Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition

Introduction

Lesson One: The History and Philosophy of Witchcraft

History and development. Persecutions. Reemergence. The philosophy of Witchcraft. Principles of Wiccan belief. The power within. Spells and charms.

Lesson Two: Beliefs

Deities. The God and Goddess of Witchcraft. Reincarnation. Retribution. Between lives. Your temple. Your altar and its furniture. Magick—an introduction.

Lesson Three: Tools, Clothing, and Names

Working tools. Knife. Marking in metal. Sword. Other tools. Dress. Jewelry. Horned helmet. Inscriptions. Your Witch name.

Lesson Four: Getting Started

Rites of passage. Circles. Self-Dedication. Coven nitiation.

Lesson Five: Covens and Rituals

Covens and degrees. Hierarchy and priesthood. Covensteads and covendoms. The book of rituals. Consecration of tools. Rituals—Erecting the Temple. Clearing the Temple. Esbat Rite. Full Moon Rite. New/Dark Moon Rite. Cakes and Ale.

Lesson Six: The Sabbats

Samhain. Beltane. Imbolc. Lughnasadh.

Lesson Seven:Meditation, Dreams, and the Minor Sabbats

Meditation—how meditation works. Technique. Posture. Area. Time of day. Method. Dreams—the Source. Dream interpretation and symbology. Remembering dreams. Personal symbols. The repetitive dream. Group dreams. Dreams vs. out-of-body experiences. Rituals—Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumnal Equinox,Winter Solstice

Lesson Eight:Marriage, Birth, Death, and Channeling

Handfasting Rite. Handparting Rite. Birth Rite. Crossing the Bridge. The intuitive process—categories of channeling. Clearing the channel. External focal points. Interpreting channeled information. The aura. Sensory deprivation. The Witches’ cradle.

Lesson Nine: Divination

Tarot. Scrying. Saxon wands. Cheiromancy. Tea leaf reading. Numerology. Astrology. Fire scrying.

Lesson Ten: Herbalism

Herbal lore. Getting the most out of herbs. Simples, syrups, salves, poultices, and powders. Herb simples. Definition of medical actions. Herbs in Materia Medica. Botanicals—alteratives, anthelmintics, astringents, bitter tonics, calmatives, carminatives and aromatics, cathartics, demulcents, diaphoretics, diuretics, emollients, expectorants, nervines, nerve stimulants, refrigerants, sedatives, stimulants. Vitamins in herbs. The art of prescribing medicine. Some simple treatments—medicinal drinks, syrups, decoctions, teas, mixtures, ointments. Witches’ pharmacopoeia. Sources.

Lesson Eleven:Magick

Physical body. Circle. Cone of power. Dancing and chanting. Feeling. Drawing down power. Releasing the power. Timing. Cord magick. Candle magick. Love magick. Sex magick. Binding spell. Protection. Form of ritual.

Lesson Twelve: The Power of the Written Word

Runes. Ogham Bethluisnion. Egyptian hieroglyphics. Theban. Passing the River. Angelic. Malachim. Pictish. Talismans and amulets. Power raising dance. General dancing. Wine and ale. Bread and cakes.

Lesson Thirteen: Healing

The aura. Auric healing. Pranic healing. Absent healing. Color healing. Gem therapy. Poppets. Meditation and biofeedback. Animals and plants. Positive thinking.

Lesson Fourteen: Getting Set Up

Rituals. The construction of ritual. Guardians of the Watchtowers. Forming a coven. Your coven. Establishing a church. Craft greetings. Clothing accessories—cloak, sandals. Young Wiccans. Breaking the news.

Lesson Fifteen: Solitary Witches

Rituals—Erecting the Temple. Esbat. Cakes and Ale. Clearing the Temple. Meditation to the elements

And Now ?

Appendix A:Wiccan Denominations

Alexandrian Wicca. American Celtic Wicca. Australian Wicca. Church of Y Tylwyth Teg. Church of the Crescent Moon. Circle Wicca. Coven of the Forest, Far and Forever. Deboran Witchcraft. Dianic Feminist Wicce. Frost’s Wicca. Gardnerian Wicca. Georgian Wicca. Maidenhill Wicca. Northern Way. Nova Wicca. PectiWita. Seax-Wica. Thessalonian Tradition.

Appendix B: Answers to Examination Questions

Appendix C:Music and Chants

Recommended Reading List

Index