It is traditional to allow a waiting period of "a year and a day," to elapse from the time a person decides to become Pagan and the time that person actually is initiated into a coven, tradition, or "inner circle." "A year and day" is actually a lunar year of 13 months of 28 days and several hours each. This waiting period is a time of learning and study, a time for challenging your decision, to be sure you have made the right choice, and it is a time of preparation for a life altering event. The traditional waiting period of a year and a day, is recommended for the solitary practitioner as well as one about to join a coven, and for one who plans to perform a self-initiation, as well as one who will eventually be initiated by a recognized priest or priestess.

Before even beginning the year and a day period, it is wise to do some honest self-questioning about why you are considering the Pagan path as your spiritual expression. Are you rebelling against Christian parents or trying to please Pagan ones? (We are never too old to rebel against, or seek the approval of parents.) Do you think that being a "Witch" is an interesting persona that will help you get dates? Are you a feminist interested in "Goddess worship" because you dislike the male-dominated mainstream religions? (While a religion like Paganism certainly allows for the worship of a single aspect of divinity, many of us on the Pagan path deeply resent those who use our religion for their political purpose). If any of these or similar questions strike a chord, you will probably change your mind before a year and a day have passed, even a solitary Pagan has to sleep with herself.

But if none of these questions make you in the least uncomfortable, then you, like the majority of us, have probably always followed the ways of Nature, honored the Old Ones and celebrated the seasons as honored holidays in and of themselves.

You have already taken the first step on the hidden path, so mark the date on the calendar, and mark it well! To ritualize this commitment, after marking the date on the calendar, pour a small amount of water in a bowl and add a pinch of salt to it. Using your athame, and pointing the tip toward the ground, draw an imaginary Circle about yourself and visualize it glowing a silvery blue fire.

Then, holding the bowl of salted water, say the following: 

With this consecrated water I dedicate myself
To the Ways of the Ancient Gods.
When a year and a day has passed
I shall be fit to celebrate at their altars. 

Then using your fingertip, anoint your forehead, making the sign of the Sun wheel, the Crescent Moon or the Pentagram. When a year and a day have come to pass you will become one of the initiated. And that my friends is a whole other kettle of rituals indeed.

I DO NOT give out my Coven dedication and initiation processes to anyone without knowing them first. I am sorry to report and apologize now, that e-mail is not considered knowing someone. For the true Pagans out there, this will come as no surprise.

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© 1997 silverphoenix@cybergal.com