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Spiritus Arcanum

Foundations of Witchcraft

Foundations of Witchcraft

Regular price $350.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $350.00 USD
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Begins January 29th, 2023
Online Live-streamed & Recorded
*In Person Attendance Available*

Foundations of Witchcraft will present a 13 month course of in-depth study which is designed to aid the student in developing and strengthening their personal magical and spiritual practice in genuine, meaningful, impactful, fulfilling, and most importantly, effective ways.

Though this course will dive deeply into the heart of what it means to be a witch, it is worth noting that the Craft as we will explore it in this course, will not be presented through the lens of Wicca (traditional or eclectic). Neither will it approach the subject from the viewpoint of Popular Polytheist Paganism. Within the breadth of this course we will cover the history and practices of witchcraft from a Folk Magical, Folkloric perspective. This places this course more in alignment with what some might term traditional witchcraft.

Additionally this course approaches Witchcraft from an animist, and spirit focused lens, with information, practices, and exercises designed to aid the seeker in establishing and developing deeper connections with ancestral spirits, familiar spirits, and spirits of the land. This will further be developed by guided exercises in hedge crossing/spirit flight.

Throughout this course we will establish regular practices for empowering our body, our mind, our breath, and our spirit. We will also discuss the creation of altars and hallowed spaces, the crafting and use of magical tools, the power of voice and invocation, and the creation of incenses, oils, and magical charms.

By the conclusion of this course you will have received training, guidance, and experience in the following:

-Working with Spirits of the Land
-History and Folklore of the Witches Sabbath
-Establishing a practice of Ancestral Veneration
-Techniques of Planetary Magic
-Approaches towards Familiar Spirits
-Working with the cycles of the Moon and the Sun
-Hedge Crossing, Shapeshifting, and Spirit Flight
-Meditative and Visualization Techniques
-Concepts of the spirit, soul, and energy body
-Creating Ritual Space (The Circle, Compass, and Crossroads)
-Folklore and Nature of Faery Folk
-Use and Crafting of Ritual Tools
-Techniques of Magical Herbalism
-Animal Magic
-Magical Words, Spoken Charms, and Invocations
- Techniques of Spiritual Cleansing and Protection
-The Making and Consecration of Charms and Amulets 
-And much more…

What do I get as a student in the course?

-26+ hours of video instruction.
-All course students have the option to be added to a private Facebook group in order to foster community, share experiences, and have access to further course documents and information.
-Class sessions will include downloadable slideshows with detailed information on the topics and techniques discussed in the course.
-Students enrolled in the course will save $130 over the cost of individual classes
-Students receive a 15% off discount on all purchases from Spiritus Arcanum while enrolled
-Course students will be eligible to graduate the course and receive a certificate of completion.

Tentative Class Dates

All classes after the first are currently planned to take place the 3th Sunday of each month. All classes will be available as a recording for those who cannot make the live class or who wish to view it again. These dates are tentative and subject to change as needed.

January 29th, February 19th, March 19th, April 16th, May 21st, June 18th, July 16th, August 20th, September 17th, October 15th, December 19th, January 17th 2024

There will also be additional optional groups discussion and Q& A sessions made available to students who desire them.

In Person Attendance Those students who are local to Peabody, MA. and wish to attend the classes live at the Spiritus Arcanum brick & mortar shop are welcome to. Just let me know beforehand that you’ll be coming. I’d love to have you there!

Payment Options

There are currently 2 options for payments.

– A single payment of $350

– 2 Payments of $163 . The second due by March 19th.

If you choose the 2 payment option we will send you an invoice for the second payment to the provided email address. Payments must be completed by the selected date to continue in the course unless another arrangement has been agreed upon between the student and instructor. Please contact the instructor if you find you are having difficulty making payments by the selected dates.

Class Agreement and Returns

All students who wish to have access to the video recordings, PDF files, and Facebook forum associated with this course will be required to sign and return a nondisclosure agreement regarding the content and materials of the course. Failure to do so will still allow for access to live classes and the apothecary kit, but restrict access to the other elements of this course until signed and returned. Due to the nature of the course there will be no refunds available to students after 02/19/23.

About the Instructor:

Matthew Venus (he/him) is a Queer Folk Magician, Artist, and Witch with 30 years of practice and nearly 20+ years of teaching experience within witchcraft and the magical arts. He is the owner and lead apothecary behind Spiritus Arcanum, an occult shop with an emphasis on quality handcrafted magical items. Matthew has presented classes and courses on magical practice at conferences and shops throughout the United States including Templefest, Convocation, Between the Worlds, as well as at the The Salem Witchcraft & Folklore Festival, of which he is also the cofounder. His writings have appeared in Modern Witch Magazine, Qlippoth Journal, Pillars, and Hoodoo & Conjure Quarterly. He has appeared on, and been a consultant for several television and film projects, including Forbidden History, and the documentary WITCH: Hex the Patriarchy.

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