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Shakti Wicca is currently a self-initatory tradition of education, meaning that each dedicant is responsible for
committing themselves to their own training, and does not require a High Priest/ess to preside over their rituals and
ceremonies.
However, as the subject matter can be duanting to broach, and as any organized tradition will have a standardized
set of learning material, Shakti Wicca provides a mentorship program that will guide one through originating
cultural teachings and blended ritual methodologies through the usage of online classroom technology, regular personal
interaction via email.
The mentorship program in Shakti Wicca is most effective for those who already
possess a solid background in eclectic Wiccan thought & practice. This allows the facilitators to focus on providing
specific education in univeralist Hinduism and Shaktism, as well as in methods of blending Hindu elements into a
Wiccan practice
During mentorship vital elements of traditional Hindu spirituality are presented, and devotional aspects
incorporated into ritual intuitively using the Shakti Wicca methodologies as a starting point. This encourages one
to not only follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before, but to utilize their foundational knowledge and skills
to forge their own way as well.
This mentorship program structure can also be freely used by those seeking an outline for progressive
education in an IndoWiccan or IndoPagan path, but who do not wish to undergo formal mentorship.
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PROBATIONER:
Preparatory
Studies
Potential members of the mentorship program are expected
to already be experienced with the theory and practice of the majority of the following foundational Wiccan
skills. These are also one suggested educational starting point those seeking to follow a more general IndoWiccan
path:
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Grounding & centering
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Meditation & visualization
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Circle casting & basic banishing (LBRP, and Wiccan
Circle Casting)
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Basic energy manipulation & healing
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Divination
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"Mainstream" eclectic Wiccan mythos of Goddess & God w/ Wheel of the Year
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Ethics
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Practical magick basics (magickal alphabets, raising/transmitting
energy, etc)
One is also expected to begin seriously pursuing a education
on the following topics, with a faciliators guidance:
These studies can be undertaken through the online cirriculum
provided through The Lotus Academy of Spiritual Arts (formerly known as The Shakti Wicca Training Chakra).
The courses applicable for this level are as follows:
You can find detailed outlines of this stage of the cirriculum by
clicking HERE.
FIRST DEGREE:
Delving into the Practices
The preparatory level ends when one has successfully internalized
the initial material, and is serious about their intentions to continue in the Shakti Wicca tradition. First degree students
will be asked to design a ritual of formal dedication that states their intentions to continue in their studies and respect
the god/desses guidance and their own intuitions. This will communicate one's intentions clearly to the subconscious.
The online cirriculum for this next phase of mentorship begins
taking one deeper into the actual practice of IndoWicca, and begins by preparing them for the intensive mantric work
included in the Shakti Wicca tradition, and introducing them to the energies of Ganesha. The cultivation of the relationship
between the dedicant and Ganesha takes central importance to this level's training.
The following online classes and workshops are a suggested course of
study for those interested in IndoWiccan practice, and are required for those in the mentorship program:
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Intro to Mantras
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Intro to Chakras
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Loving Ganesa Readings and Workshop
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Crafting a Devotional Altar Workshop
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Beginning a Daily Japa Sadhana Workshop
A detailed outline of the classes and workshops
that make up this stage of the cirriculum can be found HERE.
SECOND DEGREE:
Methodology
of Blending Hindu and Wiccan
Thought
and Practice
At the outset of the student's entrance into the Second Degree,
they will be asked to create a new ritual of dedication to this next phase of study. Dedicants are expected to continue
to build on the foundational skills of the former phases, integrating more advanced blended spiritual practices that
will enhance the dedicant's ability to reach deeper levels of introspection and devotion to the God/desses. Additional educational
material and experiential learning will also be required delving deeper into magickal methods. This level is one that
incorporates alot of intermediate and more advanced education in Hindu scripture and IndoWiccan ritual structure, so this
level may very well take a longer period of time and require alot of introspection on the direction of one's studies.
