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To: st90snk7@dunx1.ocs.drexel.edu (owl) From: moonowl@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu (Sherry Michael) Subject: class 7 (fwd) Date: Wed, 8 Mar 1995 14:48:26 -0500 (EST) > > **"Wicca 101" class 7 - Solitary trad, teaching coven of the Three Crescents* > > **Please send all e-mail to this account:moonowl@lepomis.psych.upenn.edu** > > ***** Please do not distribute in full or in part without this header***** > > > > SOLITARY LIFE AND TRADITIONS > > > > I. INTRODUCTION > > > > Many of you who are taking this course will, at least for a time, be a > > solitary Wiccan. Being a solitary means you will have freedom to practice > > without worrying about coven social dynamics, performance ritual and be > > limited to a coven's traditional system. However, being a solitary also > > means YOU have to come up with all the rituals and traditions yourself. > > This class should help you develop your tradition. > > > > Also, we will discuss Wicca in everyday life. Religion encompasses all > > aspects of life, just not Sabbat days. I will talk about being a Wiccan > > in "real life" and lifestyle choices. Also, issues we all must deal with, > > like discrimination and "breaking news" to friends and loved ones. > > > > II. SOLITARY TRADITIONS > > > > I bet you have started to wonder how in the world you are going to > > celebrate the Sabbats and Moons. You should have been thinking about other > > things too, like deity concepts, magical ethics, spirit guides and spell > > working. How are you going to know what to do? How are you going to be a > > Wiccan in practice? > > > > Coven students have an advantage over you in one aspect: they have all > > this written out for them (literally). The coven has a tradition, > > most likely a set of deities, pre-developed rituals and rules. Well, we > > solitaries don't have this luxury. We have to create everything from the > > ground up. Before you smack you head and say "good Goddess"! at the > > overwhelming amount of work you have to do, consider the befits. You get to > > make your OWN traditions and rituals. Best of all you get an opportunity > > to explore and learn more about your spirituality and beliefs. > > > > Getting Started: > > > > I'd like to mention I think the very best resource (maybe the only > > one) that describes in detail how a beginning solitary Wiccan can get > > started in tradition creation. Scott Cunningham's _Living Wicca_, > > part 3 of the book. You may actually want to _buy_ this one. > > > > To start off, it is easier to tackle your tradition creation if you break > > it up in a few parts. I have broken it up in four pieces that ask you to > > think about a few things and answer some questions, most of the questions > > come from things we talked about in past classes so you should be in good > > shape. This may take you a few days to complete, or a few hours. Get out > > your notebook (even if you hate notebooks, you will want to write these down) > > and write out your responses to the questions. If you do not have a firm > > answer (or none at all) at this time, don't worry. Expect some of the > > complex concepts to require some time and a few changes of mind for them > > to become solid for you. > > > > 1) Deities and general beliefs: Do you have specific deities you are > > interested in? Do you feel drawn to one cultural pantheon (Celtic, > > Asatru, etc.) or are you more eclectic? If you are unsure, study and try > > contact rituals as in class 2. More generally, explore how you > > feel about the Goddess and the God in their various aspects. > > > > How do you feel about reincarnation? Develop your own theory of > > life-after death. How do you feel about magic and how energy works? More > > or less, WHAT do you believe and why? > > > > 2) Rules: Remember the "Thirteen goals of a Witch" in the first class? I > > asked you to modify it toward your liking. The spiritual goals you have > > for yourself are very important to keep tabs on. How do you feel about > > the Wiccan rede "harm none and do as thou wilt"? What does "harm" mean to > > you? What do you consider as non-ethical magic? Think about the threefold > > law. Consider issues such as teaching minors, sexual orientation, > > charging for classes, proselytizing, protecting the earth and the concept > > as all religions different but equal paths to the Divine. > > > > 3) Ritual: The holidays are one of the main things that make us Wiccan. > > It is very important to celebrate them in some way. If you were to make a > > holiday ritual, would your ideal ritual use a lot of tools, incantations > > and music, or would you prefer to light a few candles and say a simple > > silent prayer or a guided meditation that recognizes