Temple of the Sacred Spiral

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Syllabus for Initiation and Ordination into the Temple.

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Participation:

Open to anyone who wants to attend, regardless of creed, sex or race. Parental written permission is required for those under 18. Participants must adhere to a written code of conduct of courtesy and respect for the rights of others, but in general, free discussion is permitted and encouraged. Regular attendance is NOT a requirement for those who do not want to take the exams, do the assignments or be initiated into the Temple. Nor do you have to be initiated to take these lessons. However, if you DO wish to be initiated, you must be a regular attender, sit the exams, and do the assignments. I hope this is clear. The course is open to all, will be free (excluding notes, which will cost $5 per lesson, but are not compulsory to have; and books and tools , which each participant must provide for themselves).

Duration:

2 years (52 sessions) made up of four semesters of 13 sessions at fortnightly intervals.

Requirements:

(for those wishing to be initiated, or wanting a certificate of satisfactory completion)

75% attendance at fortnightly sessions each lasting 3 hours.
3 hours reading of reference materials each fortnight.
15 minutes ritual/meditation at least three times a week.
Attendance of at least twelve out of sixteen Sabbat rituals.
One assignment per semester.
One 1-hour exam (oral, practical and written per year to check on factual knowledge, not opinions.

Equipment:

Ritual Robe - Black with hood lining of colour of Temple you are in. (blue for TOSW, red for TOCC, green for TOSerW, yellow for TOLL).
Double-bladed knife (for athame).
Length of wood between 40 and 80cm long (for wand).
Pentagram to wear.

Dedication:

Can be taken at any time. It is meant as a dedication of yourself to the Pagan path as you see it, and so is optional.
We will hold a formal dedication ceremony for those that so wish, but it can be done in any way, at any time if you prefer. This is very much YOUR commitment to Paganism. It is of course unnecessary for those who have already done so. Re-dedication is NOT required. However, it is required for a person to recognize themselves as Pagan to fully participate in Temple rituals other than a spectator.

Reqirements:

Completion of Semester 1, at least 75% attendance.
Have made own robe to some degree - black, with insignia of temple on it required if going onto initiation, and lining of hood in colour of Temple (see above).
Completed Essay on Comparative Religion.

Initiation:

(for those wishing to commit themselves as full members of the Temple, ie a specific Pagan path)

Requirements:

Undergoing a formal Dedication to the satisfaction of the Chancellors or the Wardens/Guardians of that Temple.

Completion of the Essay on Comparative religion, and the Spell for making peace between family members.

Completion of Semester 2, attendance to be at least 75%.

Passing an exam at the end of Semester 2. The exam will consist of set written definitions, oral questions on the first 10 lectures, and a practical exam on casting and opening circles, quarter calling and the Pagan Banishing Rite with Chakra prayer.

Initiates must also be acceptable to the Temple to which they belong, as indicated to the Chancellors by the Temple Wardens/Guardians.

The actual initiation ceremony is a private matter between initiator and initiate. Questions about this are to be addressed to Kim or Quenten.

It will entitle an initiate to participate in Temple rituals fully, and attend Temple events that are "closed" ie open to Temple initiates only (such as certain Esbats and specific spell working and a few workshops, as well as a few social events). In addition, ordination as a Priest/Priestess will require initiation at least a year before.

Ordination as a Priest/ess of the Temple:

Can be taken after successfully completely the full course, and after showing a commitment to the Temple for 12 months after Initiation.

Requirements:

Completion of 4 semesters, at least 75% attendance.
Attendance of at least 1 full cycle of Sabbats, and 4 Esbats.
Completion of the Talisman and Ritual specified for Semesters 3 and 4.
Full memorisation of the Basic Ritual.
Undergo a vision Quest, spending 60 hours in the bush (near Imarbara is fine) with minimum food, water and shelter, in order to examine oneself.
Completion of a 'Priestly Project", the project to be discussed with the Chancellors.
Have presided over at least one Sabbat as Officiating Priest/Priestess.
Have contributed to the Temple of the Sacred Spiral and the general Pagan community in some recognisable way.
Receive approval of 51% of the relevant Temple, and at least one of the Wardens/Guardians. In the event of a dispute, the Chancellors may decide if the issue is close.
Remain prostrate on the ground for one hour prior to the Ordination ceremony. The presiding officer will be one of the Chancellors.

Textbooks:

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk.
Wicca: An Old Religion for the New Millenium by Viviane Crowley.
Phoenix from the Flame: Pagan Spirituality in the Western World by Viviane Crowley.
A Witches' Bible Compleat by Stewart and Janet Farrar.
The Crafted Cup by Shadwynn.
Modern Magick by Donald Kraig.
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham.
Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler.
Also recommended:
- The Pagan Path by Stewart and Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone.
- The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell.
- To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf.
- See also Bibliography

Locations and times:

The sessions will be held at various homes around SE Qld:

Temple of the Sacred Spiral: at the home of the Chancellors. in the Woodford area. Address: Imarbara, 998 Kilcoy-Beerwah Rd, Cedarton, via Woodford. 4514 Ph: 07 5496 1925
Held every second Thursday, 7.30pm till 9.30pm.

Semester One

Session 1 : The Nature of Divinity - what is "divine", "sacred", "holy", "god" and "goddess". Discussion on immanence, transcendence, polytheism, monotheism, pantheism and animism.
Session 2 : God and Goddess. Discussion on polarity, trinities such as Maid-Mother-Crone, Son-Lover-King, Mother-Father-Child; and the Gaia hypothesis.

