Lesson 10: Holidays Answers for Master of Wiccan Studies

Okay, I know this is almost late(more like last minute, but yeah) but here are my answers for Lesson 10: Holidays of the Master of Wiccan Studies course. (:

Samhain:

As an average American I always celebrated this as Hallow'een and felt it was a connection between me and dead or whatever other mystical stuff was out there. My teachers in church tried to teach us it was an evil holiday but I would have none of that and went trick or treating anyway. (:

Today, however, it usually feels like something is accumulating and that I'm waiting for something big to happen. That's just my interpretation, is all. 

Yule:

I love this holiday. I could care less if it were Christmas, Hannukah or whatever. This holiday, regardless of the cold, has always been one of my favourites It makes me feel good that families get together, regardless of stress or drama in their lives, and try to make peace with each other. Not a big fan of winter but it gives us an excuse to stay indoors and around each other, nonetheless. I love decorating my altar with a miniature yule tree and other stuff around the house. It just feels like such a homey, warm, loving holiday. 

Imbolc:

My very first public ritual was an Imbolc one. This one always makes me excited for spring. There isn't much else I can put to it. It comes around whenever I'm getting bored with winter and it gives me a chance to look forward to the changes in the season.

Ostara:

I love seeing the new flowers and puddles on the ground, be it in the dirt or in the road, resulting from the last snowfall. It's the end of winter! ;D I never understood what the eggs, chickens and rabbits meant for this holiday until I started studying Wicca for the first time at 19 years old. I feel a bit special about this one because it was the first Sabbat I'd ever learned about and could appreciate.

Beltaine:

This one is awesome because it's right around my birthday. I feel like a little kid running around outside in circles so happy for spring to be here. This holiday makes me feel a little calmer and less timid. Also, I feel like I've gained more maturity. I'm not sure if it's from the holiday or me being a year older.. Mayhaps it's a mix of both. I don't know. (:

Litha:

This Sabbat makes me feel tall. Kind of like how the sun and weather reaches its peak through the year? I feel powerful and tall.

Lughnasagh:

We always have awesome potlucks through Lughnasagh and Litha. This holiday makes me feel like an old person being playful. Maybe not as strong as I was before but just as rambunctious. ;D

Mabon:

Yes! The heat is settling down and I can finally appreciate the benefits of autumn! Mabon is a lot more relaxed than the summer Sabbats. I feel like I'm taking a break from all the big fits of energy. 

But yeah, those are my holidays. If I mailed them to the wrong address could you please let me know so I can post this elsewhere? (:

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♥ Rev. Ashley Andrus ♥

The Strength Within Ministries
Healing Hearts, One Person at a Time

Final Essay - Master of Wiccan Studies

Master of Wiccan Studies

Final Essay

July 3, 2012

     I came into this discourse with a limited knowledge and understanding of the Wiccan practices, I left with information overload!  Devon and Lord Starwalker gives us an impressive overview of all basic aspects of the Wiccan lifestyle, the reasons for the rituals and the holidays which they celebrate and honor.  Starting with the history, which has been ongoing for many hundreds of years and their beliefs handed down throughout the generations.  This first lesson gives a point of reference to how and why this group came to be and the importance of the rituals they practice.  The responsibility for the magick performed is placed on the performer and is taken seriously and respectfully.

     The tools of the practice are simple, but again taken seriously, using your own positive energy to bring them in alignment with the highest good for each use.  The list given is quite extensive with an excellent explanation of each:  Athames, candles, incense, salt, water, Chalice, Ritual Book, Book of Shadows, Pentacles, sword.  Most of these tools are handed down to the next generational leaders or cult group.  Another section dealt with the use of the pendulum, dowsing rods and using Bio-electric energy.

     I especially enjoyed the area of holidays and how to celebrate the changing of the seasons.   As Mother Earth revolves around the four seasons, I love the fact of honoring her for this precious gift of change.  The Equinox's show us the full potential of the power of God.  Each seasonal change gives me a chance to start anew, fresh start with a beginning point for advanced growth.

