{"id":970,"date":"2011-01-01T18:25:09","date_gmt":"2011-01-01T23:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gleewood.org\/seeking\/"},"modified":"2020-11-04T23:51:41","modified_gmt":"2020-11-05T04:51:41","slug":"why-a-year-and-a-day","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gleewood.org\/seeking\/building\/why-a-year-and-a-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Why a year and a day?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
People have gotten the idea that in order to be a witch (or a religious witch, or a Pagan, or whatever), you simply need to study for a year and a day. And that that time frame is really fixed – you can’t take longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reality is a bit more complicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, the year and a day comes from a common group practice of asking students to work with the group for a year and a day before they commit to the group, the tradition, and the Gods (via initiation). Lots of people decide (often for very good reasons) that one or more of those things isn’t for them, at least right now. It’s much better to figure that out before long-term oaths and commitments are made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Why a year and a day?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Many groups have found that some people want group work who turn out to treat other group members very badly, or to twist what the group’s doing to their specific preferences (and only their preferences). However, many people are on ‘good behavior’ in the first few months they work with a group, so it can be hard to spot some kinds of problems early. Few people, however, can keep up that kind of good behavior (without any slips or problems) for a full year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other reason has to do with some hard-won experience. You may read of people doing initiations very quickly in earlier days of various traditions – sometimes even giving people their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degrees in a weekend. That worked for some people, however, there were a lot of people who ended up unable to integrate the experiences well, and who ended up hurt by it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most group leaders have now decided to spread things out a bit. That also goes for pre-initiatory work. By taking more time between initiations, and time for preparation before the first degree, people can work through a series of steps in integrating new ideas and practices over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This seems (in the experience of a lot of people from a wide variety of witchcraft traditions) to be at least as effective (and quite possibly much more effective) with a lot less collateral damage. (My line about this is “I only teach people I like. I don’t want to be part of breaking them if I can avoid it.”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
These are still good for people working on their own. Taking a year allows you to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Celebrate a full ritual year<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In other words, see a full year in the tradition or path you’ve chosen. This is particular important in paths that focus on particular things at specific times of year – whether that’s a retreat into introspection and the shadow self in the winter, celebration of the natural agricultural cycle, or something else. If you find that a large part of a given path’s cycle doesn’t speak to you, you might want to try something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have time to learn<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This goes for both simple things (things you can learn in one class or discussion or reading) and more complicated things (that take multiple sessions to cover, practice, or understand – like casting a circle, how to connect Sabbats together to form a larger story or arc.) In witchcraft paths, it’s often the larger thing that bring us the most joy and change and transformation – but they take time to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think of it like working on a very simple project (making a greeting card, knitting a dishcloth, writing an essay), as opposed to a much bigger project (painting a room-size mural, knitting a complicated sweater or shawl, writing a book). You learn more and different things with the larger project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Work through some common challenges.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Many people start off very enthusiastic, for example, but when stuff gets harder or more challenging a few months in, may not want to continue. Thus, the year and the day can give you time to learn more about your chosen path before making a commitment to it, or talking extensively about it with other people. (I cover this one more on the page about sharing your path with others.<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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