tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33821576.post-50730063449188509642007-05-09T11:08:00.000-07:002007-05-09T11:18:57.043-07:00Last night I was initiated as a 1st Degree Witch in the Pagans for Peace tradition, which is a loosely Brit tradition Wicca-based group. Don't worry if you don't know what any of that means! Basically, I've been initiated as a witch and Priestess of myself. When you're initiated into 2nd and 3rd degree, you can be Priestess for others, which means you can lead rituals and such. For some people, initiations are a matter of power and knowledge, but for me, they just symbolize where I am in my spiritual path. A first-degree witch has dedicated herself to the path of witchcraft. A 2nd degree has dedicated herself to her coven and/or community. A 3rd degree witch becomes a High Priest/ess and can form and lead covens and/or communities. To me, degrees often symbolize what level of responsibility one is willing to take on. Right now, I only want to be responsible for my own spiritual growth.<br /><br />I am really happy I waited to be initiated by close friends. I had talked to another witch previously about initiation, and we had agreed it wasn't the right time. This time around, I knew it was the right time. Being initiated felt simple and natural to me.<br /><br />Being initiated does come with certain responsibilities towards oneself and towards other witches. It's a higher level of dedication than a simple student/seeker. I am bound to help and protect others in the Craft, and I am bound to be more responsible in my spiritual learning and practise,<br /><br />My High Priesstess and Priest told me I would feel somewhat different after my initiation, and I do. I feel more powerful, but more grounded. I also feel more firmly anchored in the community of witches, and in my family of witches. I feel like I belong to a sister/brotherhood of witches, and it feels good.<div class="blogger-post-footer">This is my footer.<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33821576-5073006344918850964?l=arthriticyoungthing.blogspot.com'/></div>Zephyrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13020297752831113924noreply@blogger.com1