Hearth of the Goddess

We are happy to announce that three students were initiated at Imbolc 2009 into our priestess/priest training program. Congratulations to these phenomenal women!

The training program may be offered again in 2010. Interested persons are encouraged to attend our rituals, get to know us better, and evaluate how well our philosophy and practices fit with individual spiritual goals. Please e-mail for more information,

The Sacred Earth Grove of Eastern Carolina is not formally affiliated with any other Wiccan or Pagan group, but has a cooperating relationship with the Fellowship of Isis (headquartered in Ireland) through the Temple of Isis (located in California). Upon completion of the Hearth of the Goddess training program, we confer ordination in accordance with North Carolina State law. Ordination through the Temple of Isis is optional.

"Priestess/priest training is more than a study group; it's an intensive program of work. I foresee there being lots of fun as well, but an earnest commitment to study and development is essential...It is imperative that our children and our children's children see and feel the divine feminine energy equally with the divine masculine energy. Women's spirituality must come out of the groves and secret circles to dance in the open. Its beauty, gentleness and power will influence generations."

--Kay Gardner, Priestess and Foremother

Curriculum

Our comprehensive program is based on a non-hierarchical, consensus-building model.

The curriculum may be adapted for each class to meet the needs of the individual group. The core program consists of approximately 59 classes. For those seeking ordination, approximately 29 additional classes are required. The curriculum follows the Wheel of the Year. We plan and celebrate Holy Day rituals together. Rituals do not count as part of the class time, but are time to practice skills and celebrate together as a community of learners. We will generally take at least a week off after each holy day with two or more weeks off around Yule. During the summer we may elect to attend classes every other week or to adjust the schedule to meet the needs of those taking summer trips.

Required Reading:

Peace and Power by Peggy L. Chinn

Positive Magic by Marion Weinstein

Class Format:

Each class will begin with Peace and Power Process, sharing of researched Goddesses or archetypes, and then the subject of the week. All students are expected to have researched the topics prior to class meetings. A suggested Reading List by topic is provided, but students are encouraged to explore other texts and online sources available on the topics.

A pre-initiation meeting for students accepted into the program will be prior to the first class.

