Witchvox Article

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Posted: October 14th. 2001
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In addition to a change of topics that would important to Wicca 102, a fundamental change in the approach is also needed.

When I was going through the Wicca 101 stage, the books were both trivial and at times humorous in their somewhat juvenile interpretation of magick and the responsibilities behind it. When this was not the case, the information that did spark an interest was presented so far above our heads that there was no way to even identify the reality of what they were saying. Why some authors feel the need to speak to us either in the tongue of contractual law or the spiritual equivalent of a Saturday morning cartoon is beyond me.

At the onset of the second tier of our education, we begin to separate the people who want to do simple math from those who want to do calculus. What needs to be put forth to the sophomores of Paganism is more of the direct effect that can be accomplished in their own space and community. If someone wants to make a change they must begin with themselves, and work outwards. With this being done I think a person's spiritual development would greatly increase thus bringing that person more in line with divinity than before.

I think the real reason why we don't have Wicca 102 books is very simple: we don't as yet know how to write something that can be self-taught. The question really comes down to being asked to describe the indescribable. We have grown up in an age where the beauty of simplicity has been erased by our desire to see, hear and touch it all, and to know that it is right because the necessary documents of authenticity have been filed away neatly in the safety deposit box. The other aspect of why Wicca 102 books are rather rare is because it is plain and simply not as much fun as Wicca 101. The simplistic joys of the magickal childhood have departed, and though the connection of the inner child is still present, a deeper path still yet beckons.

For the second tier, we the students are looking for verification of what has been taught to us. The simple fact that each student has gone through an individual experience, it lacks the ability to be explained. Of course, authors do an excellent job generalizing experience so that it could be understood by as many as possible, but it is still just as elusive as it always was. This does help us to understand our own experience, and therefore we grow. Many students do not have the availability of an open community, and by necessity, rely heavily upon the written words of others.

It will be important for any author wanting to provide such information to the student that he/she starts with the cultural aspect. Do we understand what these people were about during their day-to-day existence? It is this aspect that defined their spirituality and how they viewed their universe. How did these people live? Why did they think the way they did? This information would enable a student to understand more about the culture of a people whose pantheon is the basis of there own spirituality. By understanding the reasons behind the specific correspondences, enables the student to truly decide if this pantheon is the correct one for them.

This connection is what we utilize in our symbolic representations in ritual. Unfortunately, too many of us do not understand or choose to not comprehend the reasons behind the actions that are taking place. They have absorbed the ideas of others as to the 'what' and the 'why', and many have not taken the time to do the research themselves. In addition, by not allowing the self-development of belief to blossom within them, cause them to be followers of someone else' interpretation. This act reminds me very much of the big three religions, from which a great many of us originated from. I guess old habits die-hard. This brings us back to the dogma of many of the major religions of this world, and something that does separate the Wicca 101's from the Wicca 102's. You can't just take a slice of spirituality from a culture and expect to understand it without knowing more about the people who lived it. Now you come across the commercialization of something that was originally born of necessity. People of the Ancient World didn't spiritualize the way they did to be cool, or to be rebellious. They did the things they did for survival, and for there need to explain the unexplainable.

The task at hand in developing a new course curriculum for what is fast becoming a large amount of redundancy in the world of written word, is not undeliverable. The question really is: Are the publishers ready and willing to take such a gamble on the desire of people to put forth the amount of cash to further there own individual spirituality? The Wicca 101 generation, bought it all, and they laid their hard earned cash down and were delivered the goods. For the next group, it will be like going back to school, and surprise you will find the Wicca 102 books have already been written. They can be found in the History section of any bookstore, and they are definitely not as 'exciting' as the Fluffy Wicca Bunny Books that we have become so used to reading.

We have come a long way, and have learned so much. Although Wicca 101 was a good place to start for many of us, let us now drop the multiple choice questions and start discussing the two things that should be in any Wicca 102 book:

What can we do to effect a positive change on ourselves, and the world around us, and this can be more then just spiritual?

Where did the teachings that I follow originate from, and what draws me towards a specific spiritual path and why?

Be Well and Do Good Things

Talisen

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