Question:
I am preparing to do an initiation ritual, 1st degree, for one of my coven members at the next Full Moon. This is always a momentous occasion, and it made me think:

How many of you here are initiated, by a group or self-initiated? Do you think this is important? If you are not initiated, would you like to be? Why? If you are initiated, did anything special happen to you at or after the ritual, and would you do it again?

Choices:
I was initiated by a group/coven.
I initiated myself.
I am not initiated but would like to be.
I am not initiated and don't want to be.
I am initiated and regret it.

 

This is something which usually surprises people, but I am not initiated. I am dedicated, but am still learning and experiencing so much. Technically, I could be considered a 1st degree, having graduated from Wicca 101, but as I am not in a coven, that label doesn't affect much.
I would like to be initiated eventually, but I just don't know when or how I'd do it. I figure, when the time is right, I'll know.

I have never been initiated. I would like to be but as i often get so busy that i can't do much in the way of wicca, i don't know if i should or not. I have thought about initiating myself, but I just haven't found the time.

You should only if you feel that you should.

I looked into Wicca several years ago. And one thing that kept coming up in the info from the coven was initiaion. Yet no-one would ever indicate what initiation involved. And the more I delved into it, the more it became apparent that it was shrouded in secrecy and some former believers were physically damaged from their initiations. From what I gained it had to do with being mentally prepared for the outcome and having faith. Actually it scared me away from pursuing taking the courses and belonging to a coven.

So does anyone know what a true initiation into a coven actually consists of?

Coven initiated

Georgia85,
It honestly depends, though I've never heard of physical damage as a result. In many it would be considered a mental test on what you have learned and how mentally capable you are. For countless years it has been an unspoken rule to not speak about what happens during initiation. It's not secrecy, it's tradition. Each coven is different, sometimes in personality, level, seriousness or style. Though if you do end up doing this don't do it with a coven full of teenagers that are still learning themselves, do it with those who have much higher experience than you.

Georgia, there is an excellent book by Phyllis Curott called "Book of Shadows," which details her finding the pagan path all the way up to and including her initiation. I'm sure she left out some aspects, but she was very detailed -even I was surprised by how much information she gave.

You do not have to belong to a coven to learn and study, nor do you have to belong in order to be a pagan. There are plenty of solitaries and learning circles out there, and in this technological age there is so much information on the internet, you almost (almost) don't need a teacher at all.

As for former believers being "physically damaged from their initiation," or other former pagans telling tales of black magick and baby-eating... well, it is my experience that people who come away from paganism with a negative experience were doing it wrong, and were likely not practicing paganism at all.

BB.

Wow, talk about bringing up the past! Thanks ya'll for the info and Elexina, I've actually heard of that book. I have "The Solitary Practitioner" which is very informative and has answered a lot of questions I have had. Looks like I should also purchase "The Book of Shadows"
I do have it on VHS (ie Blair Witch "Book of Shadows). Does that count

quote:

Originally posted by Georgia85:
I do have it on VHS (ie Blair Witch "Book of Shadows). Does that count

Only if you're going for the baby-eating kind of witchcraft.

Scott Cunningham is an excellent resource and I highly recommend his works. Phyllis Curott only has two books as far as I know, but "Book of Shadows" was excellent, easy to read, beautifully worded, and gives an almost intimate look at the path to witchdom. Very nicely done. I would also try to find "Paganism: And Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions" by Joyce and River Higgenbotham. It's a great book with a lot of soul-searching questions and exercises. Whether you are pagan or not, the questions are very thought-provoking.
Happy reading!!

Thanks again Elexina and I appreciate you willingness to share

Just as info, I am not a Pagan - I am very much a Christian. Yet I am fascinated by other religions. I think a lot of it has to do with going to private Christian schools. We would have to take courses on various religions. And when I was younger I attended a workshop based on pagan beliefs. So I like to broaden my knowledge and expose myself to other's beliefs. Hope you don't mind.

Oh, I know you're not pagan. I totally understand, I find other paths fascinating as well. The Higgenbotham book is very thought-provoking, no matter what religion you are, even if you only read the exercises. :-)

I have been practicing Wicca since I was 12 but my evolution has been at such a slow sort of live and learn pace that I have never been initiated. I am dedicated by a mentor but I have never worked with a coven so I never really saw the need for me. I would eventually, like Elexina said, like to be initiated but right now theres other stuff to worry about I guess.

And that's the great thing about paganism: it's very go-at-your-own-pace, very fluid, very accepting of differences and tolerating. We can't all be the same person, can't all achieve the same things and the same pace -and we shouldn't have to.
BB.

Intiation is different for every tradition. If I knew which tradition you are asking about it might make the question make more since or atleast give a better place to start from.

Edward
Isian 3*

quote:

Originally posted by Fire Dance: If I knew which tradition you are asking about it might make the question make more since or atleast give a better place to start from.

Who are you responding to, specifically?