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Prison Programs |
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Lessons
by Correspondence
On
this page:
 Origin
& Development of the Sabbat Lessons Program
How
the Sabbat Lessons Program works
Getting
started
Requirements
Dedication
Rite
THE
THIRTEEN QUESTIONS (for
inmate students)
U.S.
inmates - Please note that we cannot presently take any
further new inmate students from the U.S.
Canadian inmates - are still welcome to join the program,
and we encourage them to do so. Friends
or family are welcome to contact us to arrange for this,
or simply send the 13 questions and the PPO lessons program
address to their inmate (this allows the inmate to contact
us immediately, with their 13 answers).
Origin
& Development of the Sabbat Lessons Program
 The
Sabbat Lessons Program was started in 1993 by one of the
founders of PFPC and PPO to supplement other study programs
at Kingston Penitentiary.The
impetus was that many study programs or books require tools,
supplies and conditions (such as in a coven setting) that
are usually not available to inmates.Such
study programs also often focus on the 'how-tos' (of particular
traditions, with assumptions that inmates can't fulfil),
rather than the 'whys' — why do we believe what we do, why
do we practice as we do, why is mythology significant at
all, etc. — and how those 'whys' can be applied, both to
the modern world and to a prison environment.
Another
problem, especially for inmates, is that they are often
restricted in what they are allowed to do ‘in nature’, and
therefore have little that helps them stay in touch with
the cycle of life (seasons/sabbats).The
timing of set study lessons is not necessarily geared to
the current sabbat/season, and therefore doesn't impact
on the inmate's 'experiencial' sense of what they are studying
(rather than being primarily abstracted 'in the head').
As
it evolved, the Sabbat Lessons Program became considerably
different from most others.It
is not based on a set study program, but rather ‘year themes’
that consider one broad issue within Wicca and how it particularly
relates to each sabbat and the wheel of the year.Although
the program does have some bias (Kairosean Kithen tradition,
Universalist Wicca), the lessons are kept as multi-traditional
as possible.And
its focus is developing one's own
spiritual path - rather
than arcane information, 'spells', etc.The
program is also studied by non-inmate students, but remains
geared to the particular needs of those within prison walls.
Other
advantages to this kind of study program are:
-
Because
it is multi-traditional, and to some degree Universalist,
it is useful for a broad range of inmate students who
may have backgrounds in particular Wiccan, or even non-Wiccan/Pagan,
traditions (a few of the students have been 'spiritual
seekers' with no specific religious affiliation, or
from another faith but interested in a Pagan perspective).
-
Because
it focuses on spiritual development - rather than the
'how tos' of Wicca (although those are included) - it
remains as personal as a correspondence program can
be.
-
Since
there is a focus on including current life/world situations,
it is able to explore the relationship between Wicca
and the living realities of the present-day world.
Over
150 inmates have participated in the program - which, although
developed for Canadian inmates, has grown considerably in
the U.S. over the past years.A
few students have been involved since its inception (albeit
intermittently), and new requests to join the program continue
as a result of the prison 'grapevine'.There
are now groups of inmates in a single prison taking the
program - these groups may be practicing with outsider visitors
from another tradition, or using the lessons to develop
Wiccan study groups. Recently, prison chaplains and pyschologists
have also requested that the Sabbat lesson program be made
available to the Pagan inmates in their prison.Some
inmates have also continued the program after their release.
Although
the Sabbat Lessons Program is directly under PPO’s auspices,
it responds to requests from other Pagan Prison Ministry
groups, such as AREN/Journey1.
How
the Sabbat Lessons Program works
There
are presently over 60 different Sabbat lessons, organized
into ‘year themes’ – for example:
- Introduction
to Sabbats and Wicca - a
special ‘year theme’ as an introductory program.
- the Godde* - overview
of both the archetypes and specific 'faces' of the Goddess
and God, Their imagery, and how They relate to modern
life
-
Tools (what/how used,
but more focused on how specific tools symbolize Wiccan
concepts and beliefs — e.g. chalice, womb-of-life/Goddess,
as particularly relevant to Imbolc/'in the belly')
-
Mythology (covering
8 primary myths from different Pagan traditions across
the world — each with a primary theme that related to
that sabbat)
-
Ritual (components
of, variations and meaning/purpose of each component —
e.g. Beltaine has a particular relevance to invocations
and wine blessings),
- plus a variety of lessons that relate Wiccan ideals
and imagery to science, psychology, etc.
Students
are encouraged to take a whole ‘year theme’ at a time in
order to gain some depth of knowledge on that particular
subject.However,
each lesson considers various elements of Wicca and, after
one or two years’ worth of lessons, the student should have
a solid grounding in Wiccan principles.