     There are a few chapters on rituals, which did not strike a cord with me and my present belief system.  I recognize and honor the choices of others; they have some belief which is much better than no beliefs.  It just seems to me a lot of preparation and 'work' to get to a place that is much simpler to attain with prayer and meditation.  Religion and religious practices all seem to get us into a ritual frame of mind to keep our attention on the structure of the church.  Focusing on the ritual and that it is done correctly instead of the point that the Higher Power is a touchable and commutative Being to each of us.  Is it the ritual that unites us within the clan?  Is it the ritual that unites us with the Higher Power that we seek?  I truly see that there is Only One – given any name or label you wish.  With sincere love and adoration my God is with me each moment within and without external guidance.

     My overall comments on this discourse are positive.  Thank you, Devon and Lord Starwalker for a brilliant, well written and researched discourse.  I appreciate your insights and references.  The entire class came together with enlightenment on a 'mysterious' religion that I knew little about and is not that scary fiction that is sometimes represented.

 

Rev. Constance J. Hitts

 

 

ULC Master of Druidism Course final

Master of Druidism – Final Assignment

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the Druidism course.  I've been drawn to Druidism for several years but it seemed to be a path that was cloaked in mystery and out of reach. The apprehension I felt towards Druidism I believe stems from the stigma that was associated with Druidism and human sacrifice. 

 

The propaganda that the druids performed human sacrifice is still propagated today. Even mention that you would like to pursue that path, even to another pagan, and it is fraught with disgust of the Druid path due to their perceived association with human sacrifice. a trait they themselves reviled, believing it to be barbaric. Caesar claimed that the human sacrifices were primarily of criminals, but at times innocents would also be used, and that they would be burned alive in a large wooden effigy, now often known as a wicker man. Caesar wrote a lot about the Druids. I think he admired the power and control they had over the Celtic people. Which was definitely something that Caesar wanted for himself. Also, since he was a religious person I'm sure he saw similarities between the Roman pantheon of Gods and the pantheon of the Celts. This is probably why he wrote about them. I believe that the Roman historians were merely trying to make the Roman civilization look far superior than the "barbaric" Celtic people they were trying to conquer. In their mind, the best way to do that was through demonizing propaganda and heresy. Unfortunately, it worked to some degree. 

 

Like everyone else, I was born into the religion of my parents. Which was mostly Catholicism with some eastern mysticism mixed in. I was taught that I didn't have to take their word for it that I should find my own path to God. I think our spirituality grows as we learn about life and our place in the universe. Like the Druid's, I believe in the immortal soul. The immortal soul is the belief that your soul is a separate entity from your physical body and that it can never die. I think believing in the immortal soul reinforces the resolve of the people to strive to do good things over doing something bad because their actions will affect their immortal soul. Another Druid belief that I have always believed is The Three Circles of Existence. I didn't have a name for each step in the journey of the spirit but I have felt that we do go through these steps until we have learned everything we need to learn until we reach enlightenment.

 

I think it is very important to know who you are as a person before stating if you are a Druid or follower of any belief system. I like that there are so many diverse kinds of Druids out there, that there isn't a strict guideline on who a Druid is or isn't.  I believe that when someone has found their correct path in life, everything that they do seems blessed. The steps they take to assist a person, animal, or the earth to them are normal and ordinary but to others they are extraordinary because of the results they achieve. One article I read stated that Druid Magic works according to the natural laws of the universe and are available to everyone. Those who perform Druid Magic have developed their abilities by becoming self-aware and by raising their consciousness.

 

The Druid path is very similar to other pagan paths. However, I think it has an older feel to it. That it is an ancient path that is more aligned with the world and everything in it. When reading about the Druid ethics the one thing that resonated deeply within me was the concept of honor. The Druid's belief that we should honor life; honor all things, honor nature, honor the Gods, honor our families, follow our spirits and our hearts, and to honor life itself. It is such a wonderful concept. That everyone should be reverent to the powers of nature and feel that connectedness. Nowadays most people have forgotten how to honor their lives and how all things in nature are interconnected. If we did then we probably wouldn't see the environmental destruction that we see being propagated.

