After the 1st Degree: Pathworking



For the dedicated aspirant, the first year and a day is spent immersed in the study of the Craft; often within a small group or class. It's often an exciting year on a personal level; learning new things that often seem to hit touchstones the aspirant has felt or "known" most of her life; the feeling of "coming home," the joy of learning for learning's sake. Most who finish the year and a day go on to accept the First Degree Initiation and start their walk on this Path; some continue their studies in a solitary mode; others initiate into a group. Regardless of the decision after initiation, the one question both types of initiates will generally pose afterwards is: "Where do I go from here?"

Formal groups - those who follow a structured Trad (such as Gardnearian, etc.) - may well have a path laid out for the new initiate. This path may or may not lead towards a 2nd degree Initiation, but it does keep the student working within a framework of the Trad, as well as working towards filling a magickal or physical need of the group, itself.

Less formal groups, such as the many Eclectic groups here in the U.S., are much less structured. This can leave a new initiate feeling at loose ends, after spending the last year and a day in a structured learning environment. I'm not totally against this; in fact, Tryskelion has always defined itself as a group of Solitaires who come together to celebrate the Sabbats and grow together in the Craft. But this "looseness" does have its drawbacks where the new initiate is concerned.

While it is absolutely true that the Craft is an experiential mystery religion, and therefore, higher knowledge comes directly from the gods to the student, it is important that those more schooled in the Craft be available to guide and even lead the student towards avenues of higher learning.

Unstructured groups will usually still have some structure inherent in them, and that's often manifested through the roles of coven offices, and other needs to the group, itself. A group needs at least one (and preferably two) who can write good ritual that speaks to everyone, regardless of what level they occupy in the Craft. Many groups will want an herbalist, as well as someone good with divination. The group will need someone strong in the raising and command of elemental energies. This "unstructured structure" will lend itself, at least in the beginning, to each individual finding a pathworking to start out on. Granted, interest may wax and wane, depending on whether the person and the path chosen is a "natural fit." But pathworking is the best way, in my opinion, of continuing and growing in the Craft. It's not just the continued study that's important; each of these pathworkings is a tool which connects you to the divine within and without. It can become your way of "speaking with the gods." A good 101 course will have gone over most of the arts and sciences on at least a surface level, giving an individual an idea of where his/her interests lay. But be prepared to help the person to either persevere should there be difficulties, or to know when to try something new. It is a truism that what we are drawn to at first may not be the best fit; growth in the Craft may take us in an entirely new direction. A good HP or HPS will help the individual to know whether it is time to let go of one and embrace the other; or if the issues at hand are only momentary and passing.

Below are several different pathworkings, and the niches they can fill both within a coven and within an individual's own personal path of growth.

The Magickal Arts

Divination

Each of the Divination Arts includes using some sort of a tool to aid the psychic senses. Some of the better known arts include (but are not limited to):

  • Tarot
  • Astrology
  • Numerology
  • Pendulum
  • Runes
  • Astrology (especially Horary)
  • Palm Reading

The tools used in the Divination Arts allow one to use one's own abilities and inner understanding, expressed through the use of tarot cards, astrology charts, pendulums, etc., to assist others through difficult times. I have a short phrase I silently say before laying out the cards for someone: "Not by me; but through me." This statement should be the aim of all those who work with the Divination arts. You only interpret the cards using your knowledge and skills in a particular medium; you do not direct nor force the medium into a particular direction. In this way, you gently advise without interfering with another's will. It can be demanding of the reader's energy and sense of natural balance, so work done with the medium should be limited at first. As the individual gets to know herself and her limits, she can increase the reading time, number of readings, etc., as she feels comfortable.

Visionary Arts

The Visionary Arts include (but are not limited to):

  • Psychometry
  • Dreamwalking
  • Clairvoyance
  • Retrocognition

These include practices that rely directly on present surroundings or individuals to aid the psychic senses, instead of cards, runes, etc. While these arts can be aspired to over time, most practictioners are born with the gift.

Psi training, and shamanism are two paths of study for those fortunate enough to have a natural ability in these arts.

Energy Work

The Healing Arts

These are healing arts separate and apart from Herbalism. These arts can take two forms: body work and energy work.

