What is Wicca? Just another name for Witchcraft. Many people try to give it some
new age meaning -
The Degree System? You will hear people say “I am a first degree Witch or a 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 -
First Degree -
Second Degree: They are using what they have learned. The second degree can be a High Priestess or High Priest. They are learning how to open up to the Goddess and the God. They can teach Wicca 101. They should know how to right spell and rituals.
Third Degree: They are learning to hear the Goddess. They are the High Priestess, High Priest, Elders, and Teachers. They have reached the point where they know that learning never ends.
Outside of the Novice there is no time limit on the degrees -
Within a Coven the first, second and third degree Witches are equal with running
the Coven. A novice should have no voice in the running of a Coven. (This may sound
harsh, but Covens that give voting rights and decision making rights to a Novice
soon fall). There are many that would not agree with these definitions and feel that
the only good Witch is one who has memorized all sorts poems and information form
the Book of Shadows. Now within our Coven we have other things that must be done
before the person gains a degree -
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 say OK, you are a Witch.
First and foremost many want to be 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 :-
The Craft on Line? This is the good, the bad, and the ugly. The Internet is a great place to meet people and it’s a great place to find information. It’s a very bad place to use to become a Witch.
WICCA 101 ON LINE: On this very site we have a Wicca 101 class and I put it together and I don’t like on line teaching of the Craft. FOR THE STUDENT: 1. They have no idea who their teacher is ( are they Wiccan or a role player) 2. If you don’t understand how to do something, there is no one to show you how. 3. Feed back takes time (the teacher has a life and it may be a while before they get back to you) 4.You can call yourself a Witch or even a first degree Witch after doing an online course, but there may be a good chance you will be the only one. FOR THE TEACHER: 1. Has no idea who he is teaching. 2. Can’t tell if the student did a project. 3. Student could be more than one person. 4. When it’s over, there is no good 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.
LIST: Now these can be a nice discussion platforms like the Dragon Palm lists at
YahooGroups. It can be informational like an E-
CHAT ROOM: BEWARE OF CHAT ROOMS -
FACEBOOK: Facebook can be a good tool if used right. We have a Dragon Palm Circle page, A Dragon Palm Events group and a Witch in Progress group. And events are a great thing. You can use them for things open to all, or just to select groups. Now when you are on Facebook if there are people you do not want to know you are a Witch you really have to watch what you say and post. I’m fairly open that I’m a Witch on Facebook, but not really in your face about it. I have old friends that I am sure either thinks I’m weird (and if they were my friends they know that is true) or figured out that I’m a Witch.