Anyone want an apprentice?

[Tranquility]

This is kind of a vague question, but what are the "Requirements" for being an apprentice to someone. Does the person just have to be willing to be taught, willing to learn, and willing to ask questions? If so, anyone want one? I Seem to be going in the wrong direction lol, books that i think that are exactly what i want to learn about, end up being completely advised against, certain authors that i only read and not recommended, i always get stupid small questions, and i really would like someone to guide me, even if i t was just what topic to read next, who to read, who not to read, and occasionaly something to test me and keep me on my feet.....

[Tranquility]

Actually, its more of a Virtual Apprentice =) Unless someone lives in CT ..

[sanacrow]

Originally posted by Tranquility
Actually, its more of a Virtual Apprentice =) Unless someone lives in CT ..

We don't teach or apprentice long-distance, but we do mentor. Our requirements are online at http://www.homecircle.org

[Tranquility]

Hmm so pretty much im out of the picture .. heh nevermind i read it over and i dont meet half the requirements, i mean i work hard and am willing to, but im not even 16 so there goes that heh
And CT, is the worst place in the world for ANYTHING, only reason that anyone would live here is because its nice and quiet and expensive houses.. woop de do, i could really care less about money, hehe , im one of the few people who does

[Tranquility]

One of the few people who does NOT care about money that is.. it came out wrong

[st0rm]

tranquil: ct is NOT the wost place, try living in sweden ;)

[sanacrow]

This isn't on the website yet - it will go up with the next set of updates. (Feedback is welcome!)

AN OPEN LETTER TO YOUNG SEEKERS

Merry Meet!

If you are under 18, you will probably already have noticed that young folks generally elicit different reactions from adults in the Pagan community than what you’d like. You’ve probably had a great deal of difficulty finding someone to answer your questions honestly, or a respected teacher who is willing or able to teach you what you really want to know.

Following is part of the general information we make available for young seekers. If you have any questions, we will do our best to answer what we can, but please understand if sometimes the answer is "you really need to ask your parents." (If your parents support your interest and would like more information about Wicca, please have them contact us. Or bring them to a Laughing Cat meeting, where they can ask questions and meet members of the local Pagan community.)

We hope you can understand that without knowing your parents, and hearing directly from them that they support your interest in Wicca, an ethical teacher or mentor cannot work with you. Most groups and private teachers don't accept seekers under 16 or 18. (Some even require you to be 21 -- or even older!)

There are many reasons for age restrictions. The biggest is that until you are over 18 or are emancipated (a term which means that legally you are fully responsible for yourself) your parents or guardians have the legal right to guide your religious instruction, and to decide what is best for you. Anyone who interferes with a parent's rights in this area can get into a lot of legal trouble, and in most states can even get arrested.

But there’s also a second big reason why many teachers and mentors won't accept young students, even with their parent's permission -- a lot of Wiccan training is very demanding and can be very difficult, even for older folks. A lot of folks who begin formal study drop out rather quickly. And the younger people are when they start, the more likely they are to drop out.

Remember that adolescence is the time of a person's life when questioning everything from politics to fashion, from science to religion, from philosophies to health practices is quite healthy and normal. That is what much of growing up is all about -- finding out what you really believe deep down inside. You already know what your parents think. You have figured out what society expects. So the real work is figuring out what *you* really need, want, expect, and think.

And while you’re in this state of flux, figuring out just who you are, you are instinctively working through exactly what you believe about how the world works as well. The personal beliefs about deity that you develop are part of the very core that shapes who you will become. Almost everyone instinctively knows this. (That's why religion and philosophy are argued about so much.)

But it can be very hard to fully explore and develop your spiritual self while you’re working on getting accustomed to all the changes in your physical body, and all the social, educational and many other changes that are a part of adolescence.

