I have already learned a lot!

[sebjon]

Hello!
I just joined this community and have already learned quite a few things in very short time. You people are amazing ^^
My name is Sebastian and I'm from Sweden - where unfortunately there are few witches :/ - actually currently on vacation in the U.S. (Portland, ON).
I have researched a whole lot of religions and spiritual patches/possibilities, over the last couple years; and Wicca is the "winner". With Wicca I feel that I can be myself and that I am not bound by a book or one fundamentalist thought ^^

Just a quick question... Am I a witch as a man; or something else?

[Vesca]

Welcome to the forum.

I've heard men call themselves witches, there's no hard rule on what you call yourself. Many just choose the term they feel the most comfortable using.

[SnowCat]

Welcome. It's nice to have Sweden represented here. I'm glad you're already learning. As for what to call yourself, you could use the Spanish term brujo. A female practitioner is a bruja, and a male practitioner is a brujo. Some people use the term warlock, for males, but I believe that's less common these days. You could also follow Harry Potter tradition, and call yourself a wizard. That's also a Harry Dresden tradition. It's really an individual thing, and what you call yourself is less important than how you conduct yourself. Cheers!

Snow

[Firebird]

Greetings! Glad you found us, hopefully we can help fill in any gaps. There was one listing on the Witchvox web page in Uppsala? http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt ... x&id=40810
Have fun in Portland, really a great place, did you get up to the Columbia river gorge?
blessings, Firebird

[sebjon]

There are a few covenants in Sweden Firebird, but unfortunately I live just as far away from any of them, to be able to attend
Concerning the vacation: I've driven the 101 N along the Pacific Coast. A few days in Portland and a stopover in NYC on the flight back! So I'm not planing on going to the gorge river, am I mission out on something amazing?

[YanaKhan]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to jump right in and ask questions, we are here to help

[Vesca]

There are a few covenants in Sweden Firebird, but unfortunately I live just as far away from any of them, to be able to attend
Concerning the vacation: I've driven the 101 N along the Pacific Coast. A few days in Portland and a stopover in NYC on the flight back! So I'm not planing on going to the gorge river, am I mission out on something amazing?

I've never been to either coast, so if you're missing it than I have too.

Don't worry, you aren't the first person in history to be a little isolated with your belief system. That's why people like us seek out virtual spaces for our chats.

Just out of curiosity, what's the majority religion/denomination in Sweden?

[sebjon]

Yes I know

Christianity ("Lutheran") is the largest religion, yet the majority of swedes are nontheists or atheists.

Where are you from Vesca?

[Vesca]

Interesting. It's neat to see how different areas of Europe picked up different denominations. .. Or maybe I'm just a dork. Whatever.

"From" is a hard term. I was born in the US, lived in the UK for awhile, lived in Slovenia for awhile, moved back to the US about 4 years ago and now living it up in the northern region of the US (pretty near Canada). But I consider Slovenia to be my home.

[sebjon]

I have never been to Slovenia but I'm sure I will some day

It's nice to travel and live in different places, I'm sure you've learned a lot! ^^

[Vesca]

It's a very pretty place. The economy isn't great, but I don't think it's great anywhere right now.

Honestly, I think one more move is in the works and then I'm just going to stay put for once.

Never been to Sweden though. One day I'll visit, along with Finland and Ireland.

[Firebird]

Hi again!,
the 101 is great, (I live about a mile from it, but its in the Los Angeles area!) however if you are still in the Portland area, see if you can get up to the Columbia River Gorge, there is a few water falls and a great viewing rotunda along the way, the Columbia is a HUGE river, and the gorge is only about a half hour drive up river from Portland.
will you be driving back to NYC? Because there is a ton of stuff to see between Portland and there, one in particular would be Yellowstone Natl. Park.
Bb, Firebird

[sebjon]

Ohh, looks like I really missed the gorge river :/
Perhaps I'll get to see it another time!

It would have been great to drive across, but that is a trip for another time yet again.
This time I'll fly to NYC and stay 3 days

Ps: I visited "Moonshadow" a pagan store in Portland, and it was very beautiful but a bit small unfortunately. Do you guys recommend any Wiccan stores in NYC?

[Firebird]

Well...I have never been to the east coast, so I can't really say, I had know that Laurie Cabot owned a witch shop in Salem Mass. But when I went to look it up...this story I found
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... _40_years/
wow...bummer
hopefully someone from the area will chime in.
blessings, Firebird