Sanctuary of the Crescent Moon
An Open Learning Coven - Located in Rochester, New York
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Sanctuary of the Crescent Moon An Open Learning Coven - Located in Rochester, New York
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Dedicate
Check-off List Name: _______________________________________________________1. Observe a Sabbat/EsbatDate: _______________________________________________________Comments: _____________________________________________________ 2. List Ritual attendance
3. Wicca 101 Class: ____________________________________________ 4. Other Class Attending
5. Review the Oath ____________________________________________ Comments: ____________________________________________ 6. Meditation (daily 10 min three times week) __________________ Comments: ______________________________________________ Review education needs__________________________________ Review Information form __________________________________ 7. Ted Andrews CD ___________________ 8. Completed Reading List – Bold print is mandatory for Dedicate Level others suggested
9. Course Load:
What is Wicca
Witchcraft is a legally recognized religion in the United States, as declared in 1985, Dettmar v Landon (617 E supp. 529) the district Court of virginia pursuant to rule 52a of the Rules of civil procedure. Reaffirmed in 1986 in the Federal Appeals Court, fourth Circuit, Butzner, J. (592 F 2d. 934). Henceforth, Witchcraft and Witches are protected under the United States Constitution (Amendment I:XIV) Wicca is an earth-based religion. That means we treat all living things (people, animals, plants) with respect. We work with and respect Mother Nature and the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water. It is Mother Earth who supports all life. Wicca/Witchcraft is a spiritual religion. All of us find a connection with “power” that is higher then ourselves. Wiccans believe in an ultimate deity – the Universe – a force which is far beyond our comprehension, we know it is there. This means that we recognize that there exists a Universal Energy afloat everywhere and at all times. Every object in existence is made up of this energy. All objects are alive with this energy. This is “creative energy” so, it is the foundation and creativeness of the God and Goddess. We believe in the feminine and masculine aspects of the divine – God/Goddess. In a ritual’s purest form, this universal energy (without gender or characteristics) is what is used or worshipped. God and Goddess are the second purest form of this energy (with gender and hyman-type characteristics). Many people will choose to worship the God and Goddess and ask for their help rather than dealing directly with the creative energy, since the God and Goddess can more easily be related to. The third purest form of this universal energy is a second group of Gods and Goddesses. These Gods and Goddesses specialize in specific areas, i.e. Goddess for Love (Venus). At the second and third level of purest energy, spells and rituals are performed. With this higher power around us at all times and in all places, the key then becomes how we honor and take part in this higher power. Wiccans believe in reincarnation. We choose our own Goddess/Gods – they are called Pantheons. Wiccans celebrate the changing seasons – Sabbats. (God celebrations) There are eight solar holidays. Wiccans do not perform magick on the Sabbats. Wiccans celebrate the 12-13 lunar Esbats. (Goddess celebrations) Magick is performed at these times. People choose to follow the Wiccan path. We do not recruit. We believe that those who come to follow the path have had life experiences which led them this way. Education is highly valued, encouraged and pursued throughout life. Wiccans strive to be upstanding citizens. Wiccans are encouraged to be involved in community service. Wiccans value all religions and religious beliefs and practice religious tolerance. Wiccans can practice solitary or in a group/coven. Wiccans hold true to the Wiccan Code of Ethics. Wiccans prefer to worship outdoors, when the weather is accommodating. All Wiccans are heathens – people who worship Mother Earth. A name given to Indians by the Puritans because they did not believe in the Christian God. All Wiccans are not witches, not all witches are Wiccan, not all Wiccans are Pagan, Pagans are not Wiccans or Witches. Wiccans believe in Karma. What one gives out (positive/negative energy) comes back to you. Wiccans practice magick. Pagans do not practice magick. Witches practice magick. Wiccans are “new age” – witches can trace lineage back to ancestors. Wiccans have a “degree system” as a way of identifying education. Wiccans have many different traditions. Wiccans practice meditation and introspection.
WICCANS DO NOT Do not believe in sacrifice. Do not use the term “warlock” to describe a male witch. Warlock means traitor. Do not believe in, or honor the deity known as Satan/Devil. Do not have to formally renounce the Christian God or faith. Wiccans are not sexually deviant. Do not believe in the use of mind-altering drugs or alcohol. Do not practice “black” magick. Do not force anyone to do anything against their will. Do not practice/perform any religious rites in cemeteries. Do not do not commit crimes in the name of religion or “wicca.” Do not belong to “cults.” Do not use magick to manipulate people, nature.