the holiday? Do you > > want to pre-write all the prayers and read/memorize them? Do you > > wish to celebrate all the Sabbats or only the four greater Sabbats? Do > > you want to have full moon and new moon Esbats or only full moons? > > > > For non-holiday ritual, consider prayer, meditation and magic. You may > > want to set a daily/weekly/monthly time for prayers and meditations. Will > > your prayers be at an altar and will you give an offering? As far as > > magic goes, do you like a particular system of magic? Do you want to > > create a few "spells" before they are needed and keep them on hand, or > > create them as they are needed? > > > > 4) Tools, spaces and dress: Consider starting a permanent altar if you can > > have one. Also, think of the altar setup you will use in a circle. Decide > > what you will put on it. When practicing ritual, where will > > you have your circle? Inside or outside? What will your circle look like > > (candles to make the corners, an outdoor stone circle, were the altar > > will face, etc.) Do you wish to use magical tools, and if so, which ones > > would you like to acquire and what should they look like and be made of? > > What do they mean to you and how should they be used? During rituals you > > may want to go skyclad or wear a special cloak or clothing. > > You may also want to reserve jewelry for rituals only. > > > > III. BOOK OF SHADOWS > > > > When you have completed the exercise above, it is time to start recording > > your beliefs and preferences into a working tradition. Most Wiccans have > > a Book of Shadows (BoS), or a book that contains rituals, concepts, > > beliefs, etc. These books are often used in circle to guide rituals > > (an "instruction" book). Even if you hate writing, consider making a BoS. > > They are valuable not only for recording your rituals, spells and ideas, but > > also for helping you expand your understanding of Wicca. > > > > The actual book can come in many shapes and sizes. Some folks prefer > > bound blank paged books. I suggest using a three ringed binder...you will > > be adding and subtracting stuff over the years and being able to shuffle > > pages helps. I suggest you hand write at least one copy of your BoS. > > Computers are great, but "Disks of shadows" loose some of the mystique of > > having something in your own hand. Besides BoS can be fun to make, esp., if > > you are creative and can decorate some key pages with drawings, > > calligraphy, Celtic knotwork, etc. (suggestion: use clear plastic 3 ringed > > binder sheets, or punch holes in a transparency, to protect the pages from > > wax droppings during a ritual). > > > > Below is a sample "table of contents" for a BoS. You can change or modify > > it at will: > > > > I. Book Blessing (invocation asking for the God/dess to bless/protect) > > II. Statement of tradition (name of practice, brief explanation > > of sect/tradition, deities.) > > III. Rules/goals (as above) > > IV. General beliefs (reincarnation, threefold law, etc) > > V. Altar layout, tools used and what for, ritual dress, etc. > > VI. Rituals > > Circle casting procedure > > Sabbats > > moons > > prayers, invocations, songs, etc. > > Etc. (handfastings, initiations, tool consecrations, etc) > > VII. spellworking rituals > > color/element/stone correspondences > > "spells" > > recipes, incenses, ritual foods, etc. > > > > > > One big thing is missing. I prefer to keep diaries, dream and magic > > journals, meditation, etc. in a separate book. Why? Because I see the BoS > > as a relatively "permanent" book. That doesn't mean it doesn't change, but > > it doesn't mean I want a ton of mind wanderings in it, either. I work > > problems and ideas out in my journal, then add important and solidified > > ideas into my BoS. Also, another reason is that pages and pages of > > journal writings tend to make the book bulky in ritual. However, if you > > want to include them, do so at the end of the BoS. > > > > A BoS takes a lot of time and thinking to make. However, it also shows > > your dedication to the Craft. It is also a valuable tool to monitor > > changes and growth in your faith. All and all, I can't imagine a practice > > without one. > > > > VI. RITUAL CREATION > > > > In this section I'm mostly going to talk about developing sabbat ritual, > > however the concepts can be applied to any ritual. The key here is NOT to > > try to create a ritual a few days before an event or sabbat. Try to give > > yourself some time (at least 2 weeks) to consider concepts and to do some > > research. I would also suggest doing each sabbat as it comes along during > > the year. I think it helps to get you in "the mood" of the season and also > > does not overwhelm you by trying to write them all at once. > > > > The very first