1. What is the total cost of attending The Shinine Crescent School?
The total cost of tuition is $360-US (if you complete the entire 13 month course), plus fees for textbooks. You will need 3 text books for each of the three Levels, 9 total. If you elect to receive additional training in opening a public ministry and ordination (Level IV, see below), an additional fee of $50 will apply.

2. How often do I need to pay tuition, and how do I pay my tuition?
The monthly tuition of $30-US is due at the beginning of every 4-lesson segment. So your first $30 covers lessons 1 - 4; the second payment covers lessons 5 - 8; the third, lessons 8 -12, and so forth. If you wish, you may purchase an entire level at one time for $120-US. This covers 16 weeks of lessons. You may pay online by credit card or by mail with a check or money order. Students outside the USA may pay by credit card or by International Postal Money Order in US funds. Payment information

3. What does my tuition include?
Tuition covers online lessons & assignments, instructor evaluation & feedback, and online interaction with other students. In addition, students will receive some course materials through the mail (including audio-taped guided meditations & exercises) free of charge. Ceremonial Cords and framable Completion Certificates are awarded to those completing each level at no extra cost.

4. Is ordination offered?
Yes. Ordination is now offered through our Mother Order of The White Moon. Ordination does require completion of a fourth level to become High Priest or High Priestess. The fourth level course covers developing a ministry and clergy ethics.

5. How do I enroll?
First, fill out an online Application. Next, send in your first $30 tuition payment and order your textbooks. You will be subscribed to our classroom discussion list and sent your first lesson within 24 hours.

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6. Where can I purchase my textbooks?
You can purchase the texts anywhere you can find them. Our online bookstore allows you to easily purchase your texts through amazon.com (no credit card is needed -- you may send them a check) or to search for used books on the web. Your local bookstores may carry these texts. If not, the texts can be ordered from any bookseller.

7. How do I receive my lessons?
You will receive your lesson urls via email. The lessons are web-based. You should receive your first lesson within 24 hours of enrolling. You will receive the next lesson after the first lesson is completed.

8. Once I complete a lesson, how soon will I receive the next lesson?
Usually within 24 hours.

9. Once I complete a lesson, how soon will I receive instructor feedback?
Instructor feedback is sent out on Sunday night for lessons submitted by the previous Thursday night. However, your next lesson url will be immediately sent out to you, regardless of the day you submit your completed lesson. Rowen is happy to answer any questions that need quick answers. Simply type "attention" in the subject line and send your question to rowen@thewhitewillow.com

10. Will I be able to read other students' lessons?
Each week, Rowen will ask a few students to post their lessons to the classroom discussion list for all to read. In this way, you will be able to read other students' lessons

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11. Will anyone besides the instructor see my lesson responses?
Only if you want them to. Lessons are entirely private. Posting lessons to the group list is completely voluntary.

12. What about privacy?
Many students are concerned about protecting their public identities. Rowen is committed to helping students keep their public identities private. While students must give a valid mailing address when they enroll, only Rowen has access to this information. She does not share it with anyone.

Students concerned with privacy are encouraged to use their "magical names" or nicknames in the school and to create a new email address for school purposes. Rowen can offer other suggestions for protecting privacy as well -- just ask.

13. What interaction will I have with other students?
Discussion Lists
Participation in the classroom discussion list (our ShiningCrescentShool list) is the only required interaction. But most students find they enjoy this interaction with the wonderful women here so much that they would like more! So we also have a Chat list for informal discussions, introductions, passing along information, and sharing prayer requests. This list is voluntary.

Monthly Group Rituals
Perhaps the most wonderful form of interaction we have is our monthly group distance ritual. This is an activity we each do on the same night, wherever we are, with a specific intent in mind. A different student will be asked to facilitate this ritual each month. This student will determine (with feedback from others) the theme and the date, which will occur during an appropriate moon phase. Participation in the monthly ritual is encouraged, but not required. Participation can be as simple as lighting a candle and meditating on the intent the scheduled night or as elaborate as a full-length intricate ritual.

Face to Face Summer Gathering
The White Moon held its first Summer Gathering in July 2000. Eventually we hope to have Summer Gatherings for The Shining Crescent or perhaps large "family" gatherings for Mother house, Sister and Brother orders together.

14. How many students are enrolled in this school? 
Currently we are just beginning. In response to interest from men in regards to The White Moon, The Shining Crescent was formed. The White Moon as of March 2005 had 80 enrolled members. New students are being accepted all the time.

15. What does the curriculum consist of?
The curriculum is experiential, practice-based rather than knowledge-based. Developing a consistent daily, weekly, and monthly spiritual practice is the cornerstone of the teachings. We learn by doing, by internalizing skills and knowledge and shaping them into an individual practice compatible with our individual beliefs.

Level I is focused on creating sacred space, engaging in ritual, and learning about the history of The Goddess. Level II is focused on meditation, energy work, and divination, (especially via the Motherpeace Tarot). Level III is focused on dream work, astral work, healing and/or magick. Most of these elements are incorporated in some way into each level. Levels II and III offer the option of elective areas of study. (For example, some people will choose to follow The Path of Prayer rather than The Path of Magick.)

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16. What if I have absolutely no experience in this type of spiritual work?
Then you are welcome here! You will be given the basics in Level I and allowed to progress at a comfortable speed.

