Seeker

Seekers are the students who take part in the Path of the Wise Ones Learning Circle. We make no assumptions that Seekers will choose to serve the Divine by becoming a Priest/ess or, if they do, that it will be within Path of the Wise Ones Tradition. To become a Seeker, one must take part in the application process and be accepted into the Path of the Wise Ones Learning Circle.

Dedicant

A Dedicant is one who has begun to sojourn on the pagan path and has decided that the Path of the Wise Ones Tradition is the gateway through which to explore further. This is the starting place for new members, unless they have been initiated in another Tradition, in which case an exception might be made, but only with the consent of the entire Tradition. Because this is merely the beginning of a long journey, Dedicants will ultimately become Initiates of the Tradition. We are a teaching tradition, so Dedicants act as Mentors once they have completed their initial training.

As a Dedicant, individuals are expected to make a serious attempt, through classes, assigned exercises, meditation, ritual, reading, and intellect to come to an understanding of her/himself as a spiritual, intellectual, physical and emotional being in this world. S/he should seriously consider whether the pagan priest/esshood is the correct spiritual path for his/her life to follow; as well as whether Path of the Wise Ones Tradition  is the proper place for him/her to undertake the training for the pagan priest/esshood.

Overall, a Priest/ess' training covers three general areas:

     (a) Class work and a study of a core area of specialization;

     (b) Active participation in rituals;

     (c) Personal work on the Self

Degree: First

A First Degree is a witch who has been initiated into the  Path of the Wise Ones Tradition. To receive First Degree initiation is to have committed one's life to the craft in general and specifically to Path of the Wise Ones Tradition.  The First Degree Initiate knows that s/he is Wiccan or a Witch, and seeks to further his or her knowledge throughout the remainder of this lifetime; s/he is considered a Priest/ess of Wicca and/or Witchcraft. (This Initiation may not be binding past the current lifetime.)

Requirements for receiving the First Degree:
1. Create your own Book of Shadows and keep it current with notes and descriptions of classes, rituals, and personal magical workings.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of the modern Craft movement.

3. Read a beginner's paganism book as approved by your teacher.

4. Demonstrate familiarity with the Elements and with basic correspondences.

5. Demonstrate familiarity with the basic magical tools: athame, wand, chalice, pentacle, staff, bell, besom, censor, cauldron, cords, candles, etc.

6. Demonstrate familiarity with the Wheel of the Year and the names and significance of the eight Sabbats.

7. Be able to define the following words: Ankh, Attunement, Aura, Blessed Be, Book of Shadows, Burning Times, Centering, Chakras, Charge of the Goddess, Circle, Cone of Power, Correspondences, Coven, Cowan, Grounding, Elder, Esbats, Eye of Horus, Familiar, Immanence, Initiate, Invocation, Law of Return (Threefold Law), Lunar Cycle, Magick, Pentacle, Pentagram, Perfect Love and Perfect Trust, Polarity, Quarters, Reincarnation, Ritual, Sabbats, Skyclad, Spell, Summerland, Three Levels of Self, Traditions, Wheel of the Year, Wiccan Rede, Witch, and Witches Pyramid.

8. Demonstrate familiarity with altar arrangements. 

9. Develop familiarity with a method of divination.

10. Become familiar with the basics of energy work (centering, grounding, and shielding) and participate in group energy work in a ritual or class setting.

11. Demonstrate knowledge of the basics of magic, how it works, and why it works, as well as basic spell types such as candle magic, and tarot magic.

12. Demonstrate ability to banish, bless, and consecrate material to prepare it for ritual use.

13. Lead a guided meditation in a group setting.

14. Find your magical name.

15. Perform a cleansing and blessing ceremony in your home, ward it properly and create a home altar.

16. Demonstrate familiarity with the principles of ritual design by designing and conducting, under the supervision of his or her teacher, a simple celebratory ritual. (A Sabbat ritual)

17. Cast a circle for group ritual.

18. In an interview with the tradition elders, satisfy the council that you have met all of the requirements above.

19. Receive the endorsement of a Tradition Elder.

20. Be willing to take the required oaths.

21. Earn the unanimous agreement of tradition elders that you live according to the sound spiritual ethics, that your participation brings the tradition closer to perfect love and perfect trust, that your life in general honors the Divine and exemplifies the ideals of true paganism, and that he or she is fully prepared to be made “Initiate anPriest/es.”

Degree: Second

A Second Degree Initiate is a Witch and Priest/ess in our Tradition. In becoming a Second, s/he is given the power to act as a High Priestess under the jurisdiction and authority of a (Third Degree) High Priestess. This person has completed his/her apprenticeship, is fully committed to the craft, has integrated craft ways into his/her life, and has reached a level where s/he is ready to accept a higher level of responsibility.  S/he gives service to the coven and to the community, shares his/herself in a healthy manner, acts as a mentor and example of Pagan clergy, and leads and guides others to the best of their and his/her abilities.

