Outlined below is the course of study for the EarthPath system. The links take you to the actual course material. The material is designed as a set of guidelines, with exercises to enhance learning. Simply reading the material is not sufficient for the student to learn Earth-centered spirituality. It is the exercises, completed in their entirety, which help the student attain the experiences for spiritual growth. Each student learns at his/her own pace, though many exercises require a specific time duration. This is covered in the course material.
Please review the materials before making the decision to continue with training. It is a commitment of time, effort, and the heart. However, should the student decide at any time to follow a path other than EarthPath, s/he is welcome to discontinue the training with our blessings and our wishes for his/er continued well-being. No one is is required to complete training once started, however, completion of the course-work will be well worth the effort.
There are no fees involved in mentorship training. Because this is an online, long distance effort, there are no expenses for printing, shipping, etc. However, the mentors dedicate their time and effort to assisting the students and it behooves the student to respect this effort which is offered to the student over and above the mentor's mundane responsibilities. All mentorship materials except textbooks are provided on this site. The student is responsible for obtaining any textbooks.
Course materials and reading recommendations are still being developed
and will be added to the site as they are completed.
Pagan Philosophy and the EarthPath System of Advancement (S)
• Overview of Earth- centered and magickal traditions
• Vision of Deity
• Vision of Self
• Shamanic/Wiccan Blend
• Teaching System: Mentor/Student
• Steps of Progression
• Seeker (S)
• Dedicant
• Walkabout Voyager (W)
• Voyager (V)
• Master Voyager (M)
• Adept (A)
• Minister (status attained at completion of training - need not be officially ordained)
• Recommended Reading:
• To Ride a Silver Broomstick, Silver Ravenwolf
• Paganism: Introduction to Earth-Centered Spirituality, Joyce and River Higginboth
• Shamanism as a Spiritual Practice for Daily Life, Tom Cowan
• Illusions, Richard Bach
• A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawkins
• Exercises
• Journal memorable passages from the reading material and what they have taught you.
• Put into words what your personal relationship is with Deity.
• How do you fit in?
• Journal these ideas. Discuss them with someone close to you.
• Set up "agree/not agree" columns with values applied to philosophies.
• Set up value judgement system for each philosophy.
• Determine whether or not the system resonates with you.
• Examine the requirements of each level of training as described below.
• Are you comfortable with descriptions and definitions?
• Are you willing to commit to the training requirements?
• After reviewing introductory materials and performing exercises described above, compare EarthPath philosophy with your own. Decide whether you wish to learn more.
• Decide whether or not you wish to learn more.
• If yes, apply for mentor:
• Write a 300 page paper describing your spiritual history, your spiritual goals
• Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic, Scott Cunningham, et al.
• Power Within the Land, R.J. Stewart
• Recommended:
• Hands of Light, Barbara nan
• Wheels of Light, Rosalyn L. Bruyere
• Love is in the Earth: A Kaleidoscope of Crystals, A. Melody
• Exercises
• The 'Four Basics' Meditations
• Rooting
• Grounding
• Centering
• Shielding
• Feeling Energy
• "I am all that I see."
• Manipulating Energy
• Shaping and Projecting
• Extending
• Summary
• Mentor's Exercise
• Endnotes
• Write a paper of 350 - 2000 words your ability to perceive, understand and deal with energies around you and the energy of your chakras. Retain this paper and, as you develop your abilities, reread the paper to see how you progress in your abilities.
• A Nutshell History • Beginnings • Transitions • Pagans in Modern Society • Festivals • Nudity • Sexuality • Pagans in Society
• Exercises
• Attend at least three organized festivals or major social gatherings (other than coffee at the local "pub").
• Attend at least three meetings of a community group.
• Journal your experiences and discuss with your mentor.
• Write a paper of 350 - 2000 words regarding your personal stand on sexuality and nudity.
• Reading and Discussion
• Required
• A Community of Witches: Contemporary Neo-Paganism and Witchcraft in the United States, Helen A. Berger
• People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out, Ellen Evert Hopman and Lawrence Bond
• Recommended
• Secrets of a Witch's Coven, Morwyn; Chapter 1: A Concice History of Witchcraft and Magic
• Spiral Dance, Starhawk; chapters 1, Witchcraft as Goddess Religion and 2, The World View of Witchcraft
Making Connections (D)
• Connecting with Nature and the Environment
• Connecting with the Elements
• Creating a Personal Sanctuary
• Building an Astral Temple
• Guides, Totems and Messengers
• Connecting with the Ancients
• Connecting with Deity
• Recommended Reading
• One, Richard Bach
• Visual Magick, a Manual of Freestyle Shamanism, Jan Fries
• Earth, Air, Fire & Water, Scott Cunningham
• Earth Prayers from Around the World, edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon
• Animals of the Soul, Joseph Epes Brown
• Exercises
• Elemental meditations one moon cycle for each.
• Become "personal" with your current environment.
• Develop a personal sanctuary.
• Build an astral temple.
• In your astral temple, meditate on your Guides, the Ancient Ones and Deity.
• Write your experiences in your journal and discuss with your mentor.
• Write a paper of 350 - 1400 words describing one experience you have had making connections. This can be the result of meditation, dreamtime experience or conscious efforts to connect with your environment.
Tools (D)
• Types of Tools
• The Use of Tools
• Finding vs. Making
• Reading and Discussion
• Spell Crafts, Cunningham
• To Ride a Silver Broomstick, chapter 10 Stocking Your Magickal Cabinet, Silver Ravenwolf
• Lecture and Discussion:
• The Necessity of Tools, WindRider
• Exercises
• Decide what tools are right for your own spiritual and magickal practice.
• Gather tools:
• From items you already have,
• Purchase some,
• Make at least one.
• Write a paper of 350 - 2000 words defending your position on the use and/or making of tools.
Ritual and Ritual Structure (D)
• Ritual Evolution
• Writing a Ritual
• Ritual Structure
• Wiccan
• Shamanic
• Ritual timing
• Ritual purpose
• Types of Ritual
• Daily Ritual
• Rites of Passage
• Celebration
• Magickal work
• Performing a Ritual
• Reading and Discussion
• **
• Exercises
• Plan, write and execute at least three private rituals for different purposes.
• Write a paper of at least 350 words explaining what tools you use in ritual, why, and how they work for you.
• Execute at least one spontaneous ritual in which you use no man-made tools.
• Journal your experiences and discuss with your mentor.
• Write a paper of 350 - 2000 words on your personal ritual method(s). Express whether or not you wish use written scripts and/or readings. Explain your decisions. Retain this paper and compare your method(s) as you gain in experience.