 

As with many spiritual paths throughout the world as Christianity gained power, those belief systems were demonized and pushed underground. The Roman Christian church labeled Druids as evil witches and sorcerers as a way to stain their reputations and spread fear among the people. Druidic orders were methodically being dissolved, as the Christian church attempted to prevent the oral transfer of knowledge from occurring.

 

Despite the efforts of the power hungry elitists, Druidism prevailed. Modern groups like the ADF, The Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, The Reformed Druids of North America, as well as many others, is a testament to that. Like the Druids of old, knowledge is being passed down to the next generation.

 

Happily this course has opened my eyes and gave me a new found respect for our Druid ancestors. I liked the whole course. I didn't dislike any part of it.

 

 

Thanks You,

 

RoseMarie Juricic

 

 

 

Paganism and Wiccan Studies

Dear Amy,

At the bottom of each of my lessons there is a note encouraging me to share my thoughts and, of course, my assignments with others on the forums (or to send them to you and you will see them delivered). I am still learning to navigate the forums and I want to make sure that the teachers actually receive my assignments. So I hope you will not mind passing them on to the teachers in the Master of Paganism Course and the Master of Wiccan Studies Course.

This would be a great help to me and I thank you sincerely in advance.

Blessed Be,

Cassandra Kenneally

 

Assignment A: Beginning to discover one's personal spirit guide: Master Of Paganism Lesson 4

 

I lay down on my bed, late at night when the house and indeed the world has gone still and quiet; I lit candles and incense that would aid with relaxation, focus, and spiritual awareness. (Sandalwood and Frankincense)

I went through a grounding and oneness exercise and then I focused on being with the all, when it felt right I made it known that I was ready to receive my guide in my life and that signs and mystical communications were most welcome.

Then I was still and waited to see what would come through. I began to feel energized, almost jumpy, also there was a strong sense of sensuality and an image of, and the word TREES. So what I got from this was active energy, sensuality and nature. Perhaps my first guide will be possessed of these qualities in some way?

I am still learning meditation and internal focus, so I started slow. I will gladly relay more as I discover more down the road.

Thank you,

Cassandra Kenneally

 

Assignment B: Setting up an Altar and Choosing Designations: Master of Wiccan Studies Lesson 4

 

I have an Altar here at home, which I've been planning for some time. We have only just moved into our home from another state and so it was actually this assignment that lit a fire under me to see it done at last. :)

I chose to have the Altar itself face North, as I am seeking a fertile mind and prosperity in my life, my studies and the ministry I hope to one day build.

My altar is a black wooden table from Ikea. It is beautiful, functional, inexpensive and the right size for the space I have to work with.

I use the traditional or at least most common directional designations. North: Earth (stability, stillness, fertility and bounty or prosperity), South: Fire (Force of will, passion, strength), East: Air (spiritual awareness, insight and inspiration) and West: Water (adaptability and a fluid mind and spirit) From all of them together comes creativity and at their center is Spirit; or so it seems to me. I have put an agate cup filled with blessed salt at the top of the altar, in the north. A blue glass chalice filled with blessed water in the west, a spirit candle and incense in the east and both my Athame and my wand in the south for the careful direction of the fire and force of will and power. I have also included a photo for you. I have others if you wish to see them.

I have not chosen a specific pantheon as of yet, although in personal moments I do tend to lean toward viewing the divine as Goddess (Sacred/Divine Feminine), God (Sacred/Divine Masculine) and All (Sacred/Divine Nature or Cosmos).