Moon Manners: ETIQUETTE FOR GROUP RITUALSIf this is your first Ritual or your seventy-first ritual here are some things to remember
RSVP for all Rituals: Ritual@SOTCM.org or (585) 429-5811 please leave a message This is mandatory so we can have enough materials and know who is coming. Timeline Ritual begins at 7pm. Should complete no later than 10pm - the first 30 minutes are for preparing: make sure you have your spell items, know the chants, and other Ritual needs. When you arrive at Covenstead Place your contribution in the Coffer - Take a receipt Mark your attendance book and check for information in your Box Place snack food or dish to pass on the kitchen table Robes Can be found down in the Classroom First come first served If you have your own Robe, please change in the upper bathroom If Robes get soiled please let Maddy or Joe know Look over the Ritual Please take a written ritual if you are calling a quarter Please improvise from the script or make notes on them If there are left over written rituals, anyone can take them afterwards Set –up Altars If you are calling a quarter, please personalize the quarter Altar Extra candles are under each Altar You can add or remove items at your convenience If you have questions, talk to any Senior Coven-member Meditation Move down to the Ritual Room promptly at 730pm We will start with meditation and proceed into Ritual Space Demeanor during Ritual Everyone is here to celebrate the Gods and to do Magickal works, remember to be respectful Honored persons The youngest attendee has the honor of: taking out the chalice and tossing the contents for the Gods in the yard after Ritual Elders are to have chairs and may sit as needed Guests should stand behind the Host who brought them
Etiquette ALCOHOL, DRUGS - There are many different views about these substances. As a general rule, don't use them either before or during the ritual, save them for after. In any case, never bring anything illegal with you; this is to protect you and the community as well. If you are sponsoring the ritual please remember to have a non-alcoholic alternative for children, recovering alcoholics, and any other non-drinkers in the ritual. It is not cute to secretly spike the cider or punch - do not do it. BAREFOOT - Not necessarily always required in circle, but polite. This is because in some traditions one goes unshod in respect of sacred space; and besides being respectful of others' beliefs, you're less likely to accidentally hurt someone by stepping on their toes if you're not wearing shoes either. (Appropriate footwear outdoors is acceptable.) BROOM CLOSET - Please be aware that some people have serious reasons to be sensitive about being known as pagans. Never mention that someone was at a ritual or is a pagan w/o their permission; this is just like outing a gay person, and can be just as devastating. Many of us cannot afford to be open about our religious preferences; never let out this or other personal information about another without their ok. Remember the 12-step saying, "Who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here." CLOCKWISE/DEOSIL - Unless specifically instructed otherwise, always move around the circle in a clockwise direction and into center. (E-S-W-N-C) Even if this has only symbolic meaning for you it is quite serious for others, who may be upset if you move counterclockwise (widdershins). CONFIDENTIALITY - See also "broom closet". The ritual is a private religious event and unless you are specifically told that the ritual is "open" all information pertaining thereto should be held in confidence. This especially includes the place, and people involved. DON'T leave a written invitation where others can see it. DON'T give such details to friends, family or others; even if the one you speak to is cool, someone they mention it to may not be. Remember the old WW II adage, "Loose lips sink ships". DRUMS - Drums and other musical instruments may be ritual tools (or just very special) so don't handle other people's drums, rattles, etc. without their permission. There are instruments under the Northern Altar. ENTERING - Sometimes it can take a while for everyone to enter into the circle. This extra entrance time should be taken as a gift to more fully center and prepare oneself. Remember that the ritual is supposed to be outside of mundane time - chill out and take the time to just "be where you are." Please do not distract others by talking, etc. during the procession. FOOD -Feel free to bring snacks if you care to – not monitory but encouraged. If you can contribute something, it is appreciated; if you can't, it is understood. Please remember to take your pots and cooking utensils with you when you leave; or make other arrangements. Don't leave dirty dishes for others to take care of. GROUNDING - Draining off excess energy and re-connecting with oneself. One way is sink to the floor, place one's hands on the ground/floor, and visualize the extra energy flowing into the earth. One who doesn't ground after much excitement may have difficulty "coming down to Earth" and getting to sleep later, and may even feel "hyper" for days. One should usually be energized by a good ritual, but not be bouncing off the walls afterward! GUESTS -
If you wish to bring a guest to a community ritual, you should
first get the permission of the people putting the ritual on. Please make
sure your guest understands about confidentiality. If you are bring
children make sure they can understand the Ritual, if you are unsure please