Maybe you've got it all figured out. That's not impossible (no matter who tells you it is). However, for the most part, you are in what most adults would consider an experimental time. Even if you are convinced Wicca is for you, most adults will still be wary of your choice. They'll be worried that you are looking into Pagan paths because you want to shock your parents. Or hex that nasty so-and-so who’s causing you so much trouble. Or get that hottie in second period to fall head over heels in love with you. And it's really not good to get into Wicca for those reasons.

First of all, you would be undermining the religion. Wicca is a spiritual path that is followed by thousands of people who frequently have to struggle to be accepted in a society that often does not value what we hold dear. Not many will look kindly on someone causing trouble and drawing a kind of attention most of us work hard to avoid. (And if you do one day truly want to walk the Wiccan path, you will have difficulty being taken seriously, or finding a reputable teacher or group to work with if you have a track record of using what you learn in selfish ways.)

Second, you would be undermining yourself. Hexing, charming, shocking... all of that has a price. Maybe just a little damage in the long run, but maybe more than you can deal with. Shocking people is a great head trip. It's an easy way to get energy. However, it's also addicting. Once you start, you can fall into the "just a little further" routine and wind up with some bad karma, people hating you, a jail sentence, or worse. Hexing and charming is manipulative. And what if it turns out you don't really like the person you charmed after all? What if you hex someone and they get so depressed they suicide? Then their life is on your head. You will have to deal with the consequences of your actions for the rest of your life.

A lot of young people (and some older folks) get into Wicca for these kinds of reasons, because it’s ‘cool’, because they like other folks being just a little scared of them, or because they are looking for a way to feel different or special. And a lot of groups and teachers have had to clean up trouble caused by folks who had these sorts of less-than-honorable reasons for wanting to learn about Wicca and Witchcraft.

So it's pretty easy to see why most adults don't want to get involved with a young seeker. They're worried that they could get into a whole lot of legal trouble, or have to fix problems they didn’t cause for what they see as a teenage joy ride.

That said, if you are really serious about your interest in Wicca, there are some things you can do to help prepare you for formal Craft training:

1- Prepare for a career that suits your values and your talents. The research, organizational skills, and concentration that you develop doing this will prepare you for your studies and work in the Craft.

2- Read. Read. Read more. Study mythology, religions, societies, artwork, music, anthropology, psychology, mathematics, science, and anything that relates to early cultures. Pick your favorite God or Goddess and learn as much as you can about them, what they rule over, the culture they come from and the history of the people and societies who honor them. Most respected Wiccan traditions value scholarship, and will require a lot of old-fashioned bookwork and study. If you already have good study skills, know how to do *good* research, and have a broad foundation of knowledge you will be several steps ahead of the game.

3- Practice your artistic capabilities with enthusiasm and dedicate your work to your God/ess or to Spirit. Do you love to write? Paint? Sing? Write music? Draw? Sculpt? Everybody creates. Dedicate your expressions to your spiritual path. Rejoice in your creations. It will bring you closer to Deity in unexpected ways.

4- This is a nature religion, so learn as much about nature as you can. Study astronomy. Take up gardening. Go camping. Read about herbalism. The more you learn about Mother Earth, the better prepared you'll be for your formal training.

5- BE EXTRAORDINARILY CAREFUL ABOUT THE COMPANY YOU KEEP. Some people are predators on the unwary and innocent seeker (*especially* young seekers who are having trouble finding the resources they want!). As an individual struggling to find your own path, you might find a person or a group that is subversive, thrilling, and powerful. But keep in mind that brainwashing, beatings, rapes, murder, drug smuggling, and other crimes have been charged against many alternative groups, and in several cases they have been proven to be quite true. At the very least you could be accused of things you didn't do simply because you hang around a known trouble-maker... or you could become addicted to any number of (legal and illegal) drugs, or wind up with a nasty case of herpes or worse. Predatory people aren't in the business of having your best interests in mind and they aren't known for being entirely careful, no matter what they say or do.

