How Wiccan Schools Can Help Deepen Your Connection to Nature

Are you interested in learning about Wicca and looking for Wiccan schools near you? Wicca is a modern pagan religion that focuses on nature, the worship of deities, and spiritual practices. If you are interested in exploring this path further, you may be wondering if there are any Wiccan schools or educational programs in your area. Wiccan schools vary in their offerings, but they generally provide education and training for those interested in Wiccan beliefs and practices. These schools may offer classes, workshops, and even degree programs to help students deepen their understanding of Wicca and develop their spiritual practices. To find Wiccan schools near you, start by conducting an online search. Use keywords such as "Wiccan schools" or "Wiccan education" along with the name of your city or region to narrow down your results.

And so, as the year progresses I predict we will all more fully channel the spirit of the witch. Honoring the earth and our bodies; shifting away from mass-market medicines and agri-business toward natural healing and whole foods; sharing our resources rather than focusing on mere accumulation of goods; collaborating and communicating more openly; helping to elevate women and girls to equality all over the world: these are all grand workings of feminine magic that we are manifesting together.

Not only is Year of the Witch an engaging, thoughtful, and truly fun read , but it is also packed with wisdom and insight that comes only from the living the path. She mostly keeps to her hut in the woods, where those in need of healing seek her out, even as they spread rumors about her supposed cruelty and wicked spells.

Use keywords such as "Wiccan schools" or "Wiccan education" along with the name of your city or region to narrow down your results. Explore the websites of these schools to learn more about their programs, instructors, and locations. Additionally, consider joining local Wiccan or pagan communities.

The Year of the Witch

The archetype of the witch is long overdue for celebration. Daughters, mothers, queens, virgins, wives, et al. derive meaning from their relation to another person. Witches, on the other hand, have power on their own terms. They have agency. They create. They praise.

Writer, independent curator, and teacher of magical practice and history

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This dramatic photo illustration of a nighttime scene with brightly lit clouds and large, full, Blue Moon would make a great background for many uses.

Early last year, with all of the 2012 Mayan Calendar End-of-Days hubbub reaching fever pitch, I thought it best to figure out something to look forward to; after all, the apocalypse can be such a drag, darling. Yes, the world is supposed to end, but what next then? Surely there had to be a light at the end of the voidant tunnel. So several months ago, I proclaimed to my friends and readers that 2013 would be the Year of the Witch -- a statement made with equal parts sincerity and salt.

The numerological symbolism was obvious of course: 13 moons in a year, 13 fertility cycles, 13 witches in a coven. It's a number considered unlucky and unlovely for so long, we've seemed to have forgotten why, while still obliterating it from our tallest buildings. And so it's a number inherently bound up in feminine magic, and thus represents a deification of something persecuted; a profanity resacralized, unsullied and crowned.

The archetype of the witch is long overdue for celebration. Daughters, mothers, queens, virgins, wives, et al. derive meaning from their relation to another person. Witches, on the other hand, have power on their own terms. They have agency. They create. They praise. They commune with nature/ Spirit/God/dess/Choose-your-own-semantics, freely, and free of any mediator. But most importantly: they make things happen. The best definition of magic I've been able to come up with is "symbolic action with intent" -- "action" being the operative word. Witches are midwives to metamorphosis. They are magical women, and they, quite literally, change the world.

Amazingly, though not surprisingly, as soon as I named 2013 the Year of the Witch, I began to see synchronicities and sympathetic signs all around me. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and the 50th anniversary of The Feminine Mystique, two of the past century's most quake-making reclamations of female power. Obama's inaugural civil rights incantation of "Seneca Falls, Selma, Stonewall" (". and Salem," a friend of mine half-joked), began with the name of one of the most pivotal women's rights gatherings in history. This year, four women were sworn into all of the "Live Free or Die" state's top government seats. And Hillary Clinton, arguably the most powerful woman in American history, ended her tenure as Secretary of State earlier this year with the following words:

"If women and girls everywhere were treated as equal to men in rights, dignity, and opportunity, we would see political and economic progress everywhere. So this is not only a moral issue, which, of course, it is. It is an economic issue and a security issue, and it is the unfinished business of the 21st century."

