Dreamweaver on Wicca

What is Wicca? Just another name for Witchcraft.  Many people try to give it some new age meaning - but it was the Witches in the middle of the 20th century that started using the term for another name for Witchcraft.  Today we have people who claim to be the "Real" Witches, not the Wiccan kind...a lot of these same people think witchcraft is another role playing game and not a religion.  Most of them don't understand why most Witches of the Wiccan kind don't really think much of them.

The Degree System?  You will hear people say I am a first degree Witch or second or third degree Witch.  What does this mean.  Depends upon the tradition or Coven they belong to.  Some even have a forth degree.  There are various things that must be learned to become a certain degree.  As an eclectic Coven, we at Dragon Palm Circle, have set up these definitions:

Novice - a  person doing their year and a day - they are learning there basics.

First Degree - They are learning how to use their basics. (They are also learning more in depth some of those basics)

Second Degree - They are using what they learned. The second degree can be a High Priestess or High Priest. They are learning how to open up to the God and Goddess. They can teach Wicca 101.

Third Degree - They are learning to hear to the Goddess. They the High  Priestess, High Priest, Elders and teachers.

Outside of the novice there is no time limit on the degrees - its when they happen.  With some it's very  quick, with others they stay a first or second degree Witch.

Within a Coven the first, second, and third degree Witches are equals with running the Coven.  A novice should have no voice in the running of a Coven. (may sound harsh, but Covens that give voting rights and decision making rights to Novice soon fall)  There are many that would not agree with this and feel that the only good Witch is one who has memorizes all sorts of information form Books of Shadows.   Now within our Coven we have others things that must be done before the person gains a degree - as they must prove they are ready.

Year and A Day? Why must a person study a year and a day to become a Witch.  Why can't they just say I want to be a Witch and the Witch Priest says OK, you are a Witch.  First and formost many want to a Witch for all the wrong reasons.  And when they find out that they are going to have to work at becoming a Witch they go away (and become "Real" witches who are not Wiccan ;-).)   Second there is a lot of information that a Witch needs to know before they can do Rituals and make Spells.  They also need to know about history, beliefs, and other parts of the Craft. - Some may take longer than a year and a day, but none should take less.

The Craft on Line? The Internet is a great place to meet people, its a great place to find information.  Its a very bad place to use to become a Witch. Wicca101 on line: In this very site we have a Wicca 101 class and I put it together and I don't like on line teaching.  For the student: 1. They have no idea who their teacher is 2. If they don't understand how to do something, there is no one to show them how 3.feed back takes time. 4.you can call yourself a witch or even a first degree Witch after doing an on line course, but there may be a good chance you will be the only one.

For the Teacher: 1. Has no idea who he teaching  2. Can't tell if the student did project.  3. Your student could be more than one person. 4. When it's all over, no real way of telling if the person learned anything or not.

If you take an online course make sure it uses outside books also.   If the books are good and the course gives you good information, it can be very helpful for when you find a live teacher. (And you will if this is truly your path)   It can be helpful there.

LISTS: Now these can be nice discussion platforms like the Dragon Palm list at YahooGroups.  It can be informatinal like an E-zine.  It can be full of BS like a lot are.  They can be made up of self proclaimed witches who have a lot of misinformation that they are glad to share with others.  Then there is the Spell trading list - stay away from these - don't even get close to them - If you are a Witch, you can write your own spells, if you are not a Witch, leave the spells to the Witches. (And  please don't fill up your Book of Shadows with spell written by others on the Internet - this is not what it is for)   Don't take what you hear on the list as truth.  There is a lot of truth, but there is also a lot of false.

CHATROOM: BEWARE OF CHATROOMS - chatrooms that are always open have weird people lurking in them.   50 year old men who say they are 15 year old girls and so on.  Don't give out personal information on a chat room.  Don't give out phone numbers and addresses. (even if you know the person you are giving it to, you are also giving it everyone else in the chat room) Chat rooms can be a lot of fun also.   Classes can be taught on them.  Lady Sky has done a couple of workshops on Tarot on the Dragon Palm Chat room. (The Dragon Palm Chat room is always open, but usally there are only people there when there is a planned chat.)