Coven of the Far Flung Net
Encyclopedia
Coven of the Far Flung Net (CFFN), is a virtual school
which was one of the earliest Internet
coven
s. A wholly on-line teaching arm of the Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca
(CUEW), it continues to offer free training in the first two degrees, or circles, of the UEW tradition. It has been described as the "best established" of the cybercovens.
The first four clans within CFFN, were: Athame's Edge; Clan Willow Branch; Clan Spectra; and Sacred Moon Clan. By August 2003, this had increased to a total of seven clans: Sacred Moon Clan; Clan Willow Branch; Athame's Edge; Clan Adamant; Clan Delphi; Holy Well & Sacred Flame; and Clan Omphalos.
However due to concerns about the extent to which the clans were becoming communities in their own right, MacMorgan dissolved all existing clans in December 2003.
Subsequently, CFFN was restructured in early 2004, with a single entrance committee. At this time Athame's Edge hived off to form its own independent Progressive Eclectic Wicca tradition.
In particular, applicants are required to state they are aged over Eighteen years, and that they accept the Affirmation of Acknowledgement. Prisoners are specifically disbarred from accessing any course CFFN offers.
Each lesson is accessed from the CFFN website by entering a password, which is provided when the previous lesson has been completed to the tutor's satisfaction. Additional materials required are supplied with each lesson, but students are encouraged to read widely, both on and off line. A month is allowed for the completion of each lesson's required essay.
The First Circle co-ordinator is author and poet, Llysse Smith Wylle
.
Virtual school
A virtual school or cyberschool describes an institution that teaches courses entirely or primarily through online methods. Though there are tens of thousands of commercial and non-accredited courses available online, the term "virtual school" is generally reserved for accredited schools that teach...
which was one of the earliest Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
coven
Coven
A coven or covan is a name used to describe a gathering of witches or in some cases vampires. Due to the word's association with witches, a gathering of Wiccans, followers of the witchcraft-based neopagan religion of Wicca, is also described as a coven....
s. A wholly on-line teaching arm of the Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca
Universal Eclectic Wicca
Universal Eclectic Wicca is one of a number of distinctly American Wiccan traditions which developed following the introduction of Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca to the United States in the early 1960s...
(CUEW), it continues to offer free training in the first two degrees, or circles, of the UEW tradition. It has been described as the "best established" of the cybercovens.
History
CFFN was originally established in January 1998, by Kaatryn MacMorgan; with a syllabus based upon her book All One Wicca. This was initially available as a free download, and became widely plagiarised on the internet as Book One of Wicca.Clan System
Initially applications to CFFN were submitted to, and screened by, MacMorgan personally: but by early 2001 CFFN had grown to the extent that this had become unwieldy, and the selection and mentoring of students was devolved to a system of clans. These were semi-autonomous sub-groups within CFFN, which accepted and reviewed applications from prospective students and provided support throughout their studies. Each clan had a distinctive character, and prospective students were directed to choose one to apply to.The first four clans within CFFN, were: Athame's Edge; Clan Willow Branch; Clan Spectra; and Sacred Moon Clan. By August 2003, this had increased to a total of seven clans: Sacred Moon Clan; Clan Willow Branch; Athame's Edge; Clan Adamant; Clan Delphi; Holy Well & Sacred Flame; and Clan Omphalos.
However due to concerns about the extent to which the clans were becoming communities in their own right, MacMorgan dissolved all existing clans in December 2003.
Subsequently, CFFN was restructured in early 2004, with a single entrance committee. At this time Athame's Edge hived off to form its own independent Progressive Eclectic Wicca tradition.
Admissions Policy
Admission is by invitation, following submission of an admission essay in a stipulated e-mail format. The stated reason for this process is to ensure 'normative' standards of internet skills and English; and also to select applicants who are compatible with the ethos of the school.In particular, applicants are required to state they are aged over Eighteen years, and that they accept the Affirmation of Acknowledgement. Prisoners are specifically disbarred from accessing any course CFFN offers.
Format of Study
On acceptance First Circle students are allocated a tutor, who will be their primary point of support and contact at CFFN; and who will give feedback as each lesson is submitted by email.Each lesson is accessed from the CFFN website by entering a password, which is provided when the previous lesson has been completed to the tutor's satisfaction. Additional materials required are supplied with each lesson, but students are encouraged to read widely, both on and off line. A month is allowed for the completion of each lesson's required essay.
The First Circle co-ordinator is author and poet, Llysse Smith Wylle
Llysse Smith Wylle
Llysse Smith Wylle, is an American author and poet who focuses on esotericism and magic. She is married and lives in Cairo, West Virginia.Wylle first began to develop an interest in Neopaganism around 1993, and practised Wicca from 2000...
.