Week27

Dedication & Initiation

A dedication; an initiation. Two terms that are mistaken by many to be synonyms of the same thing but are in fact totally separate rituals. While an initiation will include a dedication, a dedication by itself is not part of an initiation.

The primary focus of this lesson will be on a personal dedication. That is because most of you following this course are solitary practitioners at this time. But I also need to discuss the difference between a dedication and an initiation since some of you may one day become part of a coven.

To be initiated is to become part of a group. In Wicca, it is to join a coven as a member of the coven - not a seeker or a student, but one who has, through training and effort earned the right to be considered a member of a working group.

It isn’t enough, or should not be enough, to simple train for a year and a day on a specific path of study. It should include a commitment and affirmation not only to one’s self but also to the group - the entire group. If that commitment cannot be made with love, with trust, than no initiation should be done.

An initiation is similar to a marriage. It is entering into a working partnership with others for the common good of the group. It is the experiencing of the mysteries together with a group mindset. It means following the rules of the group, overriding your own desires save when the actions of the group are detrimental or cause harm to others.

But a dedication is an individual thing. It is the conscious act of submitting your will to the will of the gods. It is a commitment to follow a specific path, regardless of where it leads or how painful it can be. That is because as you grow spiritually, you will begin to see "truths" within yourself which are painful to acknowledge.

But by recognizing them for what they are, for how they have affected your life and your choices, is the only way to learn to master yourself. For only by mastering yourself can you hope to fully come into balance and harmony.

Wow. What a lot. But I’m hoping by now that you’ve decided to stick with this path. And to that end, I’m going to cover a basic dedication ritual as well as rituals for consecrating your working tools on the very last lesson. Some of the ritual wording is mine. I will give credit to the others for their work.

In the meantime, what do you need to do now? Well, the first thing you really need to do is to decide for yourself if this is, in fact, the path that you wish to follow. Or at least commit to for the next year. That’s the nice thing with Wicca - you aren’t committed for life. You can always change your direction.

As you grow, you may decide that the druidic path is more in keeping with your believes. Or maybe a shamanistic path. Then there are various religions based upon ethnic heritage. Only by continuing to study will you know for certain the path best suited for you.

In addition, should you decide to dedicate yourself, what Goddess and God calls to you? It is not required to choose a specific deity or even deities within the same pantheon. But if you do decide to dedicate yourself to a specific God/dess/ess, pick one that speaks to your soul. Just because your friend is a follower of Brigid or Hecate doesn’t mean that either one is the best Goddess for you. And if you don’t really know yet, but still feel committed and ready to dedicate yourself, it’s perfectly okay to just dedicate yourself to the Lady and the Lord. In time, they will both reveal themselves to you when you are ready.

As for a name - you don’t really need to have one. Seriously, you don’t. And don’t tack on the title of Lady or Lord to your name unless you’ve been initiated. Some of you have found a name that means something to you. Others of you may chose a name based upon your heritage. Some of you, like me, will do without until one day the gods give it to you. A name like "Mother." (Just joking, though in truth the name actually fits me and is right for me.)