• How Finnish mythology understands the creation of the world

• Where everything begins – and how the creation story unfolds and comes to an end

• Different versions of the story

• The main deities of mythology, their powers and manifestations

• Their presence in everyday life, then and now

• The word väki and its meanings in Finnish language and mythology

• The five elements and how they appear in the cycles of nature

• The principal deities associated with the elements

• The Finnish wheel of the year and other seasonal celebrations in comparison with traditions elsewhere

• How the cycle of the year shapes the rhythm of life in Finland

• Four native plants used in folk medicine and their magical properties and väki

• An introductory look at the use and handling of herbal remedies

• The power of the midnight sun and light in Finnish plants and landscapes

• Communication between plants

• Messages plants offer to those who know how to observe

• Hiidet, pitämyspuut, and other sacred natural sites

• The väki of nature

• How hiisi sites, offering places, and other sacred natural locations were—and are—used as part of healing rituals and inner integration.

• Key concepts: contemporary shamanism in relation to noita / noaidi, tietäjä, myrrysmies, näkijä, and parantaja

• Roles and functions, similarities and differences between past and present

• The upper, middle, and lower worlds (ylinen, keskinen, alinen)

• States of trance: loveenlankeaminen in relation to shamanic journeys, Väinämöinen, and Antero Vipunen

• Setting boundaries and respecting others

• Ethics of working with vallat and väki

• The witch’s agreement (noitasopimus) as a foundation for further studies

The Travel Journal is an independent study module in which you shape your own path as a witch through words, memory, and lived experience. During the course, you work with a personal journal and deepen your understanding of where you come from, where you are now, and where you are heading.

Teaching consists of 2–4 × 45-minute classes per week.

In addition, you will work—guided—on your own Matkakirja (Travel Journal), reflecting on your personal path into Finnish witchcraft.

The studies are self-directed, and there are no penalties if you fall behind or choose to skip some classes. You are responsible for your own learning process.

This is a lighter version of the full academic-year studies, which include 4 × 45 minutes of teaching per week.

There are no exams.
The Foundational Studies do not include a certificate

Noitaopisto is an independent educational institution, and the studies are offered as part-time learning. As a rule, the studies are not eligible for public student financial aid schemes, such as national student grants.

However, eligibility for financial support may vary depending on your country of residence and local funding systems. We recommend checking with the relevant authorities or organisations in your own country.

Classes are held on a webinar platform at scheduled times. Please see the detailed timetable further up on this page.

If you are unable to attend live, you can watch the classes as recordings at a time that suits you best. All recordings are available until July 31, 2026.

The minimum age is 18 years. An interest in the subjects taught is required. We expect all students to treat their fellow students and the staff of Noitaopisto with respect.

If the course themes resonate with you, you are welcome to study with us. Some students see themselves more as shamans than witches, while others do not identify with any label at all. What matters most is that you respect all living beings and wish to strengthen the gifts of the tietäjä and the healer within yourself.

The Foundational Studies are designed as a complete programme, offering an introduction to different aspects of Finnish witchcraft and to studying at Noitaopisto.

Attendance is not monitored, so you are free to skip individual classes if certain topics do not resonate with you. However, it is not possible to register for individual classes or separate courses, as all classes for the group are delivered on the same platform.

You can pay the tuition fee in instalments by card.

• 2 × €111 by card
  The first payment is charged immediately, and the second payment is charged automatically 30 days later.

• 3 × €74 by card
  The first payment is charged immediately, followed by automatic payments every 30 days.
  This payment option is available until March 27, 2026.

• 4 × €55.50 by card
  The first payment is charged immediately, followed by automatic payments every 30 days.
  This payment option is available until February 27, 2026.

Why is card payment required?

Noitaopisto’s support team is small, and invoices are issued manually. We do not have the resources to process a large number of individual invoices. Card payment is also convenient for students, as instalments are charged automatically.

Is card payment secure?

Noitaopisto does not process or store your card details. Payments are handled by Kajabi and Stripe, a widely used and trusted payment provider in Finland and internationally.

It is important that your tuition payments remain up to date in order to maintain your right to study. If a payment is overdue or a card charge fails, your study access will be suspended and the payment may be transferred to a collection agency until the balance is settled.

By choosing an instalment plan, you commit to paying the full tuition fee. The instalment plan is a payment arrangement for the full study programme and is not a monthly subscription that can be cancelled.

Please contact us immediately if you experience any difficulties with payments.

Registration for the studies is binding.

Classes and ceremonies are held on the Kajabi Communities platform. It works on mobile phones, tablets, and computers. During live classes, a chat is available, and students may choose to use their camera and microphone.

The Communities platform also includes a dedicated group space for your study group, as well as a shared discussion area for all students, allowing you to exchange thoughts and experiences with others.

Class recordings are available on the Kajabi platform, which also works on mobile devices and computers. You can also download the Kajabi app from your app store to receive study-related notifications directly on your phone.

The next academic year is scheduled to begin in August 2026. Full-year studies typically include approximately 4 × 45 minutes of teaching per week throughout the academic year (from August to June).

Registration for the full academic year opens later in the spring and takes place through a light application process. If you continue from the Foundational Studies, the €222 tuition fee is credited in full toward the annual tuition fee (€888).

The aim is to also offer the academic-year studies in English, depending on interest and the number of applicants. We will confirm the available study tracks once the application period opens.