retain a babysitter. LEAVING - If you have to leave the ritual area before the end, whether to go to the bathroom or for another reason, please make sure you cut a gate in the circle (or ask the Gate Keeper do so for you) and consciously exit and re-enter the sacred area. This keeps the energy in the circle intact. MONEY - The Ritual space is provided by Joe & Maddy. We do the copying and preparing for Rituals. We ask that you contribute $5 per-person. Please be adult about paying for your Rituals and don’t make us badger you. If you are having financial difficulties, please let Maddy or Joe know in advance. RITUAL FIRE - The ritual fire is sacred. Please do not throw litter into it or light cigarettes with it. (Note: libations aren't litter.) If you have Ritual items that need to be burned please use the fire for that reason during the working portion of the Ritual. RITUAL TOOLS - For many pagans their ritual tools are very special items which, in some cases, may never have been touched by any other person. If you see anything interesting lying around or on the altar, make sure to ask permission before handling it. SACRED SPACE - Ritual is sacred space for celebrations, love, and trust; it is not a big party. Please refrain from conversations and smoking during the ritual. ROBES - Nice if you have them but not really required; loose, casual clothing or medieval-style garb is also common. Robes are available on a first come first serve basis down in the classroom. SKYCLAD - ---- NOT TO BE DONE AT SANCTUARY OF THE CRESCENT MOON ----- Nude, community rituals are not done skyclad. Remember that among pagans nudity is not an invitation to have sex; do not mistake the one for the other. SPECIAL NEEDS - If you or your guests have any special needs such as dietary restrictions or physical limitations, please inform the person in charge before the ritual, so that accommodations can be made. SPONTANEITY - Spontaneity can be a great thing. However, the people who put their energy into planning the ritual appreciate it if we relax and enjoy the energy flow as they have envisioned it. If you didn't plan it, please do not change what is happening. (Chants, etc.) SWEATLODGES - Sweatlodges are communal sacred space. Please leave them neat when you depart. Respect the wishes of the host. TOUCHING - Many pagans can be touchy-feely in a loving, caring sort of way. This can be immensely comforting; however, each of us has a different level of comfort with the extent of touching. If you are uncomfortable with how someone else is touching you please don't hesitate to communicate your feelings. Conversely, those on the giving side of embraces, etc. should be sensitive to the feelings and reactions others. Communication is vital. WATCHES & CELL PHONES - Frowned upon in ritual by some because the circle is supposed to be outside of regular time and space. (And, of course, it's rude to keep checking the time.) Best to leave these in pockets, out of sacred space, or on vibrate mode. WELCOMING - We are all responsible for the image of this community. If you see someone you don't know, please make an effort to welcome them.
Getting Started So, you have decided that this path might be for you. Where do you go? What do you do? Okay, the first question first. There are legally registered churches that embrace pagan ways and teachings. If you find one of these and feel comfortable with the people there, this is great. In some places there are loose associations of local pagans in a community which comes together at the Sabbats and perhaps even moons; some of these communities even run public service activities like education programs, park clean-up days, and food drives. You might want to participate in such a community whether your choice of path is coven-based or solitary. There are some public groups, often associated with bookstores or certain teachers, which offer classes in the basics of witchcraft and opportunities to participate in ritual with other graduates afterward. The classic unit of witches is the coven; this is a small group, usually not more than thirteen members, who are committed to working together on a very regular basis. You can get a lot of individual teaching as a newcomer to a coven...the trouble is that many of them don't go out of their way to be found easily. Many of the older books on witchcraft stress working in a coven, and imply one cannot learn witchcraft or be initiated into it without the teachings that covens offer. Not surprisingly, many such books were written by people lucky enough to have received their teaching in a coven. The English Traditions of witchcraft are based on the writings of a few individuals who published books about this way of working shortly after witchcraft was removed from the English criminal code in the 1950's. Their claims that they were initiated by people who came from lines of unbroken lineage of teacher/student dating back centuries could well be true; whether the practices they codified in their classic books are also ancient is open to debate. Another category of witches is those who belong to families whose members have practiced witchcraft for many generations. If you weren't born into such a family, you are out of luck. Marriage into a family seems an extreme step to take to explore this religion further. Some people are lucky enough to meet a witch with experience who takes a student under her wing and guides him along. This is wonderful for anyone who finds such a teacher. Unfortunately they are much rarer than those who want to learn....and without meaning to malign any such who I'm sure are wonderful and giving people, the seeker should be aware that not everyone willing to offer such instruction is as wise, intuitive, or selfless as a Yoda or a Merlin. There will always be people after money or sex or adoration. Ask if you can talk to other students and ask if you can attend classes or meetings to see if you think you'll work well with this person; if money or commitment is demanded before you have a chance to explore thoroughly, be cautious. Many of us direct our own teaching. Even if there isn't another human involved in our instruction every step of the way, we can receive valuable teaching from many sources. The number of books on different aspects of witchcraft has mushroomed in the last decade. We