Teens: Do you know what Wicca is?

I really have no problems with anyone at any time or age changing their beliefs, religions, systems, whatever. If something really draws you to it, go for it. I say more power to you.

To the children (oops, sorry Teenagers) out there who have taken an "interest" in Wicca, I have a question for you:

1) What IS Wicca?

To me, many (if not most)* teenaged Wiccans out there haven't the first clue about what Wicca is. They see Charmed, Buffy or read Sweeps and think it's all about having magical powers, or making a silly Book of Shadows (as opposed to a practical one. See my posts on Books of Shadows on the sidebar for a look at legit books of shadows).

(*I will not say all because I'm sure there are a very few list of teenagers who come from legit Wiccan families and know what Wicca is)

I'm on YouTube...I have a few videos I've made (not many, but a few), and I frequent there numerous times. I LOVE looking at other people's creative ways of making their Books of Shadows...but recently I went and saw this young boy (didn't look much older than maybe 12 or 13) showing off his book. Amateurish? Yes, but whose isn't, especially when new. But the contents are FAR from what should be in a Wiccan's book.

Wiccans focus on deity worship. Their religion centers around the Gods. So it would make sense for a Wiccan's book to contain much information on the Gods (worship, rituals, prayers, etc)...I see many a "Wiccan"'s book on YouTube and it centers around spells, correspondences, tools, recipes...I maybe see a teensy section on the Gods, and they say this is a Wiccan's book.

**BEFORE** declaring you're a Wiccan (and this includes choosing a screen name carefully), be sure you know what Wicca entails to begin with. Wiccans (unless they're Wiccan Witches) focus very little on spells and potions. That's what Witches do and again, Witches are not Wiccan. If you look at my book, you'll see a LOT of information devoted to practical practices and skills. Why?? Because I'm not Wiccan**. The information contained within my book deals with MY practices...and those are of the practice of Witchcraft. So for my book to contain a "teensy" section on the Gods is practical for me because I focus on my craft, not religion (and not once do I say it's a Wiccan Book of Shadows).

A Wiccan Book of Shadows should reflect the religion of Wicca, and contain information on the generic God and Goddess, as well as whatever deities they individually follow, just as much as any other information.

(**While I'm not Wiccan, I continue to study the system because my eclecticism includes elements of Wicca (but not enough to warrant calling myself a Wiccan), which is why a there is a lot of references to Wicca in my blog. Just a clarification).