Week #	Topics	Lesson Format	Assignments

Imbolc Ritual and Initiation	Ritual.
Week 1	Process the Initiation ritual. Pagan traditions and the Feminine Divine. The Charge of the Goddess. Tenets of The Sacred Earth Grove.	Discussion
Week 2	The Feminine Divine in the pagan world view. The Wheel of the Year.	Discussion
Week 3	The Elements and Elementals. The Fifth Element. The Four Directions.	Discussion
Week 4	Symbols. Magickal tools. Consecrating Tools.	Discussion	Students will acquire magickal tools ready for consecration by the next ritual.
Week 5	Creating Sacred Space: planting groves, casting circles, calling Directions.	Discussion
Week 6	Creating and Caring for an altar.	Discussion	Begin reading Positive Magic. Chapter 8 must be read by Week 7.
Holy Day	Clergy will plan this ritual. Students' magickal tools will be consecrated.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 7	Process the ritual. Words of Power: using words to shape invocation and intent. Conscious vocabulary. Introduce Air assignment.	Discussion
Week 8	Continuation of Words of Power. Creative visualization.	Discussion / Experiential
Week 9	Ritual basics. Circle etiquette. Raising the Cone of Power.	Discussion / Experiential	Research seasonal lore appropriate to the upcoming ritual, as well as associated Goddesses, crafts and activities.
Week 10	Ritual planning basics. Students will plan the upcoming ritual, using homework materials as inspiration.	Discussion / Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 11	Process the ritual. Using voice and body to tap into psychic skills.	Discussion / Experiential	Positive Magic Chapter 7 must be read by Week 12
Week 12	Psychic skills and survey of divination techniques (runes, tarot, scrying, pendulum, ogham, I Ching, others)	Discussion	Begin working with the divination tool of your choice. Bring to next 2 classes.
Week 13	Psychic skills and divination continued. Practice readings.	Discussion / Experiential	Research seasonal lore appropriate to the upcoming ritual, as well as associated Goddesses, crafts and activities.
Week 14	Students will plan the upcoming ritual, using homework materials as inspiration.	Planning	Read Cultural Etiquette read by Week 15
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 15	Process the ritual. "isms": racism, sexism, ageism, and other prejudices. Introduce Fire assignment.	Discussion / Film	Research seasonal lore appropriate to the upcoming ritual, as well as associated Goddesses, crafts and activities.
Week 16	Students will plan the upcoming ritual, using homework materials as inspiration.	Discussion / Experiential
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 17	Process the ritual. Unlearning our "isms."	Discussion
Week 18	Gender and Balance in Magic. Introduce Personal Project assignment (due week 24),	Discussion	Research seasonal lore appropriate to the upcoming ritual, as well as associated Goddesses, crafts and activities. .
Week 19	Students will plan the upcoming ritual, using homework materials as inspiration.	Planning	Self-evaluations due by Week 20.
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 20	Process the ritual. Review self-evaluations. Introduce Water assignment.	Discussion
Week 21	Living on Planet Earth: ways to care for the Earth and all Her creatures. Nature Spirits, Ancestors of the Land.	Discussion	Research seasonal lore appropriate to the upcoming ritual, as well as associated Goddesses, crafts and activities.
Week 22	Environmental Field Trip (date to be announced)	Experiential
Week 23	Students will plan the upcoming ritual, using homework materials as inspiration.	Planning	Personal projects due by Week 24.
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 24	Process the ritual. Personal project presentations.	Discussion / Presentation
Week 25	Finish personal project presentations OR make up missed class OR Open Forum. Introduce Pandora's Box assignment (due wk 5 of 2nd year).	Discussion / Presentation
Week 26	Basic Herbology: names, identification, magickal and mundane uses.	Discussion	Research seasonal lore appropriate to the upcoming ritual, as well as associated Goddesses, crafts and activities.
Week 27	Students will plan the upcoming ritual, using homework materials as inspiration. Introduce Earth assignment.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.

Week 28	Process the ritual. Incense crafting.	Discussion / Experiential	Peace and Power chapter on conflict must be read by next meeting.
Week 29	Conflict resolution.	Discussion	Research seasonal lore appropriate to the upcoming ritual, as well as associated Goddesses, crafts and activities.
Week 30	Students will plan the upcoming ritual, using homework materials as inspiration.	Planning
Holy Day Rededication Ritual (Second Year)	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 1	Process the ritual. Cording ceremony for 2nd year. Energetics I: the art of sensing and moving energy.	Discussion
Week 2	Energetics II: practice sensing and moving energy.	Discussion / Experiential
Week 3	Energetics III: using self-knowledge in energetic work.	Discussion
Week 4	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning	Pandora's Box projects due by Week 5.
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 5	Process the ritual. Pandora's Box presentations. Introduce Maiden assignment.	Discussion / Presentations
Week 6	Finish Pandora's Box presentations OR makeup missed meeting OR Open Forum.	Discussion / Presentation
Week 7	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 8	Process the ritual. Magick I: what is magick and how do we use it? Magickal ethics. The Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law, and how these philosophies fit/don't fit with the Feminine Divine.	Discussion	Bring candle(s) to next class for candle magick exercise
Week 9	Magick II: Practical Magick and Spellwork.	Discussion / Experiential	Bring a small pouch or 6x6" square of cloth to the next class. Herbs will be provided.
Week 10	Magick III: Magick Herbalism and Living a Magick Life. Creating spell bags and charms.	Discussion / Experiential
Week 11	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 12	Process the ritual. Magick IV: Magickal Recordkeeping (Book of Shadows, Dream Journal, references). Introduce Mother assignment.	Discussion
Week 13	Healing I: Overview of healing. Healing herbs.	Discussion
Week 14	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 15	Process the ritual. Healing II: Energy Therapy techniques.	Discussion / Experiential
Week 16	Healing III: Stones and Crystals	Discussion / Experiential
Week 17	Trance I: Where do we go and how do we get there?	Discussion
Week 18	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 19	Process the ritual. Trance II: Practicing one style of trancework. Introduce Crone assignment.	Discussion / Experiential
Week 20	Trance III: Shamanic journeying and power guides.	Discussion
Week 21	Working with the Shadow Self. The Charge of the Dark Goddess.	Discussion
Week 22	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 23	Process the ritual. Advanced psychic skills: astral travel, dreamwork, developing clairvoyance, psychic self-defense.	Discussion / Experiential
Week 24	Advanced psychic skills continued. Contacting spirit guides.	Discussion / Experiential	Research the lore of your favorite tree for the next class.
Week 25	Tree lore and tree magick. Introduce Triple Goddess assignment to begin after Yule.	Discussion
Week 26	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.

