DEDICANT

FIRST DEGREE TRAINING

Upon satisfactory completion of the above, if approved by the HP/S, the Pre-Dedicant may proceed to Dedicant training. Dedicants also commit to full attendance at all rituals and classes open to non-Initiates. Training will occur over a minimum of a year and a day from the date of the Dedicancy Oath, and given the amount and complexity of the material, will generally take longer.

Dedicancy requires an oath before the coven to engage in a period of serious, sincere practice and exploration in order to fully understand the nature of a commitment to initiation and to identify how his or her spiritual development may best proceed. The oath involves a promise between the Dedicant and mentor which formalizes their relationships. The oath also requires that the Dedicant guard any coven secrets with which he or she may be entrusted. After taking the Dedicancy Oath, the Dedicant will engage in the following program of training in fundamentals of the tradition. At the end of this preparatory training, the Dedicant and HP/S will decide whether the Dedicant will become a First Degree Candidate. At this point, the Dedicant may proceed to Candidate training, may become an invited guest to select rituals, or may decide to explore a different path.

Dedicants and mentors will work together to track progress on requirements. The Dedicant should not wait for the mentor to remind them of requirements but should actively prepare to meet each one. Individual Dedicants may be asked to do individual work particular to their circumstances, background, or personal issues. There will be practical and written examinations, given when the candidate and mentor agree the candidate is ready.

GOALS OF DEDICANT TRAINING

To develop an intermediate level of proficiency in mythology/theology, ceremonial/ritual techniques, psychic development, Wiccan history and custom, magickal skills, and personal/spiritual development. Dedicancy provides the bulk of the “content” training, which will be further developed between first and second degree. This degree involves a lot of assignments and practical tasks. The goal is to become a well-rounded, well-read, ethical, competent witch and priest/ess in preparation for the status of Initiate. The Dedicant does not have a major role in coven maintenance but is expected to focus full energies on growth, education and development. At the end of this training period, the Dedicant and the HP/S, and the Dedicant’s mentor, will decide whether the Dedicant is ready to ask for initiation, which constitutes formal entry into the priesthood of the Old Gods.

Note: Please realize that Dedicants should not assume they will automatically progress to Initiation; a fair number of Dedicants will conclude their training before attaining the First Degree. It is an equally acceptable outcome of Dedicancy to realize that the Alexandrian path or Synergy is not the proper fit for their further spiritual development.

DUTIES AND ASSIGNMENTS OF THE DEDICANT

At the discretion of the mentor, meet regularly to work on issues related to personal development.

Choose a form of meditation and/or energy work (yoga, Zen, Tai Chi, Reiki, etc.) and practice it regularly for at least three months, and preferably throughout the term of your First Degree. Track practice in your BOS, along with related readings.

Be able to set up the Temple correctly from memory.

Learn and practice the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, the Middle Pillar and energy circulation exercises; lead each for the coven. Practice each daily for at least one month and record experiences.

Research Gaia and Pan and prepare a presentation for the coven

Memorize the Quarter Calls of our tradition.

Describe the Quarter visualizations in detail; be able to draw invoking and banishing pentagrams in each quarter from memory.

Research the six deities we invoke in the East and West; present summary at New Moon.

Choose a form of divination and practice throughout the year (at least once a month). Record in BOS and discuss with mentor. Perform divination for any coven member who requests it during the Yule vigil (and you might expect the HP/S to ask!). Be able to list the Major Arcana in order from memory, with a brief description of the meaning of each card.

Be able to list the signs of the Zodiac from memory, in order and with approximate time periods.

Choose a form of spellwork; research and practice. Be able to explain how to design and implement an effective spell, what caveats and requirements to include, and explain the use of the Rede and the Law of Return in spellwork. Develop and perform spells in conjunction with your mentor, and record results.

Explore psychic skills, including scrying, astral projection, past life regression, telepathy, telemetry, telekinesis, precognition, and aura reading. Be able to assess your talents; develop a moderate level of skill in at least one form. Be prepared to demonstrate!

Participate in Yule vigil

If you have a particular animal or symbol that you associate with your magickal self, do research on its history and science, and present to the coven.

REQUIRED READINGS

The Homeric Hymns

Dion Fortune