One may wish to choose a new name for themselves during this period
if they have not done so already.
Dedicants may begin experimenting with integrating IndoWiccan-specific
practices into their spiritual routine:
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IndoWiccan Wheel of the Year
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Intermediate mantra studies
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Shamanic journeying with the Hindu deities
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Creation of tradition-specific rituals, following the Shakti Wicca ritual outline given as
part of the Inner Circle teachings
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Intermediate Shakta studies
These studies may be fulfilled through the online cirriculum, which includes:
A
detailed outline of this course can be found HERE:
And
forthcoming in 2007:
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Hindu Puja 101
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Crafting an IndoWiccan Wheel of the Year
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Eclectic Shamanic Journeywork for Pagans
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Crafting IndoWiccan Ritual Tools and Altar Workshop
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Chandi Path Intensive Scripture Study Workshop
Before moving onto the Third and final degree, those in the mentorship
program are asked to educate themeselves on further Hindu & Comparative Eastern Cosmology, Philosophy,
and Theology by conducting and submitting the results of personal research projects on the following subjects
(specific topics are up to the dedicant) and present their findings in a thesis paper.
This is also a suggested course of study for any interested in following
an IndoPagan path.
(Some have asked me why I include Taoism and Buddhism into the mentorship material for a tradition that is
based in Hinduism. It is my commitment to decent education in comparative spiritual topics that I include them.
Eastern-thought comes from a much different perspective that
Western-thought, and one can learn a great deal from taking the time to step outside of their "preferred" tradition and learning
about other traditions. There is great wisdom to be gleaned from any spiritual school, and one should take the time to seek
it out, at least fot a little perspective. Because it is often just as daunting to learn about any Eastern religion/philospohy
- be it Hinduism, or Buddhism or Taoism, etc - I am suggesting particular resources for learning the basics.
Point-Counterpoint discussion can then be had regarding these
and Western traditions, which can be quite enlightening. Having an open and analytical mind when it comes to spirituality
is very important, and that is why I include these Comparative Studies in the training for Shakti Wicca, and suggest that
all those wishing to follow a blended path undertake these studies for themselves.)
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| Ardhanarishvara with Ganesha |
THIRD DEGREE:
Autonomous Membership
After successful completion of the online cirriculum for the Second Degree, one is considered a Third
Degree Shakti Wiccan, and are eligible to establish a Terra-circle of their own upon agreement to adhere to the Shakti
Wicca training structure. They are also expected to be contributing members of the Shakti Wicca community, and IndoPagan community
as a whole - acting as a educator and ambassador to the larger NeoPagan world. Third Degree members are encouraged to write
IndoWiccan-themed articles for Pagan publications, as well as make available IndoWiccan spirituality resources for those who
may be seeking information on such paths.
Should a dedicant wish to follow a different organizational or ideological paradigm, they are free to hive off and
establish their own seperate practice, or coven-based tradition. Such covens, should they continue with an IndoWiccan format,
may be considered for inclusion in a listing of Sister Traditions.
ELDER DEDICANTS:
IndoWiccan Elders
Occasionally, we are lucky enough to have someone who could easily be considered a Wiccan Elder contact us
about becoming a dedicant. These individuals have not only been a position of Wiccan leadership for 10 or more years,
but have also been pursuing a blended IndoWiccan path independantly for several years.
These people dedicate into Shakti Wicca for the purposes of likeminded community within our particular paradigm,
and for the unique opportunity to contribute to the development of our tradition.
Our mentorship program has little to offer such dedicants, though they are presented with the Shakti Wiccan-specific
methodology for blending rituals, and are given access to all of our mentorship materials for their own reference and use.
As they have no need to go through our degree system, and have so much to offer our tradition from the get-go,
they are awarded the honorary title of Elder Dedicant. This reflects their status as seperate-and-apart from those who have
engaged in the Degree system of the mentorship program. However, as there is no true hierarchy in Shakti Wicca, they are equal
members with every other dedicant.
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