Witchcraft 101: So, Ya Wanna be a Witch?

Part 3

The Rhythmic Practice Phase 

How are you doing so far?

The first two lessons should have taken you about six months of study and practice to complete(if you worked at it diligently). You should now also be fairly comfortable doing the basic ritual from the previous lesson. Remember that you actually have to DO the ritual - not just read it, dream about it or visualize it. Get up on your feet, get your tools together, light those candles AND DO IT!

"Effort requires that you either answer 'yes' or 'no'."

Teachers can always tell if someone who comes to them has done the work. The first time that a student will do a ritual or take part in one with others will clearly show his/her experience or lack of it.

If you have done the work, this does not mean that you will not be nervous your "first time out." You will! But you will also be amazed at how quickly this nervousness will pass as the ritual progresses. Your spirit and inner child. (Him/her, again?) WILL remember all those practice sessions and soon you'll be enjoying the whole thing immensely!

Along the way, DO Remember these four little things:

Life is always changing. Nothing stays the same.

To Know you have To Do. Experience requires action.

The quality of each experience - as you draw it forth and do it and live it - becomes the substance of your wisdom.

Yes, there will be a test on this. There is ALWAYS a test on this!

Okay, what's next?

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters,

compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rhythms of Nature, Rhythms of Life:

The Neo-Pagan Paths that we are discussing - including Wicca and Witchcraft - are called "Earth - based" religions. The rituals and practices follow the seasonal changes of the Earth. Some Paths use the eight holidays of the Wiccan Wheel of Life; some adhere to the more traditional Four Fire Festivals calendar. Some groups have come up with their own cycles according to their belief systems. What calendar will you use?

When you have decided which Holiday calendar that you want to incorporate into your life - lesson, read all that you can about it. Take one Holiday at a time. Look for resources, descriptions and Myths about each Holiday. Think of each one as both a special event and as a "marker" for the year.

During the Rhythmic Stage, you will explore the year through the cycles of Nature. And yes, this phase DOES last an entire year. There is no other way. You may begin to reach out a bit more during this time - exploring new contacts, taking some classes, attending public events - but the personal exploration of the Rhythmic Cycle of The Holidays should be your primary focus.

Why? It is in this cycle that you will learn much more about yourself and your place in the Universe. Everything exists as vibrational energy. Some things have a higher frequency, some a lower one. You will learn to "feel" the vibrational changes around you as the seasons come and go.( An essential skill to have in Magick! )

Do you get a little "spring fever" around April or May? Look at the earth. She is excited about this time of year, too! Buds are swelling on the trees and flower plants are poking their first leaves out of the ground as if to ask, "Is it safe to come out yet"?

Do you feel particularly invigorated in the Fall crisp air? Watch the squirrels run around and dig into the ground to hide their nuts. Hear the bees as they bob from plant to plant racing down the coming frost. "Hurry, hurry, hurry," seems to rustle the drying leaves from the trees. (I'm sure you get the idea.)