Defending the Truth

AlicornsPrayer · 05-08-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highway80west

Good for you. Sounds like if a lone person was trained to be a Jedi Knight by another Jedi Knight.

Are most people like you trained in private without having to attend seminary?

In my experience, I am not sure if I could have done that within the Episcopal Church. Although I do recall that a woman became a deacon without having to attend seminary. It was that she was so devoted to working amongst people, serving the Lord.

Alot Highway, depends on the particular tradition the initiate is following. Different traditions (as well as different covens) have varying requirements in order to achieve the multitude of levels they have.

I know within the tradition I follow, in order to progress in one's path, you had to have a certain level of experience/knowledge in a number of different practices/skills as well as a certain period of time in an apprentice situation with hands on knowledge.

AlicornsPrayer · 05-08-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highway80west

If I were Pagan, I would bow down before the High Priestess.

BTW, I have not been to the one board you referred me to a few months. Has TW ever gone to that one?

I dunno. But that can be discussed in pm?

highway80west · 05-08-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlicornsPrayer

Alot Highway, depends on the particular tradition the initiate is following. Different traditions (as well as different covens) have varying requirements in order to achieve the multitude of levels they have.

I know within the tradition I follow, in order to progress in one's path, you had to have a certain level of experience/knowledge in a number of different practices/skills as well as a certain period of time in an apprentice situation with hands on knowledge.

Is that pretty much like the way an Amish priest and bishop would be trained? I don't think any of them attend a seminary of their kind.

AlicornsPrayer · 05-08-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highway80west

Is that pretty much like the way an Amish priest and bishop would be trained? I don't think any of them attend a seminary of their kind.

LOL! Considering I've never trained to be an Amish priest or bishop? I'd have no clue if it's anything similar.

There are courses that can be taken, to be official ordained in a specific tradition...Covens also are alot like religious groups, in as they're not only a group that actively participates in rituals/spell, but is also a training group for new members...Kinda like a seminary setting, but not where you have to live as a group...Just gather as a group.

Last year, I actually had several initiates that were meeting at my house for training lessons so they could move up in their paths...That was until the situation changed to where I couldn't actively teach the classes myself. Currently I'm on a leave of absence kinda situation and will resume my teaching/duties at a later date. But I'm still a HP even though not actively participating in a coven at the moment.

Tigerwiccan · 05-08-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlicornsPrayer

Alot Highway, depends on the particular tradition the initiate is following. Different traditions (as well as different covens) have varying requirements in order to achieve the multitude of levels they have.

I know within the tradition I follow, in order to progress in one's path, you had to have a certain level of experience/knowledge in a number of different practices/skills as well as a certain period of time in an apprentice situation with hands on knowledge.

My tradition has a three degree system, with each degree taking roughtly a year to complete, but the High Priest and High Priestess of the coven can lengthen or shorten that time as they see fit.

And being a Third Degree Priest in my tradition usually implies that one has a certain level of knowledge (enough to at least lead a coven and pass down the tradition without the help of an elder) and proficiency in a number of areas, like spellwork, ritual design and performance, dealing with intrapersonal issues, and other various things.

Tigerwiccan · 05-08-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlicornsPrayer

But I'm still a HP even though not actively participating in a coven at the moment.

Kind of like I am technically a High Priest even though I don't have a coven yet. But as soon as my wife gets her Third Degree, we are planning to start one, after giving our HP and HPS enough time to replace us!

AlicornsPrayer · 05-08-2008, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigerwiccan

My tradition has a three degree system, with each degree taking roughtly a year to complete, but the High Priest and High Priestess of the coven can lengthen or shorten that time as they see fit.

And being a Third Degree Priest in my tradition usually implies that one has a certain level of knowledge (enough to at least lead a coven and pass down the tradition without the help of an elder) and proficiency in a number of areas, like spellwork, ritual design and performance, dealing with intrapersonal issues, and other various things.

In otherwords, much like the tradition I was trained in, just fewer levels/degrees which the HP determined the time limit for each individual practitioner.

Simply because people have their own rate of learning time.

AlicornsPrayer · 05-08-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigerwiccan

Kind of like I am technically a High Priest even though I don't have a coven yet. But as soon as my wife gets her Third Degree, we are planning to start one, after giving our HP and HPS enough time to replace us!

I had actually left the group I was in for several years...And our HP had at the time wanted to move me up to HP then. Only reason I was back in the group, is they needed someone to teach certain skills to, and the one that had been the teacher in those areas had just passed away.

Took a bit of talking me into it, and a great deal of gentle prodding from my former mentor to accept the honor of HP.

I really enjoy being a solitary. There's times working with a group is nice, but on the whole I like dancing to my own drum beat.

garysher · 05-08-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigerwiccan

As a Wiccan minister, I just wanted to start a topic for people of different religious backgrounds to share with each other in an air of commonality, rather than devisiveness. You don't have to be a minister to participate, although I am interested to discuss with other ministers various issues relating to being a religious leader in your community.

I will soon be in a place of greater responsibility in my religion, and one of the challenges that Wicca still faces is gaining legitimacy among other religious leaders. You don't have to agree with my beliefs to see me as a valid spiritual leader, and we can learn alot from each other. Alot of work has been done by some great and dedicated people in this aspect, but I just wanted to try to do my part to build some bridges between the various faiths out there.

And please, please, please, if you have something derogatory to say about my or any other religion, please start your own topic to do so. Don't poison this one with your hate. Thanks.

Why don't you summarise what wiccans believe and how you became a "minister"?