Learning Outline

0. Introduction

This course outline is intended for serious beginners whoose wishes are to enter an intense and complete study of Paganism, magic, and the occult. This is ONLY for those interested in a real self-education. If you are looking for an easy, quick way to gain instant gratification, forget about it-it dosn't exist. Knowledge is a reward you must earn.

There is no answer key; in fact, many of these will have different answers for each person. This is ONLY a outline. You can add to it or change it from the suggested route if you would like. Good luck, begin whenever you are ready. DO NOT RUSH. This course is intended to allow for years of learning, if you finish it in a week or two I guarantee you that you have only scratched the surface.


00. Getting Ready To Learn

Notebook.
Have a plain notebook prepared to store research and answers to the questions included in this course outline. Print out this outline if you can and place it in your notebook so you can constantly refer back to it.

Knowing where to look: Not sure how to find answers?

Internet: Search engins and link directories
Yahoo!
Info Seek
Spirit links - (Occult)
Avatar Search - (Occult)

Books: Check bookstores, libraries, and online bookstores [like Amazon.com]
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner [Cunningham]
Cunningham's Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs [Cunningham]
To Ride a Silver Broomstick [Silver Ravenwolf]
The Spiral Dance [Star Hawk]
The Witch's Bible Complete [Farrar]
Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft [Buckland]
Witch: A magickal Journey {Fiona Horne]
Witchin':A Handbook For Teen Witches [Fiona Horne]


1. Ethics

The Law of Return: What goes around comes around.
What does this mean to you?
How does it apply to your life?
How does it apply to your magical practises?
Perfect Love and Perfect Trust:It must be maintained between parteners.
Define "Perfect Love and Perfect Trust"
How do you know when to trust someone?
Who should you trust, and when should you maintain secrecy?

Wiccan Rede: If you wish to become Wiccan, then it is important that you learn and understand the Rede.
What is the meaning of the Rede?


2. Preparatory Understanding

Faith:You must fully beleive in magic for it to work.
What does the phase "magic is afoot" and "magic is everywhere" mean?

Willpower: Nothing can stop you from reaching your goals, except you.
What are some possible obstacles to magic?
How can you overcome those obstacles?

Privacy: When to talk , when to preserve secrecy.
Why should you sometimes keep your magic intention to yourself?
When should you tell someone about your practices?
How do these rules apply to a coven or group ritual atmosphere?
Do plan to "go public", or practice as silent solitary?

Willingness and Fearlessness: Leave your doubts outside the door.
Are you ready to walk a less traveled and less understood path?
If you are try to change religions (ie to Wicca or another form of Paganism), are you prepared to give whatever religion you may have raised in?
What fears or trepidations do you have? These must be delt with before you can go any further.


3. Magic Prep Skills

Cleasing
Define "Cleansing"
Define "ritual bath"
What is one method for cleansing?

Raising/controlling energy - These topics must be practiced and understand:
Meditation
Grounding
Centring
Concentration/Focus

Visualisation of a single goal
Pratice and understand visualisation techniques

Casting and opening a circle
Why cast circles?
Must you always cast a circle before rituals?
One method for casting a circle?
One method for opening it afterward?


4. Beginning Spell Craft

Creating your own spells
Why not just use pre-created spells?
Create a basic outline for an all pupose spell use

Types of magic: Research each form of magic and when each is appropriate to use;
Spells/Rituals/Rites
Poppets/Dolls
Mojo Bags
Potions and philtres

Putting it all together: Research and understand why, where, when, and how to use variuos spells elements.

Affirmations, chants, and incantations
Colour correspondences
Candle magic
Stone magic
Amulets, talismans, charms
Timing
Days of the week
Days of the year
Lunar phases/cycles
Astological cycles
Herbs: Meanings and magic uses of herbs
Incense
Essential Oils
Elements - Know the correspondences, meaning, and usages of:
Air
Fire
Water
Earth
Akasha
Elemental Spirits
Invocations
Tool (ie, athame, chalice, broom, etc)

Do you have to use ALL of these elements in every spell you create? (HInt: NO)
Explain


5. Advanced Skills

Divination
Gain a basic understanding of each form of divination:
Scrying
Astrology
Tarot
Runes
Rune Sticks
Pendulums
I Ching
Oneiromancy (dream divination)
Tasseography (tea leaf reading)
Ovamancy (egg divination)
Bibliomancy (book divination)
Ceromancy (candle wax divination)
Geomancy (sand or dirt divination)
Ouija
Develop a diving skill
Which form or forms of divination interest you most?
Research skill(s) of interest and attempt to practice them
What forms of divination are easiest or more natural for you?

Psychic Powers
Gain a basic understanding of each form of psychic's:
Precognition
Clairvoyance
Telepathy
Telempathy
Clairaudience
Clairsentience
Telekinesis
Teleportation
Develop a psychic skill
Which form or forms of psychic's intyerest you most?
Do you feel you have any natural psychic powers
If so, research ways to develop your natural skills.

Beyond the Body
Out of Body Experiences
What are they? How are they different from astral travelling>
State and summarise some methods
Have you ever experience this phenomenon? What is it like?
What abilities do you have that you don't normally have on the physical plane?
Astral travel
What is it? Compare it to OBE's (Out of Body Experiences)
State and summarise some methods to induce it.
Discuss wraths, travellers, and the characteristics of this plane versus the physical and OBE planes.
Have you experienced it? And if so describe it.