thing to do is to learn everything you can about the > > upcoming sabbat. The class reading I gave you before in class will be a > > great start. Try to get a few interpretations, including modern and > > ancient symbolism. The better your understanding of why the sabbat is > > important to celebrate and what it means, the easier to write and more > > meaningful the ritual will be. DO NOT skip this step! Give yourself a day > > or so to just think about what you have read before moving on. > > > > The next step is to grab a sheet of paper. Write down and identify these > > things: > > a) The basic meaning of the sabbat (or other ritual) to you > > b) The themes of the sabbat (or other ritual) > > c) Symbolism related to this holiday > > d) All interesting old and new traditions related to the sabbat > > > > Example for Samhain/Halloween: > > > > a) The Lord journeys into the underworld / end of summer > > b) Harvest, respect to the dead, day-between years > > c) Pumpkins, black/orange, spirits and the dead, fall leaves > > d) Trick or treating,"dumb suppers", lighting candles for the > > dead, divination for the upcoming year, talking to spirits. > > > > > > Now you are about ready to write the ritual. First, look at your notes > > from the Ritual section from "getting started" above. Do you prefer > > simple/complex ritual? Lots of words and music or silence? Spontaneous or > > structured? These things will strongly effect the structure of the ritual. > > > > Now, start weeding out the themes/symbols/traditions you like the least. > > Select your favorites, but try to keep it down to one or two themes and > > traditions; otherwise your ritual will be too complex. You can almost use > > an unlimited number of symbols, especially for altar and circle > > decorations to set the mood. > > > > Example for Samhain: > > > > Preferred ritual: Complex, mostly silent prayer, spontaneous but > > structured. > > > > Theme: Respect to the dead > > Symbols: Pumpkins, black/orange, spirits and the dead, fall leaves > > Traditions: lighting candles for the dead, divination for the upcoming > > year > > > > If you get to this point, your ritual is almost written. Give yourself a > > day or so to daydream about your ritual. > > > > The actual ritual is just putting your preferred themes/symbols/traditions > > together. It may help you to look over a few published rituals, if you have > > not done so already. Be creative, try to stimulate a feeling of > > "other worldness" that allows your subconscious to come out and play. > > Above all, don't be a perfectionist! Don't get so hung up with the details > > being perfect that you forget the main reason for the holiday or lose > > that special feeling ritual creates. If you mess up in the ritual, just > > forget it and move on (or stop and do it over). If you dump the ritual > > wine and almost torch your altar cloth with a candle, laugh it off and go > > on. Who says ritual should be staunch? Write your ritual in your BoS!!! > > > > Samhain ritual, (Lady Lunastrix "moonowl") > > > > Setup/preparation: Drape purchased artificial cobweb from the > > room's central chandelier to form a canopy over the ritual area. All > > lights off except a red light in a small lamp in the corner. > > Jack-o-lanterns should mark the corners of the circle. Altar is decorated > > with fall leaves and a number of unlit black votive candles. > > > > (grounding, cleansing, circle is cast) > > > > A silent spontaneous invocation prayer to the Goddess and God to be > > present and bless the Work of the Samhain circle (I light a red taper > > to symbolize the presence of the God and a white large candle for the > > Goddess. This is standard in all ritual for me). > > > > A brief spontaneous mentioning (silent or spoken, whatever moves me) of > > the reason for the celebration. ( ex. "This is the season the Lord > > returns to the belly of the Mother to be reborn. On this day that is > > not a day, we also remember all our respected relatives, friends and loved > > ones, and those that may be forgotten, that have also traveled into the > > womb of the Mother to be Reborn. We will not morn, because remember; for all > > that is born must pass to be reborn anew".) > > > > One of the small black votive candles are taken in hand. For each, think of > > one of these suggested deceased: relative, pet, friend, ancestors never met, > > dead without loved ones to remember them, victims of the Burnings or wars. > > Meditate on your memories of the person/people/pet, letting the energy of > > your memories and blessings of good will go into the candle. Continue to > > another candle and select another relative/pet/friend, etc.. (If you > > happen to do the ritual with another person, it is nice to share memories > > aloud for