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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 15 2012, 06:04 PM (40 Views) | |
| Silver_star_dragon | Oct 15 2012, 06:04 PM Post #1 |
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1) Take a walk in a natural area. This can be a city park, a forest, a garden, a greenhouse, or other. Observe everything you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Now, connect with the Divinity of nature, and yourself as part of it. Observe how you feel. Write an essay describing the experience. (500+ words) 2) Choose a Goddess from any pantheon you like. Write a report on Her myths and legends, and the impact She has had on the area where people worship or worshipped Her. Tell why you chose Her and how you feel you connect to Her. Ex: Athena/Athens (1000+ words) 3) Choose a God from any pantheon you like. Write a report on His myths and legends, and the impact He has had on the area where people worship or worshipped Him. Tell why you chose Him and how you feel you connect to Him. (1000+ words) 4) Define and describe your favorite method of divination. Include in your essay a particularly moving, exciting, or frightening experience you've had with divination and its outcomes. (500+ words) ..................................completed 5) Create an ORIGINAL chant/poem/prayer that can be used in a ritual or a spell working. Tell what it’s purpose is, what kind of a ritual it would best be performed at (Sabbat, Esbat, Special Working) and if you have used it, and what results you had. 6) Write a short essay on what you plan to do with your First Degree Credentials. (100+ words)...............................................................completed 7) Write out a list of at least ten colors, at least one hue of each of the colors of a rainbow (R-O-Y-G-B-I-V) and tell me what you associate that color with and why. You may use examples such as taste, sounds or emotions, but make sure you give me at least two full sentences for each color. The more detail the better. (200 words)............................................................completed 8) Write out how you would describe Wicca and Paganism to a stranger? What rebuttals would you expect, and how would you counter it without being disrespectful of their beliefs? Tell if this has ever happened to you and if so, what happened. What would you differently? (250 words) 9) Research Hermes Trismegistus, and write about him. Tell what he is most noted for, what culture he is from, what you think he contributes to modern Wicca and Paganism. (500 words) 10) Research Socrates and write about him. Tell what he is most noted for, what culture he is from, what you think he contributes to modern Wicca and Paganism. (500 Words) 11) After reading Lesson 3, write about if you agree or disagree with the Correllian view of where New Year is placed in the Wheel of the Year. Why? Give Pros and Cons to each approach, then tell why you think it was chosen the way it was (if you disagree) or what value another approach might have (if you agree.) (500 words) 12) Do you agree with some State Mandates that make Clergy mandatory reporters of child abuse and/or sexual molestation? Why or why not. What states have this law? Which don’t? Does your state? How will this impact you if you become Clergy? (500 Words) 13) Find out what the words “Sabbat” and “Esbat” mean, where they came from, and how they should be used. How does that apply to Modern Wicca or Paganism? (250 Words) 14) Write a “Thematic Sabbat” What characters would you have in your ritual, and why? What story would you choose to enact, if any, and why? Detail your cast of characters, what parts they would take in the casting of the circle and/or greeting the quarters, and whether you would allow non- participating witnesses outside the circle. Why or why not? (min 1000 words) 15) Find or create a Pagan Recipe. Why are these specific ingredients used? How does this recipe qualify as “pagan?” Make sure you have prepared and tested the recipe, and if it is not yours, quote your source. What special preparations did you take in making the recipe? (cleansing, casting circle in your kitchen, etc.) How do you feel that changed or improved the recipe, if at all? (250 Words) 16) Draw/Paint an original image of your favorite Deity. Tell why you chose the images, props or colors you used. Tell what medium you used and why you chose that particular medium over others, and what the image evokes within you. Please scan the image into your computer and send it with the lesson. (300 Words) 17) Describe why Archetypes are important to understanding Deity and yourself. Tell what the seven Archetypes are, what they correspond to, and where you fall in the cycle and why? (500 Words) 18) Describe why Allegory is important, how you con recognize it, and what it can be used for. (500 words) 19) Describe what Divination is, how it can be used, and your favorite method. Do you have a divination set of Ethics? Why or why not? If so, detail what it is. If not, or if yours is not original, write one. (500 words) 20) What influences do you think your astrological chart has upon you? Find a website that offers free astrology charts, and have one done. How does it differ from the “newspaper” horoscopes? Does this change how you think about your birth and your future? What is a “Saturn Return” and how will (or did) it affect you? (500 Words) 21) Describe if you are “out of the broom closet” or not. Why? What are the pros and cons of either decision? Do you respect the choices of others who choose differently than you? Why or why not? (300 Words).................................completed 22) Tell if you were raised Pagan or not. If so, how do you feel that influenced your outlook on life and society? If not, how does you becoming Pagan impact your life, both with your family, and with society? Do you feel “different” as a pagan? Why or why not? (300 Words) 23) What is “fundamentalism?” How does it affect people that are not fundamentalists? Do you think it is only Christianity that experiences fundamentalism? Do you consider yourself a fundamentalist, why or why not? (250 Words) 24) It is said that Wicca will soon be the third largest religion in the United States. How do you think that will affect the U.S. in terms of politics, laws, and social structure? How do you think it will affect the rest of the world?