wiccans/witches: what does it mean to have training?

Question

most books that i have read said that witches are trained and go through training. what kind of training are they talking about? like practicing magick or like what?

Answer 1

Training constitutes any encounter between two people where learning and growth result. If a book you are reading speaks about training, then they are talking about a person being humble enough to realize that more experienced perspectives would be instructive and then choosing to move into that type of milieu.

For example, I know next to nothing about herbalism. There are people in my community that are quite knowledgeable on the subject. If I wanted to become an herbalist, I would go to those people and learn. I would allow them to set up exercises for me to practice. I would listen to their advice. This doesn't mean that I should ever stop questioning what I'm being told. It's just the realization that sometimes it might make more sense to trust someone else enough to listen to their opinion.

This is true of any sort of magic.

Now then, Wicca isn't just practicing magic, it's a religious totality. As such, there is a certain body of lore, practices, and teachings that need to be absorbed. Like in any religion, the basic concepts will be developed and adapted individually, but it makes sense to understand some of the nuance of those ideas before that individualization occurs.

A lot of this training occurs within a coven. That said, it is entirely possible to be solitary and still receive this type of training. I have good relationships with a number of people in my community, and listen to and debate with a wide array of people. I'm grateful that I've learned enough from a number of people to begin designing my own initiation. But like in any growth process, that takes time, and it's usually best to take your first steps in the presence of knowledgeable friends.

Enough rambling.

All the best,

Lazarus

Answer 2

What does it mean to have training?

Witchcraft is like any skill, the more you know about it the better you can do the job.

Oh, sure, you can read a book and say you are a witch, but I'd have to ask you, would you take your car to someone who has only read how to repair cars or someone who has been trained and has the benefit of the knowledge their teachers can give them?

Training in witchcraft is more than just learning the spells and learning to say " I believe in An it harm none". When you are properly trained you get to find out what your strengths and weaknesses are, you learn what can be used to substitute for something if you don't have it or you ran out of it. You learn circle etiquette, you learn how to design rituals from start to finish.

There are so many things you can learn that you will not get through a dry read from a book. You will even learn what us old folks have had to deal with so that you young folks can walk free down the street without fear. You will also be able to make contacts with other wiccans without having to worry whether or not they are real wiccans.

There is so much you can learn through training if you truly want to be a Wiccan or a witch and not just some poser who has read a book once.

For the record, Wiccan is BTW, British Traditional Wicca, end of Story, that's who coined the term, so if you are not coven trained BTW then you really are not Wiccan. You might be wiccan (small w) but without the training and traditions that go with it you will not be Wiccan (big W). Believe me, there is a difference.

Answer 3

Well, that would vary from group to group.

Largely, though, you get training in cooperative energy work, you get feedback (which is pretty important), you get theology, you get techniques, you get the benefit of the experience of others.

You get the history. You get the traditions. You get to find out that you may have to change, not always in ways that you'd do voluntarily with the utmost grace and cheeriness. Those changes will not only make you a better witch, they will make you a better person.

(All the above is based on the presumption that you find a qualified teacher - see the link below for details):

One of the advantages of getting this kind of training is that you may have more than one person from whom to learn, and just as people have different teaching styles, so also do people have different learning styles. And you have the advantage of someone teaching you who has experience teaching.

Some things can't really be learned by reading.

Answer 4

The training is learning all about magic, and in Traditional covens the training also includes degrees, which serves as a way of telling others in the coven how good they are.

Answer 5

It is when you study with a group or coven to learn history, theory, meditation, and other things that you could probably learn on your own only this way you get recognition from the community for having gone through the teachings.

Answer 6

knowlege of herbs and spices. of plants that have healing properties.

example,

Sasafrass, root will make a tasty tea that will restore your energy
and help rehydrate you.

however it is easily mistaken for the root of the black cherry, which can kill you.

training, is in ancient knowlege. rituals and spellwork, herbs, and helpful plants, as well as plants to avoid. and on how to form a personell connection to the gods.

durring this training you learn many things, and several of them are day to day life lessons that are never taught in our educational systems.

how to deal with bullies, and people attacking,picking on and making fun of you.

how to be yourself and to love yourself. to be your own person.

how to interact with pthers even though you may dislike them.

then there is study of other religions and belief systems, this is not required, but is encouraged.

Answer 7

No, no, that's just for if you want to be a Gardner witch. They're very picky about having to study for a "year and a day" before you're "really" a witch.

Most of us just don't listen to them. It's ridiculous. Gardner took an ancient and rich tradition and then pretended like HE came up with it and laid down all sorts of rules that everyone had to follow.

You're a Wiccan if you want to be a Wiccan. Read the books, research online, find your own path. Anything else is just a scam to get your money.

Answer 8

That's only for Wiccans who follow the Gardnerian or Alexandrian paths. Those paths are very strict, with lots of rules, studying, and other requirements. (Personally, I think it's a little snooty.) You average Wiccan is an eclectic and is largely self-taught.

If you prefer the structured training, you can get online classes, I believe, but most of us don't bother with all that.

Answer 9

Training not in the sense of the phsyical world - but rather a Divine Calling- A Gift - we all have gifts - just have to find what works.

Answer 10

There are some sects of Wicca that do require training, like Gardnerian Wicca. They're very picky on what's practiced, what's not practiced, how someone casts circle . . . blah, blah, blah.

However, most Wiccans are eclectic, meaning, they practice what feels right, and they're mostly self-taught.