When a minor wishes to study Wicca with an established group or teacher, they often run into opposition... not only from their parents, but from the coven leaders themselves. Minors are often frustrated by this lack of access to information, based solely on their physical age. As one minor expressed it “If you believe you are old enough to join discussions in an online forum, or converse with adults, or study Wicca, or anything that requires a measure of responsibility, and you can show that you are ready, go for it.” A mature minor understandably feels that their age shouldn’t be a barrier to studying and learning the Craft.
However, there really are two separate, distinct issues here: maturity and legality.
As an adult practitioner of Shamanic Wicca and a public school teacher in the US, I'm very aware of the legal boundaries that guide my interactions with my students.
Professionally, I work with teenagers every day. One of the reasons I choose to work with teens is because I don't underestimate them and treat them like kids. I clearly remember my teen years, and remember hating the feeling that adults were talking down to me. I acknowledge the level of maturity that teens are capable of. I recognize that many teens are fully capable of handling mature subject matter... (not all, but as it's been pointed out, adulthood doesn't guarantee maturity either.)
However, there is a complete body of law that deals specifically with how adults may interact with minors. These laws vary from state to state and country to country. However, these laws all seek to address the issues of harm to children, and parental consent.
"Harm" is a subjective term that is defined according to the community where you live, and the age required for parental consent also changes according to locale. But what they all have in common is a simple idea that it's the parent's responsibility to keep their children safe, and the laws help them to do so. As a parent, I agree with these laws, and do not wish to circumvent them. Remember, there are twisted, evil people out there who seek to manipulate and harm children, and will use spirituality or anything else to get what they desire. It's sick, but real.
Imparting moral and spiritual values to a child is one of the primary responsibilities of parenthood. The fact that some parents are better than others at this is irrelevant. A child’s interest in the family religion is also irrelevant. Because it is a fundamental duty of the parents, they will often take offense at a child who expresses an interest in a spiritual belief system that differs from their own. The teen years are difficult for both the teen and the parents, and this kind of philosophical parting of the ways usually does not go smoothly. Typically, the person who is easiest to blame is the person who is giving information to the child.
As a teacher of Shamanic Wicca, then, I will not take on any student under the age of 18 without the express written permission of the parents... regardless of the maturity level of the teen. It is the parent’s responsibility to verify that I will not harm their child. Frankly, maturity has nothing to do with the law, and it's not worth spending years of my life in jail.
A mature teen is not prevented from beginning their studies like so many of us have: via books and through safe, well-moderated community forums. (The legal presumption is that a minor has permission from the parent to use the Internet, and that the parent is aware of and monitoring the minor’s use.) Self-directed study is a valuable component in anyone's spiritual search, and should not be skipped due to impatience in finding a teacher.
Don't bemoan the laws that prevent teens from training with adults. Those laws have a valid reason for being, and there is no harm done in waiting until reaching the legal age of consent.
~Flame RavenHawk
September 6, 2003