This group is for members of the Coven of the World Tree (which is still in a conceptual stage). Hopefully we can start off as a fellowship or working coven and then graduate to a teaching coven someday. We plan to practice our own brand Seax Wica. This may end up differing from Buckland's idea specifically on the topic of secrecy/ secret teachings. While we would strive to honor the self initiated fully, and integrate the democratic process, there will still be some distinct secret teachings kept by this group for those who wish to seek them. Founding members have also taken up the study and practice of ceremonial magick.

Some of our teachers were influenced by the Gardnerian tradition (even possibly by the Central Valley Wiccan tradition but a complete liturgy to the third degree has not been provided or their lineage was unknown/unrevealed) so, what has been passed on to us in that respect is fragmentary. Other, current teachers, are apart of the American Celtic tradition.

The structure of Seax-Wicca is as follows and may be integrated into our system more fully as we progress:
"- A Theow is an interested non-initiate (somewhat like Cowen)
- A Ceorl is a neophyte, one undergoing training
- A Gesith is an initiate" (Pagan-News.com 2002-2006).

It is our personal goal to honor the gods of our ancestors, Woden and Freya, within a Wiccan context (not to discourage people who are working with different pantheons from participation as the world tree or tree of life is a symbol relevant to many paths and traditions). We also hope to promote non-ethnocentric diversity along with a well rounded practice of Witchcraft and Paganism.

Degree Requirements


Material requirements for initiation are in parentheses.

     Main elemental ritual tools (everything minus white robe) 
      should be secured and consecrated within the first year of study. 
      
      *Theow blessing & orientation may be done in the winter: 
      Candidate shows some serious interest in group participation 
      (choose and decorate an altar stone). 
      
      *Ceorl dedication may be done in the spring: 
      (Neophyte-Dedication letter signed with sigil of magical name, 
      
      pillar candle , thurible/censor, not a stick burner). 
      
      -Gift to student: Mjolnir pendant
      
      *Thane/ other office consecration may be done in the summer: 
      
      Lead the Sabbat/Blot ritual (choose a wand, athame, seax, sword or spear for 
      casting circle). 
      
      The right and obligation of the Thane is to summon and guard the circle 
   and may be required to serve for six months to a year.  
      
      -Gift to student: Cingulum
      
      *Gesith initiation may be done in the fall: 
      Lead the Esbat ritual (water dish or other tool for asperging,  chalice, white robe). 
      
      *Heah Gesith  (High priest-priestess) confirmation: Start/Lead a coven. 
      
      This is a position that will be acquired through election and may be integrated into a may king/queen crowning. 
      
      
      The structure of Seax-Wicca is as follows:
      "- A Theow is an interested non-initiate (somewhat like Cowen)
      - A Ceorl is a neophyte, one undergoing training
      - A Gesith is an initiate" (Pagan-News.com 2002-2006).
      
      There is a word to say about the Hierophantic task. Behold! there are
      three ordeals in one, and it may be given in three ways. The gross
      must pass through fire; let the fine be tried in intellect, and the
      lofty chosen ones in the highest. Thus ye have star & star, system &
      system; let not one know well the other!
      
      -Liber Vel Legis chapter 1 vs. 50.
      
    
     Syllabus 
      
      This is a work in progress and may be changed as we go. 
      
      First quarter, indoor activities (Yule to Eostara). 
 ~Astrology and Mythology.
     Delineation, (progression), and generation of a natal chart. 
     Legends, Folktales, story telling  (choose your story assignment). 
     Mythology section: Survey from African to Germanic & Saxon.
      
          Week 1: African
          Week 2: Egyptian
          
          Week 3: Mesopotamian
          Week 4: Greco-Roman
          
          Week 5: Indian  
          Week 6: Chinese 
          Week 7: Native American  
         
          Week 8:  Scandinavian
          Week 9:  Celtic
          Week 10: Germanic & Saxon  
      
          Know your patron god. 
      
      Film: Power of Myth 
     
    Second quarter, spring activities (Eostara to Litha).
 ~Magick and the Sacred fires. 
 101 sessions, history of the sacred fires (Frazier), wheel of the year (Eight 
 Sabbats for Witches, movie: "Dark secret of Harvest Home" if  available), tools 
 (acquire 4 elemental tools and consecrate them, see degree requirements), spells 
 and charms. Discuss gatherings, inter-coven etiquette and the five basic
 elements of ritual.  Plant your herb garden.
      