So how do you tell the simply colorful individuals from the predatory? This is a list of questions to ask yourself to help you better determine if potential friends, religious groups, or whatever are for you or not. Rate them 0 to 10, then add them all up for a total score. The higher the total score the more predatory they are. If there’s a cause for you to rate a question with a (*) with a 1 or more, stay away from that person or group at all costs.
· Do they tell others what to do?
· Do they claim to know everything and hate it when you try to correct them?
· Do they have a lot of others quoting them or do others (usually 'friends' of the person in question) tell you that the person is totally cool and always right?
· Does the thought of contradicting them frighten you? (*)
· Do they recruit people for their gang or groups?
· Do they insist that any money of yours is theirs? (*)
· Do they insist that you share a lot of your stuff with them?
· Do they tell you not to say anything about their activities?
· Do they ever threaten you with blackmail, bodily harm, or force? (*)
· Do they tell you that you can’t leave their influence or group once you 'join in'? (*)
· Do they have powerful enemies (real or imagined)? (*)
· Do they have a bad sense of humor?
· Do they tend to make up your mind for you?

Waiting is pretty hard for all of us. But it really is worth it. Here are a few book recommendations that you can work through while you are waiting...

21st Century Wicca: A Young Witch's Guide to Living the Magical Life by Jennifer Hunter; Written by a woman in her early twenties who became Wiccan as a teenager. Gives a good introduction to many Wiccan concepts without talking down to you, oversimplifying, making grandiose claims or relying on shoddy research.

When, Why... If by Robin Wood; The best introduction to Wiccan ethics in print. In an easy, informal style Robin covers both the basis for Craft ethics, and also how they apply to everyday life and how they shape the Wiccan worldview. (This is required reading for all our students.) It's hard to find sometimes, but Robin Wood has a web site (www.robinwood.com) that it can be ordered from if you can't find it locally.

Positive Magic by Marion Weinstein; This is a good primer about how the proper use of magic can change your life. Using a simple and direct style, Marion covers many aspects of the proper foundations and ethics of magic, and many of the ways it can fit into a complete spiritual practice.

A lot of good concepts are explored in fiction. A new series of young adult books called "the Powers of Three" isn't bad. Many things – especially the magical bits - are written much more sensationally than what happens in real life to make the story more exciting, but a lot of the general ideas are accurate.

Here are some other fiction books we recommend to our students:
Strands of Starlight; Strands of Sunlight; and Spires of Spirit by Gael Baudino; This is the first and fourth books in a series, and a collection of related novellas. It’s a beautiful storyline dealing with Witchcraft, Elves and the Inquisition, and linking the Middle Ages to our own times and issues. (The second and third books are not as good, are not required to make sense of the story, and have some themes that your parents may not be comfortable with you reading. Ask your parent's guidance if you think you might want to read them.)

Gossamer Axe by Gael Baudino; Although the premise is fanciful - ancient Druid learns to play heavy metal in order to rescue a long-lost love – the exploration of themes in family ties, music, magic, power and pagan belief is woven into a masterful tale that is one of the best we've read.

Bell, Book and Murder by Rosemary Edghill; This is a collected reprint of the three Bast mysteries (Speak Daggers to Her, Book of Moons, and Bowl of Night), where the leading character is a real Wiccan, instead of a Hollywood witch. The mysteries are a bit simple for those who love deep, twisted plots, but the realism of day-to-day life as a witch, and the wry commentary on the Pagan community is more than worth the read.

We generally recommend that any serious student avoid books by Raven Grimassi, Gerina Dunwich, Sirona Knight, Kisma Stepanich, Silver Ravenwolf, Edain McCoy, DJ Conway and Patricia Telesco. Many of these have an easy-to-read style and some have even won awards, but much of their history is based on incomplete research or inaccurate references, and a lot of what is in their books has little in common with the majority of what is taught in most Wiccan Traditions. If you have read – or own – some of these books, it’s nothing to worry about. But you probably should compare them against more recommended sources, as well as against what you learn from researching cultures, history and mythology. (Think of it like a game and use them to improve your research skills – can you find the historical errors and the inconsistencies in these author’s works?)

