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other Wicca traditions
American Tradition of the Goddess
The American Tradition of the Goddess is a teaching tradition of earth magic. Their emphasis is on living our craft in thought, word, and deed. They honor the Triple Goddess and the Triple God. They see the Goddess in all Her aspects as the creative force and the God as Her consort and counselor. They follow the cycles of the sun, moon, and seasons, and celebrate the eight festivals of the Wheel of the Year.
Artemisian Faerie Faith
Artemisians are a Goddess Based Tradition focusing on both the masculine and the feminine aspects of Goddess. Their view of Goddess encompasses all gender, all spirit, and all things. This tradition is open to both male and female seekers. There is a heavy emphasis placed on the Celtic Tree Months as well as belief in the Fey.
Amythystian
Founded in 1968 by Lady Amethyst. Tradition is rooted in the Order of the Garter, Order of the Royal Oak. Traditional with lots of Hermetic beliefs. Dedicated to preserving old traditions while growing into a new generation of enlightened ones. Teaches by example in daily life, at home and at work, as well as when among our own. Known through work and deeds. Believes in a strict code of ethics exemplified by one's actions and lives by the Wiccan Rede.
Blue Star
Founded in 1976 Norristown, PA by Frank Dufner ("the Wizard") and Tzipora Katz, who later moved to Manhattan, where they trained and initiated a number of people. Early rituals were based on Alexandrian and Greco-Roman Traditions. After Frank and Tzipora's divorce, in the early 1980's, Kenny Klein became high priest, steering the Tradition towards a more traditional British form, discarding Alexandrian and ceremonial rituals and replacing them with British Isles folkloric Craft practices, including the 8 Paths of Power, the 7 Tenets of Faith, and the Drawing Down of the Moon and Sun. Touring the country from 1983-1992 performing music, Kenny and Tzipora taught Blue Star, initiated many people, and founded many covens, recording and distributing lessons on cassette tapes. The rigorous training may take 2-3 years before initiation.
British Traditional
This is a mix of Celtic and Gardnerian beliefs. These traditionally 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.
Ceremonial
Less religion, more emphasis on the art and science of magick. Rituals are generally complex and practices lean towards the secret, 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.
Circle Wicca
It was begun in 1974 by Selena Fox and Jim Alan. Its headquarters are at Circle Sanctuary, a 200 acre Nature preserve and organic herb farm in the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin. Circle coordinates Circle Network, "an international exchange and contact service for Wiccans, Neo-Pagans, Pantheists, Goddess Folk, Shamans, Druids, Eco-Feminists, Native American Medicine People, Seers, Ceremonial Magicians, Mystics and others on related paths." They publish an annual source, the Circle Guide to Pagan Resources as well as a quarterly magazine Circle Network News.
Circle is incorporated as a non-profit spiritual center and is recognized as a legal Wiccan Church by state and federal governments. Circle differs from many traditions of Wicca in that it is more aligned with Shamanism and Amerindian ways than with the Wicca of Western Europe found in the majority of Craft traditions. Further information may be obtained from: http://www.circlesanctuary.org/
Cyber Wicca
Cyber
Wicca is less of a tradition, than in the traditional sense of the craft.
The Internet is the ultra-modern age of Wicca, and more and more people are
turning to it in their quest to practice The Old Religion. It is the ideal
medium for the solitary or eclectic practitioner,
to learn from and communicate with others in the craft. It is also ideal
for those people unable to meet with and practice with others, and indeed for
those who for various reasons, need to remain anonymous.
There
are now many groups on the Internet that take part in live play and group
rituals. This is accomplished through synchronized live imagery and the
typed word. When you think about it, magick holds no boundaries, a person
practicing in England using the same tools, method, and intent, synchronized
with a person in America, should and now do, work together in common goals.