(500 Words) 25) Do you have a “Totem” or Spirit Animal? Do you have a Familiar? Describe your animal(s) or familiar(s), how you found each other, and how you feel that makes a difference in your practice. Not you don’t have one, describe how you would go about getting one, or journal your efforts to recognize one. (300 words) 26) Describe the difference between a Amulet and a Talisman, and how each might be used. Tell of something in your life that has qualified as one or the other and how you used it, and if you ever found it no longer necessary to use it. Why? (300 Words) 27) What Pagan influences can you see in popular media? Which ones are obvious, and which are not so obvious? What things do you see that are negitive reflections of Wicca or Paganism in the Media? How do you think these influences impact our culture? (750 Words) ***Extra Credit*** What popular Top 100 band released a song with obvious pagan title and lyrics on their greatest hits album? (There is one specific one I am looking for, but it will be fun to see responses!) 28) Describe the influences that stones and gems have on our culture. Do you think the magical properties have carried over into mainstream sales and marketing? Why or why not? Do you think that so-called “birthstones” are more accurate assigned to calendar months or zodialogical signs? Why? (500 Words) --------------------------------------- Assignments not related to a lesson *As these assignments span all 12 lessons, you have two ways of doing these. A) E-mail each lesson entry to me, stating the "AL" - lesson number on the subject line. B) Create an on-line journal and e-mail me the link. An easy to use, free journal can be found at www.blurty.com 1. Record your experiences with the exercises presented in each lesson. Note what you did, how successful you were, and any other information you find pertinent. 2. Record your experiences with the Spell of the month. Include what you did, how successful you were, and any other information you find pertinent. 3. Create you own personal glossary for each lesson. You should include words from the lesson glossary defined in your own words, along with other words from the lesson. 4. Do additional research, from books and/or on-line sources, on topics from each lesson. Please be sure to quote your sources. Lesson One Assignments 1. Write an essay explaining the phrase, "As above, so below." How does it relate to both magic and the mundane world? (100 word minimum) 2. Explain the importance of Grounding, Releasing, and Psychic Shielding. Include the definitions of these terms. (250 word minimum) 3) Write and essay comparing and contrasting Karma and the Law of Three. (100 word minimum) 4) Write an essay explaining what drew you to Witchschool and what you expect to get out of both the 1st degree lessons and other courses you plan on taking. (250 word minimum. Lesson Two Assignments 1) Find another example of the creation myth and what you belief it's symbolic meaning is. (150 word minimum) 2) In your own words, describe the Seven Planes of Existence. (250 word minimum) 3) Research a Goddess from any culture. Write an essay about her, and include if you consider her the Maiden, Mother or Crone. (250 word minimum) 4) Write an essay on reincarnation. Include the different theories of reincarnation, along with your personal beliefs on it. (250 word minimum) Lesson Three Assignments 1) What is a Vortice? Research the location of vortices. (150 word minimum) 2) Pick your favorite Sabbat and write about it. Include the date, lore, god/dess, activities, appropriate plants/herbs, appropriate drinks/foods, and anything else you can think of. (250 word minimum) 3) Be creative - create a Wheel of the Year. Send me a picture of what you made. Lesson Four Assignments 1) Create a personal altar. Document what you place on it, where it is and why you are using it. Submit either a drawing or a picture of it. 2) List the Seven Chakras, what color represents them, where they are located, and what attributes each has. (250 word minimum) 3) Lesson 4 has a brief color chart. What is your opinion on these correspondences? Do they make sense to you? Why or why not (for each one). (150 word minimum) 4) Tell me about Sympathetic Magic. What is it? Why/how does it work? Give three examples. (250 word minimum) Lesson Five Assignments 1) Describe the four Airts as the pertain to the Correllian Tradition. List as many correspondences as you can. (150 word minimum) 2) Make one of the tools - athame, wand, chalice or pentagram. Explain why you chose that tool and the material you made it from. Send me a picture. 