Spirit Online: Wicca & Magick: Beginning
Wicca:Traditions of Magic and Wicca
Alexandrian: Originated in England in the 1960's,
founded by Alex Sanders. The rituals are said to be of
Gardnerian basis. Alex Sanders refered to himself as the
"King" of his Wiccans. Although similiar to Gardnerian
Wicca, Alexandrian Wicca tends to be more eclectic and
liberal. Some of Gardnerian's strict rules, such as the
requirement of ritual nudity, have been made optional by
Alexandrian Wicca.
British Traditional Witch: This is a mix of Celtic and
Gardenarian beliefs. These traditionals move mostly
within the Farrar studies and are fairly structured by
their beliefs. They train through a degree structured
process. The International Red Garters is the most
famous organization at this time. Often includes druids.
Celtic: The Celtic tradition is based on the practices of
the pre-Christian Celtic world. This includes Ireland,
Wales, Scotland, and Gaul. There is also a significant
amount of Druid practice used in this tradition. It shares
a lot with the Teutonic tradition, including the use of
runes. This traditional is extremely earth based and
strong in the religious aspects of the Craft. Many
aspects of Christianity were drawn from the Celtic
pagans, such as Cerridwyn's cauldron translating into the
Holy Grail, and the goddess Brigit becoming Saint Bride.
Ceremonial: Less religion, more emphasis on the art and
science of magick. Rituals are generally complex and
practices lean towards the secretic, hidden side of
magick. Not geared towards the solitary practitioner, but
can easily be adapted for those who choose to work
alone. Not necessarily a wiccan-only tradition, though
there are many ceremonial witches.
Dianic: Tradition from western Europe, tracked back to
Margaret Murray in 1921. This tradition has been pegged
as the "feminist" movement of the Craft. It is a mix of
many traditions, but its focus is on the goddess,
especially Diana. (Diana is a reference often crossed
during study of Greek/Roman mythology.)
Eclectic: An electic Wiccan doesn't follow any strict
traditional guidelines, but instead, practices the beliefs
that suit them best. They mix traditions to find their
most fitting stance on their religion, using the magick
that is most practical for their lifestyle and studying the
parts of the religion they consider to be essential. This is
mostly of modern origin, previously most Wiccan
traditions had more restricting boundaries; the eclectic
tradition marks witchcraft's expansion into a patchwork
quilt of various beliefs and theories.
Faerie Wicca: Also referred to as fae, fey, faery, fairy,
fairie... tradition based on faery lore and beliefs.
Consists of a mixture of "green" Wicca, celtic and druidic
practices, and modern witchcraft.
Gardnerian: Gardnerian is the tradition founded by
Gerald Gardner. He was one of the first to go public with
information about the Craft, modern Wicca has mostly
been derived from his books. Gardner's inspiration was
drawn from many sources, including 'Aradia, Gospel of
the Witches', where strands of the Gardnerian tradition
such as required ritual nudity can be found. This is an
extremely traditional path with a hierarchical grade
structure. These individuals are very secretive and take
oaths upon initiation. Although there are a number of
Gardnerian Covens active in the US, they are difficult to
locate and once located are not easy to join. This
tradition does not lend itself well to solitary practice,
but some aspects of it do. It therefore deserves study
by solitary practitioners, especially eclectics.
Hereditary: This is a person that can trace the Craft
back on their family tree and was also taught the craft
by a living relative. ("My mother's grandmother's sister's
cousin was a Wiccan" doesn't count.) Because of the
youth of modern Wicca, this really only applies to
practitioners of witchcraft and not necessarily Wicca.
Kitchen Witch: This type is one that practices by home
and hearth concentrating on the practical side of religion,
magick and the earth and elements. A more convenient
form of practice for those who have limited space and
resource, mainly suburban and city witches. This focuses
on practicality, the use of magick in the home and in the
workplace, and convenient ritual writing that includes
readily available "ingredients" on short time and a tight
budget.
Pictish: Pictish is Scottish witchcraft with a strong
connection to nature in all of its forms. The practice is
actually mostly magickal with little emphasis on the
religious aspect. This is practiced as a solitary tradition.
Pow-wow: This is a system, not a religion, based on 400
year old German Magick. In this day and time it has lost
much of its concentrations and is basically now into
simple faith healing.
Seax-Wica: (Or Saxon-Wica) Founded in 1973, by
Raymond Buckland. Raymond Buckland authored this
tradition without breaking his original Gardnerian oath.
His contributions to the Craft is of great significance
and many popular books today are of his authorship.
Shamanism: Beliefs are connected to contact with the
spirit world. Through communication with the spirits, the
Shaman can work acts of healing, divination and magic -
revealing by way of vision, poetry and myth the deeper
reaches of the human spirit.
Solitary: Individuals prefering to work in private rather
than within the confines of a group setting. Wicca works
well with this sort of practice. Solitaries can pick any
number of traditions that fit well into this sort of
practice. Can be as fulfilling as working in a group setting.
Strega: This tradition began around 1353 in Italy, with a
woman called Aradia. Leland's book "Aradia, Gospel of
the Witches" is the most veritable literary remainder of
the original tradition. The teachings are insightful and
should not be missed, for those who practice solitary or
in covens, especially if you are interested in studying all
traditions.
Teutonic/Nordic: This is from ancient time, the Teutons
have been recognized as a group who speak the Germanic
group of languages. The languages include the English,
Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish. Norse
practitioners are often Astruar that is, followers of
Asatru. Many worship similar to their Norse
predecessors, following Scandinavian and Germanic
deities such as Odin and using divination methods like the
runes.