The best places to look for good books to give you a foundation for future Craft studies is not the New Age or Witchcraft sections of the bookstore or library. It’s in the History and Mythology sections, in Archeology, in Psychology and in Personal Development. Look for books that give you solid information, that help you learn how to tell verifiable facts from opinion or personal experience, and that help you learn how to use your mind and think logically. These are skills that will put you leaps and bounds ahead in the Craft, and that will help you in all areas of your life – and they will put you way ahead of the game when you’re ready to start your formal training in the Craft.

Brightest Blessings on your journey!

[Tranquility]

I see, sanacrow i read that all over, and it does seem im looking for the right thing but in the wrong place

[Raevyn]

Well maybe it would help if you described what you know, what you've read and what skills you have (ie. tarot, runes, meditation, that sort of thing), and what you hope to gain or learn.

For instance, are you looking at different forms of Paganism, or Wicca in particular? Are you looking at gemstones, herbcraft, tarot, runes, astral travel, or more interested in having someone give you an intro to various of these and then you can decide to study one more fully? Are you looking at Wicca 101, basic magical techniques, help with ritual and spellcraft, or..?

[Tranquility]

Heres sort of a basic biography on myself...
Ever since i was a little kid i always thought i had a bond with nature and animals, because i loved them so much and they seemed to like me too, eventualy when i grew older i still kept that love with me and i still do love them. One thing i did before i studied, Paganism and Shamanism, was that i already did things with herbology, i dried plants, made teas, i was very much into nature and doing anything nature if possible. I had always wondered to myself if there was a way i could incorporate all my things i love doing, and respect into one thing. I was just searching on some websites on herbology and nature things, and came across Wyldkats Pagan place... I read into herbs and native americans, martial arts ( I always wanted to be an indian, and if i was in the blood line i would still want to ) and animals, and i came across animal guides.. I read this, and saw that it was part of this thing called Paganism. I Looked up what paganism was, and saw that it incorporated everything i love doing, that makes my life feel full and whole, that makes sense when i do it. Ever since i was 8, when i visited Stone Henge in england i began to think about this even more strongly.. and now im 15 and still thinking the same things. Mainly i want to continue with anything i can.
My goals would be these things i would like to excel at
A) Herbs
B) Martial Arts ( not pagan but one of my hobbies and tai chi and Qi Gong )
C) Astral Travel
D) Runes
E) Learning about Celts, and druids and ancient cultures
F) Rituals and Spells
G) Being a Healer, a Bard, A Warrior, and finally a Mystic ( to be an adept shaman in other words )
H) Gemstones
I) Potions, elixers
J) Astrology
K) ANd learning Gaelic, b/c i plan to move or to visit ireland a lot when i grow up, if i can, m ove there

As for skills i have, i cannot say i have many of these yet, i am for sure, amateur in rituals, elixers, runes, and meditation, i meditate 30mins-1 hour a day,

[Raevyn]

Ok what you're looking for, I would think, is a Druid, for E, G, and K (btw you don't need to know Gaelic in Ireland..?). A (NA) shaman would help with A, and C, Rick or another Asatruar could help you with D. F, H, I, and J I think could be covered in a lot of ways - for instance I'm guessing Druids work with H (though you'd have to ask one, since I'm not one, I do recall Twig bringing up working with stones in our Druids forum), F I J are common to Wiccans and ceremonialists mostly I would think, though hedge witches would have a solid understanding of A C H and I too I would think. With Martial Arts of course you'll want to join a dojo above all else; it's not something that can really be taught online.

