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I’ve been asked numerous times to help new seekers in their learning of Christian Witchcraft. There is nothing that fulfills me more (aside from my home angels, of course) than to share that which I have learned over the years. I have started to post exercises on this blog (under the tag study group) to share what I consider to be the basics of the practice. Here I come again with a renewed offer. I list here what I consider to be my level 1 course. You will find here a list of readings and homework that I consider to be essential for all of those of you who are starting out (and maybe the others who want a little more structure in their learning). I suggest a deadline of Easter for completing all the coursework. All homework should be kept in a notebook. All exercises should have an entry in a book of shadows with comments and descriptions of the experiences. Each reading should also have a summary of the book with comments of what you found interesting or puzzling in the material. This is how I was taught and I hope that you will find it both challenging and inspiring. You may send me your course work once it is all completed. I will not take in partial homework. I also offer no guarantee that I will read all of it. But I figure that it gives an added incentive if you know that you may receive feedback in the process. As I have posted on Facebook, I am still keeping my day job, so I hope you will all understand that I am offering as much time as I can.
Coursework for Level 1 – Course in Christian Witchcraft
Mandatory Readings:
Crafting: Arin Murphy-Hiscock, Solitary Wicca for Life
Magic: Scott Cunningham, Wicca: A guide for the solitary practitioner
Magic and Mythology: Berg & Harris, Polarity Magic
Pagan history: Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon
Anthropology: Merlin Stone, When God Was a Woman
Christian Mysticism: Kyriacos Markides, Riding the Lion
Christian Studies: Pagels, Elaine, The Gnostic Gospels
Energy and healing: Selene Vega and Anodea Judith, The Sevenfold Journey
One work of fiction that relates to Christianity, Paganism or a combination of both. Highlight the elements that stir a new understanding of these spiritual paths.
Some suggestions of works of fiction:
Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Christ the Lord – Out of Egypt by Anne Rice
The Gospel According to Pilate by Eric Emmanuel Schmitt
A Love Divine by Alexandra Ripley
Bless the Child by Cathy Cash Spellman
Any of the Chronicles of Narnia
Homework:
– Define Magic and Energy. What do these concepts mean to you? Why do you want to study magic and what events in your life have brought you to want to undertake such studies?
– Define Paganism, Witchcraft and Christianity. What are these practices/religions to you? What are the differences and the similarities? What calls to you in each one?
– Do the Elemental explorations (study guide)
– Practice Centering and Grounding (study guide)
– Practice energy work: energy fields, shrinking and expanding, seeing your energy field and others’ (study guide)
– Practice visualization exercises (study guide)
– Watch the DVD ‘What the Bleep Do We Know’ and comment it
– Build an altar (take a picture)
– Perform a ritual from start to finish (either a Sabbat or an Esbat or a ritual spell)
– Research the concept of deity. What is deity for you and how do you express it?
– Each lunar month, do the exercises for one chakra in The Sevenfold Journey
Some of you may finish quickly and others may extend beyond Easter. I wish you an exciting journey with this. God and Goddess bless you on your journey!