by Shawna Weidenbach

Created on: July 20, 2009

Wicca has been shown to be one of the fastest growing religions in the US, as well as other parts of the world.

According to a survey done by The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, the number of followers in the US grew from 8,000 in 1990 to 134,000 in 2001. The survey also showed that the number of US Wiccans is doubling approximately every 30 months. Australian Census results showed a similar increase, from less than 2,000 in 1996 to an astounding 9,000 in 2001. I could go on, but statistics are not the focus of this piece.

Whether you are one of the many newcomers to The Craft, or have been practicing as a Solitary for many years, there may come a time when you feel the need for more structured training. Some may seek out a local Coven, but for many this is not an option, as there are not many in their area, or they are Closed Circles. When in person training is either not possible, or just not your cup of tea, online classes may be the best option for you. Sometimes it is the only realistic option for those who live in isolated areas, or for those who live in communities that are less than tolerant.

An online education, whether for academic or spiritual knowledge, can be very convenient for those who work and/or have families. Locating a reputable institution, however, is easier said than done!

We are now posed with the question: How does One find reliable, honest to goodness Wiccan classes online?. There is a lot of information available on the Internet, but how do you know you can trust it? Sorting through it all is not an easy undertaking. My hope is that my research will make it easier for the Seeker to find what they are looking for.

Some places have classes, but they must be completed within a specified amount of time. Others have information posted, but little or no interaction with instructors or other students. In my search for reputable training, I even came across a site who didn't require it's course offerings to be Wiccan or Pagan in nature. What I truly found disturbing, however, is that the only true requirement to be an instructor was that they be 13 years of age or older. 13? Now, I understand that there are some very mature, and intelligent 13 year olds out there, but I am quite leery of leaving my spiritual education in their hands.

There are sites that offer free access to training, yet they feel more like an online version of Raymond Buckland's Big Blue Book. While the information they provide is invaluable, without

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