can pursue specific interests in any number of short courses. There are many good people who offer advice and teaching over the internet for free. Nature is a classroom we can step into anytime with no cost more than transportation. And the Goddess and God Themselves offer us information far more often than many of us realize, just for the asking. Who could possibly be a better teacher? A good teacher can help us progress fairly quickly. When one is teaching herself, she can sometimes follow dead ends or miss certain key points. But everything we do and see and learn along the way is of some value. And many witches are wary enough of authority that they actually prefer to make their own mistakes than to hand over any of their power to others. It is a matter of personal preference and the resources available. The old maxim that "When the pupil is ready the teacher will appear," may not refer to a single teacher who will guide one from start to finish so much as a series of teachers who She will send us when we are ready and able to perceive the lessons they have to teach. Of course, you can still put out feelers as discreetly or openly as you wish to for other witches in your community or in the world of journals or the Internet. Conversing with others is a great source of ideas and an ongoing way to see yourself reflected in others so you can measure your progress. But there is something very empowering about meeting these people as one who is on your own path, rather than as someone who needs something from them. So, as soon as you decide you want to start learning that is the time to start. I can say from my own experience that it has been marvelous how books fell into my hands when I was ready, or how I met people when I needed the guidance they could offer. The five things I believe are the key to the Craft: v Read as much as you can get your hands on There are many books for beginners listed in the book review section at this site. If it's listed, that means someone felt it was of value. (the converse isn't necessarily true...if it isn't listed, that may be because no one who has read it cared enough to write a review) Everyone who writes a book about Wicca has his or her own bias. That may be toward coven work or one tradition or another. It may be toward elaborate ritual and ceremonial magic, or it may be toward simple magic in nature. It may be toward one particular pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. It may be toward healing or astrology or divination or self-growth or magic or political activism or anything else. Many of these authors, with the best of intentions, present the ideas they see as truth as if they are the truth for all witches. If you can look for the biases of the author and keep them in mind, you will be able to discern for yourself what basic truths are and what individual viewpoints are. Of course, do this with anything I say, as well! We can learn from anyone and anything. There is no need to limit you to Wiccan primers or books on magic or occult studies. It would probably be well worth your while to read books on the flora, fauna, geography, and history of the area where you live; certainly a good guide to local hiking trails is invaluable. You might want to learn more about the folklore surrounding food and its preparation. You might want to learn as much as you can about energy healing or herbalism in different traditions. Books on crafts can inspire you to make beautiful magical tools. Books on psychology can give you a broader understanding of yourself, people in general, and the principles that make magic work. History can help you understand the different cultures where certain forms of paganism flourished. Geology can help you understand the processes of the Earth and Her growth and change. You might want to read about gardening and create your own little natural haven. As I have said, nothing you learn goes to waste. By all means read and write poetry; writing that speaks directly to the emotions can help you tune into deeper forms of knowledge. As can music; listen to music and create it in any ways that appeal to you, whether that be drumming and chanting or playing a more sophisticated instrument. Read fiction based in different lands, times, or even universes; all of this expands our capacity to see possibilities other than our society's norms. If you're reading this, you already know that the Internet is a wonderful resource. Especially seek out some of the smaller and more personal sites, which will give you a wide variety of viewpoints and some wonderful ideas to work with. I'm not saying that any one person should pursue all these avenues. If you spent all your time reading, you won't have time for the other things in my list (grin). Read what interests you, and you may find your interests widen as your appreciation for the intricacies of Her creation widen.v Spend as much Time in Nature as you can I debated long and hard whether to put this before or after reading. I think it is if anything more important, just because there is such a wealth of information here which our society doesn't really train us to value. One of the basic principles in Witchcraft is "As above, so below." Goddess is reflected in every living thing. Every person and every creature you meet reflects a part of yourself and a part of Her. As such, every living thing has something to teach you...whether this be the patience of an ant, the humility of the lovely violet, the strength of the cedar, or the different but comparable powers of the four elements. This is a path that acknowledges the sacred in all living things; the more you train yourself to see that sacredness, the more conscious you can become of the presence of the Divine in everything you experience. "As above, so below." The cycles of the seasons and the waning and waxing of the moon reflect th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
