Tonight I begin Christopher Penczak's third degree course, which follows his book The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft.

The book and the class are based on the element of water, the realm of emotion, reflection and healing, just as the first, The Inner Temple of Witchcraft dealt with the element of fire as embodied by light, guidance, and protection, and lighting one's inner fire as a witch, and as the second, The Outer Temple of Witchcraft is based on the element of earth, helping the witch manifest inner sacredness in the outer world through ritual and spellcraft.

Stemming from Christopher's personal quest to explore shamanic traditions and to reconcile them with the modern practice of witchcraft, The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft is a guide for today's witch to learn how to incorporate shamanic techniques and experiences into his or her work. From the introduction:

One of the first definitions I learned of a witch was a "walker between the worlds." But other than casting a magick circle that stands "between the worlds," few witches developed that aspect of the craft. What we call witchcraft and shamanism today are not mutually exclusive, and most likely come from a common root, from a time before we had such divisions and words. They have far more in common than most people suspect. When you strip the cultures away, at the core they seem much the same to me.

The book is designed so that anyone can use it as the basis for a year and a day of study, culminating in a ritual for self initiation into the "art of the shamanic witch."

I'm very excited about beginning this advanced stage of training, dealing as it does with seeking the shadow self and learning how to add this type of spiritual healing to my practice of the craft. Doubtless, as I begin this work, you will see some posts about the things I encounter on my own shamanic journey.

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 2:52 PM