Episode 8 - Online Paganism Schools
I enrolled with The Firefly Academy this semester and got more than what I bargained for. Why are online schools (or websites and podcasts even) such fertile ground for ego-growing? Why did I not disenrol despite the dramas? Can we really get something out of them anyway?
Heartfelt thanks to HedonsDog, Celestite (my favourite Pagan blogger) and Auriane who emailed me about this show’s topic. My podcast would just be Fluffy scratching himself if it wasn’t for your contributions.
For Episode 9, I would be keen to do an episode on creating original traditions and paths. I have been overwhelmed with the number of traditions up on Witches’ Voice and just read Lupa’s path, Therioshamanism, over breakfast this morning. If you visit my own magical journal, you will find that is an area of great interest to me. It is not difficult to attribute the desire to create one’s own path to egoism, but I am interested in hearing your deeper thoughts on the matter, and whether or not it has ever been something you considered. Please send your comments to fluffy@catnipbrew.com before Saturday, 8th November to give me time to organise my notes for the next show.
Marc Enfroy’s beautiful piece, Mare Nostrum, was the feature this episode and is courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.
Fortuna…Another great show! I loved hearing your experience with online pagan schools. I wanted to just say that it wasn’t me who mentioned joining Firefly Academy. I believe it the Ipod Witch, Brooke.
Although it is funny (maybe we have a witchy connection going on?)…I did sign up to Firefly Academy to take a looksie (because I just can’t help but to check things like this out) but I didn’t mention it on my podcast. I probably won’t continue with the school (not that I ever really started). I prefer taking specific courses for things that interest me rather than enrolling in a school.
I just finished my homework (after years of procrastination) for the Lucky Mojo Rootwork Course (a great course if you are interested in Hoodoo/Rootwork) and plan on taking another online course to learn the Ocean Oracle in January. I will be starting my Reiki training with a local teacher after the new year too.
So yeah…consist learning and seeking. I am glad there are many different resources out there…the good and the bad. We all could stand learning from everything.
Beltaine Blessings to you and The Fluffster! ;^)
Oseaana
Fortuna is so lame!
Apologies from us that we totally mis-attributed that recommendation for TFA but some ESP must be at work anyway! The Lucky Mojo Rootwork Course sounds like a lot of fun, I hope they will teach me how to make a catnip sachet.
Thank you for writing Oseanna!
Your #1 fan,
Fluffster
Hail Catnip Brew! Thanks for all the nice things that you said about us on your latest show! It really is a lovely feeling having all the other podcasters supporting our podcast awards nomination. Thank you so much.
Mojo
Hi Fortuna,
I haven’t listened to this episode yet, so I’ll comment again when I have, but I wanted to drop by and wish you a belated Happy Birthday for yesterday!
Thinking of you!
Tahlea xxoo
Just listened to the show - excellent one! I should mention that I had a completely different experience with the Learning Circle (Path of the Wise Ones), but to save argument I’ll leave it at that and if you want to know more let me know.
I really enjoyed this epi and I’ll be checking out Firefly Academy to see what they can offer me. I appreciate the fact that it’s entirely free (and there’s no catches!) and would like to see for myself.
I started poking around the Firefly Academy about two year’s ago (back before it moved to Moodle, even). I was pretty impressed with Iris’s determination to try and make a change in the world. She was starting to get laughed about behind her back, and I hated to see that happen because she appeared to have a genuine concern for…well, something.
At that time, many of her “classes” were actually incomplete and she attempted to write them as the students were taking them (which didn’t work, naturally). Even at this point, she ended up having more desire for classes than material ready to go, so she approved a lot of classes with inaccurate (and, in at least a couple cases, dangerous) material. The Qabala class was one of the ones that was put up to be taught without being complete and had to be finished on the fly. That probably explains the “red string” fiasco.
When she tried to bring in other folks to help out, in her words, she got betrayed over and over again, and a lot of times she’d confide to me about some pretty distasteful stuff about her students that I have no desire to share publicly, along with some stuff that goes 180 degrees against my ethics about what you do and do not do with students. When I didn’t get behind some of her ideas that went against my ethics, she asked me to leave, which I did. Some of her students and administrative “board” write me to let me know what’s going on with the ins and outs of her projects. Even though I’ve taken a hard line not to get involved in the inner drama at TFA, I still do hand over some prayers to the Lord and Lady for what’s going on there.