A few weeks ago, renovations began to expand the Senate ladies room -- for the 113th Congress, no less. And the online world "stood with Wendy" as Ms. Davis attempted her 13-hour filibuster, and succeeded in delaying a vote that would have near-obliterated Texan women's sovereignty over their own bodies.

In the first half of the year, we've seen an unprecedented occurrence of powerful women emanating through our screens. The 70th annual Golden Globes were hosted by two women for the first time; Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are the respective stars of their decidedly feminist TV shows, and two awards were given to Lena Dunham, the creator and star of her own appropriately enough named show, Girls. Tavi Gevinson (a real "voice of a generation") publicly declared that she believes in magic on her ever-more popular online teen girl magazine, Rookie. The Super Bowl -- the most watched television event in America -- had entertainment exclusively by women (and all African American women to boot). And whether or not Beyonce's half-time hand gesture was or was not an Illuminati sign is less interesting to me than the fact that the triangle is also the symbol of the triple goddess. Do I think that's what she intended? Almost definitely not. Yet there it was, flashing in front of millions of eyeballs, then self-replicating endlessly in a digi-jungle of tweets and animated gifs. Symbols are tricksters. Sometimes they speak in the subtlest ciphers. And sometimes, they bubble up in the collective cauldron via a black-leather-clad demi-goddess for all the world to see. And witch stories are being told all around us this year. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Beautiful Creatures, Oz the Great and Powerful, American Horror Story: Salem, and Witches of East End are just a few films and TV shows with 2013 releases. It's not that we haven't had centuries of these stories preceding us, but it seems we are witnessing a witchly tipping point.

It's long been considered that one of the primary symbols of feminine magic is the snake. There's Eve's serpent of course, but also the Minoan snake goddess, Medusa, Mami Wata, and Ix Chel to name but a few. Snake magic corresponds to the holiest cycle there is: Life, death, resurrection. Like a snake each month, fertile women shed their own inner skins. Symbolic snakes -- the ouroboros, caduceus, kundalini, Quetzalcoatl, the naga, the yin-yang -- show up in esoteric systems around the world and symbolize the life force (Read Jeremy Narby's The Cosmic Serpent if you want to trip out about how this all maps onto DNA). They writhe together in the balance of opposites, holding the tension of, well, everything, between their coils. Snakes channel the energies of the Great Mystery. They're associated with the underworld, the moon, ancient wisdom. And guess what this Chinese New Year ushered in on February 10th: Yup, the Year of the Snake. The Black Water Snake, to be exact. You can bet that when I heard about this, it made my third eye bug out.

I know some of you are thinking: but what about the men? Can't males be witches? Isn't matriarchy just as bad as patriarchy?

Well, that's the beauty of an archetype: it can be embodied by anyone, regardless of age, gender, looks, background. Girls are taught from the time they're born to empathize with both male and female characters. When I was growing up, I didn't only want to make out with David Bowie (hello, Labyrinth), I also wanted to be David Bowie. I could relate to the Holdens and Morpheuses and Bernard Mickey Wrangles as much as I could to the Phoebes and Rose Walkers and Princess Leigh-Cheris. And we're starting to see a new generation of boys who instinctively do the same. Black and silver Easy-Bake Ovens and gender-neutral Harrod's toys help, but so do parents who take all of their kids to watch Artemisian heroines like Merida and Katniss flinging their arrows. And there are certainly plenty of adult men who have been embracing the way of the witch. On a blatant level, I can't help but notice that each spell crafting class I teach has more male attendees than the last. But we also have leaders like Al Gore and Nicholas Kristof and Richard Branson and Prince Charles loudly championing environmentalism and women's rights. We have filmmakers like Joss Whedon -- who recently announced his inclusion of the Scarlet Witch character in Avengers 2 -- and Paul Feig who have been ardently championing female protagonists in the press of late. These men, and so many more, are helping to usher in an age of higher consciousness and female empowerment, and, though they probably wouldn't use these words themselves, they're positively swimming in yin.