Each
sabbat, a lesson is sent out to the student (in whatever
‘year theme’ they are studying).Students
are expected to do regular assignments, although for the
sake of their finances they often mail in two or more at
a time.
The
Sabbat Lessons are available to
any inmate free of charge
(although inmates are encouraged to
make a donation to the expenses, if they can, and some do).The
lessons are also available to non-inmates or parolees in
email format.
Getting
started
The
students are first required to
send an introduction letter to PPO.Then
a list of 13 questions (on basic themes within Wicca – see
below) is sent for the students to respond to – so that
the teacher can assess their present knowledge and understanding
of Wicca.After
answering the questions, the students are sent a package
of introductory material (re Wiccan Holy Days/Sabbats and
general beliefs, and a list of all the available Sabbat
Lessons), and the first lesson appropriate to that sabbat.Once
the students are comfortable with the lessons, they are
welcome to do two lessons (from different ‘year themes’)
for that sabbat at a time, if they so wish.
Students
can also request any of the past Sabbat Lessons (or other
study materials) that spark their interest.Sometimes
certain ones will be recommended to clarify a student's
particular confusion or lack of background, or because they
have a particular interest in the subject.
Requirements
Originally,
any student who sent even a personal letter once in 'a year
and a day' was sent copies of the Sabbat Lessons.In
the past couple of years, this has become unwieldy, given
the number of students and expense. This is unfortunate,
as many inmates who have literacy problems and don't do
the assignments feel that just reading the lessons is helpful.
Now,
if no homework is received from 3
consecutive lessons (Sabbats), no further ones are sent,
and the student is considered to have
left the program.However,
exceptions are made for inmates who have been involved for
a long time or are facing particularly difficult circumstances.All
students are welcome to re-join the program at a later date,
including after they are released.
Dedication
Rite
A
student, who has completed a minimum number of Sabbat Lessons
and really seems prepared, is offered a dedication rite
(not into any particular tradition).This
is a bit complicated to do 'long-distance' (requires three
synchronized rituals with written feedback in between),
but has been an enriching process and important to inmates
who may have no other formal connection with Pagan groups.
It
is important to clarify that
the Dedication Rite is NOT an initiation
(although equal study work
may have been done to that required by many traditions),
but only a rite of personal commitment to the Godde* shared
with their teacher.Most
prisons do not allow ‘priesthood’ to practice (except in
terms of their personal solitary rituals), and so it is
not appropriate for us to initiate inmates into the priesthood.Furthermore,
because the study program is intentionally multi-traditional
and students may follow whatever particular Pagan path they
choose, only a general Dedication Rite is possible.
If you know of an inmate (in Canada or the U.S.) who would
be interested in this program, please
contact
us, or print out
the following set of 13 questions and have them send their
answers and an introductory letter directly to
Pashta
MaryMoon - PPO
c/o 1831 Fern St.
Victoria, B.C. V8R 4P4
*
Godde – is a term used to infer ‘all possible figures/faces/images
of goddesses and gods as a collective unit’ (avoids using
‘gods’, which can be considered sexist).The
‘Godde” and the ‘Divine’ are considered the same thing,
but the first according to ‘multiple expression’, and the
second, ‘all as One’.
THE
THIRTEEN QUESTIONS
(USE FOR PPO SABBAT LESSONS STUDENTS)
please
feel free to copy & send to Pagan inmates
who might be interested
This
is not a test, nor are you expected to find the answers
in the 'What most Pagans/Wiccan would agree to' paper you
may have a copy of.Your
personal answers to these 13 questions are only for your
teacher to use to get an idea of your present understanding
of Wicca, in order to correct any mis-assumptions and/or
help you grow in a relevant, helpful way.There
are NO WRONG ANSWERS – you are only asked for your present
opinions.
1.
Define and describe what being a Pagan means
2.
Define and describe what being a Witch means
3.
Do you consider yourself one of the above or both? - why/how?
4.
What do you see as being positive in Paganism or Wicca?
5.
What, if anything, do you see as being negative in Paganism
or Wicca?
6.
What is your understanding of the meaning of the Wiccan
Rede - "An ye harm none, do what ye wilt”?
7.
What is your understanding of Polarity as the basis of Wicca?
8.
What is your understanding of the following terms:
Goddess
God
Priestess
Priest
9.
What is your concept of death?
10.
What do you think should be expected from the teacher as
teacher and yourself as student - in terms of the responsibility
of each to the other?
11.
What do you personally seek from Wicca?
12.
Are there any special areas within Paganism/Wicca that you
would particularly like to study? - religious or practical?
13.
List what other religions you have explored or been involved
with, and why you chose not to follow them.
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