each candle.) > > > > When you are done, light each candle and allow them to burn away, sending > > the energy to the honored dead. > > > > Divination with runes for a yearly forecast follows. (Sabbats are a good > > time for magic, usually certain kinds. It is common for magic rituals to > > follow celebratory ritual.) > > > > For earthing (simple feast, cakes and ale), pomegranates and cider are > > served, with an offering of three seeds to the Lord and Lady. > > > > The God and Goddess are thanked and bid merry part. > > > > (open circle) > > > > > > V. EVERYDAY WICCA > > > > Being a Wiccan is more than a religious practice. It effects how we live > > our lives and what choices we make. Also, being a Wiccan means you are a > > member of an "alternative" religion that is also misunderstood. > > > > Many Wiccans practice some sort of religious ritual other than on planned > > Sabbats and moons. Daily or occasional prayers and offerings of thanks > > are always encouraged when ever the need or mood strikes you. Prayers > > requesting assistance are also normal practice ( I tend to give offerings > > and prayers for divine inspiration often during finals week!). Some > > Wiccans keep altars, (and I would suggest you do so if possible) and some > > have altars that honor a specific God or Goddess. Some even change the God > > or Goddess the altar is dedicated for so they can build a relationship > > with other deities. Offerings and prayers are regularly made at the > > altars, even if it is just a passing blessing. > > > > Meditation and study is another important aspect of a Wiccan's life. > > Meditation, as we have talked before is a great tool that can be used for > > pathworking, deity connections and finding animal totems. However, like > > any other skill, it gets rusty if not used. Try to set a regular time > > every day/week/month to brush up on your meditation skills, even if it > > just to relax. Beginners may need to practice more often than skilled > > meditators. Study of magic, Wicca, other religions and philosophies (even > > the natural sciences) is almost mandatory as you have already seen. Do not > > be overwhelmed by this. The studying never ends. As I like to think, the day > > I know everything is the day I stop living for a purpose. So hide in the > > corner of a bookstore and read a book, get some FTP files, or share ideas > > with other online pagans. Study keeps your practice always new, changing, > > and wondrous. The quest for knowledge is our most precious blessing. > > > > Other areas that Wicca may effect you is how you live your life. As a > > member of a volunteer organization, I can't emphasize the benefits of > > service to the community. Feeding and raising money for the poor, > > visiting the ill, teaching, cleaning up your local park are all ways of > > serving the Mother. When you give of yourself to do Her Work, you perform > > Her magics, indeed. > > > > Environmental concerns are prime importance to many Wiccans. How can we be > > worshippers of Nature if we don't take steps to preserve it? We don't all > > have to become park rangers; recycle, save water and energy, donate money > > to environmental causes. > > > > Many Wiccans become involved with politics, community and education. > > Women's issues of all types are also common focal points. The Goddess comes > > in all colors and sexual orientations, so fighting racial and cultural > > discrimination, as well as ALL types of religious discrimination and > > intolerance, is Her Work. > > > > Don't get overwhelmed! Remember, the worst thing is to do nothing at all > > because you can only do a little. Pick and choose things you like and > > feel strongly about, and do what you can. Always remember to take care of > > yourself, too. Don't get stressed out and put too much on your plate. > > > > PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS > > > > Being Wiccan is not easy, usually due to public misconceptions of our > > religion. The best advice I can give you in situations when others > > question your religion is to be honest, with simple explanations and > > avoiding terms that might set panic alarms off in others. I usually avoid > > using the word "witch" until I tell them I am Wiccan, a earth based > > religion that celebrates the seasons and worship a God and Goddess. Then > > images of pointy hats and black masses don't pop up and get in the way of > > what I am trying to explain. Also, don't overload them with complexity. > > Try to keep to simple concepts and ideas. > > > > I don't suggest hiding your religion unless your safely or security is > > threated. If friends and lovers can't handle your religion, too bad. If > > they disapprove and harass, don't bring the topic up for discussion with > > them, even