This is a difficult area for me. My personal beliefs in this area tend to differ greatly from most other pagans. I believe that the divine seeks us out, so long as we seek it out. It will interact with us in whatever fashion we believe it should or wish it to. It will come to any name; wear any face for these are our inventions. Its desire is to be known, to commune and to be recognized, respected and loved. I suppose I believe it sees faith as the important thing and the rest as, "...A rose by any other name ..." because of this I have not felt the need to tie it down to a specific shape, face or name. It is also my wish to one day open an inter-faith temple where all may come to worship and have their rites performed without fear or prejudice or censure. I am unsure how my choosing such specifics might affect that goal. I am quite interested in any thoughts you have on that topic.

Thank you,

Cassandra Kenneally

Assignment C: The Afterlife: Master Of Paganism Lessons 5

This was a fascinating lesson and an interesting task for me to try to get my thoughts on the afterlife down cohesively on virtual paper. I am currently also taking Master of Wiccan Studies and we've been discussing the choosing of a specific Pantheon and patron deities. Doing so is difficult for me due to my personal belief that divinity wishes us to seek it and is less concerned with the specifics of the path than it is with what is within our hearts, minds and souls. Earnest faith is what I feel it is interested in. Therefore it will interact with us (Take on the names, faces, shapes and rules) in whichever pattern we desire it to.

This then would suggest that likewise the afterlife is individual. It is tailor made for you by the divine to your personal belief system specifications, so to speak. For myself, I believe that when I pass through the veil I will experience a transformation of understanding and connectedness. I will exist in a purer, more enlightened form and I will then choose what is next for myself. There will be others there, guides or gods to give me advice and options. Will I choose to be reincarnated? To move on to another plane or existence and learning? Will I seek life in another reality or as another species? It will depend upon what I come to understand once I have passed the veil. When I am connected to the all and can recall what I have already done, lived and who I have already been, and just how it really does all work anyway? Then I will know what is right for me and I will move on from there. Eventually, when I have gone and done and been all that I can and learned all that can be learned in this way, I will go on to a higher plane and begin again and then eventually my being will become enlightened enough to return home to that from whence it came, the divine itself and I will meld and become truly one with it again for all time.

This is my view of the afterlife.

Thank you,

Cassandra Kenneally

Wiccan Studies

 

My Journey to Wicca

Essay in fulfillment of the Masters of Wicca Degree

ULC SEMINARY PROGRAM

Druid/Wiccan Rev. Joe Thomas Sroufe, DPhil, CFLE(r)

         

I have never felt like an American even though I appreciate the country of my birth.  Inside, I have always been British.  Even as a Jew, my love for the United Kingdom was only a blink away.  I longed to go back to England, not Israel.

          Perhaps this is one reason I argue that we Americans improperly speak the English language.  My love of our language came from being an avid reader of British authors.  My first childhood stories were from Alan Alexander  Milne.  I grew into Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Clive Staples Lewis, Lewis Carroll, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, and Brian Jacques.  Yes, I loved John Donne and William Shakespeare, but fantasy was in my heart.  (I do have to mention my love for Edgar Allan Poe.) 

King Arthur and his sword, Merlin and his love of life, the feeling of Stonehenge, and the smell of an early morning in England caused me to feel I was born in the wrong country.  I am of the United Kingdom for there lie my fondest memories in this world.  I have been blessed to visit England four times.  I have visited Scotland, been fascinated by Bath, England, stood for hours hugging the giants of Stonehenge, read from an original Bible translation from the 1300's, and had a private session with the original drawing of the Dodo bird from Alice in Wonderland.  I have had two occasions to study at the University of Oxford and one opportunity to study at the Vatican in Rome.

          It was J. R. R. Tolkien's love of trees that first caused me to see where magic lived.  As a kid growing up in Oklahoma, there were two immense elm trees just outside my bedroom windows.  I spent hours touching those trees and played under their protection as long as I could.  Trees became my friends and were greatly valued.  Where there was a tree, there I would be found.  One large tree in my backyard had a huge opening that I could crawl into and find a place to play.

