WitchCraft - Weave 1

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The following is the outline of study for First Degree, Weave 1. At the end of this Weave, an online test is available to those who would like to have their learning formally acknowledged. Students who pass this test are entitled to call themselves Akashan Witch, First Weave.

Students who are interested in sitting the Weave 1 test should contact the Temple for the password required to locate the test online. The test is available to student worldwide - you do not need to be a resident of Australia in order to sit the Weave tests.

Week 1: WitchCraft and Paganism

Consider the following topics for discussion:

What is WitchCraft? What does the term 'WitchCraft' mean to you?

What is Paganism? How does it differ from WitchCraft?

What is Wicca? Are Wicca and WitchCraft the same thing?

Can a person be a Witch and a member of another religion e.g. a Jewish Witch, a Christian Witch? What problems / issues might they face?

Research the legality of WitchCraft in your State / country. How long has it been legal (is it legal)? What series of events led to its legalisation? Week 2: Traditions and Power

Consider the following questions, and develop answers for discussion:

Who was Gerald Gardner? Who was Alex Sanders? Who is StarHawk? What are their contributions to the Craft?

Name three other key figures and traditions in the WitchCraft community, and research the ways in which they have contributed to the Community.

What is Power? How can we gain power?

What is 'power over' as opposed to 'power within'?

How can we gain personal power without controlling others?

What does it mean to be powerful? How do people give their power away? Week 3: Terminology and Novice Initiation

Research the following terms and prepare for discussion:

Widdershins. Week 4: The Elements and Ritual Tool Consecration

Consider the following questions for discussion:

Air=East. What colour represents Air? What words and images does it invoke? What astrological signs are ruled by Air? What deities are associated with Air to you? What personality traits is Air associated with?

Fire=North. What colour represents Fire? What words and images does it invoke? What astrological signs are ruled by Fire? What deities are associated with Fire to you? What personality traits is Fire associated with?

Water=West. What colour represents Water? What words and images does it invoke? What astrological signs are ruled by Water? What deities are associated with Water to you? What personality traits is Water associated with?

Earth=South. What colour represents Earth? What words and images does it invoke? What astrological signs are ruled by Earth? What deities are associated with Earth to you? What personality traits is Earth associated with?

What are the four physical states of matter? Which Element does each relate to? Weeks 5 and 6: The God

Consider the following questions for discussion:

What are the three faces of the God?

Who is the Green Man? What does he represent?

Name 3 Gods that represent the young, mature and old facets of the God. Give background information, including sacred / totem animals and / or items.

Research the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. What does this story mean? Explain the story in your own words.

Research the story of Robin Hood. Who was Robin Hood? How many were in his band of "merry men"? Who was Robin Hood's Maid and what was her name? Is her name significant?

Research the story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. Why do you think an effigy of Guy is burned on Bonfire night in England?

Read the section of the gospels in the Bible where Jesus is tried and crucified. Did Jesus choose to die? If so, why? Weeks 7 and 8: The Goddess

Research and prepare the following topics:

What are the three faces of the Triple Goddess, and which phase of the Moon does each represent?

Who is Athene, and what is her history? Include information about animals / items associated with her.

Who is Hathor, and what is her history? Include information about animals / items associated with her.

Who is Hecate, and what is her history? Include information about animals / items associated with her.

Research three Goddesses of your choice, and prepare a short discussion about them for the online study group.

Who is Mary, and why is she so beloved by Catholics? Week 9: The Altar

Learn the following:

Learn how to set up an Altar, and the meaning of each item of the Altar.

Personalising the Altar.

Set an altar facing North. Next, set an altar facing South. How do they differ?

Set an altar in your own personal governing Element/Direction. Does this feel more comfortable than an altar in another Element/Direction? If so, why do you think it does?

Gather items together to make a small travelling altar from scratch. Use the hints on the Altar page of this website as a guide. Week 10: The Element of Akasha

What does the term 'Akasha' mean?

What is the Fifth Element? Where is it positioned in a Circle?

What is the Christian Holy Ghost, and is it associated with Akasha?

How can Akasha be represented in a Circle? Your practical for Week 10 is to revise all the material covered in Weave 1. If you want to, select a rite or spell from the website that appeals to you and is relevant to your needs, and perform it.

Weave 1: Theory Examination

Once you have revised all the material contained in the last ten weeks of this course, email the Temple and we will arrange for you to sit a short online examination, which will enable you to claim the title of Akashan Witch, First Weave. This examination will last no longer than 15 minutes. You may sit this examination as many times as you need, but there must be a gap of at least one week between attempts.

Having passed this examination, you can begin Weave 2 of your First Degree of Akashan WitchCraft.

Should you choose not to sit this examination, you may continue your study with Akasha, but may not claim the First Weave title.

* Sabbat ritual examples are provided here.

HTML (online) format

Casting and Closing Circle

Novice Initiation (Solitary option)

The Consecration of Ritual Tools

Invoking the God (Solitary option)

Invoking the God (Group option)

Blessing of Cakes and Ale

New Moon Ritual (group option)

New Moon Ritual (solitary option)

Invoking the Goddess (Solitary option)

Invoking the Goddess (Group option)

Creating and setting an Altar

Altar map DOC (printable) format