Thematic Unit Structure for WITCHCRAFT the Magic of ancient Celtic beliefs in a Contemporary Society ========================= by Mike Nichols (circa 1970) FIRST WEEK: Introduction. The book list and discussion of the sources. Discussion of class structure, individual interests, meeting times, places. The background and goals of the class are outlined. General chit-chat. SECOND WEEK: History and Lore. Magic in Egypt, Greece, Crete. Judaic contributions to magic. Early magic in the British Isles. The Picts, the Celts, the Saxons. The Celtic deities. The Fairy Tradition. Stonehenge. Merlyn. Europe in the Middle Ages. The New Religion of Christianity. The Devil. The Inquisition. Salem Witch trials. Relaxation exercise. Discussion. THIRD WEEK: Wicca as a Philosophy. Basic beliefs. The after-life. Karma. The spiritual side of life. A nature religion. Magical times and seasons. Cycles. The High Holidays. The role of Woman in the Craft. Matriarchy. Witchcraft as civil dissent. Witchcraft vs. Satanism. Meditation. Discussion. FOURTH WEEK: Magic's moving forces: ESP & PK. Psychical Research. Some "rules" for ESP. Concepts about Space and Time. Frazer's magic: contagious/ sympathetic. The role of ritual. The importance of imagery. Developing psi. ESP tests. Discussion. FIFTH WEEK: A Witch's Trappings. Preparations. The Witch Name. Manner of dress. Signs of identification. Jewels. A Witch's working tools. Candles, Wand, Book of Shadows, Runes. The magical properties of herbs and incense. Discussion. SIXTH WEEK: Divination. Astrology. Tarot. Palmistry. Crystal-gazing. Cartomancy. Ouija Boards. Pendulums. Seances. Dreams. Demonstrations of some of the techniques. Discussion. SEVENTH WEEK: "Positive Magic". Love magic. Sex magic. All kinds of counter- magic and magical defense. Amulets and talismans. The structure and nature of the Magic Circle and Pentagram. How to construct them. Discussion. EIGHTH WEEK: "Negative Magic". Magical attack. Cursing. The "evil eye". Negative thought force. The question of ethics in magic. Discussion. NINTH WEEK: Ghosts and hauntings. The early investigations by the Society for Psychical Research in England. Various theories about apparitions. Differences between the folklore ghost and the "real" ghost. Poltergeists. Discussion of modern techniques of electronic detection and investigation. TENTH WEEK: Other Magical Beings. Werewolves. Vampires. The Witch's Familiar. Nature spirits. Lycanthropy and shape-shifting. "Sending the Fetch". Astral projection and travel. The Owen experiments in Canada. Thought- forms. God-forms. Discussion. ELEVENTH WEEK: The Coven and the Festivals. What a Coven consists of, and how to form one. Coven Hierarchy and the role of the High Priestess and High Priest. The nuclear family vs. the extended clan family. Living environment. Relationships. Discussion. TWELFTH WEEK: Witchcraft Today. A review of modern ideas about the Craft and their various leading proponents. The modern Traditions of Witchcraft. Magic in contemporary fiction, science fiction, and fantasy. Magic in music and art. A final review and analysis. THIRTEENTH WEEK: Party! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [the perspective from 25 years...] I first put this course outline together in 1970, when I began teaching a Witchcraft class as a Freshman at the University of Missouri, Columbia. I taught the class for the next 20 years, first in Columbia and, from 1976 on, in Kansas City. Although the booklist for the course changed nearly every semester, I never altered this course outline. It served me well for the entire 20-year duration of the class. (In fact, when I went to look for this file so I could post it, I discovered it had *never* been put on computer, so I had to key it in manually.) Naturally, the *content* of the class did change over the years, as my own studies and perceptions advanced, but I could always fit it into this same structure. I owe thanks to my first college roommate, Mike Shaw, an education major, for suggesting the thematic unit structure approach. Each class was at least two hours long, lecture format, with a break in the middle, followed by discussion for those who cared to stay late. I should perhaps comment on certain shifts in content over the years. Originally, there was a bit of "Gothic" flavor to the class, as was typical of Witchcraft interests in the late 1960's, which may explain the inclusion of vampires, werewolves and ghosts, although this was less pronounced as the years went by. The section on the Craft holidays eventually grew to a full two-hour lecture by itself, and was usually a *moveable* class, placed the week preceding the next major holiday. The class that usually got "bumped" to make room for it was the eighth week on "Negative Magic", since I didn't want to spend time on it anyway. The class on parapsychology reflected a long-standing personal interest. The most important class in my estimation was the third week. It also was the one that underwent the greatest evolution in content, becoming more and more informed by the ideas of contemporary feminist theologians. I usually told my students that "If you have to miss any of my classes, make it not be the third one." I also did not allow students to join the class in progress if they hadn't joined by the third week. You will also notice that I did not even touch on magic until the seventh week, more than halfway through the course. This tended to weed out the sensation seekers, and those who were only there to learn how to turn their ex-lovers into frogs. You'll notice, too, that outside a relaxation and meditation, the class didn't *do* anything. I liked to say it was a lecture without a lab. This was by design. I always assumed that although some people were taking the class with the thought of becoming Witches, others were just there for the information, and I did not wish to make them uncomfortable. Still, for the ones who wanted to begin practice, the class afforded ample resources to get them started. Mike Nichols 1995 c.e.