And so, as the year progresses I predict we will all more fully channel the spirit of the witch. Honoring the earth and our bodies; shifting away from mass-market medicines and agri-business toward natural healing and whole foods; sharing our resources rather than focusing on mere accumulation of goods; collaborating and communicating more openly; helping to elevate women and girls to equality all over the world: these are all grand workings of feminine magic that we are manifesting together.

So for the rest of 2013 and beyond, I wish you more witching, more opportunities to claim your power, to slough off old skin, to ritualize your life. May your year have you feeling more attuned to the rhythms of nature, more connected to one another, and more plugged into planet and purpose. The apocalypse has happened, my friends, and it's still happening. Our task at hand is to bring about the end of the old world, but then to create something vital and shining and new. Instead of four horses, we're riding in on brooms.

Pamela J. Grossman is an independent curator, writer, and teacher of magical practice and history. She is the creator of Phantasmaphile.com, Associate Editor of Abraxas esoteric journal, and co-founder of the Brooklyn alternative arts space, Observatory. As a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, she explores the role of magic in contemporary life. Her website is pamgrossman.com

"If women and girls everywhere were treated as equal to men in rights, dignity, and opportunity, we would see political and economic progress everywhere. So this is not only a moral issue, which, of course, it is. It is an economic issue and a security issue, and it is the unfinished business of the 21st century."

Attend meetups, festivals, or open rituals hosted by these groups, and inquire about any educational opportunities they may offer or recommend. This can be a great way to connect with experienced practitioners who can point you in the right direction. It's important to note that not all areas may have dedicated Wiccan schools, and you may need to look into general pagan or occult schools that offer programs encompassing multiple spiritual traditions. These programs can still provide valuable knowledge and skills that can be applied to Wiccan practices. Lastly, don't forget to consult online resources and forums. Many Wiccans share their knowledge and offer online classes or mentorship opportunities. While not a traditional school setting, these resources can still offer valuable learning experiences. In summary, if you are interested in finding Wiccan schools near you, start by conducting an online search, reaching out to local Wiccan and pagan communities, and exploring online resources. Remember to approach any school or educational program with an open mind and discernment, ensuring that it aligns with your personal beliefs and goals. With dedication and a willingness to learn, you can deepen your understanding of Wicca and nourish your spiritual journey..

Reviews for "How Wiccan Schools Can Help Develop Psychic Abilities"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Wiccan school near me. The classes were disorganized and the instructors seemed to lack deep knowledge of the subject matter. I felt like I spent more time correcting misconceptions and misinformation than actually learning anything useful. It's a shame because I was really looking forward to delving into the world of Wicca, but this school just didn't meet my expectations.

2. Sarah - 1 star - The Wiccan school near me was a complete waste of time and money. The so-called "teachers" were more interested in pushing their own personal agendas than actually helping students understand and practice Wicca. The lessons were scattered and lacked structure, making it difficult to grasp any meaningful concepts. I left feeling frustrated and misled. I would not recommend this school to anyone serious about learning Wicca.

3. David - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Wiccan school near me, but unfortunately, it fell short. The instructors were unprofessional and seemed more interested in gossiping about fellow students than actually teaching. The curriculum lacked depth and failed to provide a well-rounded understanding of Wicca. I found myself questioning the credibility of the school and ultimately decided to seek guidance elsewhere. Save your money and seek a more reputable and serious Wiccan education.

4. Emily - 1 star - I had a terrible experience with the Wiccan school near me. The instructors were condescending and dismissive, making it an unwelcoming environment for beginners like myself. The classes felt more like self-promotion platforms for the instructors rather than a genuine effort to educate and support students in their Wiccan journey. I left feeling disheartened and discouraged. I would not recommend this school to anyone looking for a positive and enriching Wiccan educational experience.

5. Michael - 2 stars - The Wiccan school near me was a complete letdown. The classes were overcrowded and it was nearly impossible to get personalized attention or ask questions. The curriculum was shallow and lacking in substance, making it difficult to feel like I was really advancing my knowledge of Wicca. I enrolled with high hopes but left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied. I would advise aspiring Wiccans to look for alternatives that prioritize quality education and individual growth.

The Role of Wiccan Schools in Cultivating Spiritual Growth