Classes, Workshops, Intensives, Oh My!

Y’all know me.  I’m pretty big on education of all forms.  As Nelson Mandela put it, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”  It doesn’t just benefit one person by helping that person grow and evolve, but it also benefits an entire community by promoting cultural understanding and awareness.

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A Back to School Blessing

May your pencils always be sharp and pens always have ink,

May you use every cell in your brain to learn and to think.

Whether its the first day of kindergarden or senior year of college,

Apply what you learn with wisdom and knowledge.

In hard times of finals, term papers, and spelling bees,

Call on Athena, Brigid, Thoth, and Saraswati.

May the Goddess bless you with A’s, new friends, and a new set of skills,

And the God protect you from F’s and snowy day fire drills.

Be kind to other students, especially when they need a little help,

And remember to take time to run, play, and yelp.

Persevere through courses you need to give boredom a shove,

Embrace and follow your passion to find purpose and something you love.

So get on that bus and head off to school,

And remember to follow one simple rule.

Work hard for success and prosperity,

And blessings will flow with happiness for thee.

© Ariadne Woods

Five Essential Magical Herbs for Students

School is a balance of expanding the mind, communicating effectively, and dealing with stress.  For the Witch, knowing the multifaceted element of this stage of life helps to create effective education spells.  These are my top herbs when doing spellwork to help my studies.  Any herb associated with remembrance and communication is also quite effective.

• Earl Grey Tea: This particular type of tea is blended with bergamot essence, which is known to stimulate the mind and to foster confidence.  There is also enough caffeine to make this the perfect potion for all nighters.
• Grapefruit Peel and Essential Oil: Again, good for activating the mind and a great study aid.  The essential oil version also is known for promoting joy and happiness, so a good choice to wear during classes you hate.
• St. John’s Wort: An age-old antidepressant, both medically and magically.  It is known as the ‘sunshine herb’ for bringing light into dark situations and problems.  I use this in spellwork when I have a difficult professor or administrator I need to confront.  DO NOT take internally if you take any prescription antidepressants.
• Lavender: Very calming and relaxing.  Use it to help with sleep problems that may arise with dorm living and with social stress.
• Lemon Balm: Associated with healing of the mind and success.  I use this as a tea to wash away the stress at the end of a hard school day and as part of spells to help with a difficult assignment.

© Ariadne Woods

The Academic Pagan

Colleges and universities offer a variety of courses on many, many topics.  Obviously the primary curriculum a student should adhere to is the one that will let them graduate on time.  However if you go to a university like mine, you get a little wiggle room to take some electives.

Why not take some of those classes to further your Pagan education?

A lot of literature or poetry workshop classes feature in-depth studies of mythology and classic stories.  I am in a poetry intensive right now in which every student was asked to rewrite a famous tale.  It made the students rethink their approach to mythology.

Biology classes often expand the student’s understanding of the natural world.  While yes some Pagans morally object to dissecting animals, some courses focus on the theoretical and ethical dilemmas in Biology.  Or you can talk to the professor before enrolling in the course and write a paper instead of dissecting.

There are many other topics that would enhance your Pagan learning: world religions, anthropology, civil liberties law, music, and history.  Look at what your spiritual needs are and what you are interested in knowing more  about.  The goal is to expand the mind and look at the Goddess in a new way.

© Ariadne Woods