Forms of Body work include (but are not limited to):

  • Massage
  • Therapeutic Touch
  • Chiropractic
  • Acupressure
  • Acupuncture
  • Rolfing

Forms of Energy Work include (but are not limited to):

  • Reiki
  • Chakra Balancing

Some of these are professional arts that need formal school and certification or training programs, but can work to combine a Craft pathworking with an actual career. Healers of all types normally are drawn at an early age towards the healing professions. They see suffering and want to alleviate it; they see pain and want to relieve it. However, not everyone is suited for (or can afford to attain) the rank of doctor or nurse.

The energy work listed here, as well as others, allows the individual to help others and work on his/her sacred path while contributing towards the good of the group, and the world as a whole.

Even more so than in the Divination Arts, care must be taken that the individual doing these types of works know her limits. Work of this type can be exhausting on both a mental and emotional level, and if not careful, the individual can easily deplete his own energy levels.

Crafting Ceremonies and Ritual

Every 101 student gets a shot at writing rituals, either alone or in a group. A few of these students find they have a knack for pulling together rituals that touch people on many different levels. They seem to know innately how to blend words, music, scents, and props to transport the Circle truly to a "space that is no space."

This individual will either need a natural ability or training in the emotional sciences, such as psychology as well as the etheral science of Energy Work. There is a lot of study that goes along with this pathworking, depending on how far the individual wants to take it. For example, a knowledge of Kabalah can be useful, as well as ceremonial magick; knowledge of the best Astrological aspects for specific types of spellwork, as well as what herbs, scents, etc. to use.

Crafts

This pathworking, while not overtly magickal, is much more accessible to nearly everyone. These are practical skills and crafts that every group needs, as well as the pagan community as a whole.

The type of skills I'm talking about here include, but are definitely not limited to:

  • Robe/Costume Design
  • Sewing
  • Jewelry making
  • Tool Creation
  • Pottery Skills
  • Painting
  • Sculpting
  • Blacksmithing
  • Candlemaking
  • Brewing/Ale making

Other skills that are needed that fit in this category include those which are not magicakal in nature, but can be of great assistance in a coven. These include:

  • Computer Skills
  • Financial Management
  • Veterinary Knowledge and Skills

These latter skills are definitely not magickal, but how much easier to type out a ritual on the computer, print it out and give everyone a copy, rather than handwriting each and every copy! Financial skills can be used within the group if the coven is formal enough to collect fees, etc. for purchasing Circle needs, donating to causes, etc. In addition, having a coven sibling who is skilled in financial management can also be of great help to individual coven members, as well.

Veterinary Skills doesn't have to encompass those on a professional level, although that would be great! Most groups I know have many companion animals among them, and some have branched out enough in this economy to raise chickens. Having someone trained, or with a natural ability and inclination towards the care of animals can be a great asset to the group.

Within the Pagan community there is a great deal of respect for those who practice their creative gifts - those who can build, make, and craft the things. All these skills contribute to personal involvement in daily and ritual endeavors. They can also be used to raise money - on a personal level, a group level, and even towards charitable causes.

Herbalism

This includes all aspects of Herbs including (but not limited to):

  • Herbal Healing
  • Aromatherapy
  • Herbal Astrology
  • Herbs for Ritual Use
  • Herbal Therapies
  • Herb Gardening

There are two subcategories here:

Kitchen Witchery

Kitchen Witchery is closely tied to folk magick. The Kitchen Witch uses materials close at hand to craft magick that can also double as meals, home decor, bath products, clothing, jewelry and other everyday items.

Hedge Witchery

A Hedge Witch utilizes the same innate ability to use material close at hand to craft pieces of Natural Magick for use in ritual and spell.

Pathworks Specific to Coven Offices

There are several types of pathworking that can be utilized for the pagan community at large, but are truly more geared toward the individual coven. Among these are:

HP/HPS - Coven Leadership training

Counselor - This is the provence of the HPS in some covens; others have someone whose main skillset is the counseling arts.

Bard - Keeper of Coven History, storytelling, music

Challenger - this is the path of the Warrior.

Contrarian - this is the individual who keeps everyone else "down to earth." His job is not to discourage, but rather to encourage what is possible and suggest breaking up the impossible into more achievable pieces.