Wicca Study Checklist

When we first start on a new path we are often overwhelmed by the amount of information we need to consume. How to start studying Wicca? Where do we begin? What is most important? Truth be told, there's no one-and-only way to do so.

In Wicca, the best way is to begin with a First Degree training program. There are many good classes and schools online and free. However, factors such as internet availability, mundane responsibilities, current schedule, and others may all interfere with your ability to take formal training.

Likewise, there's also some really not-so-great training programs out there, and the experience of having gone through one may leave you disenchanted with formal training entirely.

This list is devised for those individuals. Study at your own pace. Ask questions. Begin with what interests or confuses you most. Ask questions. Don't feel as though you must know everything right away as accumulating knowledge and changes in lifestyle take time. Ask questions.

Learning never ends for all paths, and Wicca is no different. In fact, Wiccan practice often requires a higher level of commitment, critical thinking, and discipline to stick with it. This is true whether you are on your own or study under a teacher or guide. If you are on your own, may this list help you on your new journey!

History

Studying the history of your religion, traditions, superstitions, and beliefs provides perspective on how such paths came about and why they are relevant. By studying history, you find new respect for old views, strengthen your own beliefs, or even determine which modes of thinking may be too outdated and require renewal.

Areas of study include:

• Ancient cultures

• Witchcraft in various geographical locations

• Different Wiccan traditions & their origins

  • British Traditional Witchcraft vs Traditional Witchcraft

  • Wiccan Fundamentalism vs. Eclectic Wicca

• Where Wicca fits in in society

• Etymology of at least Wicca, Witch, Witchcraft, Coven, & Warlock (knowing roots of words helps to understand cultural issues)

• Misconceptions and fact vs. fiction

• Difference in Wicca ("The Religion of Witchcraft") and other Witchcraft paths

• Modern witch hunts, discrimination, political movements, Burning Times

• Historical inaccuracies

• Controversies

• Mythology

• Alphabets & languages

Beliefs

When studying any new religion or way of life, the beliefs are the core area of study. Why? Because the set of beliefs in a religion or way of life is what differentiates it from all others. Here are some topics of belief to get you started:

• What differentiates Wicca from other religions

• Basic beliefs of Wicca & the differences in its traditions

• Spirituality vs. religion

• The Goddess, God, & the All

• Building a relationship with Deity

• The Wiccan Rede

• Reincarnation

• Karma vs. Three-fold Law vs. Law of Return

  • Three-fold Law as a Witch's responsibility to dish out

• Skyclad

• Personal responsibility

• What makes one a Wiccan, Witch, or Pagan

• Ancestor worship

• Higher self

• Magickal names

• Symbols

• Music, dance, and drama

• The role of creativity

• Spirit Guides, Familiars, Angels, etc. 

Elements

Generally speaking, the Elements are the building blocks of life, everything, or possibly spiritual entities that rule over specific areas of creation. Understanding the role of the Elements in Wicca can help to connect you with nature and the Gods.

To begin building a relationship with the Elements, study:

• What the Elements are

• Magickal correspondences of the Elements

• Different cultural understandings (ex: Chinese vs. Wicca)

• Role in nature

• Purpose of Elements in Wicca

• Techniques to help connect with the Elements

Tools

Items used in Wicca and Witchcraft, called Tools, serve a myriad of purposes. How important are they to you? Understanding what they are, how they work, and how they are used will help you answer that question. Be sure to research:

• Ritual tools

• Differences in ceremonial magick vs. folk magick

• Shopping for vs. making your own

• Purpose in magick

• Clothing, jewelry, robes, etc. 

• Role tools play in Wicca and magick

• What tools are necessary

• Alternatives when the suggested tool is unavailable to you

• Magickal correspondences of Tools

• Creating journals & Book of Shadows (BoS)

• Use & storage of magickal tools

• Cleansing, consecration, & charging your tools

Covens, Groups, Solitary

Hierarchical structure is important to know in every aspect of life; business, community, government, military, etc. Humans aren't alone in this as knowing and abiding by hierarchical structures can mean the difference between survival and death, success and failure, acceptance and rejection, and so forth.

