Wicca 101 class went very well the day after I returned from
the Southwest – despite my having forgotten to make copies of  Tables of Correspondence, which was to
be a big part of the intended lesson. 
Since we had been working with energy, I made a quick change, and we
worked on shielding instead – something I had planned for the next class.

It was a wonderful success.  Students divided into pairs, faced each other, and one would
close their eyes and erect an energy shield between them and their
partner.  The other would then try
to find it.  After they thought
they did, the one with eyes closed would open them and confirm or disconfirm
their quest.  Then they would
change places.

To my delight everyone seemed to get it on their first try.  So beginning in the next class we will
start casting circles and working in ritual space.

It’s a great exercise, and gives people confidence they are
actually ‘doing something’ when they raise a shield.

Years ago a friend was taking the class, a friend who was a friendly
skeptic about these matters.  When
we broke up into dyads I ended up with her because there was an odd number of
students.  She closed her eyes and
erected her shield.  I came closer
and closer, feeling nothing. 
Finally, about 4 or 5 incles from her face, I found what seemed to be
her shield.

“Here?”  I
asked.

“No!” she said triumphantly, “Here.”  She gestured about half and inch from
her nose.

I was embarrassed.  After all, I was the teacher.  Fortunately for my ego and her understanding, I asked “What did you make
it from?”

“Bricks.” She said.

“And how wide is a brick?”

Her skepticism declined markedly.