Of course there's overlap, but what you've presented here is a pretty diverse list. You know you're more then welcome to ask any questions you have here at MW, and you'll have all kinds of experts helping out. I personally wouldn't consider myself proficient enough at all these things to teach you (I've got A F and H, and some knowledge/experience in C D I and J), and I wish you luck in finding someone who is! Maybe if you could even find a circle or grove in your area you could join them so you'd have all kinds of people to learn from?

You can ask about Herbs and Elixirs in the Green Room, Runes in Divination, Astral Travel, Rituals, Spells, and Gemstones in Magick & Rituals, Astrology in our Astrology forum, Martial Arts in our Healthy Pagan forum, and learning about Celts and Druids, being a Bard etc., and learning Gaelic in our Druids forum. We also have the History forum for various Pagan histories, Gods and Goddesses and Theology and Philosophy to discuss cultures and deities ancient and new, and so on.

If I were you I'd benefit from a circle so you have many people who each specialize in one or a few areas to learn from, or I'd ask here in each forum to get info from the experts in each area. It'd be hard to find someone who excelled at all these things IMHO, I'd specifically ask Wildchild about herbs and elixirs, Rick about runes, and Twig about all the Druid related bits, and for the rest just posting to ask will give you a whole array of answers to think about.

Sorry I can't help you with all you seek, but I know and all the other folks here will be happy to help you with as much as we each can :)

[Raevyn]

Incidentally, some recommendations I've gathered/compiled from people I consider experts (some here at MW, some elsewhere);

Herbs - Culpeper's herbal, Cunningham's complete book of incense, oils, and brews - both for magical purposes largely, not so much for preparations to take as magical mixtures for spells; the former in particular is woefully out of date for medicinal use. Again ask Wildchild for help here.

Astral travel - if I remember correctly Kaylara posted some lesson/intro type threads you might search for.

Runes - Rick recommends

"Freya Aswynn: Leaves of Yggdrasil; Northern Mysteries & Magic; Principles of Runes
Edred Thorsson: Futhark; All of his works on the subject
Bernard King: All of his works on the subject
Jan Fries: Helrunar
Robert Ian Page: All of his works on the subject
Kveldulf Gundarssen: All of his works on the subject"

and says "Authors I'd avoid on the subject of Runes - Ralph Blum; Donald Tyson; P.M.H. Atwater".

There are lots of posts about gemstones, spells and rituals, and gemstones in M&R; if you need help searching for them or finding something in particular let me know.

[Tranquility]

Thanks a lot, al of you have helped me out A TON..
More than anything i wish i could find a coven or circle or grove.. more than ANYTHING i wish i could find one.. but i live in connecticut, i have searched ALL OVER! i cannot find anything.. in a few months i get my license.. and a car so i can drive.. ill be willing to drive for hours to find a place.. but thats once i have my car =( its about 1/2 a year... i really would be honored and helped out much by learning from a true person, or one who has experience in it

[Lavender]

If you have any questions about herbs & whatnots, let me know. Or check out the Green Room. We have so many knowledgable people here. I find that herbal craft is something that crosses many paths.

[Tranquility]

Alright, thanks a lot wildchild.. my problem right now is im trying to get organized.. im an organized person, and if i don't know what im doing next i get frustrated, i try to relax and thats one of the reasons why i do tai chi and qi gong, but i can usually relax, i try to be organized though. RIght now im trying to figure out what to read, obviously ig ot off to a bad start, even though i read by sort of misleading authors, they did get the basic information through, anyhow im trying to figure out what to read next. I think it obviously would be best to start on history, i do love reading on other subjects though. Maybe after i read a book on history then i can start gettin back into other things, i like a variety...thanks for bein open

[Raevyn]

Maybe I missed your post where you mentioned it; I was wondering, what have you read that people didn't like?

[Tranquility]

Sanacrow and many specific others recommended against the authors that i had read books of.. It figures that the books i read, all 4, were only by those authors ( d'oh!).. 3 by D.J. Conway, and 1 by Edain McCoy

[Raevyn]

Ah I see. I think the list of "not recommended" ones consists of books that it's ok to read but given the choice you can find better ones. As in "ok the history and some things are highly questionable here, so you'd be better to pick a different book first".