          As much as I liked magick and fantasy, my childhood did not introduce me to Wicca.  My paternal grandfather practiced witchcraft.  My mother and maternal grandfather strictly followed the farming almanac.  My mother followed Wiccan and Voodoo superstitions along with being amazing at dowsing.

 

I remained monotheistic as long as I grew until the writings unraveled and the rabbinical and theological arguments began to crumble.  I could not understand a jealous, revengeful and murderous god who made it seem as if killing children of other tribes was an acceptable and noble practice.  I realize some spiritual paths have had their darker moments, but I could no longer support a violent patriarchal religion.

It was the movie, Avatar that started my search along with a renegade Jewish rabbi named Gershon Winkler.  They both taught me that if god existed then god existed as a plurality of female and male and could be seen as two sides to one monotheistic existence, or even a plurality that meant two identifiable gods.  As much as Judaism endeavored to build a patriarchal system, current archaeological findings are showing two gods that were honored in early synagogues.  A male and female side of one god or male and female gods are now seen as possible viable options in early synagogues.  The research is pointing to the possibility that Judaism was once polytheistic.

          Change came for me when I began to investigate and read about the Universal Life Church and the ULC Seminary Program offering the Masters of Wiccan Studies Program.  My oldest daughter became Wiccan and with her assistance and the help of a Wiccan High Priest, I entered the ULC study program.

          The lessons were outstanding.  While I always wanted more than each lesson provided, each lesson was simple, direct and easy to apply.  I began to read the lessons, complete the assignments, and read additional sources.  I especially found the book, Nocturnal Witchcraft: Magick After Dark by Konstantinos (Llewellyn Publications, 2002) to be amazingly helpful.

          I began my journey on 25 March 2011 and held my self initiation on 6 April 2012.  I completed more than my "year and a day."  I followed the initiation ceremony within the final lesson.  I am so grateful to the course and what Devon and Lord Starwalker have meant to me in leading me on my journey.

          I began keeping the Wheel of the Year at Sanhain in 2011 and continue to walk by it after my year and a day were completed.  There is no way I can say that I have a "favorite" lesson from the study.  Each lesson was beautifully designed to help me, a novice, begin my journey.  I now have a beautiful altar dedicated under a full moon.  I love solitary ritual but have also taken part in ritual with a local coven.  My studies have also taken me into paranormal studies and I have become a professional paranormal investigator.

         

There are two grand life changing elements that I have received from the course.  The first is the Wiccan Rede: "An' it harm none, do what thou wilt."  This set me free from organized religion and monotheistic structures based upon the concept of a human sin nature.  I was free.  I became free to be me and enjoy all of me.  There was no evil me; there was the me that longed to emerge within the Wiccan Rede to do kindness to all.

          The second life changing element was when I read, "Magick is a process, undertaken with need, to bring about changes in yourself."  (Credit is given to the course material in lesson 21 written by Devon and Lord Starwalker.)  That statement was my hope of change.  I could be different.  I could live a life of fulfillment and enquiry into the universe knowing that I was loved and fulfilled.  The "power" I needed was not outside of me.  It was not illusive or hard to find.  It was within me and flowed all around me.  For me, life is now magickal.  Each moment of each day resonates with the vibrations of magick, even with every breath I take.

          Emma Restall Orr stated, "A pagan is someone who revered the spirits and deities of his local environment  - of the earth beneath his feet, of his spring or source of water, his woodlands and rivers, his fields and buildings, his sun and moon, and more; of everything that makes up the world that exists immediately around him."  (Druidry, page 6, Thorsons, 2000)

          When I read those words, the word "pagan" seemed out of place.  Did not all humans feel this way?  No.  Apparently, not many.  My own life had been built around dogma rather than life.  Truth, I felt, was in rules of "rights and wrongs" and not in the beauty and reality of nature itself.  I had missed the message of the trees, the sky, the sun and moon.  The god/dess has called me to life in all simplicity and joy.

