What's Important to Learn During Your Year and a Day?

[Ravenstar]

I am taking courses at Witchschool. I am enrolled in The Wicca Life, a course that pertains to the year and a day study. My cousins friend who is Wicca said you shouldn't do any spells that first year and just study. While at Witchschool they have US do Full Moon rituals and even use a magical mirror to communicate with the dead. I feel nervous about the communication ones. Do I have to learn how to communicate with deceased or is that important? Blessings.

[Siona]

I disagree with your cousin's friend. Wicca (and witchcraft) need to be experienced, not just read about. You can read about casting a circle for a year, but until you actually start doing it, and begin practicing it, you're really missing out on a key step in understanding how to cast a circle. Doing things like full moon rituals (and a ritual does not have to include casting a spell) help you to get in tune with the natural cycles, and perhaps the deities of Wicca depending on the ritual you choose. There are many things you will encounter that need to be done so you begin actually getting these skills and understanding if this is the path you want to follow.

Now I've see you ask a lot of "do I have to...?" questions, and the answer to all of them really is no. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. There are things that are key to Wicca, talking to the dead isn't one of them, but something like casting a circle is... but you also don't have to be Wiccan, if enough elements of Wicca make you uncomfortable. There are other pagan paths out there. So again, if you really don't want to do something, then don't do it. However, consider that at some point personal growth doesn't just come from doing what's comfortable, and at that point it can be very beneficial to actually push your boundaries and break out of your comfort zone. I wouldn't worry about that until you are comfortable with and understand the basics, but it is something to keep in mind for the future.

[Eliphas Blackthorn]

I agree with Siona that actually doing vs just reading is important but I will add that you should feel ready and have enough of an understanding of what it is that you are about to do. Nothing wrong with continuing to read and get a better grasp of what magic is and what path of magic you wish to take. Perhaps once you have a larger understanding you may decide Wicca is not for you but magic still is.

If you just dive in and start doing initiations and such you could potentially be taken advantage of by an unethical teacher. I have looked at the school you are talking about a long time ago and it seemed safe to me. Since you like to read I recommend the book Magical Knowledge book 1 Foundations by Josephine McCarthy. It is a real eye opener for someone as new as you and will give you a much better grasp on what you are getting into. If you are not ready for communication with the dead then don't do it. Don't do anything magically that you are not comfortable with at this stage. There is nothing wrong with it and honestly that is a skill that shouldn't be taught so early on in my opinion. There are other foundational skills that should be learned and build up to that and you should be comfortable by the time you get there with doing it.

Once you've made up your mind and have a foundational understanding of what you are getting into and know that you really want to learn magic then yes...doing is the key. You won't progress at all without actually doing.

[SpiritTalker]

Old topic

Suggestions for self directed study

Wiccan intro
. Texts Descent o/t Goddess, Rede of the Wiccea, Charge o/t Goddess
. Deity represents Nature’s duality; Diana is the Moon Goddess and Cernunos is the horned god
. Holidays are earth’s cycles - Samhain/Halloween , Imbolc/Candlemas🕯, Beltane/Mayday, Lammas/loaf-mas
. Elements manifest intentions - as solids, fluids, vapors & plasma

Practice intro
. Practice grounding your energy, centering power to the belly on the breath, and making psi balls between your hands
. DIY starter kit of basic supplies - cup,table salt,🕯candles, incense and oil
. DIY altars, symbolism and uses; 4-directions properties
. Ritual tools are optional - 🗡and vary by path; cleansing & consecrating
. A circle functions as a Ritual, as a devotional practice, as a consciousness altering conduit & as a magical aid

Magical Intro
. Elemental correspondences - make a chart
. Basic types of spells ie., candles, bottle/jar/pouch, cords/knots, petition & sigil
. How to use oils, herbs and stones to support spells; incantations program the results you want
. Uses of 5 colors - for elements, candles, stones, decor