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Witch School First Degree: Lessons in the Correllian Tradition
The three-volume Witch School teaching series will prepare you for initiation into all three degrees of Correllian Wicca, one of the largest and fastest-growing Wiccan traditions in the world. As an additional bonus, WitchSchool.com offers many optional interactive features to enhance your textbook learning experience. Become a Witch
Set foot on the Witch's path and embark on a journey that will transform you at the deepest levels of your being. The twelve lessons of the Witch School's First Degree, designed to be completed in the traditional "year and a day" format, introduce Wicca as a spiritual path and teach you the essentials of becoming a Witch. Each lesson has six the lesson itself, magical exercises, God or Goddess lore, a spell, a glossary, and study questions. You'll build a solid foundation for your Wiccan practice by mastering the following Craft tools and Completion of the twelve lessons in this book makes you eligible for initiation into the First Degree of Correllian Nativist Wicca.
Set foot on the Witch's path and embark on a journey that will transform you at the deepest levels of your being. The twelve lessons of the Witch School's First Degree, designed to be completed in the traditional "year and a day" format, introduce Wicca as a spiritual path and teach you the essentials of becoming a Witch. Each lesson has six the lesson itself, magical exercises, God or Goddess lore, a spell, a glossary, and study questions. You'll build a solid foundation for your Wiccan practice by mastering the following Craft tools and Completion of the twelve lessons in this book makes you eligible for initiation into the First Degree of Correllian Nativist Wicca.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2008
58 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 11, 2020
I want to clear up some misinformation from the GoodReads/Amazon reviews and Pagan blogs.
- Yes, to be Correllian Wiccan clergy, you have to pay pricey fees to support the tradition (several one-time fees plus annual fees for the clergy classes until you become a High Priest/High Priestess).
Most groups-Pagan and otherwise (ex. quilting groups)-have some type of annual membership fee or suggested donations each meeting, plus fundraisers. The price of renting venues for special events like camp-outs and holiday festivals is quite expensive, plus groups need money for supplies and food.
- No, you don't have to pay anything to be a regular coven member (Outer Court member).
- Yes, it's a real tradition; not just online courses. I don't identify as a Correllian Wiccan but technically I'm an Outer Circle member in a Correllian coven and regularly go to rituals (in-person). There are a lot of Pagan groups in my area, and I'm members of several, so I have other groups to compare it to. It's legit; not snake oil.
Don Lewis (author of this book) and Arch Priestess Laurie Denman are based in my area so they go to Pagan events held by many Pagan traditions. I see them quite a bit. I don't know them well, but they seem nice, and I have plenty of non-Correllian Pagan friends who know them well and say good things about them.
So what is the Correllian tradition?
I'd say it's basically Wicca but with an emphasis on shamanism and ancestor veneration. The coven I'm in mixes Wicca with South American shamanism and Santería. As a Puerto Rican, I appreciate the multi-culturalism, and there are several other Hispanic coven members, which I'd say speaks to the authenticity of the Hispanic ritual elements and the cultural sensitivity towards them. In the same vein, this book stresses the importance of Pagan contributions from cultures around the world.
- Yes, to be Correllian Wiccan clergy, you have to pay pricey fees to support the tradition (several one-time fees plus annual fees for the clergy classes until you become a High Priest/High Priestess).
Most groups-Pagan and otherwise (ex. quilting groups)-have some type of annual membership fee or suggested donations each meeting, plus fundraisers. The price of renting venues for special events like camp-outs and holiday festivals is quite expensive, plus groups need money for supplies and food.
- No, you don't have to pay anything to be a regular coven member (Outer Court member).
- Yes, it's a real tradition; not just online courses. I don't identify as a Correllian Wiccan but technically I'm an Outer Circle member in a Correllian coven and regularly go to rituals (in-person). There are a lot of Pagan groups in my area, and I'm members of several, so I have other groups to compare it to. It's legit; not snake oil.
Don Lewis (author of this book) and Arch Priestess Laurie Denman are based in my area so they go to Pagan events held by many Pagan traditions. I see them quite a bit. I don't know them well, but they seem nice, and I have plenty of non-Correllian Pagan friends who know them well and say good things about them.
So what is the Correllian tradition?