   Third Quarter, summer activities (Litha to Mabon).
 ~Healing and Herbalism 

 Tree lore (gem and mineral show, herb 

& tree identification walk). Herbalism practicum: six basic types of herbal preparations. 

Discuss gems and minerals, Aromatherapy, Oils and Incense. 

Films: The Fountain & The Wicker Man.    
      

    Fourth Quarter, fall activities (Mabon to Yule)
  ~Oracles and Ancestors 
  Discuss divination (tarot, runes and scrying), Seidr
  trances, possession, channeling, ancestral shrines, necromancy, astral 
  projection and other paranormal topics, working with daemons, angels and 
  entities (See Laws of Magick, Golden Dawn),the duel arcane and magical
  protections.   Harvest herbs. 
      
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/covenoftheworldtree/ 

Ah the old Christmas orbs. This Wikipedia link gives a pretty convincing argument about the phenomena: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orb_(paranormal) . I can not say that I am entirely convinced. Doesn't explain when you see them with the naked eye or when regular old cameras capture them. I do think the dust explanation is still a good one however.

0=0

This notion of infinity is another of man's futile attempts to impose order upon the universe. There is no infinite thing. Even the soul, apparently immortal, has its end after a hundred ages.
This eternal reward so desired and endless sorrow so feared are one and the same. They are not.
Every shred of human culture stems from a schizophrenic delusion about man's place in nature.


There is no god where I am (Liber XV).

Chasuble with solar cross

and here is a nice looking Chasuble with a solar cross in the appropriate colors for only $290.00

http://www.catholicsupply.com/churchs/chasuble3.html

The king of all circlets

Now this is a Uraeus Crown. Its only 542 $ delivered! Ha!

http://www.prisiadieco.com/uraeuscrown.htm

The lance is next

I like this 1100's specimen right off the bat. It is an interesting synchronicity for me in that we have been talking about putting a mass team together and looking deeper into Seax Wicca. Both of which require a lance or spear.

This is a great link for spears : http://www.kultofathena.com/spears.htm

Many come with an ash pole which is also sold separately.

My wife and I have been talking about going in the direction of Seax Wica. I have not read the primary texts yet and I am open to feed back. Here are some links:

http://www.seax.org/ ,

I found this to be very interesting "The tradition honors the Germanic deities Woden and Freyja, and uses a minimal set of the usual ceremonial tools and a spear." from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seax-Wica , being that I have been talking about acquiring a lance to priest the gnostic mass with.

http://www.coven-of-cythrawl.com/Seax.htm ,

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=ustn&c=trads&id=3276 ,

and here is some info from http://www.pagannews.com/cgi-bin/traditions1.pl?32 ,

Seax-Wicca was started by Raymond Buckland in the early seventies. Originally instructed by Gerald Gardner to bring Wicca to the US, Buckland became dis-illusioned with the politics and powerplays that began to develop in US Wicca.

Seax-Wicca was designed to have a more democratic coven structure, and to allow even solitaries to become initiated into the tradition.

The principle teachings, structure and rituals of Seax-Wicca are included in Buckland's book The Tree (recently released under the title "Saxon Witchcraft")

Seax-Wicca is a Saxon oriented and so the gods Woden and Freya are the most important deities in this tradition.

The coven structure of Seax-Wicca is as follows:

- A Theow is an interested non-initiate (somewhat like Cowen)
- A Ceorl is a neophyte, one undergoing training
- A Gesith is an initiate.

There are no degrees of advancement within Seax-Wicca. Once a solitary has initiated themselves to Gesith, that initiation is recognized by any Seax-Wicca coven they may join in the future. Covens may also take someone from Theow to Gesith.

Roles within the coven are as follows:

- Priest and/or Priestess
- Scribe, who acts as coven secretary
- Thegn who serves as Guard, Watchmen and Sergeant-at-Arms

All covens are autonomous. There are no High Priests/Priestesses, No King or Queen and no hierarchy of covens. Buckland himself has been given the title of Faeder ("Father") since he is the founder of the tradition, but the title is purely gratuitous.

There is no Book of Shadows, or any Oathbound material within Seax-Wicca. All teachings are open, all rituals and sabbats can be open. The Seax-Wiccans celebrate all the major and minor sabbats, and typically study the Runes, Herbal Lore, the Tarot and Hwata (a form of divination using seven wands) as part of their training.