Druidic Witchcraft
Druidic
Witchcraft is an eclectic tradition, drawing its beliefs and practices from a
variety of sources. These
include elements of the Druid religion, as well as Irish, Celtic, and Gardnerian
beliefs. Their coven training
consists of a degree structure similar to that advocated by other traditions.
The International Red Garter is perhaps their most popular Order at this
time.
Druidic
Witchcraft should not be confused with that of the Druid Religion, which is
entirely different. Druids are not witches and do not practice magick,
though there are many links and similarities between the two. For
instance, the traditional cauldron of the witches is in likeness to the Sacred
Cauldron of Inspiration, which is presided over by the Goddess Cerridwen, who is
revered by the Bards and Druids.
Other
similarities include the four great annual festivals celebrated by the Druids,
these mark the four changing seasons; Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn, and
are identical to the four great Sabbats celebrated by witches. The Druids
also celebrate the lesser Sabbats, the solstices and equinoxes, known to them by
their Druidic names as the four Albans; Alban Arthan – the winter solstice,
Alban Eilir – the spring equinox, Alban Hefin – the summer solstice, and
Alban Elfed – the autumn equinox.
The Druids in common with witches hold to a belief in reincarnation. They are taught that the human soul has to pass through a number of existences while in Abred, the Circle of Necessity, before attaining to Gwynvyd, the Circle of Blessedness. Abred was the condition of earthly existence, but once transcended and its lessons learned, the soul would return to it no more. Three things hold back the soul’s progression to achieve Gwynvyd - Pride, Falsehood, and Cruelty.
Hereditary Witchcraft
This
refers to those people that can trace the Craft back on their family tree and
who were taught the craft by a living relative.
(My mother's grandmother's sister's cousin was a Witch, doesn't count).
Due to the youth of modern Wicca, this really only applies to
practitioners of witchcraft and not necessarily modern day Wicca.
Kitchen Witch (Hedge Witch)
The
traditional British Witch, a Kitchen Witch is a person that practices from home
by hearth and concentrates on the practical side of religion, magick, earth
mysteries and the elements. Normally
he or she is a solitary practitioner and does not belong to a coven or
particular tradition, relying instead on self-study, personal discernment, and
intuition. In many ways the
Kitchen Witch is akin to the old village Witch who lived a solitary life but was
called upon for spells and healing potions by the local folk.
The
Kitchen Witch commonly works with a familiar spirit, and incorporates the use of
herbs, trance, and shamanic techniques such as drumming to induce altered states
of consciousness. It’s a more convenient form of practice for those who
have limited space and resources like today’s suburban and busy professional
city witches. Their focus is on practicality, the use of magick in the
home and in the workplace with convenient rituals that include readily available
ingredients available at short notice, and on a tight budget.
The
Kitchen Witch is usually very involved with working for the ecology of the
planet, and tries to use only natural objects and materials for ritual and
magick purposes.
Minonian Brotherhood
A Gay Men's tradition of Witchcraft established in New York by the late Lord Gwydion (Eddie Buczynski) in the mid - 1970's, at the same time as the Minoan Sisterhood was being established by Lady Miw, also in New York. The Brotherhood remains exclusively a venue for Gay men to explore a traditional ritual Witchcraft, one which can foster a similar, though Gay, sexual mysticism and sense of personal empowerment as in some British traditions of Wicca. As the founder was a Gardnerian initiate, the rituals are roughly Gardnerian, with changes to accommodate a different core mythology and ritual custom.. Imagery and deities are those of Ancient Crete and Mycenae. Working tools and their uses are virtually identical to those of British traditional Wicca.
Pecti-Wita
Pecti
Wita is presumed an old hereditary Scottish tradition that first came to the
attention of the general public when mentioned by Raymond Buckland in his book:
“Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft”. In his book, Buckland detailed
many different varieties of Wicca and such was the response he received for more
information, he later published full details in another book: “Scottish
Witchcraft: The History and Magick of the Picks”. The information in
this book was provided by Wiccan teacher Aidan Breac (1897 – 1989).
