WiccaLesson_ONE

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of providing according to one's ability and you do the provider the
honor of seeing that the gifts do not go wasted.
3. Degrees of Training
a. Most traditions possess a system of degrees to denote the
amount of training that the members of the coven have undergone.
b. Some traditions, such as the Welsh Celtic tradition taught in
Georgia, go from the sublime to the ridiculous.
(1) This tradition claims to have nine levels of
enlightenment.
(a) Most of which their leader believes even he may never
reach.
c. Happily for the rest of us mortals, most other traditions
only recognize three degrees when they recognize any at all.
(1) The 1st degree is the degree of the Initiate.
(a) Training for this degree consists mainly of learning
the mythology and cosmology of the tradition, psychic and personal
development, Low Magic or spellcasting, divination, and healing.
(2) Once you attain the 2nd degree, you become an Elder in the
Coven.
(a) Training involves learning the laws of the tradition,
ritual magic, folklore, Spirit contact and trance mediumship.
(3) The 3rd degree escorts you into the wonderful(?) world of
being a Priest or Priestess.
(a) Training focuses on rituals of life such as Wiccanings,
blessings, handfastings, and funereal ceremonies as well as training
in leadership and group dynamics.
(b) Inner teachings are presented during this training and
the Priest/ess is offered the option of leaving the group to start a
coven of their own or remaining to serve on the Council of Elders as a
representative of the Ancient Ones.
d. Some traditions have pre-initiation degrees that apply to
what is called 'outer-court' teachings.
(1) Many times these teaching will consist of courses very
similar to the ones associated with this series of lessons.
(a) No matter what the degree structure is, the important
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thing to remember is that the material you are supposed to learn on
your way up is the foundation on which you build your future
understanding.
(b) All too many people rush through the basics to collect
as many degrees as possible only to find that they have wasted their
time pursuing the illusion of prestige that goes along with the
degrees and never gained the knowledge and experience the degrees are
supposed to represent.
III. THE COVEN PERSONA
A. Group Mind
1. Just as a mob of individuals can be galvanized into acting like
a senseless animal, a coven can develop a group mind with its own
goals and orientation.
a. The orientation that a coven developes can be quite varied.
(1) Some covens concentrate on healing or teaching.
(2) Others may lean towards psychic work, trance states,
social action or creativity and inspiration.
(3) While others seem to throw great parties.
B. Group Power
1. In the craft, power is another word for that energy which is
the subtle current of forces that shapes reality.
a. A powerful person is seen as someone who draws power into the
group, not out of it.
(1) The sources of inner power are limited.
(a) One person's power does not diminish anothers; instead,
as each covener comes into his or her power, the power of the group
grows stronger.
C. Group Consciousness
1. One of the laws of magic is that as thoughtforms are fed
regularly they grow into self-sufficiency.
a. This is why religious sites that have been abandoned for ages
still affect sensitive people who visit them.
(1) And why rituals performed the same way over and over again
become more powerful with each repetition.
2. Once the thoughtform is fully formed it is brought into
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manifestation through repeatedly re-forming it.
a. Again, this is why rituals are performed over and over the
same way.
(1) You are following a blueprint for a thoughtform and
deviation produces a distorted thoughtform.
b. Once a coven has found its own orientation, it begins work on
forming a thoughtform of the work it wishes to do.
(1) Eventually, the coven actualizes its thoughtforms and the
group consciousness becomes a source of healing for the members of the
coven and a reservoir of power that any member can draw on in need.
IV. FINDING A COVEN TO JOIN
A. The Craft grows slowly.
1. Witchcraft will never be a mass-market religion, because it
requires a great deal from its followers in the way of learning and
practicing.
a. For this reason witches never proselytize.
(1) Prospective members are expected to seek out covens and
demonstrate a deep level of interest.
(a) The strength of the craft is in the QUALITY of its
members not the quantity.
B. Finding a Coven can be Difficult
1. Crafters are not usually listed in the Yellow Pages and rarely
place classified ads.
a. However, they often give classes through Open Universities or
metaphysical bookstores.
(1) And some Universities are beginning to offer courses about
the craft in their religious studies programs.
2. The Circle Guide to Wicca and Pagan Resources
a. Guide published by Circle Publications in Wisconsin
(1) Serves as a resource guide to books, periodicals, arts,
music, supplies and contacts in the Wiccan community in the United
States, Canada, and Britain.
3. Occult Shops
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a. Occult shops are usually listed in the yellow pages of the
phone book if there are any in your area.
(1) If you make a good first impression, or are willing to
establish yourself as a good customer, you might be able to get some
leads from the manager.
(a) Many times a group leader will leave a phone number to
be given out to a prospective member that the manager feels is
sincere.
(b) Getting that number does not guarantee that you will
get into a group but you will be closer than you were before.
(2) Most occult stores have community bulletin boards that
advertise festivals open to the public.
(a) Chances are you will meet Crafters who are already in a
coven or are about to form one at these festivals.
(b) If not, at least you will have the opportunity to
celebrate the season with like minded people.
(c) It would not hurt your chances to learn as much as you
can about the 8 sabbats so you will know when to look for the festival
notices.
(d) Once you are at the festival, you should show off any
skill you might have. Music, juggling, or a good sense of humor breaks
down barriers faster than calling cards and black robes.
4. The best route is through personal contacts
a. Most Crafters feel that when a person is internally ready to
join the craft, s/he will be drawn to the right people.
5. As a last resort, you can form your own group.
a. You do not have to be an hereditary, or even an initiated
witch to form your own group.
(1) Stewart and Janet Farrar have provided the necessary
framework for the Gardnerian tradition in their books.
(a) And Ray Buckland has provided instructions on how to
form groups around the Seax Tradition that he created.
b. The school of trial and error is also a very fine one, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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