Putting together a "Beyong the basics" cirriculum--what would you like to see?

[amberlaine]

note: this is crossposted from MM.net Please excuse the double posting!

A very good friend of mine and I are putting together a cirriculum for a class we'd like to teach that goes beyond the basics. THe Order I recently initiated in has a wonderful first year cirriculum, but nothing beyond the 101 stuff a lot of us already know.

This question is NOT just for Wiccans! If you are a spiritual person on a somewhat self-led path (and even you coveners can be self-led!) please answer this question!

So, if you were to attend a class that tauted itself as moving beyond 101 and into deeper (and probably darker) territory, what topics would you like included? WHat areas do you feel lacking in because no one seems to want to discuss them or for some reason don't feel able to discuss them?

Also, what myths have you taken to heart that in some way have shaped your spiritual outlook or practice? (For example, for me, the Decent myths are extremely powerful, and have much shaped how I approach my spiritual life)

I think that's it for now. Please please everyone answer, even if you think your answer might be stupid. You never know what ideas you might spawn with your suggestions.

Thank you so much!

[Myst]

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13508

It really depends on what was in the basics classes too. Were there classes on astral travel? Trancework? Invocation or evocation? Wards? Glamouries? Shapeshifting? Various forms of divination? Aura reading? Shielding? The Great Rite? Chakra work?

Less magically, most people aren't aware of the theology, practices, and history behind Wicca (or modern Pagan practices). For instance I find few even know the history of Wicca, let alone what practices and beliefs might have combined to make it, or other Pagan paths.

What about why we have the "left hand" and "right hand" paths, and why are they named that way? What is Druidry? Shamanism? Satanism? Setian Paganism? How do they differ from Wicca or Witchraft? What about Golden Dawn, Ordo Templi Orientis, Freemasonry, Thelema? What about the Goetia or the Kabbalah? People like Gardner (and his views about homosexuality, interestingly), Crowley, Valiente, Sanders? Who came up with the Rede, ordains, and law of three? How about the charges? Pantheons such as GraecoRoman, Egyptian, Norse, Indian, African, Native American, and Celtic would be interesting to study. You might even wish to go beyond myth and deities and learn about the actual practices and history behind each. If you're interested you might look into faery magic and lore, and/or dragon magic and lore.

I'm not sure if that's what you wanted.

[amberlaine]

YEs, Myst, that's the kind of thing I"m wondering. What are people thirsting for? I"ve already read that other thread--I"m not interested in doing a course on "Advanced magic" (I dont practice magic, so I don't feel very inclined to teach it) but the rest of what you said is the kind of thing I"m looking for.