It's really hard to know in the beginning what to read, and I can tell you some of the books I've read in the beginning and even throughout my time as a Pagan have been disliked by some. Have you seen the threads in Books - what someone would give to their apprentice and the recommended threads?

Don't be afraid to ask questions here - even if you think they're stupid they probably aren't. Even those of us who know a bit about Paganism probably remember having the same questions.

[Tranquility]

Oh man, as for those reading lists and apprentice lists, i read those about 60 times per day lol

[st0rm]

Tranquility which martialarts do u study?

[Tranquility]

I study, chinese kung fu, five animals, shaolin kung fu, wu shu, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong.. my studio that i go to is closing down though because my teacher does not have time anymore, he had to make a lot of sacrafices in the past 15 years to teach us 6 hours a day.. he still teaches at his new healing studio, which i go to also and im going to continue there, its expensive so only 2 times a month there, and his highest student is opening a studio, where he will polish any skills we knew, or skills we recently learned from sifu...

[Lavender]

Originally posted by Tranquility
Oh man, as for those reading lists and apprentice lists, i read those about 60 times per day lol

You know what? I think Marion Weinsten (sp?) "Positive Occult" might be a good start for you. She talks about a variety of things from I Ching to magic. It would give you a good foundation to start from & from there, you can decide where your interest might branch out next. Darn! I'm not sure of the name of the book...I better go check. :rolleyes:

Just checked...the book is called Positive Magic. It's listed in that thread.

A Witch Alone is great. It has excercises for you to work that you can do yourself. Another one I like (I didn't see it mentioned) is The Spirit of Place by Loren Croden. It takes you through the cycle of the year & each week has it's excercises to work on. It's more like a workbook. The Spirit of Place is more nature based, I found.

[Tranquility]

Thanks!

[st0rm]

Originally posted by Tranquility
I study, chinese kung fu, five animals, shaolin kung fu, wu shu, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong.. my studio that i go to is closing down though because my teacher does not have time anymore, he had to make a lot of sacrafices in the past 15 years to teach us 6 hours a day.. he still teaches at his new healing studio, which i go to also and im going to continue there, its expensive so only 2 times a month there, and his highest student is opening a studio, where he will polish any skills we knew, or skills we recently learned from sifu...

Nice, but can u fight?

I've studied tae kwon do for three years (two hours everyday) and placed third in a national tournament twice, but I couldnt fight. My fancy moves didnt help when someone swung a baseball bat at me (I learned this the hard way). About a year and a half ago my right knee got f*cked up and I had to quit tkd, since then I've tried everything from judo and karate to wingchung kungfu and ninpo. Then I understood, a martial art cant teach u how to fight (atleast it couldnt teach me).

It wasnt until I had been beaten, stabbed, cut and almost shot I learned how to fight...

[Tranquility]

Yes i can fight, i have had some past experience, im not an excellent fighter as i do not usually attend competitions and such but i usually do not lose at challenges that i accept

[st0rm]

;) U see, where I live u gotto fight to survive, the police dont even come here.

[Tranquility]

Yeah i knew a lotta places like that, when i was younger and lived in brooklyn the part i lived in was really bad and had the same concept.. i remember i had to beat up this kid defending myself because he previously gave a kid suc a big wedgie that his underpants tore and he was bleeding.. ouch.. and then he tried it to me but didnt even get a grip on me.. its just bullies have prolems, this kind of wandering off to the bully topic, they either have no friends, or are weak and want everyoen to think their strong, or have had something deeply emotional trouble them..

[Tranquility]

Martial arts cannot teach you how to fight, yes, but over time some of the reactions and blocks begin to come naturally, the only way you can be good at martial arts is through expeirence :/

[Alaiyo]

I agree. (about the martial arts)