Those "Dreadful" Basics
First of all, it depends on the path/system in question. Wiccan basics and Hellenic basics are different for instance. Before we can put together a list of basics, we must know what system's basics we are looking for.
Furthermore, we need to decide on what is primary and what secondary. If you ask different people in the same system, you'll get different opinions, albeit with common ground. For example, in Wicca one might say you should learn the Sabbats before learning how to cast a circle while another might emphasize on magical work as opposed to celebratory theory etc.
Taking into consideration all this confusion, I thought it would be best to compile our own lists of basics and compare & contrast here, hopefully coming up with a helpful summary of material and ideas one should research and practice. In addition, it would be ideal to present a variety of systems and paths as opposed to one or two. Feel free to include links and books you deem helpful.
My own list as far as Hellenism and (non-Wiccan) Witchcraft go:
Hellenism
1. Deities. One should study the Hellenic pantheon, specifically learning a brief summary of the history/mythology of a number of deities and their duties. Additionally, one could narrow down the group of deities more and study them deeper (e.g. ways of worship, related correspondences etc).
2. Holidays. One should learn about the various holidays of the ancient Greeks as well as those celebrated by modern followers (since they have differences). Specifically, I would recommend becoming accustomed with the Athenian holy month and its religious observances as it's one of the most complete and well-documented. Major holidays (i.e. annual) are also to be studied. Which ones will be studied deeper and emphasized depend on the individual and the deities chosen.
3. Rituals. One should learn about the standard Greek ritual outline, the ritual tools and other significant information regarding ceremonies and ritual workings. Additionally, one should find and/or compose hymns which play an important role in any and all rituals (e.g. invocative, welcoming, bidding farewell, blessing etc).
I believe those to be the absolute base for anyone interested in Hellenism, especially as a path to follow and as opposed to as an influence of an existing path. Secondary topics would include theology, alternative mythology (i.e. different versions), additional deitic duties, additional ritual info and details.
Links:
http://sites.google.com/site/hellenionstemenos/
http://ysee.gr/index-eng.php
http://forum.hellenistai.com/index.php
http://www.pantheon.org/
http://www.theoi.com/
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~Mclennan/BA/index.html
http://kyrene.4t.com/index.html
http://kyklosapollon.net/main.htm
http://www.labrys.gr/
http://persephones.250free.com/index.html
http://www.hellenion.org/
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/
Books:
Greek Religion by Walter Burkert (Hellenism)
Hekate: Keys to the Crossroads edited by Sorita d'Este, multiple contributors (Hekate)
Hekate: Her Sacred Fires edited by Sorita d'Este, multiple contributors (Hekate)
Gods of the Greeks by Karl Kerenyi
Witchcraft
1. Energy work. Grounding, centering, direction and manipulation. Shielding and charging. Cleansing and banishing. I consider all of these as types of energy work as they are the most basic forms of manipulating and working with energy (building it, reducing it, empowering it etc). One should know how to perform effectively all these types in order to be able to perform and deal with more advanced issues and cases in the future.
2. Correspondences. Both studying existing ones and creating your own. Colours, numbers, stones/crystals, herbs, days and hours etc. These are key in my understanding and experience in Witchcraft since they allow the practitioner to combine additional tools and ingredients, creating more elabourate and acute magical "combos".
3. Herbal lore. Even though this is something I lack considerably, I still consider it necessary. I may have rather minimal knowledge of herbs but I do know enough to use them in a basic manner. I think herbs are rather versatile and a potent tool and should thus be part of the basics. They can also be dangerous especially given how people mindlessly suggest this or that herb without any consideration of allergies, side-effects or even lethality. One could possibly add things such as oils and concotions as part of herbal lore (or, at least, as part of this category in the basics).
4. Elements. For some this may go under Correspondences but I think it deserves its own category. The elements are more than magical "spices" or "flavours" on info charts. They have entities that govern and/or work within them, they affect our work heavily and should thus be studied and learnt properly.
5. Entities. Ancestors, restless dead, the fae, genius and sylvan loci, other spirits. Any or all of these types or even more types than those mentioned should be studied, at least a bit. As Witches we encounter or even deliberately interact with some or most of those (or even all of them!) and we should know how to deal with them (even if our general focus is not towards spirit-work).
6. Tools. Again this might go under Correspondences but once more I think it is something deserving individual attention. Tools are greatly underestimated in most modern 101 material, often shrugged off as "unnecessary". Excuse me but why mention them anyway if they are unnecessary? I agree that the tool makes not the Witch but it wouldn't be a tool if it didn't help! In my opinion, tools provide with, at least, a "flavour" in the magic worked, adding to the intent and energy of the working overall. Moreover, I believe some are essential to certain workings (i.e. exactly how can you perform a reading without a tool like cards or even a physical tool like clouds, signs etc?). Incidentally, I practiced (and still do so for the most part) without most tools both out of necessity and in order to hone my skills. In other words, I learnt how to perform most basics without tools so as to not become dependant on the tools later (e.g. like learning how to swim without all the helping stuff so you won't drown if you cannot access them at some point when you HAVE to swim). Still, I think they can expand my practice if I learn and use more of them (this does NOT mean you should have whole rooms filled with tools or hoard them like an ant!).
I think these cover my personal basics. Other things are secondary (or for greater 'levels') and thus not included.
