A Year and a Day Journey toward Dedication / Initiation

In Wicca it is traditional to take a journey of at least a year to discover what Wicca is all about before deciding whether or not to dedicate one to this path. Leading any type of religious life can be a difficult path. What's more, although Wicca is a beautiful religion that celebrates nature and our place in it, it is not the only path. As you go through your year and a day journey you will be challenged to not only understand Wicca but to look at what you wish to get out of your involvement with Wicca.

Wicca is a religion of self-improvement, attunement with nature and improving ones relationship with the world around you.

What follows is a loose guideline to take you on your year and a day journey:

Week 1: Wicca as a nature religion
Finish up this section by looking at how Wicca is associated with nature and the cycles of life. Also look at the Call me Witch page.

Week 2: History of Witchcraft
what does the word Witch mean and where did it originate? Look at the History of the craft this week.

Week 3: The Rede
the basic ethics of Witchcraft originate from this beautiful piece of poetry, here you will find out all about what "harm none" means and how it affects your life.

Week 4: What is Diety?
information about the Wiccan concept of deity.

Week 5: The Goddess
A class focusing on the Goddess, including a meditation.

Week 6: The God
A class focusing on the God, including a meditation.

Week 7: Mnemonics
Develop skills to help you improve your memory and retention.

Week 8: The Charge
More than just a beautiful art form the charge tells us a lot about what we are.

Week 9: Write your own Charge

Week 10: What is happiness? What is Success?
In order to take steps to improving your life you first have to know how you want your life to be.

Week 11: Organizational Skills
Basic time management and organizational skills to help keep your life under control and allow you to reach your goals.

Week 12: Meditation
Why meditation is a critical skill to develop and how to do it.

Week 13: Energy Raising
Finding and using your own personal energy.

Week 14: The Esbats
the lunar observances and what they mean.

Week 15: Altar Tools and Altar Layout
Consecrating and working with your altar tools. Create an altar to a favored Diety.

Week 16: Circle Casting
Casting a simple circle.
This should be done as one class.

Week 17: Create your own Circle Casting Ritual

Week 18: The Elements
Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit, the five points of the pentagram and how they affect our lives. Start with The Pentagram.

Week 19: Earth
The element of Earth including meditations, experiencing it in nature, etc...

Week 20: Air
The element of Air including meditations, experiencing it in nature, etc...

Week 21: Fire
The element of Fire including meditations, experiencing it in nature, etc...

Week 22: Water
The element of Water including meditations, experiencing it in nature, etc...

Week 23: Spirit
The element of Spirit including meditations, experiencing it in nature, etc...

Week 24: Ethics of Magick
The threefold law and acting in accord with ones true self.

Week 25:Types of Magick
An overview of some of the different types of magick. You should pick one or two types to review this week.

Week 26:Correspondences
Days, Colors, Herbs and Deities. Helping your spells succeed.

Week 27: Write your own spell to help you reach one of your goals.

Week 28: The Wheel of the Year
the 8 celebrations of the year and what they mean. Also covering up to the Death of the God
section.

Week 29: Imbolc

Week 30: Ostara

Week 31: Beltane

Week 32: Litha

Week 33: Lughnassadh

Week 34: Mabon

Week 35: Samhain

Week 36: Yule

Week 37: The Mysteries
Wicca is a mystery religion, this section talks about what that means.

Week 38: Male Mysteries

Week 39: Female Mysteries

Week 40: Begin to investigate two other pagan paths to see how they are similar and different to Wicca.

Week 41: Tarot
Discussion on divination and how to prepare our tools and a look at Tarot focusing on the elemental correspondences.

Week 42: Advanced Tarot
Several other ways of looking at a Tarot Deck and a discussion of several card layouts.

Week 43: Examining different Pantheons
Examine in detail at least two different pantheons.

Week 44: Examine all homework to ensure it has been completed and you are happy with it. At this point we are ready to start giving back to our Wiccan Community. If working as a group you should lead a ritual and teach a class (if allowed by your local coven) within the next few weeks. There are also a series of classes that were not covered that could be considered in here depending on personal preference: advanced divination forms, herbalism, magickal languages, different forms of magick, familiars, totem animals, chakras, etc...

Week 48: The Challenge
A difficult challenge should be attempted at this time, ideally it will be selected for you by your elders or it can be picked randomly or (lastly) you can pick one that appeals to you. The challenge should be challenging and address issues you still need to work on. Some examples are: working with a specific Diety, aspecting, facing your greatest fear, working with journaling as a healing tool, giving back to the community, volunteer work, artistic addition to the coven or group itself. It is a good idea to use Tarot to help come up with this challenge.

Week 51: Review everything you have learned so far and everything you feel you don't know. Be honest with yourself.

Week 52: Dedication/Initiation ceremony