Breac
was a Scottish Highlander, born and raised into a hereditary Craft family on an
island off the northwest coast of Scotland.
He was a descendant of the Carnonacae tribe of the Picts who lived in the
northwest of what is now Ross and Cromarty Counties.
Breac, a family man but without children for the last thirty years of his
life, devoted himself to teaching the Pecti Wita tradition to others.
Pecti
Wita is different from many other forms of Wicca, in that it is a solitary
tradition. It doesn’t practice
circle consecration, or the formalized rituals of most other Wiccan traditions.
The basic tools of the Pecti Witan is the dirk and staff, and rather than
casting a circle, he or she simply “centers” themselves.
Magick is very much a part of the tradition and there are some
celebrations of the seasons namely at Samhuinn, Feill-Fionnain, Bealltainn, and
Feill-Sheathain. Healing is also
an important part of this tradition as is herbal lore and divination.
Pecti Wita is perhaps closer to the traditional “Kitchen Witch” of the British Isles than to the more formalized traditions of Wicca. Until it was made public by Buckland, Pecti Wita was found mainly in Scotland and parts of Canada, but in recent years has expanded and is now practiced in many other parts of the world.
It has been strongly argued and condemned that no such heritage existed and was all made up, (similar to Buckland's Seax Wicca) by an overly active imagination. Investigations in Scotland could not unearth any background or proof as to a heritiage.
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.
Shamanic Witchcraft
This term refers to practices associated with those of tribal shamans in traditional Pagan cultures throughout the world. A shaman combines the roles of healer, priest (ess), diviner, magician, teacher and spirit guide, utilizing altered states of consciousness to produce and control psychic phenomena and travel to and from the spirit realm. Followers of this path believe that historical Witchcraft was the shamanic practice of European Pagans; and Medieval Witches actually functioned more as village shamans than as priests and priestesses of :the Old Religion."
Shamanic Witchcraft emphasizes serving the wider community through rituals, herbalism, spellcraft, healings, counseling, rites of passage, handfastings, Mystery initiations, etc. The distinguishing element of Shamanic Witchcraft is the knowledge and sacramental use of psychotropic plants to effect transitions between worlds. The theory and practice of Shaman Witchcraft has permeated widely though out many other established Traditions.
Solitary
Solitary
practitioners are individuals preferring to work in private rather than within
the confines of a group or coven. Some practice and study a particular
single tradition, while others, like the Eclectic Wiccan pick, choose and blend
different traditions. Wicca with its diverse number of traditions works
well with this sort of practice, and Solitary working can be as fulfilling as
working in a group setting. Because of its solitary nature and without
clear guidance, it does involve a great deal of self-study and determination to
achieve results and without a Mentor, it is easy to go astray as no one is
around to correct any mistakes or deviations. However, many
Solitaries follow the way of Nature and let themselves enjoy the ride within
Mother Nature Herself, knowing that Nature cannot be wrong. Solitary
Wiccans often undertake a ritual of self-initiation to dedicate themselves to
the Goddess and God.
The Sylvan tradition
It
began in the 1970’s in Northern California and incorporates some of the
working practices of the Faery Wicca tradition formed by Victor and Cora
Anderson. This tradition is a magic working earth-based tradition that
considers Witchcraft not as a religion with rules and doctrines, but as a Craft
tradition and way of life. It celebrates diverse viewpoints and believes
in no set dogma, but has a working approach that meets its member’s needs.
The
tradition teaches that the earth is sacred in itself, and as such its members
generally do not exorcise or banish negative energy from an area before raising
a Circle, nor do they feel a need to guard it.
Most of the traditions members believe that no dark or negative energy
can coexist in the circle with the elements, Goddess, God, and fey, whom they
invite into the circle as the ritual begins.
