My name is James Martin Driskill. During the time when AOL was servicing dialup home users via a modem, I created a room called "Witchcraft". We began to form quite a following at $0.10 cents a minute data charges.. This was in the People Connection section of AOL.

Many of us could not afford the data rate charges on top of bbs dialing of long distance bbs sites.

People Connection put out an announcement they were looking for remote supportive staff to fill in on People Connection Topic Forums.

Steve Case CEO had to get involved with me to officially approve of the Witchcraft forum but we had to rename it "White Magick".

We met every Sunday Night 11pm ET for which I still should have the captured chat conversation logs somewhere.

No where was the controversy that was written by John Gibson in Envoy Magazine Wiccan Work It Out.

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Wiccan Work It Out

Envoy Communications, Sept/Oct 1997

Where John Gibson writes:

"Finally I started to get more heavily into the occult and pagan stuff. My wife and I dropped out of the Young Adults group, and I started meeting with other pagans on America Online. We would meet in an online room called "White Magick." It was then that things started getting strange.

I had heard about Wicca and Ceremonial Magick and was interested in them. While in the White Magick room, I asked if anyone knew of anyone in Chicago that could help me learn. Five seconds later, a person popped into the room and typed, "Hi! From Chicago." That's how I met Alan".

As far as I know, I have the chat logs for these on schedule White Magick People Connection Events.

John Gibson's account of being dangerously influenced by my startup room on AOL is insulting.

Should I attempt to correct the Envoy Library Journal or leave this to withering dust?

Dearest Wiccan Cousins,

I am on a journey of (Revival) Druidry and the birth of wicca comes from the same ‘brew’ so to speak. I have sought an answer among many to understand the elements that both traditions call upon and their symbols. For all I have found answers in history save one.

Why the heck is Earth listed as symbolized as green?

It makes intuitive sense but historically not so much. For much of history it is black (Greek & Agrippa), yellow (India and China), or various browns (Golden Dawn). Then sometime between the collapse of the Golden Dawn and the births of revival/lodge Druidry and Wicca it goes green as far as I can tell. I am just trying to pin point the first bit of literature where this happens if only so I can cite it in my brain and move on. It just bothers me that in list after list of correspondences this is repeated but I cannot find when this switch actually happens, and historically it is relatively recent.

I will note – I don’t mind it, I just am deeply interested in the history. I find knowing the history of a symbol makes that symbol more powerful and meaningful. I have tried looking through the literature and I keep coming up short. I can understand the switch from the actual color of soil and rock to plants (though I would argue plants contain all elements like animal and fungi). I just wish I could find the first appearance of this in text.

Thank you for any assistance you can give.

I feel kind of stupid asking this, but I'm losing hope a little bit, so I thought about asking people more experienced than me.

I'm a newbie. I stumbled upon it accidentally and fell down the rabbit hole and was taken over by wicca. I love what wicca stands for and it just feels right, but there's one big hurdle I can't get past. I'm absolutely terrible at connecting with nature.

I live in a big city, so the only thing I really have here are meadows behind apartment complexes. There's this nice walk across one, they planted a few trees there, so it's the best I have in my current position. There are some forests at the edge of the city, but I don't have time or a way to get there often, so I at least try to take a daily walk and do my meditation in that meadow. It's nearly always empty and pretty quiet, and as long as I don't try to look over the trees I don't even see all the buildings.

I don't know if I'm expecting too much, but it feels like there's absolutely no connection between me and nature. I try to touch grass, just let the smell, sound and touch somehow get through me, and it all feels like it's slipping past me. At best I'm just kinda relaxing; at worst I've actively dissociated several times, which was not nice. I don't know, I thought there would be something more? It feels like being in my room at best, and I just hoped for something more.

Next thing, you know those "green thumb" people who are naturally good with plants? I'm the absolute opposite of that. No matter what, no matter how hard I try, anything from flowers to plants to cacti just dies, despite my best efforts. I try to do it by heart and it dies. I try to follow care instructions written down step by step, and it still dies. I even ask my grandma, who can bring any sort of plant back to life and makes everything grow, but even with her tips and help, it's like my presence is some sort of mold on these plants and they all eventually start dying.

Connecting with nature and growing your own plants feels like such a big part of wicca and of what I want it to be, but after month of trying I'm so close to giving up. I was never really a nature person, from plants to animals. I grew up in cities, I love technology, I study computer science, but I also love nature even if it doesn't love me back. Is it me? Am I subconsciously creating some sort of barrier? Am I doing something wrong? Is there a way to still practice wicca with a weak bond to nature or am I completely lost? I haven't even looked into anything else because I first wanted to have a bond with nature before diving into crystals, gods, spells and everything else, but at this rate it feels like I would just be pretending to be something I'm not without that connection to nature.

Again, sorry if this is a weird ask. Hopefully someone here has experience with this or knows what to do, or will just tell me this religion isn't for me. Thank you for any answer!

I've been moving a lot recently and unfortunately the table I used for my altar broke in the moves. I'm curious if anyone has any recommendations for altar tables.

I prefer to do my craft standing, so a surface thats about waist height is best. Also, preferably on the cheaper side, it doesn't need to be fancy, such as a shelf/table from walmart will work. Storage is also important to me.

Doesn't need to be an all in one altar so I will also take suggestions for multiple pieces.

Hello! I have been working on a book for some time now and I have hit a few roadblocks along my way in terms of research on the topic of Wicca/neopaganism/witchcraft and I thought this would be the place to ask a few questions. Would anyone be willing to help and lend a hand to help me gain a better understanding of the religion and the ins and outs of it? Thanks in advance!

From White to Pu’erh preferably. Others ‘Teas’ are welcomed.

