One Year and a Day

[Moonlit Orchid]

I've been walking down this path for just over a month. I've been reading all I can on line and everything that's on this site. I've decided that I want to study seriously for the one year and a day and make a commitment. I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice on how to pursue this. I'm wondering If I should just try do my own thing, take one of those online classes, or should I seek out something locally? I appreciate hearing about anyone's personal experience, online links or books. Also, I live in Indiana and don't know anyone like me or where to look. Thank you.

[Tasariel]

I would say that if there is something you can find locally, I would try it out. Unless it's going to cost you a lot of money or they're elitists or something. Otherwise, I know of a few online schools you could try out, but I don't think I can advertise here on the site.

If you wanna try to do it on your own, I've seen this book around at the bookstore lately: http://www.amazon.com/Wicca-Year-Spirit ... 0738706213
I don't know how good it is, but it seems interesting, and it might be fun to try.

[Belladonna]

I just finished my year and a day actually and found it very fufilling. I didn't start getting books and stuff until about 6 months ago though, and it was reeeeaaalllly helpful. Didn't change my actual practice much, but as far as the theology and spiritual perspective books are invaluable, and there are a lot of good works on spell crafting.

Used bookstores are the best for Wicca books, atleast around where I live cause no one buys them and they're cheap XD But you can usually find Scott Cunningham's "Wicca: A guide for the solitary practitioner," which is by far my favorite intro book... Eileen Holland has a good one too and a good book called "The Spellcaster's Reference" which has correspondences by time of the year and what you want out of your spell. There are a whole lot of introductory Wicca books out there but you really just have to find what resonates with you. Beyond that there are a lot of books that center in on facets of the Craft like making your own loose incense for rituals, candle burning spells, stone use, etc... but that's really how I got into it.

I think I got more into the craft than into Wicca though, I'm a solitary not seeking a coven right now. If you feel like you want to practice with others it might be good to find a local message board and see if there are like group meet ups in safe places... In my town there's actually a pagan book store that has monthly events that are open to the public. They also have a year and a day class that's not that expensive, but I preferred to learn alone. Hope that helps! Feel free to message/ask questions, I'm new to the forum and love this

[AutumnMaidens]

Why not make a list of things you wish to achieve with your year and a day? Do you want to learn more about herbs, minerals, healing, magick, goddesses, spellwork, all of the above? I would suggest writing it all down and than making a list of goals to put in your BOS, than next ritual (note: Samhain/Yule) your make a fire and burn your first list and keep your goals list in your BOS, when burning the list dedicate yourself to your cause in the eyes of the god/dess and ask for their guidance and support.

And read,
concider,
meditate,
question,
practice.

Blessed be!

[SpiritTalker]

Tips for beginning personalized practice after you’ve read a bit about the Craft in general:

Study suggestions
. The triple goddess and horned god represent Nature
. The cycle of holidays - Samhain, 🕯Imbolc, Beltane & Lughnasa
. The elements- passive energy ⏹earth=solids, water=liquids & active energy air=vapor, fire=plasma
. Basic spell methods - Bottle-Water, Cords & Grids-Earth, Candles-Fire, Trance/chant-Air

Build your energy skills
. Your main resource is focused intention. Practice grounding - connecting your energy down the spine into the earth; centering - draw power on the breath from Earth & Sky into the belly; projecting - push focused energy from the belly & out your hands. Experiment with your palms facing but not touching & push. Notice the subtle sensations. Shake your hands to clear the energy.
. Teach yourself to focus - Gaze at a candle flame (or light reflected on a bowl of water), observe colors & movement until that's all you see. If your mind wanders just return your attention to the light. Add comfortable 4-count breathing. Then ask for guidance but stay focused on the light. Do daily for 10 min.
. Create sacred space: broom-sweep your area <~widdershins to cleanse, “‘round, around & round about, all good in & all bad out.” Then walk deosil~> & project the circle,”As I walk the circle is cast, guarding all & holding fast.”. (Ref. S.Cunningham, D.Valiente)

Build your personal starter kit
. Test the use of a few kitchen herbs. Rub each between your fingers, then smell & taste each. Notice your reactions. Appealing herbs suggest uses for blessing & attraction, or pulling away suggests uses of protection & banishing.
. Collect a few stones from different outdoor places. Notice markings & if they are easy to hold. Use water-smoothed stones for healing, single-banded stones for wishing & stones criss-crossed by lines for path finding. A hag-stone has a hole clean through it and is considered a protective amulet. Quartz is all-purpose. Hold/stroke a stone of the desired goal while swaying & chanting “to get in the zone” to influence conditions. (Ref. C.Williamson, Museum of WC)
. Gear: heat-safe bowl, incense - candles, holders - potion cup, offering dish, salt & oil.

About spells
. Choose materials you associate to the goal by property, element, scent, color, appearance, or symbolism.
. Use positive, present-tense phrases (I have, it is) & don’t say what you don’t want. “Earth, air, water, fire; work you now to my desire. For the good of everyone; so now it is done.”
. Know your intent is done; to attract, repel or to empower; push from the gut, thru the hands, into the spell.
. A few spell forms: candle, chanting rhyme-stone stroking, cord & knot-crochet, crystal grids-Pen.Dutch hex-sign-mandalas, petitions, poppet, potions, pouch, powders, runes-sigils, talismans, Witch’s bottle & W’s ladder.

Make your work-space personal
. Most altars use symbols of the deities & natural elements of land, sea, sky & fire.
. Wiccan tools represent elements: wand-air, blade-fire, cup-water, pentacle-earth. It’s OK to substitute.
. It’s OK to use battery candles and aerosol mist if flame & smoke are problems. The symbolism is the same.
. Many witches make some of their tools & use household & natural items for discreet altars. You can choose not to use a tool. There’s no rule that says we must copy a Ceremonialists’ style or that gear must come from new age witchy shoppes. You make your gear magical when you magnetize it.
. Add devotional images & colorful decor as you like.

[Firebird]

I like to have the apprentices follow the cycle of the year as their Year and a Day study. We use Imbolc as a starting point, which is coming up right quick.
Then one learns about what all is entailed in the quarter of East and Air, then at Bealtaine you move to South and Fire, at Lughnasadh we look at West and Water and finally at Samhain North and Earth. All along the cycle of the year is added information about Ether and Spirit which we regard in the center.
bb, Firebird