Studying the different structures within Wicca provides similar benefits of survival and acceptance. Topics to research include:

• Different forms of practice

• How to determine good groups from bad

• What to expect from groups

• Pros & cons of each (coven vs. groups vs. solitary)

• Degree systems (and how they differ between groups)

• Joining a study group

• Rules, etiquette, & ethics

• Online communities

• Letting others know vs staying in the "broom" closet

• How to find local like-minded Wiccans, Witches, & Pagans 

• Seeking a mentor (what to expect & what to watch for)

• Metaphysical shops, workshops, & classes

• Your own beliefs, values, & preferences (to help in finding the right fit for you)

Holidays

The celebrations of a religion are key to understanding what’s important to that religion. Each holy day is packed with spiritual understanding, guidance, and reverence. What is important to Wiccans? Here's some areas you can research to find out:

• Ritual days

• Alternate days of power

• History of Sabbats & Esbats

• Different cultural traditions

• Relation to & similarity with other religions’ celebrations

• The Sabbats & Esbats

• Other celebrations

• Lore (the various versions)

• Rites of passage

• Drawing Down the Moon

• Moon phases & lore

Meditation

Meditation serves many purposes both spiritually and in the mundane world. In Wicca, this practice is important for setting the stage for effective magick and journeying between worlds. It's a lifelong practice with lifelong benefits. To get started:

• Different relaxation techniques

• Benefits & purposes

• Levels of consciousness

• Preparation

• Dreams

• The additional benefit of physical exercise (yoga, t'ai chi, cardio)

• Breathing techniques

• Journeying, trance, and astral travel

• Chakras

• Meditation space

• Guided vs unguided

• Akashic Records

Divination & Channeling

The Witch is so connected with fortune-telling and conversing with spirits that to study a Witchcraft-centered faith would be silly without it. Not every Witch chooses to do these things and some are outright uncomfortable with channeling directly. Still, it is an important area of study for the novice Witch.

• Different forms of divination (tarot, I-Ching, astrology, scrying, runes, etc.)

• Reading for yourself vs others

• How channeling works

• Precautions

• Importance of interpretations

• Avoiding judgement or bias in readings

• Psychic abilities (scientific & metaphysical thoughts)

  • Brain waves

  • Intuition & forms of intuitive ability

• Exercises to improve abilities

• Symbols

• Dreams – purposes, interpretations

  • Lucid dreaming

• Synchronicity vs coincidence

• Communing with the dead/ancestors (Necromancy)

Sacred Space

More often than not, discussions of sacred space in Wicca appear limited to ritual and magick. However, that's hardly the case. All religions share the concept of sacred space. What makes a space sacred? Why is it so important? What purpose does it serve?

To answers these questions, begin with:

• Ritual space

• Circles

  • Different casting methods

  • Different purposes

• Special rooms (ritual room, meditation room, etc.) 

• Altars

• Nature

• Emergency situations

• Energy centers, ley lines, haunted places, & healing springs

• Spirits of the land

• Limitations

• Sharing space (spiritual & mundane)

• Directions (North, East, South, West)

• Cleansing & prepping

Magick & Spellcasting

Perhaps most important in a Witchcraft-oriented faith is that of magick and spellcasting. Because this isn't limited to Wicca (Witchcraft comes in many forms, and magick is practiced in non-Witchcraft paths as well) areas of research are unlimited!

Here's a list to get you started:

• Energy work & practices

• Preparation (grounding & centering)

• Focusing intent

• Spell writing

• Different types of magick (elemental, folk, lunar, solar, ceremonial, candle, etc.)

• Cleansing vs. banishing

• Protection

• Hexing & healing

• Personal power

• Working with other energies (deities, stones, plants, animals)

• Familiars

• Sex magick (purposes & ethics)

  • Consent – This is non-negotiable!

• Invocations & Evocations

• The Witches' Pyramid

• Timing & other correspondences

  • Seasonal

  • Lunar

  • Astrological

  • Days of the Week

  • Planetary hours

• Raising energy & the Cone of Power

• Releasing energy

• Scientific laws of nature (to understand the energies we work with)

• Music & dance

• Shifts in consciousness (& brain waves)

• Magickal traditions & orders

• Energy Healing

• Various sciences

  • Astronomy/Cosmology/Astrophysics ("as above, so below")

  • Biology & Microbiology ("as above, so below")

  • Earth & Environmental science (know & understand what you're working with)

  • Medicine (particularly anatomy; to help with healing magick)

  • Physics & Quantum Physics (avoid pseudoscience; learn the laws of the universe in which we live, get a grasp of what energy is and how it works/transforms)

  • Psychology (because it never hurts, er, I mean: understand yourself better, build compassion for others, and particularly useful for Shadow Work)

© 2011-2020 by Evylyn Rose