Free Study Guides

Did you know we used to have a collection of online classes available through the About Paganism website? As of March 2016, they've gone away, but that content will still be available to you in a self-study format. In addition to our Intro to Paganism study guide, we'll also be making them available for our Beginning Tarot class, and the Seven Day Sabbat series.

Please do keep in mind that these free study guides are offered as a service to our readers. They are simply provided as a way for you to expand your knowledge base at your own convenience. There is no certification granted at the end of completion, nor does completion confer any sort of degree status, rank, or other title to our readers.

There's a lot of information out there for seekers who are interested in Wicca and other forms of Paganism, and it can be a little overwhelming to sort through it all. This 13-step study guide will help you build a basic framework for your studies in the future. Topics include basic concepts of Wicca, reading recommendations, prayers and deities, the Sabbats and other celebrations, tools of the Craft, and ideas on how to live a magical life every day. More »

Are you interested in learning the basics of reading Tarot cards? It can be a little overwhelming to sort through it all. This free six-week e-class will help you learn the basics of Tarot reading, and give you a good start on your way to becoming an accomplished reader. Topics include cards and their meanings, how to select and care for a deck, preparing for a reading and interpreting the cards, and even what to do when readings go wrong. The Intro to Tarot Cards Study Guide is coming soon!

Samhain is known as the witches' new year, and this is a the season of spirits, ghosts, honoring the ancestors, and the slow dying of the earth. Let's look at some of the different rituals you can incorporate into your Samhain celebrations, traditions behind the season and the sabbat, and how you can work effectively with the spirit world. Learn all about Samhain in in a week of easy lessons. This Sabbat Study Guide is coming soon!

Yule is the season of the winter solstice, and it's when we mark the return of the sun after the longest night of the year. It's also a great time to celebrate friends and family! We'll work on some rituals that you can do either alone or with a group, look at some of the customs and history behind winter solstice celebrations, and focus on celebrating this as a season of peace and harmony. Learn all about Yule in in a week of easy lessons. This Sabbat Study Guide is coming soon!

Imbolc, or Candlemas, is the Sabbat honoring both the hearth goddess Brighid, and the gradual return of spring. It's still pretty cold around Imbolc, but it's a reminder that warmer days will be coming soon. We'll do a few simple rituals, as well as look at the history and folklore behind this sabbat season. Learn all about Imbolc in in a week of easy lessons. This Sabbat Study Guide is coming soon!

At Ostara, the vernal equinox, we mark the return of spring, and the equal hours of darkness and light. We'll talk about whether or not there really was a goddess named Eostre, look at the customs and history behind Easter eggs and other seasonal fun, and celebrate with the Chocolate Rabbit Ritual! Learn all about Ostara in in a week of easy lessons.This Sabbat Study Guide is coming soon!

Beltane is a lusty, passionate sort of sabbat! Associated with fire, fertility, and phallic symbols, this is the time of year when we plant all kinds of seeds. The horned god is at the top of his game right now, and the earth is greening once more. We'll look at the history of the maypole, fertility deities associated with this spring sabbat, and some rituals and celebrations you can perform, either as a solitary or with a group. Learn all about Beltane in in a week of easy lessons. This Sabbat Study Guide is coming soon!

At the midsummer solstice, or Litha, the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Let's look at some of the many ways the sun has been honored and worshiped throughout history, as well as some of the folklore and tradition of the summer solstice. We'll also look at some rituals you can perform with a group of family and friends, or all by yourself. Celebrate the power of the sun as the earth blossoms and blooms around us! Learn all about Litha in in a week of easy lessons. This Sabbat Study Guide is coming soon!

Lammas is the first harvest, and a time for the threshing and gathering of the grain crops. Associated with bread and the craftsman god Lugh, Lammas, or Lughnasadh, is the season in which we begin to acknowledge that summer is winding to a close. It's a season in which many harvest traditions shine through, including the honoring of the spirit of the grain, and the gathering of the final sheaf from the backs of the fields. Learn all about Lammas/Lughnasadh in in a week of easy lessons. This Sabbat Study Guide is coming soon!

At the autumn equinox, or Mabon, we mark the second harvest. It's a time of abundance and counting our blessings, and when many of us give thanks for not only the bounty of the earth, but the spiritual gifts we've been given. For many of us, it's a time to begin winding down for the year - the autumn harvest is when we often begin to put aside food for later, knowing that winter is on its way in just a few short months. Learn all about Mabon in in a week of easy lessons. This Sabbat Study Guide is coming soon!