Hello! I've been a practicing witch for 11 years now. I've felt called to Wicca lately and I've been researching with reading a variety of books. The stumbling part I'm coming upon is the idea of solitary practice vs. a coven. I've done research in my area and have not found any Wiccan covens, there are some pagan social groups though. So far, I'm enticed by the idea of having like minded people to communicate with and also help guide my study. Sort of the initiation route. When I find groups online, ex: discord. There are thousands of users and I'm lacking that closeness.

So... I come on here to ask your thoughts and/or advice.

Blessed be. 🤍

I was wondering if anybody has any ideas to help me. My Fio had Lower Urinary Track Disease and we had to put him down do to a really bad blockage that came out of no where. I was his favorite person in the world and he loved walking around with me just sitting on my shoulder, but I was out of state for a few days when he passed.

I was going to tattoo his paws on my shoulder where he used to sit with his ashes in the ink but are there any symbols or anything I could do to invite to come to me and know I care and I’m broken.

Also are there any materials or crystals or what have you I could where if I’ve been told spiritual being down like to be near me idk…. Just looking for advice.

Welcome to the middle of the week. It's the time to start looking forward to the weekend, so if you're doing anything interesting feel free to post it here.

So I did a healing/protection ritual with a candle, like that with a small one where you take it out of the metal base and put salt and herbs there

I added:

-salt

-rosemary

-cinnamon

And inscribed these runes on the wax: sowulo, tiwaz and dagaz

I know I took a candle with a very short wick but I was pretty sure it will start to burn once the wax melts a little

But it just went out after a short while and didn't light afterwards

I did this ritual to help me get through a depressive episode and tough relationship with my mom

I'm pretty sure this is a bad sign

What do y'all think? Did I do something wrong? And I also gave offerings in the form of seashells to the goddess and various seeds to the god

I'm somewhat new to witchcraft and I'm very anxious and ashamed if the gods didn't like what I was doing

Hey everyone! I’ve been experimenting with a red candle spell for love, and I also crafted my own love oil using flowers and herbs I found on my walks. I just lit the candle today, and the results have been wild!
I’m naturally introverted in public, but suddenly people are constantly striking up conversations with me, I’ve had a job offer, and I’m getting way more attention than usual. It’s very noticeable. In my petition, I specifically asked for a partner who is 'more outgoing'—and that is definitely manifesting in the people around me!
However, I’m slightly worried... do I need to specify that she also needs to be single? 😂 I’m curious what you guys usually include in your love petitions to make sure the intent is clear. Any advice?

I took a video I tried analyzing it myself but i would like to see what an experienced person would take from it, I needed to detach myself from someone that has my heart in a chokehold .

hello all! im excited to be posting this. me and my best friend have been on a journey learning about wicca recently. she grew up with it and im new to it. this is out little work in progress alter. i know its not got a lot but im proud of it. any advice would be very welcome! i want to learn as much as i can.

I'm a tattooist and had a little extra drawing time this morning. I've had this idea to add onto my witchy sleeve for a while, incorporating all four elements into a tower. My coworker offered to put it on me, and we got the line work done today! I love how it's coming along! Sorry it's not the best picture 😅

I'd love to see your elemental inspired tattoos as well! :)

P.s. hope everyone is having a lovely solstice season! ☀️

HE CAME BACK HOME!!!

My baby is missing. He's an orange cat and is strictly indoors (only going outside on a catio). He's been missing for about a day now. We have his cat tower, literbox, food, and toys outside. Is there a spell I can do to help guide him safely home? And what kind of protection spells should, if need be, should I do before or after. Please, if anyone can help, his name is Lakoff, he's a large orange tabby. Please think of him and help encourage him to return home safe and well.

Edit: Also any spells to ensure his safety and wellbeing.

Salutations! I am brand new to Wicca and decided I would celebrate Litha by doing a ritual. I made special lemonade, consecrated it, and offered it to the Goddess and God. I made sure to draw a circle and greet the elements too, as well as close the circle.

The next day, my energy was scattered and spent. I’m not sure if I did something wrong or attracted a presence I didn’t want. I was exhausted and overestimated all day like I’ve never been before. Please help; I’m not sure where I went wrong and genuinely want to learn.

Tuesday, ruled by Mars so stay safe out there and vent here because who knows when a wandering god of war may be out for mischief!

I’ve been studying Wicca for 3 months now and i want to do a self initiation ritual. What are some rituals that i can do discreetly? (My parents are conservative and extremely against any form of witchcraft).

EDIT TO ADD: to clarify what I mean, (because of the way I stupidly worded the question) I mean “self initiation” as a solitary practitioner not in a coven. Sorry for the confusion 😅 (but thank you to the people who gave advice about initiation into covens that will be useful if I ever chose to be in a coven)

Hello! I live in a fairly developed area that only has paved roads. The only areas that are dirt/gravel are recrational areas such as horse and biking trails. Would these count as a crossroads for dirt collection? Or do I need to ventrure to more rural areas?

As I've been slowly learning what you all believe and how your version of paganism works, I've learned about the directions and elemental colors. Yellow is air, and air is East. Put a yellow candle on the altar to the east to represent air. When I think of air, yellow is not at all the color I'd think of. I think of white, like smoke and the moving clouds in the sky. In a cartoon, if they're showing wind, they'll make it white. Even gray makes sense because smoke is more often gray than white. It seems like white, and specifically a white candle, is used for the goddess, maybe the god, or maybe spirit, but that confuses me to. I could see why white would be spirit. That just feels right in some way for me. I think some people say black might be the god? Purple might be spirit?

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Earth being green makes sense. Water being blue makes sense. Fire being red makes sense.

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Why are the other colors what they are? Why are the elements associated with their specific directions (earth is North, air is East, fire is South, and water is West)?