Links:
http://www.tangledmoon.org/
http://www.deliriumsrealm.com/
http://www.1734-witchcraft.org/
http://walkingthehedge.net/wildgeekhang/index.php
http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm
http://www.feritradition.org/index.html
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~Mclennan/BA/index.html
http://fathom.lib.uchicago.edu/1/777777122299/
http://fathom.lib.uchicago.edu/1/777777122300/
http://hellenicmagicalpath.blogspot.com/
http://skiaionhekataion.wordpress.com/
Books:
Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft by Ronald Hutton (Wicca and Witchcraft)
A Witch Alone by Marian Green (Witchcraft)
The Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook by Stewart & Janet Farrar (Wicca and Witchcraft)
Hekate: Her Liminal Rites by Sorita d'Este and David Rankine (Hekate, Magic)
Magic in the Ancient World by Fritz Graf
Arcana Mundi by Georg Luck
Magika Hiera: Ancient Greek Magic and Religion edited by Christopher A. Faraone and Dirk Obbink
Your turn! :P
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Renee on -
Thank you, thank you Stef.... as always very helpful indeed!!!
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Permalink Reply by NocturnaGirl(Arakiel) on -
This looks to be a very helpful list!
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Permalink Reply by Callisto on -
To add to Alorer's suggestion regarding the Hellenic pantheon and religion, I would include:
Hesiod - Theogony; Works and Days
Homer - The Iliad; The Odyssey
Homeric Hymns *
Orphic Hymns *
Delphic Maxims* = commonly preferred translations are those by Thomas Taylor or Apostolos Athanassakis
Also, there is a wealth of worthwhile secondary (scholarly) material that has fallen into the public domain and readily available on-line (free in most cases) at such places like Google books as ebooks and PDFs. These include but not limited to:
Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion by Jane Ellen Harrison
Epilegomena to the Study of Greek Religion by Jane Ellen Harrison
The Religion of Ancient Greece by Jane Ellen Harrison
Ancient Art and Ritual by Jane Ellen HarrisonA History of Ancient Greek Literature by Gilbert Murray
Five Stages of Greek Religion by Gilbert MurrayHandbook of Greek Religion - Arthur Fairbanks
The Home Life of the Ancient Greeks by Hugo Blümner
Many of the links originally provided are no longer active (this topic is 4 years old). However, some of the sites useful at any stage are:
http://www.theoi.com/
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/
http://sacred-texts.com/cla/index.htm
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Permalink Reply by CEWsony9(dragonfiregrl) on -
not to argue, but say you have a more eclectic path? like a combination of different things such as two different pantheons, but you celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats? or something like that?
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Permalink Reply by Callisto on
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Asking questions doesn't equate arguing. I'm not sure what you're asking about, and how it would relate to an eclectic path. Are you asking about the recommended resources? How Alorer's structuring of her own path would facilitate yours?
IMO it's always best to start one's research about deities with related myths and resources on their original religions, regardless of whether a person is honoring deities of the same pantheon or different ones. It gives you a solid understanding of how the gods were venerated for centuries, instead of trying to figure out how to approach them with a lot of guess work.
That will also give you greater insight on whether or how deities of different pantheons might be venerated together.
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Permalink Reply by Bad Seed on -
I would say that since an eclectic path by definition takes bits and pieces from various other paths, it would be a good idea to study up on the basics of the paths from which you borrow. Know the context of the practices and ideas that grabbed your attention, so you can be sure you're fitting things together in a way that WORKS. For example, if you celebrate the eight Wiccan sabbats but the deities you worship are Hades and Persephone, you don't want to be talking about how Hades is reborn at Yule as the new sun, because that would just make no sense. :)
CEWsony9(dragonfiregrl) said:not to argue, but say you have a more eclectic path? like a combination of different things such as two different pantheons, but you celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats? or something like that?
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Permalink Reply by CEWsony9(dragonfiregrl) on
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Thanks, I'll work on that!
Bad Seed said:I would say that since an eclectic path by definition takes bits and pieces from various other paths, it would be a good idea to study up on the basics of the paths from which you borrow. Know the context of the practices and ideas that grabbed your attention, so you can be sure you're fitting things together in a way that WORKS. For example, if you celebrate the eight Wiccan sabbats but the deities you worship are Hades and Persephone, you don't want to be talking about how Hades is reborn at Yule as the new sun, because that would just make no sense. :)
CEWsony9(dragonfiregrl) said:not to argue, but say you have a more eclectic path? like a combination of different things such as two different pantheons, but you celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats? or something like that?
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Permalink Reply by Edan on
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That's partly why I feel eclectics have the toughest job. Fitting together spiritual puzzle pieces in a harmonious way is very difficult, but beautiful when done correctly.
Bad Seed said:I would say that since an eclectic path by definition takes bits and pieces from various other paths, it would be a good idea to study up on the basics of the paths from which you borrow. Know the context of the practices and ideas that grabbed your attention, so you can be sure you're fitting things together in a way that WORKS. For example, if you celebrate the eight Wiccan sabbats but the deities you worship are Hades and Persephone, you don't want to be talking about how Hades is reborn at Yule as the new sun, because that would just make no sense. :)
CEWsony9(dragonfiregrl) said:not to argue, but say you have a more eclectic path? like a combination of different things such as two different pantheons, but you celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats? or something like that?
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