Braided Wheel Study Guide 1-1

Overview

The Syllabus gives you an outline of the topics that will be covered. The Introduction to the Study Guide talks about the theory behind the structure and is meant to give you some insight into the structure of the program. The section on Student Study Habits contains recommended activities and is meant to help you get the most out of the program. The guide to Neopagan Etiquette introduces you to Neopagan standards of behavior and is meant to help you feel more comfortable at Pagan gatherings. The Neopagan Glossary contains words that may be unfamiliar or used in unusual ways it is meant to be a handy referance throughout your studies. About The Book of Shadows explains the probable history and origins of these books. The Overview of Braided Wheel Degree System outlines the entire program and explains the many meaning of initiation. Chapter 10 of "The Spiral Dance" provides a second vierw on Initiation, for referance and comparison.

Learning Objective

1. Recognize a Book of Shadows, know who keeps one and why?
2. Describe the purpose of the Degree system?
3. Explain the purpose of initiation?
4. Identify the objective of First Degree training?
5. Identify the objective of Second Degree training?
6. Identify the objective of Third Degree training?

Assignments for this lesson

Read
1st Year Sylabus
Introduction to the Study Guide
Student study habits
Neopagan Etiquette
Glossary
About The Book of Shadows
Overview of Braided Wheel Degree System
"Spiral Dance" Chapter 10. When you read Chapter 10 of "The Spiral Dance" remember to include the "Ten Years Later" commentary in the back of the book.

After reading

Consult with your instructor about the new concepts you are learning.

Review the reading assignments. A second reading is suggested.

Answer the questions reased by the Learning objectives; then go over the answers with your instructor.

Study activities

Vocabulary

_____ 1.Altar
_____ 2.Shrine
_____ 3.Worship
_____ 4.Friend
_____ 5.Postulant
_____ 6.consensus
_____ 7.Success
_____ 8.Month
_____ 9.Week

1. To give energy to.
2. A decision making process where no decision is made until everyone consents.
3. The lenth of one cycle of the moon.
4. Someone who has asked for membership in the group and begun training.
5. Someone who regularly attends rituals with out being a member of the group.
6. The lenth of one quarter of the moons cycle.
7. The accomplishment of a desired goal.
8. A permanent sacred space where significant objects are kept for ongoing devotion
9. A working space only set up when a ritual is going to take place.

Completion

1. All growth is ______________ growth and you need to give yourself time to find out not only what your ____________ is but how you are going to ______________ it. Do rituals on your own, set aside room (or a small table) in your apartment or house for a _____________.

achieve
personal
shrine
vision

2. Witchcraft is about personal ___________________, self ______________ and gaining awareness of your own physical and emotional _____________. It is about _____________ for yourself what you need and getting it for your self, but not necessarily __________.

discipline
alone
deciding
needs
responsibility

3. The Wiccan world view is based on ______________ growth and experience. And as long as one looks to others for ________________ one is not truly learning. True educa¬tion begins with personal _________________ for ones own work. True ________________ is what you teach yourself.

responsibility
education
knowledge
personal

4. The First degree is basic religious _______________. The First degree training program is designed to make the student a competent ________________. The Second Degree program is aimed at personal ___________ and advanced ______________. The Third Degree training program is _________________ through _____________.

leadership
learning
growth
service
Priest/ess
competence

True-false Questions

T F 1. Witchcraft is about personal responsibility.

T F 2. Training is the backbone of spiritual development.

T F 3. Public events are for outward focus and growth.

T F 4. It is not important to keep a journal

T F 5. It is not important to continue to work on your own when you are with a group.

T F 6. In any field where you want to obtain proficiency you need to keep up on professional journals.

Short answer

1. Compare Starhawk's Description of initiation with the Braided Wheel Tradition.

2. Initiation means beginning. Why do we call this ritual a "beginning"?

3. Explain who chooses the initiates new name, and why them?

4. Why would it be OK to reveal an initiation ritual?

5. Why are you embarking on this program? What do you hope to accomplish?

6. Why must an initiate ask for initiation?

Self test

1. What is a Book of Shadows?
   1. The written record of a group's or individual's practices.
   2. A book with blank pages.
   3. A book of recipes.
   4. A book of very dark photographs.

2. The advantage of joining a tradition instead of practicing solitaire is
   1. The great parties.
   2. The support system a tradition can provide.
   3. The groovy outfits.
   4. All of the above.

3. What is the purpose of the Degree system?
   1. It is an opportunity to make people jump through hoops.
   2. It is a training program that helps people measure their progress
   3. It gives people an excuse to think they're better than other people
   4. All of the above.

4. What is an Initiation?
   1. A symbolic death and rebirth.
   2. A rite of passage into the coven.
   3. A commitment to the god/dess.
   4. A transformative experience.
   5. All of the above.

5. What is the purpose of initiation?
   1. A chance to do really embarressing things to people who can't object
   2. A recognition of a transition.
   3. A transformative experiance.
   4. b and c.

6. How long should someone train before their first initiation?
   1. Years and years.
   2. A couple of months at least.
   3. At least a year and a day.
   4. What do you mean "train" I know everything already.

7. Why are initiations rituals kept secret?
   1. So people won't realize how silly they are.
   2. To increase the emotional impact of the experience.
   3. I can't tell you it's a secret.
   4. So that I'll know something you don"t

8. Why do initiates receive new names?
   1. Because silly names are what religion is all about.
   2. To recognize their new life.
   3. So that no one will know who they are.
   4. b and c.

Optional activities

2. Read "Dreaming the Dark" and "Truth or Dare" by Starhawk for more information on group processes and consensus.

© 1999 Sheherazahde, Braided Wheel Tradition
For more information contact: sheherazahde@yahoo.com

How to cite this page:
MLA style:
Snyder, Eva M. "Braided Wheel Study Guide 1-1." June 14, 1999. Online. Internet. [Put here the date you read or printed this page]. Available WWW: http://geocities.datacellar.net/Athens/Ithaca/7746/BraidedWheel/StudyGuide1-1.html

APA style:
Snyder, Eva M. (1999). Braided Wheel Study Guide 1-1. [Online]. Available WWW: http://geocities.datacellar.net/Athens/Ithaca/7746/BraidedWheel/StudyGuide1-1.html

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