Suffice it to say, I have a feeling TFA will end up crumbling within the next year or two at most. My guess is that if someone mentions what you said about her on this podcast, she’ll kick you out, though. She doesn’t deal well with anyone questioning her on anything, which actually ends up harming the school. Diversity breeds strength.
It’s a shame. I think that there is a need for online schools to provide “sampler” information for people who aren’t sure that a Wiccan/witchcraft path is right for them. I know how much Iris has been harmed by TFA on so many levels, and I feel sorry that she feels the need to be so aggressive and harmful towards others because of the hurt her pet project of a school has caused her. The Goddess works in interesting ways, though. Her very desire to do everything herself because she doesn’t trust anyone means that she consistently bites off more than she chews, which leads to her own self-destruction. I have a feeling a couple of her “board” folks may take the material to make their own school at some point, so certainly the seeds she’s planting may make something fruitful grow in the future. We’ll see. :)
Hello Fluffy and Fortuna…..
You guys have been doing an AWESOME job on the podcast. Keep up the awesome work, and please don’t ever podfade on us, that would make me very, very sad, and my feline Scarlet would miss Fluffy ever so much. She perks her ears up when she hears him.
I am sorry I did not get a comment in before the last show, on online schools, but I would be remiss if I did not add my comments at this point. I am fairly new to paganism/wicca, only studying now for a couple years. I searched high and low for an online way of learning. I checked out many of the advertised schools and just was not willing to pay the amounts they were asking as I was out of work, and no income at the time to speak of. Now that I can afford a little bit, I am not convinced that most of these schools are worth their weight in gold, so to speak. I would like to mention a couple that I have been checking out. Magicka School, I have registered for the free Basic Wicca and free tarot courses. So far I like what I am learning, even though, yes, Basic Wicca is a repeat of most of what I have already learned. However, I certainly don’t mind some repeating, as it helps to ingrain it in my memory, so that I can remember more and more off the top of my head. Repitition, though boring, can be a good thing sometimes. So far I am quite impressed although I would like more personal interaction with an instructor to help keep me on track. However, this said, I would still be willing to pay the small registration fee for all that they offer. I believe it would be money well spent. Secondly, is “The Pagan Online Campus”. It is totally free and offers some GREAT courses. I have taken Beginning Wicca, Sabbats and Esbats, Kitchen Witchery, Gemstones 101 and 201, and am now enrolled in Numerology, and a Rock & Tree Divination Seminar. They utilize the moodle software, which I feel is an excellent set up. They run 4 quarters of the year, with participatory classes. Meaning, you are not left to yourself to do the work. You must complete each weeks assignment by the end of the week, a live instructor grades it and gives you feedback. As well the instructor is there for you via the forums or email. They are very quick at getting back to you, pretty much the same day. I have to say it has been an awesome experience learning through there. They are very choosy as to who they let teach there, and they make sure their lessons are all ready and approved before even mentioning that it is being offered. It is worth checking out. They offer a variety of courses, over the various quarters. Not everything is offered in the same quarter, so sometimes you have to wait till the next one to take it. Plus they only let you take 2 classes at a time, so you don’t overload yourself, and end up not really learning, or having to drop out. I will leave it at that, I feel like an advertisement, but truthfully I am just a very satisfied student, and want others to be able to continue their learning and take advantage of this opportunity.
I will get off my soapbox now, at least about online schools.
AquaTaz (& Scarlet)
Hi Fortuna & Fluffy!
Great episode. I always look forward to your episodes, as you are the only pagan podcast I now listen to regularly.
The Pointy Hat Society Podcast is on permenant leave ( even before it began really ) Many things have come up including emergency surgery for myself. I am recovering nicely, but can not seem to find the focus or energy to produce a decent podcast. Maybe in the distant future I will begin again. For now I will set up a small blog where the demands are not so strict on myself.
I am still hanging around, always awaiting your next show, although I do not comment as I should, and I apoligize for that. Just know that I love each and every one.
Keep up the wonderful work!
Cher