There are two types of dedication. The most common today is the self-dedication. This is frequently performed by a person who does not have access to a coven (or chooses not to join a coven) and who dedicates himself or herself to a particular Pagan path or to a deity. The second form of dedication is where a person dedicates himself or herself to spend a particular length of time, often a year and a day, to study with a coven. This is not an initiation, but it allows a person a chance to study, learn, and practice with the coven.
Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Sandra Kynes, author of several books, including The Herb Gardener's Essential Guide, Plant Magic, and the new Witches' Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, among many others.
Although a few old books...