Initiation Requirement For The 3 Degrees


First Degree:

Introduction to our style of Wicca and an overview of our expectations
  and training plan.

Introduction to Wicca and neoPaganism.  A brief overview of pagan
  communities, traditions, etc.

Introduction to concepts of folk magic and traditional folklore. Exercises in
  feeling flows of energy and how to ground and center (our term
  for settling down and gathering personal magical energy).

Introduction and basic exercises in meditation.

Comparative religions, including comparisons on a philosophical and praxis
  level to Wicca.

Structure and history of Wicca, including our specific tradition. Work with
  the tenets.  (We use both those contained in Lady Sheba's
  Grimoire <Reincarnation, Learning, Tolerance, Humility, Trust, Love, Balance
  and Harmony> and those contained in the Charge <Beauty, Strength, Power,
  Compassion, Honour, Humility, Mirth and Reverence>.)

Intro to the Book of Shadows & the Laws.   I do not teach directly from my
  book. I use published versions.  This includes basic ritual format, discussion
of
  the Laws as written and (sometimes) the revisions I've seen.

Concepts of Self, Higher Self, Little One & Will.

Introduction to concepts of the Deep Mind & Mighty Ones.

Use of the Witches' Pyramid, raising of Cones of Power.

Theory of Objective, Subjective and Transcendental Realities.

Symbolic Language & introduction to some symbol sets (Qabala, astrology, runes,
  Tarot).

Theories and concept of Faerie

Concepts and theories of Watchers and other discarnate beings.

Introduction to Divination systems.

Concepts of God and Goddess.

Exercises in rapport with Gods and group.

Intorduction to Celebratory rituals & Esbat format.

Understanding of the Sabbat cycle.

Introduction to Coven structure and roles within the group.

Uses of Elemental and other correspondances.

Once the Elders have determined that the candidate has the ineffable
  "something" that makes them a Wiccan of our Tradition and has sufficient
  knowledge to understand the ritual, Initiation ritual and explicit
  discussion of the meaning and terms of the Oath.

Most of the training is to increase one's awareness of the Wiccan worldview, of
the tradition, magic and self-awareness techniques.  In our coven, we place very
heavy emphasis on magical, psychological and mystical concepts since we are a
research coven with a definite mystic/magical bent.  In practice this means that
we emphasise the inner work of any given ritual over its outer form.

I have never taught any of these things in order, and I rarely actually "test"
anyone on them.  I just need the checklist to be sure that I haven't overlooked
anything I expect a newly minted First to know.

Looks intimidating, doesn't it?  It really isn't that hard, though.  Most of the
"tests" are to be sure a candidate has heard of these concepts and understands
how they relate to Wicca.
        The next messages outline my standards for Second and Third Degree.


Second Degree:

Oral exam on basic ritual techniques, demonstration of Lesser Ritual of the
  Pentagram, Greater Ritual of the Hexagram.  Use, manufacture and meaning of
  tools. Oral exam on several divination techniques, show two proofs of use
  of a personal divination system.
Oral exam on home nursing techniques, psychic hygiene and first aid,
  knowledge and use of home remedies, one proof of healing. Oral exam on keys to
theory and application of magic.  Three proofs of
  spellcasting, each using a different technique and of different levels of
  difficulty.
Oral exam on advanced ritual techniques, show understanding
  of sound, rhythm, dance.  Show understanding and ability in Esbat and
  Sabbat rites.  Study and understanding of Book of Shadows lore. Lead Esbat
circle with firm manifestation of Gods and Cone(s) of Power.
  Show leadership skills.
Be able to teach a novice to First Degree.
Experience of the Mysteries to First Degree.
Use and knowledge of "Faerie Road" (By this, I mean use of trancework
  techniques which take a person into the Faerie worlds and into
  their own Deep Mind.)  Complete a Shadow Quest.  (By this, I mean a
  supervised meditation which takes a person into the depths of their
  own mind to face a personal fear and go past it.  Having done it once,
  they KNOW that they can do so again, should the situation require it.)

Like First, there is also a subjective component of "testing".  There is a
peculiar form of confidence, in self and in the Gods, that tells me when a
candidate is ready to be "connected" to the Brethren and with the Gods as High
Priesthood.
    I feel that at Second, once the power has been conferred, a person has the
power to initiate others, but not the authority.  That authority rests at Third.
While this may seem very rigid, it is a test of character.  It is an all too
common fallacy to believe that if you have power, you must use it. The ordeal of
Second, then, is to have the power, yet exercise the discipline to seek
permission before using it to its fullest.

Third Degree:

(This has two parts.  Skills relating to running a group come h*ll or high water
are in the first part, while the second component, techniques of personal
growth, simply cannot be "tested".  However, if I can't take a person's word for
it by this point...)

Demonstrate competence at spiritual counselling.

Copy all of the Book of Shadows and show understanding of the Inner Mysteries
  and their symbolism.

Thesis challenge on Wiccan beliefs.

Knowledge and use of the Great Rite.

(If needful or desired, the candidate may now be elevated to Third.)

Divine Connection via meditation and any other of the Eight Paths.

Understanding and proper use of Calls and other restricted lore. Astral
  projection:  bilocation, shapeshifting, pathworking, Faerie Road. Evokation
  and pacting of spirit helpers.

Begin the Great Work.

Once a person gets to this point, the path is, of necessity, solo.  I feel that
everyone has their own Great Work to do and only they can find out what it is
and how to do it.  The other works are there to provide experience and
techniques that are potentially very useful to the Great Work.

These standards are ones I have been using very successfully for the past five
or six years.  I'd be happy to explain what I mean by any of them.
        I do not use this list as a rigid checklist of skills; the checklist is
a guide for me, as a teacher, not a study guide for students.  I hasten to add
that someone getting perfect marks on all these skills will not automatically
get initiated.  The most important criterion I have is "Do they belong in my
Wiccan family?" Everything else is just assurance that the person has the skills
to function properly in the position they seek.  I would be doing an injustice
to my students and to the Gods if I did not train them to be the best Wiccan
priest/ess I can.