Second Degree Requirements 

1. Successfully complete the requirements for, and receive initiation into the First Degree within the Path of the Wise Ones Tradition.

2. Read Covencraft by Amber K, a book about the Sabbats as approved by your teacher, and at least one other book as approved by your teacher.

3. If available, find a student and guide them through First Degree studies.

4. Establish a working relationship with at least one aspect of the Goddess and one aspect of the God.

5. Learn to take responsibility for your emotions and how you express and transform them.

6. Learn to evaluate, cleanse, energize, and heal your chakras and energy body.

7. Begin to study a healing technique of your choice. (Herbcraft, massage, Reiki, etc.)

8. Confront and heal at least one of your “dark side” issues related to your pain, anger, hatred, or other negative emotions. 

9. Learn more extensive counseling skills. Use them with positive results with a member of your Pagan community.

10. Assist in teaching at least three different Craft related subjects with positive evaluations from your students.

11. Demonstrate basic knowledge of advanced spell types such as inscribing, charms and talismans, and bottles of warding and protection.

12. Assist with at least two rites of passage and/or celebration. (New house blessings, as well as personal rites)

13. Design and lead a Full Moon, New Moon, and Sabbat Celebration.

14. Organize an important event or project for your coven motivating and leading others to complete it.

15. Be able to demonstrate advanced energy manipulation skills such as, aligning, molding, and directing natural energy.

16. Raise a cone of power at a group ritual.

17. In an interview with the tradition elders, satisfy the council  that you have met all of the requirements above.

18. Receive the endorsement of the Tradition Elders.

19. Be willing to take the required oaths.

20. Earn the unanimous agreement of tradition elders that you live according to the sound spiritual ethics, that your participation brings the tradition closer to perfect love and perfect trust, that your life in general honors the Divine and exemplifies the ideals of true paganism

Degree: Third

A Third Degree is a Witch, a High Priest/ess and Elder with the authority to use with the power acquired with the Second Degree.   S/he is fully qualified to hive off from the and form a spearate coven within the Tradition, as well as to lead all rituals and act as the vessel of the Lady when the High Priestess is absent. S/he may act on behalf of the HP/S in every way, save for banishings and bindings and may perform all Initiations, including those to the Third Degree.

Third Degree Requirements

1. Successfully complete the requirements for, and receive initiation into the Second Degree within the Path of the Wise Ones Tradition.

2. If available, take on a student and guide them through Second Degree Studies.

3. Read at least three advanced paganism book as approved by the tradition.

4. Discover and define your True Will.

5. Explain your understanding of your spiritual development over several incarnations and the important spiritual challenges before you now.

6. Explain the legacy you plan to leave when you pass on and what you are doing to manifest it.

7. Have complete rituals in your Book of Shadows for Basic Ritual Outline, Dedication, 1st Degree, 2nd Degree, 3rd Degree, New Moon, Full Moon, Wiccaning, Womanhood, Manhood, Handfasting, Handparting, Croning or Sagehood, and Passing Over. If you plan to hive off include Birthing of a coven, and parting of a coven.

8. Lead at least two rites of passage.

9. Demonstrate basic knowledge of advanced spell types such as elemental conjuring and salamander magick.

10. Develop facility with another method of divination such as scrying, or rune stones.

11. Become familiar with the beliefs and tenants of at least 3 World religions other than Paganism.

12. Design and lead a large-group ritual at a Pagan community or open community Sabbat or festival.

13. Organize and help teach a Pagan 101 series of introductory classes on Paganism and Witchcraft

14. Draw down the sun or moon during a group ritual.

15. Plan and complete a community service project. (Pagan outreach, volunteer as Clergy at local prison or hospital, coat drive, soup kitchen, ecological relief effort, etc.)

16. In an interview with the tradition elders, satisfy the council that you have met all of the requirements above.

17. Receive the endorsement of the tradition elders that you are skilled in the areas of ritual design and leadership, teaching, group process, counseling, and coven administration, and are ready to be initiated to the Third Degree.

18. Be willing to take the required oaths.

19. Earn the unanimous agreement of tradition elders that you live according to the sound spiritual ethics, that your participation brings the tradition closer to perfect love and perfect trust, that your life in general honors the Divine and exemplifies the ideals of true paganism.

The "journeyman" stage is complete, and this Elder is now seen as a Master or Mistress of his/her Craft. Like the Second Degree Priest/ess, s/he is fully committed to their spirituality and has integrated their spiritualways into his/her life, giving service to the Tradition and to the community, sharing him/herself in a healthy manner, acting as a mentor and example of Pagan clergy, and leading and guiding others to the best of their and his/her abilities.  The major difference is that the Third has completed leadership training and is deemed fully able to create and lead his/her own coven, hiving off at any time.  Note:  Hiving off, or starting ones own coven, is NOT required.