik you are using black magik, white magik or grey magik each has a different effect on the karma that comes back. I found a site that is all about this it has times on herbs to types of wiccan ect. Here is the site i find I use it alot for refference. To get to the other stuff click either the pentagram or the aunk(sp?) Cant spell it. Or scroll down but clicking works better.
http://www.gaiaonline.com/gaia/redirect.php?r=http://www.paganspath.com/meta/guidemet.htm
http://www.gaiaonline.com/gaia/redirect.php?r=http://www.paganspath.com/meta/guidemet.htm
On the issue of White Magik and Black Magik.... a lot of Wiccans I knew dismissed those as fiction only. Instead they call it Grey Magik, because there is no true black and white in reality. Everything is a mixture of good and bad. Like Yin and Yang have apart of each other inside. So when visiting websites you'll often find different views on little things like types of magik, deities, karma, rituals, etc.
More on the Yin and Yang symbol:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_yang