Wicca:Traditions of Magic and Wicca
Alexandrian: Originated in England in the 1960's,
founded by Alex Sanders. The rituals are said to be of
Gardnerian basis. Alex Sanders refered to himself as the
"King" of his Wiccans. Although similiar to Gardnerian
Wicca, Alexandrian Wicca tends to be more eclectic and
liberal. Some of Gardnerian's strict rules, such as the
requirement of ritual nudity, have been made optional by
Alexandrian Wicca.
British Traditional Witch: This is a mix of Celtic and
Gardenarian beliefs. These traditionals move mostly
within the Farrar studies and are fairly structured by
their beliefs. They train through a degree structured
process. The International Red Garters is the most
famous organization at this time. Often includes druids.
Celtic: The Celtic tradition is based on the practices of
the pre-Christian Celtic world. This includes Ireland,
Wales, Scotland, and Gaul. There is also a significant
amount of Druid practice used in this tradition. It shares
a lot with the Teutonic tradition, including the use of
runes. This traditional is extremely earth based and
strong in the religious aspects of the Craft. Many
aspects of Christianity were drawn from the Celtic
pagans, such as Cerridwyn's cauldron translating into the
Holy Grail, and the goddess Brigit becoming Saint Bride.
Ceremonial: Less religion, more emphasis on the art and
science of magick. Rituals are generally complex and
practices lean towards the secretic, hidden side of
magick. Not geared towards the solitary practitioner, but
can easily be adapted for those who choose to work
alone. Not necessarily a wiccan-only tradition, though
there are many ceremonial witches.
Dianic: Tradition from western Europe, tracked back to
Margaret Murray in 1921. This tradition has been pegged
as the "feminist" movement of the Craft. It is a mix of
many traditions, but its focus is on the goddess,
especially Diana. (Diana is a reference often crossed
during study of Greek/Roman mythology.)
Eclectic: An electic Wiccan doesn't follow any strict
traditional guidelines, but instead, practices the beliefs
that suit them best. They mix traditions to find their
most fitting stance on their religion, using the magick
that is most practical for their lifestyle and studying the
parts of the religion they consider to be essential. This is
mostly of modern origin, previously most Wiccan
traditions had more restricting boundaries; the eclectic
tradition marks witchcraft's expansion into a patchwork
quilt of various beliefs and theories.
Faerie Wicca: Also referred to as fae, fey, faery, fairy,
fairie... tradition based on faery lore and beliefs.
Consists of a mixture of "green" Wicca, celtic and druidic
practices, and modern witchcraft.
Gardnerian: Gardnerian is the tradition founded by
Gerald Gardner. He was one of the first to go public with
information about the Craft, modern Wicca has mostly
been derived from his books. Gardner's inspiration was
drawn from many sources, including 'Aradia, Gospel of
the Witches', where strands of the Gardnerian tradition
such as required ritual nudity can be found. This is an
extremely traditional path with a hierarchical grade
structure. These individuals are very secretive and take
oaths upon initiation. Although there are a number of
Gardnerian Covens active in the US, they are difficult to
locate and once located are not easy to join. This
tradition does not lend itself well to solitary practice,
but some aspects of it do. It therefore deserves study
by solitary practitioners, especially eclectics.
Hereditary: This is a person that can trace the Craft
back on their family tree and was also taught the craft
by a living relative. ("My mother's grandmother's sister's
cousin was a Wiccan" doesn't count.) Because of the
youth of modern Wicca, this really only applies to
practitioners of witchcraft and not necessarily Wicca.
Kitchen Witch: This type is one that practices by home
and hearth concentrating on the practical side of religion,
magick and the earth and elements. A more convenient
form of practice for those who have limited space and
resource, mainly suburban and city witches. This focuses
on practicality, the use of magick in the home and in the
workplace, and convenient ritual writing that includes
readily available "ingredients" on short time and a tight
budget.
Pictish: Pictish is Scottish witchcraft with a strong
connection to nature in all of its forms. The practice is
actually mostly magickal with little emphasis on the
religious aspect. This is practiced as a solitary tradition.
Pow-wow: This is a system, not a religion, based on 400
year old German Magick. In this day and time it has lost
much of its concentrations and is basically now into
simple faith healing.
Seax-Wica: (Or Saxon-Wica) Founded in 1973, by
Raymond Buckland. Raymond Buckland authored this
tradition without breaking his original Gardnerian oath.
His contributions to the Craft is of great significance
and many popular books today are of his authorship.
Shamanism: Beliefs are connected to contact with the
spirit world. Through communication with the spirits, the
Shaman can work acts of healing, divination and magic -
revealing by way of vision, poetry and myth the deeper
reaches of the human spirit.
Solitary: Individuals prefering to work in private rather
than within the confines of a group setting. Wicca works
well with this sort of practice. Solitaries can pick any
number of traditions that fit well into this sort of
practice. Can be as fulfilling as working in a group setting.
Strega: This tradition began around 1353 in Italy, with a
woman called Aradia. Leland's book "Aradia, Gospel of
the Witches" is the most veritable literary remainder of
the original tradition. The teachings are insightful and
should not be missed, for those who practice solitary or
in covens, especially if you are interested in studying all
traditions.
Teutonic/Nordic: This is from ancient time, the Teutons
have been recognized as a group who speak the Germanic
group of languages. The languages include the English,
Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish. Norse
practitioners are often Astruar that is, followers of
Asatru. Many worship similar to their Norse
predecessors, following Scandinavian and Germanic
deities such as Odin and using divination methods like the
runes.