Avendesora

Session 3 : Meditation and Visualisation, The basics of Meditation, its 'goals' and simple techniques; creative visualisation, mantras, and mandalas.
Session 4 : Chakras, Energy Fields and Aura, The theory of Energy fields, aura and chakras.
Session 5:Symbolism and Correspondences
Session 6:The Elements
Session 7 : The Nature of Magick - definition, how it works and ethical issues. Discussion of the theories of Jung and the mind as it relates to magick.
Session 8:Ritual and ceremony - what is worship and how should it be performed, the elements and nature of ritual and the role of ceremony. Outline of a Pagan ritual.
Session 9:The Sabbats - the wheel of the year, elements of Sabbats ritual and discussion about the individual Sabbats (Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnassadh, Mabon, and Samhain) Esbats briefly touched on.
Session 10:Ethics and the Nature of Evil, Pagan ethics, Satan, guilt, forgiveness, Karma, penance and confession.
Session 11 :Jung and Pagan Psychology. Jungian psychology, archetypes, alchemy.
Session 12:Personality Types, Archetypes, Jungian types and the Enneagram.
Session 13:History of the 'Old Religion', Goddess cultures and the Burning times, the 'Neo-Pagan Renaissance'.
: DEDICATION including cords provided by the Temple.
Two other lectures are given during the days of the intervening Sabbats, on comparative religion.
Session A:Old World Religions - Crete and Palaeolithic religion (age of the Great Mother), Greece (the Father Sky and divided Goddess), Babylon, and Persian.
Session B:Modern Religions - Christianity, Islam, Hindu, and Buddhism. Lessons to be learned from their weaknesses and strength.
Assignment for Semester 1: 1000+ word essay on the strengths, weaknesses and lessons to be learned from one of the old or modern religions from a Pagan spiritual and theological viewpoint.

Semester Two

Session 14: Initiation and Consecration (of Place, purpose, time and objects).
Session 15: Reincarnation. The Afterlife, communication with the Dead, Karma.
Session 16: Shamanism.
Session 17: Mysticism and Enlightenment.
Session 18: Wiccan Spellcraft. The components of a spell, ethics of spells, timing of spells. Also section on colour and candle magick.
Session 19: Crystals.
Session 20:Magickal Herbcraft.
Session 21: Magickal Aromas.
Session 22: Sacred Space, Altars and Shrines. Clothes and Tools.
Session 23: Talismans, Amulets and Sigils - including making a Talisman.
Session 24: Healing.
Session 25: Does Goddess care? Faith and Science. The relationship between the Divine and us.
Session 26: Comparative Religion
Assignment: Design a spell for healing emotional tension between two family members (your choice of which two).
EXAM: Mainly oral. On factual material given in Year One. No-one will be marked down for opinions. Understanding is what is being looked for. In addition, one must pass the practical, consisting of the Pagan Banishing Rite, the Chakra Prayer, the Casting of a Circle, the Invocation and Farewelling of the Elements and Opening of the Circle.
INITIATION and dedication of Athames. Nudity is involved, the ONLY time nudity is required of anyone. NO-ONE will be coerced into being initiated. No sexual titillation is intended or practised.

Semester Three

Session 27: Tarot I. The major Arcana. We use the Haindl Deck, and will do two major Arcana cards each session for the remainder of this semester as the practical.
Session 28: Tarot II - the minor Arcana
Session 29: Astrology I.
Session 30: Astrology II.
Session 31: The Qabala - Sephiroth.
Session 32: The Qabala - The Paths of Wisdom.
Session 33: The Runes.
Session 34: The Esbats. Moonphase rituals - full, waning, waxing and Dark moon.
Session 35: Sexuality. Mores, crimes and community values.
Session 36: Partners and Children.
Session 37: Divination. Palmistry, Pendulums, Tealeaves, and others.
Session 38: Ogham and Sacred Trees.
Session 39: Geomancy.
Consecration of Wands.
Assignment: Make a protection Amulet against hostility to Paganism.

Semester Four

Session 40: Rites of Passage. Wiccaning, Adulthood, Handfasting, Parenthood, Elderhood, Requiem.
Session 41: Sounds and Music, Dance and Poetry.
Session 42: Priesthood, Leadership and Participation.
Session 43: Ordination. Wiccan "levels" and their place.
Session 44: Sex and Nudity.
Session 45: Love Magick and Sex Magick.
Session 46: Ceremonial Magick I.
Session 47: Ceremonial Magick II.
Session 48: Dream Interpretation.
Session 49: Solitary Practice.
Session 50: Astral Travel. and out-of-body experiences.
Session 51: Paganism and the Community. Community attitudes to paganism; "coming out" - family and work repercussions; Fundamentalists; the Media; secrecy or not. Community welfare - our role in making a better society. Education and Paganism.
Session 52: Ecospirituality. Paganism and the environment. Spirituality and the environment.
Assignment: Write a full ritual to combat discrimination and promote harmony between all members of a community. Incorporate music, dance, poetry and song as well as other ritual elements.

There are also other excellent pagan lessons on the Web. The best of them are summarized here - 9 lessons on Paganism in general, and 11 lessons on Magick. I strongly recommend them.

In addition, there is an excellent and thought provoking talk by Julia Phillips on the History of Wicca - 1939-1990 given by her at the Australian Wiccan Conference at Canberra in 1991.

Blessed be and Never Thirst from Kim and Quenten.

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