if they try to egg you on. If they really can't handle it, > > they can walk (does your significant other really love you if they don't > > try to accept and understand something so important?) On the other hand, if > > you think your parents will kick you out of the house if they knew, or > > you will be thrown out of your dorm in a Christian college, practice > > simply in secret. It stinks, but its only temporary and better than being > > homeless/degree-less. > > > > If you are independent, you MAY want to consider telling your immediate > > family about your religion. Bring the topic up casually, avoiding terms that > > may freak them out. If your parents and strongly religious or disapprove, > > stay calm and remind them you are an adult, and it is your right to > > practice what you wish. Stress that you are not a Satanist of any sort, > > and you will provide them with materials if they are interested in > > learning more. > > > > You may underestimate your parents. I told my mother I had to talk to her > > about my religion when I came to visit her. When I got home and told her > > I was Wiccan, she sighed with relief and said, "I thought you were joining > > a cult! Why didn't you just tell me you were just a witch?! Call your > > Aunt, she'd love to talk to you about this stuff." Surprise, surprise. She > > even gracefully got me out of saying the dinner prayer at Thanksgiving > > when she knew I was uncomfortable. > > > > I believe your faith is a very important aspect in your life, and if > > people, especially loved ones, respect you and love you, they will come > > to grips with your faith. I don't suggest breaking up families, but I > > don't suggest deception, either. Don't tell your parents you are a good > > Jew if you are not. If you cannot tell them you are Wiccan, at least you > > owe them the respect of not lying to them. I may have a strong opinion on > > this, and your mileage may vary. Do what is right for you, but don't take > > the path of least resistance for the sake of ease. > > > > Unfortunately, out of the household you may find yourself discriminated > > against. Be careful here. You have the right to practice your religion, > > but fighting with your boss over the right for you to have a pentacle over > > your desk may not be worth your job. On the other hand, if my landlord > > protested of my altar in my apartment, I may seek legal council. Pick your > > battles wisely. > > > > Sometimes a situation can be handled without mentioning your religion to > > the whole office. A Fundamentalist Christian was fond of leaving me pamphlets > > at my desk at work after overhearing a discussion I was having about > > biological evolution and magic with a personal friend at lunch. I asked > > him to please stop, and I did not think it was appropriate behavior. When he > > continued, his supervisor was notified. The problem was taken care of with no > > mention of Wicca. If anyone actually harasses you, tell them calmly to > > desist. > > > > Avoid problems. Running around wearing a huge pentacle, lots of black, > > and trying to be witchy for shock value does not make you exactly blend > > in. If looking different is your normal style, fine. But don't do it to > > force occult down someone's throat; people will never give you a chance > > to explain your views and frankly, you'll just be reinforcing their > > stereotypes and misconceptions. > > > > If you wish to wear a pentacle outside your shirt, please do so. But have > > an answer prepared when folks go, "what is that?". Personally I keep mine > > tucked in because I don't think it anyone's business besides the people I > > choose to tell. I also don't get paranoid about it being tucked in. If it > > comes untucked and someone sees it, big deal. I have an explanation ready. > > (My doctor noticed it during an exam the other day...I'm so used to > > wearing it I didn't understand what she was asking about at first!) An > > easy way to explain a pentacle when you are speaking to someone in > > passing, tell them it is a symbol of the four elements plus soul, and not > > a Satanic star. No mile long Wiccan lecture required. > > > > Play these situations by feel. Do what thou Will. > > > > ***** > > EXERCISES > > > > 1) Start work on creating your tradition, or just work on the questions in > > the "getting started" section if you are not sure about Wicca yet. > > > > 2) Think about how you would deal with questions about your religion. > > Would you tell your family? What would you say? How would you deal with > > harassment? > > > > 3) Think of how you can honor the Great Ones in daily life. > > > > 4) Use the %&*#ing group list! :) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
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