17. What if I already am quite experienced in this type of spiritual work?
You are also welcome here! You will be able to take what you already know and build on that. The lessons are designed to be flexible to the student's level of experience. As long are you are willing to try new ways of doing things and to consistently apply what you know in your daily spiritual practice, you will find the school has much to offer you.

18. Is there any way to "test out" of certain material?
No, there isn't. Because the material is practice-based rather than knowledge-based, you must be willing to experience all of the lessons.

19. How can I blend this curriculum with my current spiritual practice?
In any way that suits you! The focus of the school is on The Goddess with the premise that she is harmonious with all of spirituality. If you are a Christian, chose a Christian form of The Goddess to honor (Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, Sophia, a female saint). Place her on your altar along with Christ. If you are Jewish, choose Lilith or Asherah. If you are Buddhist, choose Quan Yin. Simply add The Goddess to whatever part of your current spiritual practice "works" for you right now.

20. What if I disagree with some of the information or views in the textbooks?
While we ask that you open your mind to consider other viewpoints, ultimately it is up to you to take what you like and leave the rest. Trust your inner-knowing, and find what's right for you.

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21. What if I feel very uncomfortable with an assignment? Will I be required to complete it?
Again, you will be encouraged to "push the envelope" a bit on your comfort level. But if your intuition tells you something is definitely wrong for you, feel free to modify the assignment into something that is more comfortable or to request an alternative assignment.

22. Will other students harass me because of my spiritual beliefs?
Certainly not. Such harassment will not be tolerated. So far, we haven't had any problems with this whatsoever. However, if any harassment does occur, it will be immediately stopped. Rowen is dedicated to making the school a safe, comfortable environment for everyone. If you ever feel uncomfortable with a thread of discussion or with a developing situation, please contact Rowen immediately.

23. Why only focus on The Goddess? What about God/The God?
Many of our students do honor God or The God; some feel more comfortable focusing on The Goddess only. The purpose of the school is to contribute to a restoration of Spiritual Balance. Right now, the world is clearly out of balance. There are many more places to learn about male expressions of the Divine than there are places to learn about female expressions of the Divine. In searching for and exploring the feminine aspects of the Divine spiritual and emotional links to that aspect can be reawakened. In the face of negative male stereotypes and expectations that force conformity to the push and cold rush of the modern world, connecting with the Divine feminine can be very healing. This is the focus of this school.

24. Is The Shining Crescent available to any gender?
The Shining Crescent was founded in response to requests from men interested in reconnecting with the feminine Divine. The lessons were originally created with the focus on male spirituality. The Shining Crescent is now available to both men and women and couples who wish to study the Divine Feminine. The White Moon School of Feminine Divine is for women only and is available to women 18 years of age and older who want to pursue their own connection to Her and their spirituality.

25. Does connecting with the Feminine Divine mean I have to lose my masculinity or stop being male?
No. Ok, so what does that mean? I believe that society has created a negative stereotype of an ideal masculine which has created a schism in the balance of feminine and masculine in the divine. The Shining Crescent School allows men to connect to the Feminine Divine aspect from their position as a male.

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26. What is the required time-frame for completing this course?
The suggested completion time is 13 months for all three levels. A student needs to submit one lesson per week in order to complete the course within this time frame. Students are allowed to work more slowly, but they must submit at least one lesson per month during Level I or they will be placed on "inactive status" and eventually disenrolled. (Note that at the rate of one lesson per month, it would take over 4 years to complete this program.) Once a student completes Level I, however, he may remain as part of the school community regardless of whether he pursues Level II studies or not.

27. What is "inactive status" and how can I avoid it?
When a student has not submitted a lesson for over a month, she will be notified and placed on inactive status. During inactive status, a student will be unable to participate in school activities or discussion. When a student has been on inactive status for 3 months, he will be disenrolled from the school.

Inactive status may be avoided under special circumstances when a student requests an extension due to a crisis of some kind. An extension will allow the student to continue to participate in school activies and discussion, but please note that extensions will be for a definite period of time. The student must resume submitting lessons in a timely manner.

28. What is your refund policy?
When you are either voluntarily or administratively disenrolled from the school, you may request a refund on your tuition if you meet the following criteria:

a. You originally sent payment within the last 120 days.
--and--
b. You did not submit any part of any lesson in the 4-lesson block for which you are requesting a refund.
--or--
c. You have not progressed past Week 1, and you have decided to disenroll from the school.

If you are requesting a refund for a payment made by check, your refund may take 4 - 6 weeks to be processed. If you are requesting a refund for a payment made by credit card, you should received a credit within 2 - 4 weeks.

To request a refund, Click Here. If you DO NOT request a refund and decide to return to the school at a later date, your previous tuition will apply to your future lessons for up to one year from the date of your last payment. If you feel the need to request a refund or a school credit under special circumstances, please do not hesitate to ask.

29. Are other courses offered?
Rowen and Level III Students will offer optional short courses from time to time on a variety of topics. Students who are enrolled and are currently paying tuition are usually invited to take these optional courses for free, although some restrictions may apply. (For example, a student might need to have completed the first 4 or 8 weeks of her studies in order to qualifiy.) Students who have completed Level I, but who are not currently paying tution (see 26 above) will be required to submit a $30 payment before taking any optional course. The White Willow also offers courses in Rune Study.

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