I'd say it's basically Wicca but with an emphasis on shamanism and ancestor veneration. The coven I'm in mixes Wicca with South American shamanism and Santería. As a Puerto Rican, I appreciate the multi-culturalism, and there are several other Hispanic coven members, which I'd say speaks to the authenticity of the Hispanic ritual elements and the cultural sensitivity towards them. In the same vein, this book stresses the importance of Pagan contributions from cultures around the world.
September 11, 2016
I was with the tradition for a long time. This book was supposed to be a introduction to what they are about. I was wrong. There is so much misinformation in this books and a lot of terms that if used would not be something that other pagans would understand. They claim to be inclusive but that is just a way to get money from the students. After their Common Book of Wicca and Witchcraft failure it has been shown and proven that they are not a true school. The classes at their site are full of grammar and usage errors. This is due to the fact that most of the classes are written by students as part of their classes there. Even with all that are paid monthly by students you would think that they could at least keep their classes updated and correct. I have been pagan for a long time and what are in these books could can find better explained in books written by better authors.
March 2, 2017
The whole layout of the book was great!! It first gives you your Lesson, then a Exercise to work on, A spell, Then teaches you about a God or Goddess after each Lesson , has a glossary and at the very end Study Questions for each lesson!! I really can't wait to get the next book, this first book was a review for me because I knew alot of what was already in this first book but it never hurts to brush up on your knowledge. very impressed I definitely will be going back and using the exercises and some of the Spell work from this book!!!
July 16, 2016
very informative and I like how the chapters are laid out. with information and then God's or Goddesses and exercises and then glossery. ..
I'm going to reread and do each chapter as they are meant to be done as once a month. but I like to read the book first and then start over.
the visualization lessons are great and also working with the Chakras is a new experience for me since I've never done anything like that.
I'm going to reread and do each chapter as they are meant to be done as once a month. but I like to read the book first and then start over.
the visualization lessons are great and also working with the Chakras is a new experience for me since I've never done anything like that.
January 13, 2021
I've been Pagan for years and really enjoyed this book. I am a member of the website witchschool.com and am an outer court member of the tradition.
Yes, like others have mentioned, there are things in the book that are unique to Correllian Wicca. That being said, I dare say other groups have their own quirks as well. Furthermore, to those condemning the group for having a paid website and taking donations, what religious group can survive without an income?
I found the book informative, well thought out and well laid out. The pace of studies was just right for the beginner and I like that on the website they give you the option to advance faster than the one chapter a month if this is just review. I would recommend this book and do often to those seeking. It's a good place to start and then expand as so encouraged in the book.
Yes, like others have mentioned, there are things in the book that are unique to Correllian Wicca. That being said, I dare say other groups have their own quirks as well. Furthermore, to those condemning the group for having a paid website and taking donations, what religious group can survive without an income?
I found the book informative, well thought out and well laid out. The pace of studies was just right for the beginner and I like that on the website they give you the option to advance faster than the one chapter a month if this is just review. I would recommend this book and do often to those seeking. It's a good place to start and then expand as so encouraged in the book.
March 14, 2019
If you don't have a lot of experience with Witchcraft this is a decent basic introduction. Not as good as working with a flesh and blood group, but not bad either.
April 18, 2019
Great introduction to Correllian Nativist Tradition Wicca. I started this path in 2008 and finally committed to finishing it. Just finished the last quiz on their website (www.witchschool.com) and now I am working on the rest of the clergy requirements.
This book is tradition specific, so will not fit everyone. It has great information though and if you're looking at different traditions this one is very involved in the community.
This book is tradition specific, so will not fit everyone. It has great information though and if you're looking at different traditions this one is very involved in the community.
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April 3, 2016I have just started this book. If you are looking to earn your first degree..this book is absolutely phenomenal! It has so far been very informative. It should only take a year to get thru it. There are 12 lessons designed to be completed 1 lesson each month and you will need a month to go through each one and make sure that you completely understand each lesson. I started lesson 1 on February 1st and expect to finish it soon. A must buy!!
July 5, 2012
Amazingly informative and well written, Don-Lewis-Highcorrell lays out basic fundamentals of magic in his book and gives learning exercises a must read for anyone who wishes to go into pagan teachings
July 21, 2014
Good read, interesting lessons which inspired many thoughts and questions.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews