Witch School

[ambermystique]

I have officially signed up as a student at WitchSchool.com. I was wondering if anyone else had completed courses from there. Has anyone heard anything about it? Good? Bad? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks everyone!
Blessed Be,
AmberMystique

[JWill0ws]

Thanks for this thread - it looks interesting. I am curious what others think.

[Erincelt]

Howdy do, I'm a student there. :) Its worth noting that they teach their own Tradition pretty much exclusively, and that there's something a little bit shaky in the Tradition's history lesson, but otherwise its an alright experiance. Worth having taken a few of their classes anyhow.

[BellaWild]

If I were interested in Wicca I would probably be interested. But I'm not. It seems Wicca based. So other than that it looks interesting. :)

[Kalika]

I signed up too... but never did anything with it, so will you let me know what you find? I signed up more out of curiousity than anything...

I have heard a lot of people say they enjoyed the learning experience though.

Blessings,

Kalika

[SylverStar]

I've completed a couple of cources there. I've been so busy I forgot that I'm a student there. Ah yeah some of there basic lessons are focused on there religion, but I find it interesting. I like learning whatever and some of the other ones are not bad.

[IndigoMoon]

I completed a few courses at witchschool.com as well. I enjoyed the lessons, but I had problems with some of the things that my "teacher" was saying. I respectfully bowed out after a while. It was an interesting experience although I soon realized that it's not the tradition for me. To each her own though right!

[Bainidhe Dub]

I'm taking classes, not for the tradition itself, but more for the different viewpoints. Very good aromatherapy class, but I haven't been able to get to lesson 2 as the test STILL isn't available after a few weeks *sheesH* lol

[bamba]

Wow that kind of sounds interesting I may go sign up!

~Bamba~

[MoonDust]

I'm with bamba. I'll look into it further when I get home

[MoonDust]

I'm always interested in learning about different paths. looks cool to me.So, I signed up.

[Ben Trismegistus]

Just a disclaimer: The teachings at Witchschool.com seem legit to me, but remember that they do not speak for Wicca as a whole. They provide instruction in the Correllian Tradition of Wicca.

[MoonDust]

yes sir.

[Ben Trismegistus]

:razz:

[Rain Gnosis]

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. On forums like MW I've heard people say it's good. On forums where there are more recons and trad witches the general consensus seems to be that it's crap. So I suppose it's up to the individual :)

[Ben Trismegistus]

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. On forums like MW I've heard people say it's good. On forums where there are more recons and trad witches the general consensus seems to be that it's crap. So I suppose it's up to the individual :)
Well, that seems reasonable. After all, it's a site that specifically teaches a certain Wiccan tradition. It would make sense that recons and trad witches would think it's crap. Christians would probably think it's crap too.

[MoonDust]

:razz:
:razz::razz:

[Rain Gnosis]

Well, that seems reasonable. After all, it's a site that specifically teaches a certain Wiccan tradition. It would make sense that recons and trad witches would think it's crap. Christians would probably think it's crap too.

It has nothing to do with being the right or wrong tradition or religion, Ben, but whether someone might feel it teaches things that are fundamental to Wicca.

People don't have to be religion X to have opinions about material regarding religion X.

[Ben Trismegistus]

It has nothing to do with being the right or wrong tradition or religion, Ben, but whether someone might feel it teaches things that are fundamental to Wicca.

People don't have to be religion X to have opinions about material regarding religion X.
Understood. But wouldn't you think that adherents to religion X would have more knowledge about the efficacy of teachings on religion X than would adherents to religion Y?

[Rain Gnosis]

Understood. But wouldn't you think that adherents to religion X would have more knowledge about the efficacy of teachings on religion X than would adherents to religion Y?

Yes and no. Trad Wiccans would have definite ideas about what they feel is necessary to any religion calling itself Wiccan, I have ideas about what Wicca is even though I'm not Wiccan, Recons also often have a good idea of what they feel Wicca is, either because they have been Wiccan, or because they know many Wiccans... *shrugs* As I said, it's up to the individual.

[Ben Trismegistus]

Yes and no. Trad Wiccans would have definite ideas about what they feel is necessary to any religion calling itself Wiccan, I have ideas about what Wicca is even though I'm not Wiccan, Recons also often have a good idea of what they feel Wicca is, either because they have been Wiccan, or because they know many Wiccans... *shrugs* As I said, it's up to the individual.
True, but I also think that someone who has been Wiccan and rejected it would also be more likely to take a more negative view of certain Wiccan teachings.

And in your earlier post, you said "trad witches", so I thought you weren't referring to Trad Wiccans.

But like you say, it's up to the individual. Personally, I'm against the idea of getting degree initiation over the internet.

[Jenett]

There's some stuff that transcends tradition, too.

I've gone through the first part of the first degree course (not because I particularly needed the information: I'm an initiate in an entirely different trad) but because I wanted to evaluate it because lots of people keep asking whether it's good.

My basic take is that there's very little in there (except for the very tradition-specific stuff) that can't be found in a wide variety of other resources.

There is, however, (at least last time I checked, about a month ago) at least one *major* safety issue.

The ritual in the first full lesson encourages students to touch undiluted essential oils to bare skin without any safety warnings. Normally, not such a big deal, but that lesson also makes a big deal out of "We'll tell you what you need to know as we go along."

I did my best to try and get someone to add a warning, but as of the last time I checked (about 5 months after trying that), it still hadn't been edited. That worries me a lot.

The rest of it, I have some factual disagreements with in places, some pedagogical agreements with in places, a number of places where I think things are poorly worded, and many places where I think there are better resources out there. But it's not particularly dangerous or risky or likely to get someone into trouble (except, as mentioned, the essential oil bit.)

But, on the other hand, I also honestly don't think you can determine whether someone knows anything about Wicca by whether they can answer a multiple choice computer test - almost all the questions are very easy to answer using a 'find the phrase' search on the lessons themselves (i.e. they don't require you to synthesise or analyse what you've learned or apply it in a new way: just give it back in the same wording they gave it to you.)

Even the final test questions (seen them, didn't bother doing them) are mostly regurgitation of factual material, not applications or analysis or synthesis. What the tests test is whether you can find what they say about a topic and give it back to them - not whether you understand it or can use it or apply it in your life.

(Note that I'm leaving aside the entire issue of whether you can accurately determine whether someone can run energy smoothly or ground or center or do any other ritual activity online. But they don't test much for that either, or even require stuff that would make it somewhat more clear, like submitting a journal of experiences with the exercises in each lesson.)

The place I think they do a fairly good job is in providing gentle support and encouragement to people (and providing something with a clear progression of lessons).

But honestly, if you're already posting here, you've got access *much* broader community that can give that to you, and where you can more readily get answers to more complex questions than the lessons deal with (or at least resources to help you out.) (And where, if there's a safety issue, you're more likely to have multiple people point it out...)

[Rain Gnosis]

True, but I also think that someone who has been Wiccan and rejected it would also be more likely to take a more negative view of certain Wiccan teachings.

Hm, possibly, and I can see your point, but it's not applicable in the particular cases I'm thinking of (since I know the people who "think it's crap" I know how they feel about Wicca).

A lot of Trad Wiccans consider themselves both Trad Wiccan and Trad Witch, sorry I confused the issue by mixing them up. Habit. :)

[Ben Trismegistus]

Fair enough. :)

[ambermystique]

Well, I've completed a few courses on the site. I agree that the tests only require you to "regurgitate" information. However, for someone such as myself, I find the site to be incredibly helpful. I've got an insane amount of books about Wicca, but never really started to do anything. I was too afraid that I'd mess something up. The site allows you to have a mentor that will answer questions. Plus, I can always ask any questions that I have on here. The site is more like an extra learning tool for me. I am getting certain things that I can't in books. However, there are many things in books that I can't get on the site. Also, as long as a person has books that specify that grounding, centering, meditation and things of that sort are essential to ritual and life in general, then the site is just an extra outlet for information and a good way to help one remember things (even if it is just repeating what was said in the lessons). Overall, if I had to give it a letter grade, I'd say "B." I just think that maybe the site should encourage students to find outside reading materials or someone in their area to help with circumstances where the site can't or won't assist. Sound ok?

[bamba]

I joined it yesterday and it doesn't seem that bad I like it.

~Bamba~

[Helpme]

hello... ur new here too i see maybe u can help me

[Bainidhe Dub]

Whatcha need help with?

[Kaylara]

Hmmm... Gonna check it out... I like learning about other Trads. ;)

[LdyAlisa]

I looked at witch school in 2001 and they only teach the Correllian way so. I decided to located a free online teachers and we founded The Pagan Circle Online Campus. We are dedicated to providing a free environment for the study and understanding of the various pagan religions. We have been teaching now almost 2 years and our courses include:Advanced Wicca,Alchemy, Anunnaki, Astru, Astral Projection and Meditation, Avalon mythology, Basic Divination, Basic Telepathy, Celtic Druidism,Discordia, Draconic Magick, Egyptian, Enochian, Greco-roman Theology, Gods and Goddesses, Mage Craft, Moon Lore, Numerology, Pagan Theology and Magick History, Sacred Herbology, Sacred Hospitality, Shamanism, Stregheria/Italian Witchcraft, Teen Paganism, Thelema, Voudon/Santeria, Wicca, 101 and Wicca for Life. We decided we just did not want to teach one path but rather many so that the seekers could find the path that is right for them you can check us out at: http://www.tpcoc.com

[Ceallach]

I was enrolled at Witchschool for a few months earlier this year and ended up figuring out that I could learn what they offered and more on my own. They had some good basic information, but give me Scott Cunningham and I've learned the same stuff and more. For those interested in learning other Trads, its probably pretty informative. I wasn't interested in Correllian Wicca, so I didn't pay much attention to that.

All I can say is try it if you're interested. Can't hurt.

[dr_zeus440]

I suppose it depends on what you're looking for. On forums like MW I've heard people say it's good. On forums where there are more recons and trad witches the general consensus seems to be that it's crap. So I suppose it's up to the individual :)
Speaking of forums with recons and trad witches, can you/anyone recommend any sites?

[aefentid]

Speaking of forums with recons and trad witches, can you/anyone recommend any sites?
Here are two sites:
Beliefnet's Reconstructionist boards, they also have Pagan, Wiccan, and Witchcraft boards.
http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/boards_main.AllCategories.asp?Category=101

The Cauldron has a good mix of posters from recons to eclectics.
http://www.ecauldron.com/

If you're interested in Trad Wicca there's the Amber and Jet E-mail list.
http://www.amberandjet.org/