The Witch’s Circle: Foundations of Ritual and Magic
Online Course with Selena Madden
Six Week Class Taught Online Via Zoom
Mondays, September 15 - October 20, 2025
4:00 - 5:30pm PT (CA Time)
$150 Paid Patreon Members / $170 General Admission - Hosted by Morbid Anatomy
Unlock the ancient and transformative power of ritual through witchcraft and modern Pagan practices with scholar and practitioner Selena Madden, PhD. This six-week course will offer a hands-on exploration of the foundational rituals and magickal practices that have shaped European witchcraft and contemporary Paganism, providing students with the tools and knowledge to begin or deepen their spiritual journey.
Rooted in centuries of tradition, witchcraft and Paganism emphasize a deep connection to the natural world, the elements, and the divine. Rituals are at the heart of these practices, allowing individuals to tap into unseen forces, manifest their desires, and honor the cycles of nature. By engaging with the elements, invoking deities, and adhering to the ethical tenets of witchcraft, practitioners create sacred spaces that serve as portals for personal transformation and magickal empowerment.
Throughout this course, students will gain practical skills in creating and performing rituals, including working with the elements, performing candle magic, and invoking deities. They will explore the core ethical framework of witchcraft, known as the 13 Commandments, and learn how to create their own magickal practices based on personal intention. Each week will cover a different aspect of ritual work: setting sacred space, working with divine forces, understanding the ethical principles that guide witchcraft, and learning essential magickal tools and techniques. Students will also engage in reflective exercises to deepen their understanding and connection to the material. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the confidence and knowledge to perform rituals on their own, creating meaningful and transformative spiritual practices in their daily lives.
This course is ideal for beginners or those looking to strengthen their connection to the craft. Students can expect to gain a solid foundation in witchcraft, empowered with the knowledge to work with elemental forces, deities, and ritual tools. The class will help students understand the history and ethics of the craft, while providing them with practical experience to use in their personal practice. By the end of the course, students will feel confident in their ability to perform rituals and engage with their spiritual path in a meaningful, transformative way.
PLEASE NOTE: Classes will be recorded and archived for students unable to attend live.
The Heart Scarab and the Soul's Journey
Online Course with Selena Madden
The Heart Scarab and the Soul's Journey: Myth, Magic, and Mortality in Ancient Egypt
Six Week Class Taught Online Via Zoom
Tuesdays, November 11 - December 16, 2025
4:00 - 5:30pm PT (CA Time)
$150 Paid Patreon Members/ $180 General Admission - Hosted by Morbid Anatomy
About
What does it mean to weigh the heart against a feather?
In ancient Egypt, the soul’s passage into the afterlife hinged on this very question. At the moment of death, the heart—considered the seat of memory, truth, and moral consciousness—was placed on a scale opposite the feather of Maat, goddess of cosmic justice. To ensure a favorable outcome, the deceased was often buried with a heart scarab: a carved beetle inscribed with sacred pleas and spells from the Book of the Dead, meant to protect the soul during judgment.
In this course, we will explore the mythic, symbolic, and psychological layers of this funerary tradition. Drawing from archaeology, mythology, and archetypal psychology, we’ll follow the soul’s journey through the Duat—the Egyptian underworld—and examine the talismanic role of the scarab, the sacred ethics of Maat, and the rituals designed to secure eternal life.
Through comparative mythology, visual analysis, and creative reflection, we’ll trace echoes of this ancient metaphysics in other traditions of underworld descent—from Inanna to Psyche to the Gnostic Sophia—and ask: What truths are hidden in the heart? What must we weigh and witness before we cross the threshold?
This course invites artists, scholars, spiritual seekers, and lovers of myth to engage deeply with death, judgment, and the transformative magic of the soul’s passage.
PLEASE NOTE: Classes will be recorded and archived for students unable to attend live.
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