About WitchSchool
Have you always sensed something much deeper calling you? Something hovering at the edge that you need to see, but when you turn your mind it escapes you? This is your "ancient" intuition calling you back home.
As a child, you would have had an abundance of this intuition, but have since lost it. WitchSchool classes include an intensive connection to the “herstory” of these ancient traditions, practical theories of cleansing, healing, casting circles and studying the elements, along with deep intuitive-building trances for attunement.
Participants begin with the heart of ancient mythology and early rights of passage, shaping their knowledge and experience towards a powerful personal transformation, as sequenced through 3 semesters.
"To be a Witch . . . is to enter a different universe, a world that is alive and dynamic, where everything is part of an interconnected whole, where everything is always speaking to us, if only we have ears to listen."
Starhawk, The Earth Path
WitchSchool Founder
Kiki Keskinen
I am a Witch by my lineage. A Celtic Green Witch was my personal direction from the time I felt the sacredness of the forest. When I was 20 years old I was invited to a sacred circle by women twenty years my senior; for eighteen years, we met every month. I learned Witch work from these women who are now deeply involved in WitchSchool as elder Crones, advisors and faculty.
WitchSchool, as it is today, started out of rage and frustration when watching a political rally and hearing the crowd chant ‘Lock Her Up!’, referencing and reaching back in history to the burning times. In those times anyone who was not pious, or following the accepted religion and patriarchy, would have been tried in the unjust courts of either public opinion or the legal system. Punishment was usually drowning or persecution or ostracization. This was not that long ago and in some ways is still close to the surface in the form of mistrusting that which one does not understand and therefore vilifying it. This is a part of history and in order to enable change in the future, the feminine mindset and the interdependency of nature and humans must be pushed to the forefront and trusted.
My hope for WitchSchool is that it will serve as the spiritual backbone of activism and personal transformation for the students. By studying ancient philosophy and practises, and looking back towards nature and archeology’s ceremonialized rituals, WitchSchool expands the diversity of thought and aims to grow feminine thinking for problem-solving in today’s society.
The school reflects a "doing" rooted in nature-based and liberal supportive laws, and grows from the simple idea: what you put out into the world is returned to you three-fold. WitchSchool delights in offering a feminine spiritual basis for social activism, as well as ecological respect for Mother Nature and Her wisdom.
Is WitchSchool for you?
The Witches amongst us are eco minded, book learners, and open to earth-based spirituality.
They're interested in learning more about Goddess spirituality and mythology.
Are 18 years old and beyond, and want to practice healing arts, ancestry, practical magic,
and community activism.
Not every student, alumni, or faculty self-identify as a Witch or as female - we welcome all!
WitchSchool is rooted in Canada and honours the values and Indigenous traditions of the land. Most Witch School staff and faculty live on unceded Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk) and Omàmìwininìwag (Algonquin) lands (also referred to as the Ottawa Gatineau area). We request that all students learn about and develop an ongoing practice of acknowledging the history and Indigenous traditions of the lands where they live. (See https://native-land.ca/)
Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does WitchSchool cost?WitchSchool is a small private and supportive school classroom that is offered globally online. The cost of enrolment for new students is $1,600.00 for a one-year immersive program and a lifetime of ongoing alumnae connections.
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What is the time commitment?In Phase 1 and 2, classes are weekly, for a total of 12 consecutive weeks. You will spend 2 hours in class and will be assigned one hour of solo homework to complete before the following class. Phase 3 takes place once a month and includes more in depth homework, focused on personal and community leadership and mentoring with your faculty, your assigned crone and your class peers. The duration of the program is 11 months.
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I don’t have any experience as a Witch, is this essential?"WitchSchool is offered for Witches at all levels - from beginners and ‘baby Witches’ aged 18 and older to experienced Witches and seasoned crones.
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Can I register for just one semester?No, the program is offered as a complete program over 3 phases.
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How will classes be impacted by COVID-19?At the moment, all classes are held online, unless stated otherwise. If it is in-person, the program will be offered for those in the Ottawa/Gatineau region, in Chelsea, QC on the unceded territory of the Algonquin peoples. WitchSchool also offers week-long intensive studies in various countries. This opportunity is available for a class of eight or more people in a given city. This is a wonderful way to receive the systems and pathways you need to set up a sustainable Witches circle community in your country and city. Coverage for travel and accommodation will be required. (If you are interested in facilitating a week-long intensive, please email us at info@witchschool.ca)
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I don’t use Facebook. Do I have to join the WitchSchool private Facebook Group page when I enroll?Ideally, yes. The Facebook private group is a key place where notes, homework and extra materials for discussions are exchanged. Being part of this group will certainly expand your connection with the material and your class and help you do complete your homework.
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What is the admission process?All potential WitchSchool students are required to complete an intake interview to ensure they are the right fit for the small cohort class that is being curated. The intake interview will be scheduled once an admission form has been filled out. To complete your admissions form, click here For any questions, please email us at info@witchschool.ca
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How does WitchSchool respect the Indigenous traditions of the land?WitchSchool acknowledges the land in which we occupy at the beginning of every in person class and in all ceremonies and throughout. We acknowledge and honour the diverse spiritualities that inform our rituals and teachings. We understand that spiritual histories and globally sourced rituals are complex and we try to always speak and teach from our own backgrounds and give respect to those that taught us. We acknowledge where our own intersectional understandings end and do reach out and learn from those that can truly embody the teachings. We are actively reflecting and changing language that has been taken and used by colonial settlers; I.e. instead of using the word ‘smudge’, we use the phrase ‘burning of herbs’. We are in the process of identifying what our own personal and cultural lineage prescribes as natural-based spirituality. This, of course, could be different for each person. We also ask that all students, as they are situated all over the world, learn about and develop an ongoing practice of acknowledging the history and Indigenous traditions of the lands where they live. (If you are interested in learning more: https://native-land.ca/)