College of the Sacred Mists
May 21st, 2009
(Credit for graphic: Rowan Pendragon)
The day that I signed up for the College of the Sacred Mists was the smartest and most pivotal step I took within my journey as a Wiccan Priestess.
I had been a Wiccan for several years, and during that time, had had an interesting spiritual journey. I went from being a solitary, to practicing in an eclectic Wiccan circle, to having my first formal Initation to First Degree at Ostara 2002 in Santa Clara, California, with the tradition known as Circle of the Goddess. (COTG). I eventually had a Grove as an offshoot of COTG and the first Canadian branch of the tradition. The Wheel turned, and with it came great changes. COTG disbanded, I had an eclectic circle for a while, even tried going back to the church, as I felt like I had no compass anymore and had lost my way.
But, as my first HPS said, once you have “Crossed the Veil” of Initiation, there is no turning back, and the Goddess has claimed you as Priestess. Indeed She did…
I found Sacred Mists through leaving an online-based tradition that didn’t work for me. I was familliar to distance learning through my earlier experiences, and felt very comfortable with it. I wanted something structured, but fluid enough to allow for creativity and eclectism, as my brand of Wicca is progressive and non-dogmatic, as well as Zen-like; that seems to be the best match for me.
Sacred Mists amazed me right from the get-go. The community is very supportive and welcoming, and the amount of training availiable truly blew my mind: tons of free extension classes from Tarot to Aromatherapy to Yoga. Tarot readings by talented diviners (also free), real-time online rituals for the sabbats and the moons, as well as a huge BOS that expanded constantly as members added to it. I was also assigned a mentor as I began the First Degree course at the Mists, and was also told that the Student Council was availiable at any time, as well as the Arch High Priestess and Elder of Sacred Mists, Lady Raven Moonshadow.
At first, I was skeptical about the lessons, as I had already been Initiated to First Degree twice by this point. Well, the Goddess and God assured me that there was more for me to learn. 
. The Sacred Mists lessons were rigourous, challenging, and interesting; also, I could take them at my own pace and speed, and not have to worry about deadlines.
Since I joined the Sacred Mists aproximately five years ago, I have completed the First and Second Degree there. I was initiated to First Degree in this beautiful tradition two years ago by Lady Raven, and am awaiting the next Intiation date to Initiate formally to Second. I am also a Mentor to new students, a “Merry Meeter” (welcome wagon for new students!), a member of the SMPDA (Sacred Mists Psychic and Divinatory Alliance), a Tarot reader, a member of the Leadership team, and help to facilitate a couple of our boards. I am now proud to be a Third Degree Dedicant and part of the Third Degree Training program. I am proud to be a Priestess of the Sacred Mists.
People have asked me if online ritual/training is “as good” as real-time. My answer is a resounding YES. For me, it’s better; the times are flexible and I can attend from the comfort of my home. It also has honed my Visualization skills to a great degree. My explanation is that all ritual takes place between the worlds, so online or offline does not matter; it all depends what your best fit is. We also are expected and encouraged as a part of our training to do solitary and/or eclectic group ritual offline, so it really gives the best of both worlds.
I have made some amazing friends through the Sacred Mists, and truly regard this College and Tradition as extended family and my spiritual home. Lady Raven and our Student Council work hard to have a loving, warm environment and it really shows.
So, if you’re looking for a wonderful ,spiritual home with top notch training, I personally can recommend the Sacred Mists. Maybe I will see you there soon!
Please see the banners below for links to our College, Twitter page, Blog, etc. We hope to see you soon!
Blessings to you,
Yemaya Olokun
Priestess of Sacred Mists, Second Degree, Third Degree Dedicant
May 14th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Hello! Good article! I will bookmark this site so I can return later and read some more.
May 16th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
I was just browsing for relevant blog posts for my project research and I happened to stumble upon yours. Thanks for the useful information!
May 17th, 2010 at 3:46 am
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. It?s the old what goes around comes around routine. Did you acquired lots of links and I see lots of trackbacks??
May 17th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Been looking for this article for long time ago and finally found here. thanks for sharing this post. appreciate!
May 18th, 2010 at 12:09 am
Great post full of useful tips! My site is fairly new and I am also having a hard time getting my readers to leave comments. Analytics shows they are coming to the site but I have a feeling “nobody wants to be first”.
May 18th, 2010 at 1:15 am
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post.
May 19th, 2010 at 8:24 am
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own BlogEngine blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example of it.
May 22nd, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Hi there,
I just sent you an email. I promptly removed your poem. My sincerest apologies, I should have asked your permission first and am very sorry that I did not do so. I was quite wrong not to do this and please know it was not intentional but an oversight on my part. I love your work and send you many blessings!
Blessings,
Yemaya