neptunesdolphins | THE THREE STAGES OF WIZARDRY (PART 1 OF 2) (Reply)

Most people think in terms of “three stages” in mastering esoteric knowledge. This comes from the Medieval Guild system of Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master. Various traditions such as Wicca may not call these stages by the same name but they divide their membership into three levels. In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins had three divisions – the girls learning how to be Vestal Virgins, the Vestal Virgins maintaining the protocols of the Goddess, and the senior Vestals who taught the girls. That for me summarizes the three stages of Wizardry – learning, maintaining, and teaching.

Dennis Hauck in “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Alchemy,” says that Alchemy is arranged into three levels of Mastery. He breaks down them down as: The Philosophicum – knowing what is really there, The Theoreticum – knowing how it works, and The Practicum – knowing how to do it. I apply these stages to my learning in Wizardry.

I believe that a fourth stage should be included – the Candidate. Before anyone can begin to study Wizardry, they need to know why they want to. Entering the mysteries of Wizardry (or any esoteric tradition) requires hearing the “call.” In “Elemental Witchcraft,” Heron Michelle calls the process of deciding – the “Path of Return.” She defines this as “the desire to form a proper relationship with the Goddess (in her tradition of the Pentacle Path of Modern Witchcraft) and the Cosmos. Meanwhile in Alchemy, Dennis Hauck describes the “why” as wanting to “transmute from being a dead stone to become the living Philosopher’s Stone.” Freemasonry calls it “hearing the Voice to enter the Mystery.” Understanding the “why” the person wants to be a wizard is important.

Therefore, becoming an Apprentice is learning the “How.” Each tradition has basic knowledge which needs to be learned. There has to be an understanding of how things work before “doing the work.” Since being a wizard entails manipulating Cosmic energies, the basics have to be honed first. As the website of Spiritual Dragon Wizardry states, “Wisdom are the bricks in a wall, if the higher bricks are placed on ‘poor’ bricks underneath then ultimately the wall will tumble down.”

This leads to the question of how to learn as an Apprentice. In her book, Michelle details the “spirit-lead” instruction of the Pentacle Path. She wrote “Elemental Witchcraft” to present an alternative to the oathbound initiations of the various lineages in Wicca. Meanwhile, Natalia Clarke in “Pagan Portals – Baba Yaga Slavic Earth Goddess” describes “Apprenticeship by Baba Yaga.” In this Goddess directed process, Clarke received a vision informing her, that she was not ready for the next step. In fact, she was directed to reframe what her path was.

In contrast, Ben Stimpson writes in “Ancestral Whispers” about the potential hazards of working with the Dead. His opinion is that the spiritual world can be a dangerous place. Therefore, Stimpson advises seeking out a mentor. He explains that this person has formed relations with the Spirits. Therefore, they can demonstrate a commitment to and the responsibility of maintaining those relationships.

My personal preference is to have a mentor or school for learning esoteric knowledge. For me, gleaning knowledge from books and being “spirit-led” leaves gaps in my knowledge. Moreover, I can fool myself into thinking I have achieved self-mastery.

In Freemasonry to enter the mysteries of the Universe, the Candidate works to be truly prepared. Then as the Entered Apprentice, they master the physical aspects of life (i.e. the concrete). To become a Fellow Craft, the Entered Apprentice learn self-mastery of their body in health and wellness.

I think that being an Apprentice in Wizardry is learning the map of the Cosmos. Then the Apprentice can draw the map already constructed by other Wizards. At the end of their apprenticeship, the Apprentice is prepared to enter the mysteries of the Journeyman. As an Apprentice, I feel ready as I ponder my final project to become a Journeyman Wizard.