Wicca Workshop
This workshop was written for a beliefnet study group and I present it here for your reading pleasure. If you'd like to use it for whatever reason, please contact me at the address on my "About Me" page.
BASIC WICCA INTRODUCTION->Part 1 Introduction
WICCA: BASICS FOR THE INDEPENDENT SEEKER
A workshop given on beliefnet.com
Originally started on 2/15/2000
Written from 1/25/2000 to 2/14/2000
and will probably be revised forever.
1. Introduction
2. Basic Tenets of Wiccan Belief
3. Guidelines for a Magickal Life
4. Beliefs and Practices
5. Mixing Wicca and Other Religions
6. Ritual and Cycles of Life
7. Examples of Ritual
8. Holidays and Lore
9. Tools for Ritual and Magick
10. Magick and Spells
11. Suggested Self Study Program
12. Final Notes
If you've joined this group hoping to learn spells and magick, you should be informed that Wicca is first and foremost a religion, magick is just a tool that is used aid personal development.
Question: What is your background in Wicca? Why do you want to learn about it and what books have you read, if any, so far? Where have you gotten the bulk of your information so far?
Part 1 Introduction
Welcome to the Wicca Basics workshop. Please feel free to ask questions if something is unclear. I know from reading the introductions you all have posted (when you joined the workshop) that I have a mixed group here, some of you are starting on your Wiccan path, some just want to see what's down the road. I am hoping this workshop will provide what you are looking for either way.
I'm going to start off by explaining what Wicca and Wiccans are, not what they are not. There are many misconceptions about what Wicca is and what they do, like devil worship, black magic and sacrifice, none of which are true. Wicca is a wonderful, loving religion that honors Nature in all Her forms.
Also, I would rather not debate the validity of Wicca (or Neo-Wicca) as I've seen on other boards. I'm certain we could create a whole new group to argue about it in, but until then, this is to discuss the current ideas of Wicca as presented in the better (non-fluff) books.
Why am I giving this workshop?
I am giving this workshop to provide a greater understanding of Wicca to as many people as possible, as cheaply as possible. I have tried to make it comprehensive and all encompassing, but I may have missed a few things. I am hoping this will encourage some who want to seriously pursue Wicca as a religion and give them a place to start. I am also hoping it will help clear up some misconceptions that some people may have of Wicca.
Often in this workshop I say "Most Wiccans"; This does not mean all, just most of the ones I've been in contact with, either in my day to day life, the internet, or books. It is not all encompassing and should not be construed as such. Wicca is a religion of freedom and practitioners select (from the mass of information) what suits their needs, which is the way religion should be.
I've also included some of me and my personal beliefs in this, because I am trying to provide a comprehensive workshop. It is my hope that this workshop will provide you with a base to build everything else you learn about Wicca on; You will be reading a book and read something in a passage and say to yourself, "I remember that from the workshop!"
There is also a portion of Wiccans (or Traditional Witches) who claim that independent practitioners should not call themselves "Wiccan" unless they have been initiated into a coven. I think it's ridiculous that a person who is sincere, studies all of the Wiccan material they can get their hands on, and practices ritual, cannot call themselves "Wiccan". So, we are not talking about the validity of Wicca, nor the name we call ourselves, we are just explaining what is known, currently, as Wicca.
At the end of each chapter I will provide recommended books for further reading. Sometimes the same books are quoted in separate lessons, but I honestly believe that those books provide the best information on that subject (that I have read). In some places I have recommended books that I have not personally read, but I intend to, or I have read other books by the author and I feel that the book will be a good one. At the end of the workshop I will present all of the books together in a list. Although these are books I recommend, I highly encourage you to read everything you can get your hands on, good and bad, and find your own path. Take all authors with a grain of salt and do what you feel is right.
I have also included questions that I will ask along with the lesson. Please feel free to be completely honest (without preaching, that goes for everyone).
Lastly, I am not infallible. What I have presented here is my interpretation after working with Wicca for ten years, alone and with others. There are some people who would say what I will present here is not entirely accurate, and that is their privilege. I do not claim to have the only "true" way of Wicca, only my own version of what I believe, like everyone else. Here I will present what I feel are the basics of Wicca and it is my hope to create a better understanding of it for everyone. I suppose another way to say this is, "Not everyone will agree with me." Well, isn't that the way of the world?
-----------------------------
Copyright Notice:
This workshop is copyright © 2000 Naturesong.com
1-This workshop will be archived on the Beliefnet group archive site and my personal site only. http://www.naturesong.com/reader on the workshops page.) You may not post it, upload it, or transfer it to any other place on the internet.
2-This workshop may not be transmitted via any bulk emailing list, or standard email list.
3-This workshop may not be sold or charged for.
4-This workshop may not be copied onto any other website except the afore mentioned sites
5-You may use this to teach others (physically, not online) until August 1, 2000 only, at which time I expect you will have found other methods (books, videotapes, etc) to teach others.
6-If you wish to tell others online about this workshop, please send the link above.
7-Please send all feedback on this workshop to deaana@gmail.com and include "Workshop Comments" in the subject line.
-----------------------------
Names to Know
This list of names is provided as a quick reference when they are mentioned in the text.
James George Frazer-wrote the Golden Bough which was originally published in 1890. Although considered a classic, it has since been mostly disproved.
Margaret Murray-wrote "The Witch Cult in Western Europe" (in 1921) where she put forth the theory that Witchcraft was something universally practiced throughout Europe. Much of her theories have been discredited by the scientific community.
Aleister Crowley-(1875-1947)A poet, author, practitioner of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn system of magick who wrote "The book of the Law" in trance (or his wife was in trance and he wrote, depending on which story you read). This book became the basis of the Thelemic spiritual philosophy
Gerald Gardner(1884-1964)-wrote "Witchcraft Today" in 1951 and founded the Gardnerian tradition about 1953. Was the first to combine the current themes and ideas in Wicca to form a cohesive system. Sometimes people call him "Old Man Gardner" or "The Grand Old Man of Witchcraft". Some of Gerald's books are still available today.
Alexander Sanders(1926-1988)-Founded the Alexandrian tradition during the 1960s. He branched from a Garderian coven and founded his tradition based on training and ceremonial magick.
Raymond Buckland-wrote many books on Wicca and the occult. Originally initiated by Gerald's High Priestess, he went on to create one of the best books on Witchcraft, "Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft". This book is set in a format of lessons, and a kind of quiz or questions at the end of each. He covers just about everything in it, though not in depth.
Charles Leland-(?-?)wrote a book published in the 19th century called "Aradia: Gospel of the Witches". There are questions about the validity of the research on this.
Margot Adler-wrote "Drawing Down the Moon" a somewhat dry book about the modern pagan movement in general and the politics of that movement.
|
