THE SYBILLYNE TRADITION OF WICCA
by Virginia Stewart, M. Ed., TP.
Our tradition is a moderate branch of Dianic Wicca, with an emphasis on
equality, ecology and women's mysteries. The tradition is open to women and
men, over the age of 18, who have previously identified Wicca as their path.
Someone under legal age must be accompanied by a parent and will not be
initiated until they are of legal age.
(Yes, there is a catch: few people under 21 will have studied other religions
enough to have narrowed it down this much; therefore, a person without this
study must spend at least a year pursuing comparative religions before they will
be accepted for training.)
The subject matter that each student must master prior to initiation is wide-
ranging and intended to strengthen knowledge and interest in a number of areas,
as well as increase the student's desire to "get involved" in the ecological/political
issues which are import-ant to them as individuals. This is not an exclusive
tradition; one can be an initiate of other traditions and still participate. We have
closed rituals only when the participating members desire it. Our initiation is
open to initiates of other traditions (who would be asked to assist, no one gets to
stand around.)
Sybillynes do not have degrees, unlike Gardnerians; we have three stages. The
Novice (or WIT, coined by one student -- it means "Witch in Training") is one who
is actively studying, but has not yet been initiated. A Sister or Brother has been
initiated and holds the title of Priestess or Priest (there is no High Priestess or
High Priest.) The Chronicler is the one in the Coven or Circle who assumes the
responsibility for making phone calls and keeping the Book of Shadows, but the
position carries no authority.
All decisions are reached by consensus, and the rituals are written and
performed by various members of the group on a voluntary basis (it works, it
really does). After a long period of study, in which one might specialize in a
particular area, one is Ordained as a Priestess or Priest in that area; for example,
one might be a Teaching Priest/ess, or a Healing Priest/ess.
To become a Novice, one must ask to be taught, then show a sincere interest in
the Craft and a willingness to study and learn about the various areas presented.
One must also exhibit a willingness to do independent study in areas of personal
interest.
The Course of study is presented in two parts. The first is lecture/discussion/
reading -- after which the novice must demonstrate knowledge and understand-
ing in the following areas:
I. Feminism and politics of Dianic craft
A. Gaia and green magic
B. balance of Male/female energies
C. power over vs. power from within
II. Feminist herstory/facts and theory
A. Origins of the Goddess
1. prehistoric evidence
2. early myth (China, Sumer, Ur, India, Mesopotania, Egypt, Crete)
3. The patriarchal shift --
a. Theories on how it happened
b. How to read around it
i. Greek Myth
ii. Mesopotamia/Sumer
iii. Egypt
c. Modern Approaches �?overcoming patriarchal repression
d. The God in Dianic Wicca
i. prehistory evidence/belief
ii. Modern approaches
III. Feminist interpretations on the origins of people
A. creation Myths -- world samples
B. "star" myth
C. birth/genetic engineering myth
D. the principles of myth writing
IV. Goddess and Gods in Every Person
A. Manifesting the God/dess in Everyday Life -- theory
B. Archetypal Theory and how it relates to everyday life
V. Magic and Physics -- Why Everything is Related To Everything
A. Holographic Universe
B. Gaia as a Living Being
VI. The Goddess and Sexuality
A. Living in our bodies is healthy
B. how patriarchy/Christianity perverted sex
C. healing the wounds of sexual oppression
D. exercises
VII. Beginning Meditation
A. purpose
B. some eventual goals
C. visualization
D. exercises
VIII. Psychic gifts
A. How they have been suppressed
B. What they are
C. How to develop them
D. Exercises
IX. Festivals
A. The wheel of the Year
B. Women's festivals/men's festivals
C. Creating celebration for everyday life
X. Ritual tools and aspects
A. Tools
B. Symbols
XI. Creating Ritual
A. The Structure of a ritual
B. Creating Sacred space -- theory
C. Elements of ritual -- possibilities
XII. Drawing a circle -- demonstration & practice
A. How to form a circle
B. What to do if something goes wrong
C. Group dynamics
Our actual reading list is two double-columned pages, and takes about a year to
get through. This is the short list, with which one must show a working
knowledge.
The Spiral Dance
Dreaming the Dark
Truth or Dare / Starhawk
Holy Book of Women's Mysteries / Z. Budapest
The Holographic Universe / Michael Talbot
The New Inquisition / Robert Anton Wilson
Real Magic / Issac Bonewits
When God Was A Woman
Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood / Merlin Stone
Priestesses / Norma Goodrich
Women's Encyclopedia of Sacred Symbols and
Objects / Barbara Walker
Drawing Down the Moon / Margot Adler
Iron John / Robert Bly
The Hero with A Thousand Faces / Joseph Campbell
The second part of training focuses on ritual and practice, as no one will be
initiated until s/he can write, perform and understand ritual; work with energy in a
SAFE way, and guide meditations for the others. The following are the
requirements for this level of training, in which one must demonstrate proficiency.
1. Circle Drawing
2. Healing (different types)
3. Energy Work
4. Journey to Lower World (working with totems)
5. Astral Realms (working with place of power and spirit guides)
6. 9 Inner Planes
7. Past Life Regression
8. Elements, Tools, and Aspects
9. Women's Mysteries/Men's Mysteries (5 Mysteries)
10. Blessing of Tools
11. Personal Belief Systems
12. Spells and Spellwork
13. Full Ritual (writing and performing without assistance)
Written assignments
1. A 4-10 page paper explaining and analyzing the Wiccan Rede and how it
applies to one's personal life (Ethics are vital)
2. A 5-10 page paper explaining one's personal belief system (it does not
conform to any particular standard, but an initiate must have one; this is a
spiritual tradition).
3. A 5-10 page paper explaining and analyzing the 5 Mysteries of Wicca with
particular attention paid to Wo/man's mysteries, Chalice and the Descent.
4. A 2-5 page paper explaining the Three-Fold Goddess and Her Relationship to
the Three-Fold God.
5. A 5-10 page paper describing one's personal ethics
6. A Book of Shadows (to be reviewed by Teaching Priestess) that includes
major rituals, meditations, observations and results of spell work and energy
work.
The final requirement for initiation includes the demonstration of Ritual functions
of Maiden/Mother/Crone or Priest without written assistance; the demonstration
of ritual writing and participation in/ directing the energy in a circle. Finally, the
Demonstration through daily life of a sincere commitment to the Way of the
God/dess.
The training period lasts anywhere from twenty-six weeks to over a year and is
depend-ent on the completion of requirements, not number of months in training.
A Novice (WIT) will be told that they may request Initiation when they have
completed all requirements to the satisfaction of the Teaching Priestess. They
will be told once, after that they must ask. Sybillynes do NOT recruit members.
After Initiation, a Priest/ess may form a Circle (a loosely organized group that
performs ritual together) or a Coven (a close-knit group with bonds of perfect love
and trust). It is suggested that Circles be formed and allowed to evolve into
Covens.
All Initiates are encouraged to become politically/ecologically active to whatever
degree that they are able. Each group exists as an independent organization --
the job of a Teaching Priestess is to make herself unnecessary. Those who
desire control over a coven or absolute authority within a coven are discouraged
from attempting it within this tradition -- the labrys, our symbol, is sharp for a
reason...
We are also interested in tradition sharing, and can be found in the Hunter's
Moon camp at CMA. Inquires can be made by leaving a message at
Celebration! in Austin, or at the Magic Cauldron in Houston, for Virginia Stewart
or Howard Gerber in Houston.
Merry Meet and Bright Blessings.
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