Week 27	Process the ritual. Working with the Inner Child and the role of Play in spiritual development.	Discussion	Be prepared next week to discuss how you will Weave the Web after completing the Hearth program.
Week 28	Weaving the Web: integrating your knowledge and beliefs into everyday life. Maintaining a spiritual practice. Next steps on the Goddess Path.	Discussion
Week 29	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
This completes Hearth studies for students not seeking ordination.
Holy Day (Third Year for those pursuing the priestess/priest path)	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 1	Process the ritual. Cording ceremony for 3rd year. Priestess Standards of Service: responding to questions by Ruth Barrett	Discussion
Week 2	Questions from Caitlin Matthews on how to best serve the Divine: · What has been the guiding principle in my life? · Where and in what have I found spiritual sustenance? · What is my creative source? · What are the most vulnerable areas of my make up? · When I am asked for help by others, what qualities are they drawing upon?	Discussion
Week 3	Ethics and Pastoral Counseling Do's and Don’ts	Discussion
Week 4	Ethics and Pastoral Counseling	Discussion
Week 5	Students will plan the upcoming ritual. Introduce Community Service assignment (9 documented hours by end of program).	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 6	Process the ritual. Pastoral Counseling role plays.	Experiential
Week 7	Pastoral Counseling role plays continued.	Experiential
Week 8	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 9	Process the ritual. Life Passages: Blessings of homes, objects, endeavors.	Discussion
Week 10	Life Passages: Wiccanings.	Discussion
Week 11	Life Passages: Menarche and Puberty	Discussion
Week 12	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 13	Process the ritual. Life Passages: Handfastings and Partings	Discussion
Week 14	Life Passages: Cronings and Elderhood	Discussion
Week 15	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 16	Process the ritual. Life Passages: Death and Dying.	Discussion
Week 17	Aspecting the Goddess: Drawing Down the Moon	Discussion / Experiential
Week 18	Building the Pagan Community. Community events. Pagan Pride days. Managing community conflict.	Discussion
Week 19	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 20	Process the ritual. Priestessing within the Interfaith Community. Dealing with a phobic society.	Discussion	Progress reports on Community Service activities due next week.
Week 21	Progress reports on Community Service activities.	Discussion
Week 22	Students will plan the upcoming ritual.	Planning	Educational presentations will begin in Week 23 - you pick a subject and teach it to us.
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.
Week 23	Process the ritual. Educational presentations.	Discussion / Presentations
Week 24	Education presentations continue.	Presentation
Week 25	Finish educational presentations. Clergy and the Law. Code of Ethics and confidentiality. Clergy and Activism.	Discussion / Presentation
Week 26	Students will plan the upcoming ritual. Discuss ordination projects.	Discussion / Planning	Self-evaluations due by Week 27.
Holy Day	Ritual.		Write a 3-part evaluation of the ritual: what you saw (objective), what you experienced (subjective), and your critique and recommendations.

Week 27	Process the ritual. Review self-evaluations.	Discussion	Completed community service activities due next class.
Week 28	Present and discuss completed Community Service activities.	Discussion
Week 29	Preparing for Ordination. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.	Discussion