THE FREE WICCA LESSONS
Part of the Avalonia Archives
These lessons were first created and made available in 2000/2001 by Sorita d’Este & David Rankine for www.avalonia.co.uk. With a complete make-over of Avalonia.co.uk in May 2008, these lessons which were very popular with visitors over the years, no-longer had a home on the main website. Thus they live here.... in the archives where hopefully they will still be of use to someone out there - please note that they are not the same as the Wicca homestudy courses offered through Avalonia.
wicca lessons / course

In this section you will find a selection of lessons designed for people who are new to Wicca and who wish to start exploring the practices, beliefs and rituals. We would advise you, if you are planning on working through these lessons, to first read through the articles in the Avalonia Book of Shadows section.

The lessons each contain some information (sometimes with links to other articles on this website for "further reading") followed by exercises. Through the course you will be required to keep your own magickal diary and you will be encouraged to do practical workings, culminating in a ritual to the Four Elements. Please note: This course is not the same as the Homestudy Courses previously offered through this site. The Avalonia Free Wicca Lessons were first written in 2000 and made available through a small mailinglist [GEMS - Goddess Earth Mystery Society] to students who wished to learn more about Wiccan practices, we first made it available here on avalonia.co.uk in 2001 for everyone to use.

No tools are necessary for the completion of these lessons, although you will need the following:

- Some candles
- Incense or Joss
- Small Bowls (to put earth, water and salt in)
- Other objects which you will gather from woodlands / forests or your garden.
- A Notebook (pref. hardback A5 or A4 size) and pen.

If you have ritual tools, such as a wand, athame, pentacle, chalice etc you can of course use them in your work too. Please see What is a Book of Shadows and How to Create & Consecrate your own Book of Shadows in the Avalonia Book of Shadows section for ideas on how to keep your notebook or magickal diary throughout this course. You are welcome to print the lessons and exercises for your own personal use (solitary or with friends) only.

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Lesson Index
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Lesson 1 -- What Is Wicca?
Lesson 2 -- The Origins of Wicca
Lesson 3 -- Initiation, Self Dedication & Wicca
Lesson 4 -- Wiccan Beliefs
Lesson 5 -- Wiccan Ethics (The Wiccan Rede)
Lesson 6 -- What do Wiccans Do?
Lesson 7 -- The Goddess and God
Lesson 8 -- The Wiccan Wheel of the Year (Wiccan Festivals or Sabbats)
Lesson 9 -- Sacred Space : The Magick Circle
Lesson 10 -- Sacred Space : Altars & Shrines
Lesson 11 -- Air, Fire, Water, Earth & Spirit : The Five Elements
Lesson 12 -- Exploring the Elements
Lesson 13 -- Invoking / Inviting the Four Elements (Elemental Guardians)
Lesson 14 -- Elemental Ritual

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Some Notes about this Free Introductory Course

If you are completely new to Wicca , Witchcraft and Magickal practice in general, we would further advise you to read widely on the subject to supplement your learning. Our own book on Wicca, Circle of Fire, will give you a good overview of the symbolism and practices, as well as the beliefs of Wicca - and although some of the information in these lessons are duplicated in there, there are also quite a lot of information and practical exercises in these lessons which does not appear in Circle of Fire. Additionally, it is usual for people to learn a little bit about the history of the Wiccan Tradition prior to starting their practices. To this end, we would recommend Prof. Ronald Hutton's Triumph of the Moon which is an excellent book looking at both the roots of Wicca, as well as its development up to the late 1980's and early 1990's.

Remember, although it not necessary for you to be a historian or expert in all the symbolism and practices of the tradition, it will certainly help you understand and therefore gain a deeper understanding of the practices. Furthermore, it will help you if you are confronted or asked by friends or family about your beliefs and practices if you are able to clearly explain it to them. My advice would be to read as much as you can, by as many different authors as you can, and to also join in discussions on forums, at moots (pagan socials) and to try and attend conferences and festivals to hear what experienced practitioners have to say - and so that you can ask questions! Most of all - good luck on your path - I hope that these lessons (revised 2006) will help you on your way. Do write to me with suggestions and comments! - avalonia93@gmail.com or BM Avalonia, London, WC1N 3XX, England.