3) Research a Crone Goddess, either one listed or a different one. (250 word minimum) 4) Who was Pythagoras? If you use outside sources, be sure to site them. (250 word minimum) Lesson Six Assignments 1) What is your opinion on casting a circle? When is it needed? When is it not? Why? (150 word minimum) 2) Research how circles are used in different styles of magic. Describe at least 2 different rituals. (250 word minimum) 3) Write your own call to quarters and dismissals. 4) A circle is one example of an energy construct. How many others can you think of? Why do you consider them energy contructs? (150 word minimum) Lesson Seven Assignments 1) Create an Invocation for the Deity aspect of your choice. 2) Research any Pantheon. List the Gods and Goddesses and a little about them. (250 word minimum) 3) Be creative. Create something that reflects your personal image of Deity. Draw, paint, sculpt...whatever you want. Write why you chose what you did, and send me a picture. 4) In what different ways can we interact with Deity? (150 word minimum) Lesson Eight Assignments 1) Explain why we generally wear garb for a ritual. What are the pro and con between garb, skyclad and mundane clothing? (250 word minimum) 2) Create your own garb. You can describe it, draw it, or even so it. Just send me a picture if you draw or sew it. 3) List the different pieces of garb, how they are worn, and if only certain people can wear them. (150 word minimum) 4) Research how ritual clothing has changed through history. (250 word minimum) Lesson Nine Assignments 1) What is the difference between omens and superstitions? (150 word minimum) 2) Research different omens and superstitions. List what it is and what it means. Do you see the reasons for it? (250 word minimum) 3) Research different forms of divination. Include origins, types of training, and tools needed. (250 word minimum) 4) Create your own divination tool. Send me a picture of what you made, with a short description of why you chose it. Lesson 10 Assignments 1) List and explain different uses for energy transfers. (150 word minimum) 2) If you have a spirit guide, tell me about it. If you do not, meditate on finding one and write about your experience. (150 word minimum) 3) Describe in your own words what the three circuits mentioned in the lesson. 4) Research the King aspect of the God. How many can you find? Write about each of them. (250 word minimum) Lesson Eleven Assignments 1) Take the Introduction to Herbalism class at Witchschool. 2) Create a correspondence table for the herbs you use. (Minimum of 20 different herbs) 3) Write your own spell that involves herbs. Do the spell and write how it goes. 4) Create a magical herb garden. Draw out the design, and explain why you chose each herb. (100 word minimum + drawing) Bonus points if you plant a garden and send a picture in. Lesson Twelve Assignments 1) Create a correspondence table for stones and crystals. (Minimum 20 different stones/crystals) 2) Make your own amulet. Describe why you chose those materials, and what it is used for. Send a picture. 3) Choose a stone. Research it's properties. Meditate on your stone. Does it's properties match your research? (250 word minimum) 4) Create a short rite to celebrate your Divine Party. Perform the rite. Write about it. (250 word minimum) Misc. Assignments 1) Take the Five Mystic Secrets course. Write a paper summarizing the course and what it means to you. (500 word minimum) 2) There is a lot said in the Pagan community about the "Burning Times." Research that chapter in history and write about it. (500 word minimum) 3) Create a Sabbot or Esbat ritual. Include all aspects from start to finish. 4) Write three poems/songs/chants to raise energy in a circle. One should be appropriate for the full moon, one for the waxing moon and one for the waning moon. 5) Research any magical person from history. Write about their life, accomplishments, including time and location. Please site your sources. (500 word minimum) ------------------------------------------- Essays should be 1,000-words (approx.). They are to be in your words only, no copying from text. Please use a spell-check. • Deity essay - How would you explain Universal Deity and Personal Deity, to a non-Pagan?............................................................................................completed • Vangello delle Streghe essay - Why is it a cornerstone of Wiccan thought? • Create your personal alter and email me a picture and description of your chosen alter pieces. • God/Goddess essay of your choice. • The Wheel of the Year essay - How do you celebrate the Sabbats and why? • Write a chant, song or poem that you could use to raise energy within a Magickal Circle. Explain when and why you would use it (healing, a Sabbat, …). • The Wiccan Rede and The Law of Three essay - Your interpretation and how your lifestyle will change upon integration of this concept. • Create a simple Spell and include the use of a Magickal Stone and/or a Magickal Herb. • Chakras and energy work essay - How does it work, and what “keys” do you or could you use? What should you ALWAYS do and why? • Divination essay - How does it work, what types are there, and which is your favorite? • Stones, Gems, and Herbs essay - How do you use them, why do they work, and which ones are you drawn to? • Freestyle - create a piece of visual art with a Wiccan theme. Email me a picture and description. • Book Report - read a non-fiction book relating to one or more of the First Degree Lessons. Include what you liked and disliked about the book. Edited by Silver_star_dragon, Nov 28 2012, 10:05 AM.
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Plague o' Pumpkins created by Sarah & Delirium of ZNR






8:46 AM Jul 11