Perfect Love and Perfect Trust:
Wicca 101
Neva Hyde - Teacher - Practitioner - Reiki Master
The Bead Angel, 3033 W Maryland St, Evansville, 812-426-2323
SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 10am - 6pm
FEE IS ONLY $100 with advance registration & pre-payment by Noon Friday, June 10, or $125 thereafter. Limited to 12 new participants. CALL NOW with questions or to reserve your spot!!
Do you hear the call?
Does the sight of the full moon in all Her glory stir something within you? Do you feel the call of Nature emanating from the trees, birds & streams? Is there an unful-filled longing within you for a truly meaningful & personal relationship to the Divine?
Be Well Come, then, to Wicca 101.
In this one-day introductory course, you'll discover why an estimated 800,000 people worldwide -- several hundred thousand in the U.S. alone -- have chosen the Craft as their preferred expression of worship, service & co-creation. We'll discuss:
* What Wicca is... and isn't
* The historical background and development of the Craft
* Modern Witchcraft
* The principles of Wiccan belief
* The Deities: Triple Goddess and Horned God
* The Tools of the Craft
* Ritual work
Presented by Neva Hyde, a semi-solitary Wicca practitioner and favored daughter of the Goddess, with the assistance of her husband, Lawrence (representing the God), Wicca 101 is intended for those with little or no familiarity with the Craft.
Experienced practitioners are also welcome to attend. A completely voluntary ritual will held at the conclusion of the class.
THIS CLASS IS A PRE-REQUISITE for Neva's year-long series of in-depth teachings, a "Year And A Day", which will start on Sunday, July 10. There will be an organizational & informational meeting for YAAD on Tuesday, June 14, 6:30pm. LINK TO "YEAR AND A DAY" Web page.
WICCA 101 Course Description:
This is a basic, introductory class to Wicca. It is a general overview and will cover basic definitions, beliefs, background and history. It is not intended to supply all the answers, but will hopefully make one ask more questions.
The outline below is ONLY A SKETCH of the topics that may be covered and how they may be addressed. The actual material presented and the 'flow' of the class will be at the imminent direction of the Goddess as co-creatively interpreted by Neva.
I. Merry Meet! - Introduce self and background - Class members' introductions
- Background - Reason for taking class - Expectations
II. Overview of what Wicca is... and isn't - Neopaganism - Religion and a Way of Life - Earth-based - Complex mixture of magic, ritual custom, and reverence for Deity - Lacks hierarchical doctrine - Definitions of frequently used terms - Solitary vs. coven
III. Background - Oral Tradition - Secrecy - Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, Aleister Crowley, Raymond Buckland - Janet and Stewart Farrar
IV. Modern Witchcraft - Explosion of information via internet - Witches as fantasy beings: generally female; Wicked Witch of the West; Glenda the Good Witch of the East; cutesy teenager who casts spells in her bedroom; Bewitched's Samantha; sexy witch wrapped in black latex; evil malignant hag creating misery. - One of the fastest growing religions in the world today
- Male practitioner is still called a witch - Starhawk, Scott Cunningham, Silver RavenWolf
V. Principles of Wiccan Belief - Celebrates life; earth and fertility-oriented; worships the Divine as personified in the form of a Goddess and a God.
- Elements - Council of American Witches (1974) [Handout] - The Wiccan Rede [Handout] - The Wheel of the Year [Handout] - Coven vs. Solitary
- Devotional vs. Functional - Traditions
VI. Deities - God and Goddess, Lord and Lady - Pantheons
VII. Tools - Ritual: Athame, pentagram, chalice, wand
- Working: boline, besom, mortar & pestle
- Candles, incense, music
VIII. Rituals - What and why
IX. The entire class will be very interactive, with plenty of time for Q & A.
Suggested Reading:
Raymond Buckland, Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, Llewellyn, 2003
Starhawk, The Spiral Dance, A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess, Harper, 1989, 10th ed.
Ronald Hutton, The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, OxfordUniversity Press 1999
Scott Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, Llewellyn, 1988 (Twenty-eighth printing, 2001)
Silver RavenWolf, Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation, Llewellyn, 2003
The above materials represent a starting point for the serious student.
YAAD (Year And A Day) participants will work with these and other sources over the course of the year.
SUPPLIES FOR THE DAY OF CLASS:
NOTEBOOK -- SNACKS -- BAG LUNCH and whatever else you think you may need. Bottled water and coffee are available in our lounge, which is equipped with fridge, sink, microwave, coffee maker and hot-water-maker for tea.