Similarly because the elements can be found in all directions, they do
not link the elements to directions. Likewise,
as they believe the elements are already present, they do not invoke them during
ritual but rather call them to join the circle and aid its members.
During ritual they work with the fey, including the elementals and devas,
in part because everything is asked to aid the magick.
The
tradition is named Sylvan meaning “of the forest”, to honour the
connection to all seen and unseen forest things including trees, which the
tradition considers the most balanced beings in nature.
The forest is also the home of the fey (the middle agents between members
and Nature) who help all stay in harmony with Nature.
Part of the tradition is consideration for the earth.
Though some Sylvan rites are repeated, most are created by its members in honour of a particular sabbat or full moon, or to achieve a particular magical goal. During ritual, and in contrast with many Wiccan rituals, the high priestess or priest cut the circle widdershins to acknowledge existing chaos and to take the circle out of mundane time and space transporting it and its participants into magickal space.
Teutonic / Nordic
This
comes from ancient times; the Teutons have been recognized as a group who speak
the Germanic group of languages. These
languages include: English,
German, Dutch, Afrikaans, Flemish, Frisian, the Scandinavian languages, and
Gothic. 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.
Witta
It
is a tradition born out of America during the mid-twentieth century and is based
on Celtic Irish Paganism. However Witta embraces the influences of the
Norse on the history and culture of Ireland, and incorporates many of the
beliefs and practices of modern eclectic Wicca. For example, it recognizes
the New Year as beginning with the Winter Solstice as do the Nordic traditions,
rather than on Samhain like most Celtic traditions. The Sabbats and full
moons are the traditional meeting times for Wittan’s.
Witta is not a well-known tradition and has not spread far from its roots in North America. The greatest known concentrations of its followers reside in and around Ohio and Texas. Witta is a non-hierarchical, and instead of a degree structure all initiates are encouraged to study and learn to be leaders, priests, and priestesses who can lead rituals and teach others.
Teaching
is a focus of Witta, the idea being to pass along esoteric knowledge, as the
teacher understands it so that students can develop their own concepts of the
divine and their relationship to that power.
The principal deities of Witta are Brighid and Lugh, though they may work with any Irish deity. Witta also teaches the concept of a secret name, a name of personal power known only to one’s personal deity. The author Edain McCoy has written two books on Wittan beliefs and practices: Witta, An Irish Pagan Tradition, and Inside a Witches Coven.
Georgian
Wicca
If one word could best describe the Georgean Tradition, it would be 'eclectic'. Even though the material provided to students was nominally Alexandrian, there was never any imperative to follow that path blindly.
George
Patterson (the tradition's founder) always said 'If it works, use it, if it
doesn't, don't'. The newsletter was always full of contributions from people of
many traditions. It's been said that the intent was to provide jumping off
points for students and members.
Discordianism
(Erisian)
The Discordian or Erisian movement is described as a 'No-Prophet Irreligious Disorganization' and has claimed 'The Erisian Revelation is not a complicated put-on and disguised as a new religion, but a new religion disguised as a complicated put-on. "
It all started with the 'Principia Discordia, or How I Found the Goddess and What I Did to Her When I Found Her', which is a collection of articles and ideas compiled by Greg Hill (Malaclypse the Young-er). The central theme is 'Chaos is every bit as important as Order' as illustrated in the story of The curse of Greyface: Humor is central to Discordianism, but Discordianism should not be dismissed as a joke. Profound experiences frequently accompany the practice or Erisinaism.
It is a perceptual game, one which demonstrates that the absurd is just as valid as the mundane and chaos is just as valid as order. It frees the practitioner from the order games (that most have forgotten are games) to play games with order or games with chaos, or both.
The
effects of Discordianism upon an individual can be far-reaching and amazingly
liberating. (Although a great many immature individuals have played at
Discordianism and thereby sidestepped any chance of spiritual growth whatsoever)
. But that's a sad human trait and remains a problem with any traditions,
especially if these people get to run a Coven.
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