Wicca is a polytheistic nature religion which has gained popularity in recent decades. It was started in 1954 by Gerald Gardner and is derived from the ancient belief system of Witchcraft, which dates back to pre-Christian times when Paganism was rife in Europe.

There are many different branches of Wicca, each following their own aims and rituals, but most of these will worship the God and the Goddess; the Horned God of the woodlands, hunting and sexuality, and the Triple Goddess; who embodies the three stages of a woman's life - Maiden, Mother and Crone. The God is traditionally associated with the Sun, and the Goddess with the Moon.

Sometimes the Wiccan beliefs are handed down through the generations of a family, but, as with other religions, it is possible for an individual to choose the path for themselves, and seek learning. There are many ways in which to do this, the most common being through books bought at specialist bookstores.

There are also websites dedicated to providing Wiccan teachings, and you may even be lucky enough to find a local coven (group of Wiccan practicioners) who will teach and initiate you in their ways.

Having followed a Wiccan path myself some years ago, I cannot recommend the following books highly enough (links given below). They proved a valuable source of information for a solitary novice, and taught me many things which enabled me to gain in both knowledge and confidence in the Craft.

A good book to start with is The Real Witches Handbook by Kate West. Written in an easy to follow format with well laid out chapters, this book is an excellent introduction to Wicca, and even gives advice on coming 'out of the broom closet' to your family and friends!

Every Woman a Witch by Cassandra Eason is another book which I could not do without. Drawing Wicca into the world of the modern woman, this books provides spells, rituals and advice on enhancing your everyday life with natural magic forces. Geared specifically towards women, which many Wiccan books are, but male Wiccans can adapt the spells and rituals for their own needs too.

Another book which is invaluable for the solitary Wiccan is Everyday Magic by Dorothy Morrison. Primarily a spell book, there's a myriad of little chants and rituals useful for day-to-day life - my favourite being the 'parking space' chant; always works when you're looking for a space in a crowded car park!

Witch: A Magickal Journey by Fiona Horne is a chatty, informal look at a life of witchcraft, with reference to using colours, scents and crystals within rituals and well as the obligatory spells and advice. Unlike most other Wiccan books I mention, this book also has a section on sex magick - using sexual energy to create the power to fuel your spells, and for this reason should not be left where children can read it!

While joining a coven is seen as the most common way to delve into the world of magick, some wiccans prefer to, or have to, work alone. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham provides spells, rituals and advice specifically for, as the title suggests, the solitary practitioner. Also includes a self-dedication ceremony, where you declare your intention to follow the path of the God and Goddess.

Finally, after mastering the basics of Wicca and understanding the principles behind it, you may wish to move onto a book such as Advanced Wicca by Patricia Telesco. This includes more advanced rituals such as shape shifting and changing your aura, as well as in-depth information on healing and invocation.

Bear in mind that the above books are just a small selection of books from my own bookshelf, and are by no means the only books of their type available. I have listed these in particular as they are my own personal favourites, and are the ones I turn to time and again when I feel the need to refresh my mind or advise someone else.

Although there are many sources on the internet which will provide information on Wicca and Witchcraft, there are few sites as useful or interactive as Witchschool. Set up as an online college, this website offers full courses on the various aspects of the Craft. Each course comprises of a study pack and an end of course test, which will count towards a degree in Correllian Witchcraft. Some courses are free, but a lifetime membership, giving you access to all courses for life, is only $40 at time of writing.

Examples of courses available are:

• Basic Aromatherapy
• Basic Meditations
• Basic Spell-writing
• Chakras
• Crystal and Gem magic
• Dreamworking

And many more. It's the closest you'll get to Hogwarts outside the pages of a Harry Potter book! 

You may decide to follow the path of a Coven rather than try to learn Wicca on your own. If this is the case, finding a Coven in your local area is extremely useful, if not a little difficult. A good way to start is by looking at gift and bookshops in your area for ones which sell occult goods. The chances are that these kind of shops will be run by a practicioner, and it just takes a few discreet questions to get your foot on the broom.

Using the internet, joining occult discussion groups, can also prove a good way to find like-minded people. As always, exercise caution if arranging a meeting with strangers over the internet, and try to meet in a public place or take a friend along.