Through the study of the Master of Wiccan Studies, I have begun a journey for the rest of my life.  Magick is free and so am I.  The British literature I read as a child and my travels around the world have all been a silver thread that has led me to where I am today.  My British heart was a heart for magick and that thread has led me to a complete circle.  May the circle never end. 

Thank you, Devon and Lord Starwalker.  Thank you, ULC Seminary for providing such and enlightening course.

                             

 

 BRITISH ARCHETYPES I HAVE CHOSEN

Bran is a guardian of the land and a god of war.  His sister, Branwen is a goddess of love and death.  The Heartagram on my left wrist represents the juxtaposition of love and death.

 

 

This essay is submitted this 6 day of April 2012 as fulfillment of the Master of Wiccan Studies Program of the ULC Seminary Program.

 

 

 

 

©Druid/Wiccan Joe Thomas Sroufe and MoonDragonTexas Productions, 2012 except where credit has otherwise been noted - MoonDragon               

Wiccan Studies

Lessons from the Wiccan experience course:

Perhaps the most important lesson I learned from the course has been the issue of intent with rituals. The rituals mean nothing unless the proper intent is present, and the wrong intent does not impart rituals with meaning. Rituals have meaning, but the intent ascribed to them only occurs when the proper intent is used in combination with the ritual.

Another lesson from the course is the benign aspect of the mode of thought, or the presence of spells in conjunction with your meanings. As with most religions, or avenues of worship, spells help focus the wishes and intent of the person involved. The insistence of not doing harm in your spell casting is important, even without the Law of Threefold in place. This law helps a person to remember that anything you send out comes back three fold in power and intent. The aspect of evil spells and intent that is in the modern or ancient literature, usually by persons who have no conception of these rituals, do not hold any validity when seen from this perspective.

As with any ritual, the importance of concentration and focus is paramount. Without concentration the rituals have no power, and can be usurped for other purposes, especially when first practicing rituals. As a help in concentration and focus several preparations are needed, most importantly of these are planning ahead. There should be a clear understanding of the intent, goals, and process before any ritual should take place. Without the visualization of the process/rituals, but most importantly the goals, of the service you are to perform you cannot obtain them. Not only have you wasted your time, but you have opened yourself up to negative or dangerous influences.

Another lesson from the course has been the importance of timing when attempting and completing rituals/spells. Forces are natural in our world, and there are times when the forces are more powerful, or more accessible than others. Paying attention to the calendar, the time of day, even the day of week is important. Certain holidays in our society are based on these situations where forces are more accessible, and for a good reason. These times also help the practitioner to focus on his/her rituals and goals.

Perhaps the most important lesson from the course is that we are not alone, in any religion or religious practice. Current beliefs and practices are built up from the past, from many different cultures and practices. The combination of disparate practices and beliefs only makes current one more powerful, and longer lasting. Although the intent of any religious practice should not be power for the individual or person within the sect, the power here refers to the system of beliefs and practices. The power of belief does lend power to the rituals and spells of the individual and organization, but not for self-aggrandizement instead for accumulation of intent and implementation of rituals for the growing of knowledge for both the individual who practices and those who are interested. After all, the most important aspect of any belief system is the growth of the individual in knowledge and wisdom.

Prepared as the final requirement for the Master in Wiccan Studies by:

David A Woods

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Wicca

The question is "What did I learn from this class"?

Actually, I learned quite a bit even though I thought I knew quite a lot, having studied Wicca and other religions for the past five years. It took some of the wind out of my sails, but that was a good thing (never think you know everything, because someone will always come along and prove you wrong). It also gave me a different perspective on how others work with Wiccan or pagan principles, which I loved.

One of the most effective tools I learned from this class, even though I found all of the lessons of equal value, is the use of the pendulum. It brought to me a better understanding of how to use it comfortably and safely and with more useful information. But, on the whole, each lesson was informative, inspiring and thought provoking. Lord Starwalker is an excellent teacher who was prompt in answering questions and helping with problems.

Happy Holidays

Kathy Bailey

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The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar