How were you initiated?

There are several ways to become initiated in Wicca
Public declaration
Full moon Affirmation
Coven initiation
Elder initiation
How did you go about doing it? I want to hear your stories

Hm, well, there's really countless ways of being initiated. Initiation is such a truly magical thing...*thinks of Mystery cults in Greece* Ah, if only if only...what I would give to be a part of one of those, back then.

I've made a few 'declarations' to the Gods, the biggest being when I shifted focus from my Greek patrons to the Celtic gods (Irish and Welsh). Those are always personal, deep, not to be shared with others. I take them very seriously, since I'm making a deal with the gods I am declaring to. Especially in faiths and practices where devotees are ridden by their patrons it's a huge commitment to the deity...

I was 'properly' initiated by two other people two Imbolcs past. Using 'Wicca' by Viviane Crowley helped me understand what was happening, magically and psychologically, to me during this time. I rather enjoy her writing, even if I am nowhere near a BTW/Gardnerian Wiccan. I thought it was an interesting experience, again, private. Some initiations that were private are now published, but I still think that some secrecy is a good thing. Going through an initiation cycle and two helped me begin to form my own initiation cycle for my own tradition. So helpful!

Though I am a Solitary Practitioner, I have, and do spend a lot of time with other practitioners, both solitary, and in Covens. I self initiated many years ago, and then to make it completely official, I dedicated myself to my path three years ago, at an event sanctioned by the Gray Council, during a Full Moon ritual at Imbolc. I don't remember much about that night, as the energy was uncontainable, though I do know that I based the ritual, or my part of it at any rate, off the writings of Ann Moura, in the "Green Witchcraft" Series... she is a Sage in her own rite...