Post by Laurasia on Jul 15, 2006 18:24:13 GMT -5
Here I will copy a list of various different Wiccan Traditional Paths. This particular list is taken from the book "To Ride A Silver Broomstick" by Silver Ravenwolf. Since new Traditions pop up regularly that may or may not be considered "Wiccan paths" (as our own Middle-Earth Paganism group is evidence of ) I will make no claim that this list is complete. Think of it more as a starting reference of the most common Traditional paths.
Alexandrian Tradition: Founded in England during the 1960's, Alex Sanders referred to himself as the "King" of his Witches. The rituals are said to be modified Gardnerian.
British Traditional Witch: A mix of Celtic & Gardnerian beliefs. Most famous organization at this time is the International Red Garters. British Traditionals move mostly from within the Farrar studies (the famous Witch husband & wife from England). They too are fairly structured in their beliefs, & train through the degree process. Their covens are also co-ed.
Celtic Wicca: the use of a Celtic/Druidic pantheon mixed with a little Gardnerian, & heavily stressing the elements, nature, & the Ancient Ones. they had a vast knowledge of & respect for the healing & magickal qualities of plants, stones, flowers, trees, elemental spirits, the little people, gnomes, & fairies.
Caledonii Tradition: Formally known as the Hecatine Tradition, this denomination of the Craft is Scottish in origin, & still preserves the unique festivals of the Scots.
Ceremonial Witchcraft: Followers of this Tradition uses a great deal of ceremonial magick in their practices. Detailed rituals with a flavor of Egyptian magick are sometimes a favorite, or they may use the Qabbalistic magick.
Dianic Tradition: First pinpointed by Margaret Murray in 1921 in "The Witch Cult in Western Europe," this term appears to include a mixture of various traditions. However, their prime focus in recent years is on the Goddess, & has been pegged as the "feminist" movement of the Craft.
Eclectic Witch: Look in any personal column in a Craft-oriented newsletter or journal & you will see this catch-all phrase. Basically, it indicates that the individual does not follow any particular Tradition, denomination, sect, or magickal practice. they learn & study from many magickal systems & apply to themselves what appears to work best.
Gardnarian Tradition: Organized by Gerald Gardner in England in the 1950's. Just why is this fellow so darned important? Gerald was one of the few people so determined that the Old Religion should not die that he took the risk of publicizing it through the media. Under all the hype, I truly believe he understood that the young needed the Craft as much as the Craft needed a new generation to survive.
Note: Both the Alexandrian & Gardnerian Traditions follow a more structured route in ceremony & practices. Usually, they are not as vocal as other Witches & are careful both in screening & the practice of their Craft. Therefore, if you are ever invited to visit or join either circle, do not expect the High Priest or Priestess to spill his or her guts during your first encounter. They adhere to a fairly foundational set of customs.
Hereditary Witch: One who can trace the Craft through their family tree and who has been taught the Old Religion by a relative who was living at the same time. Channeling doesn't count. How far one has to go back on the family tree to meet the conditions of the first part of this definition is debatable. Family Trades (another name for Hereditary Witches) occasionally adopt individuals into their dynasty. This decision is never a light one, & usually stems from the lack of offspring to carry on the line, or the high regard they hold for the person in question. The ceremony is intricate & important. After all, it is not everyday that you can pick your relatives! It is much like the marriage of an individual into the family.
Kitchen Witch: You will hear this term every once in a while. Basically, this type is one who practices by hearth & home, dealing with the practical side of religion, magick, the earth & the elements. There are some who groan loudly at this type of terminology, viewing it as degrading or simply inappropriate. Just remember that the Old Religion started somewhere, & most likely the kitchen (or cookfire) was the hub of many charms, spells, healings, & celebrations. After all, where does everyone congregate during the holidays? Grandma's kitchen has always produced magickal memories for humanity; visions of Mother making that something special for a sick child still holds true today for many of us.
Pictish Witchcraft: Scottish Witchcraft that attunes itself to all aspects of nature: animal, vegetable, & mineral. It is a solitary form of the Craft & mainly magickal in nature with little religion.
Pow-Wow: Indigenous to South Central Pennsylvania. This is a system, not a religion, based on 400-year-old Elite German magick. Pow-Wow has deteriorated to a great degree into simple faith healing. Although Pow-Wow finds its roots in German Witchcraft, few practicing Pow-Wows today in Pennsylvania follow the Craft or even know the nature of its true birth.
Satanic Witch: One cannot be a Satanic Witch as Witches do not believe in satan. Administrator Note: This statement does not stand for this site, as my site is meant to be open-minded toward all belief systems so long as they are positive & benign in nature. If a practitioner of Witchcraft decides to employ Satanic images or Satanic values (NOT devil-worshiping images or values!) within their path, that is their own choice. ~ Laurasia
Seax-Witch: Founded by Raymond Buckland in 1973. Although of Saxon basis, it was authored by Raymond himself without breaking his Gardnerian oath. Raymond Buckland's contribution to the Craft is a significant one. Not only did he develop a Tradition that is more than acceptable to many individuals, he also has written a large volume of textbooks on different magikal aspects & practices of the Craft, thereby enhancing many lives in a positive direction.
Solitary Witch: One who practices alone, regardless of Tradition, denomination, or sect. Solitaries come in various forms. Some were at one time initiated into a coven & eventually chose to extricate themselves from that environment & continue practicing a particular Tradition or sect by themselves. A solitary can also be an individual who has no desire to practice with or learn from a coven structure, but still may adhere to a specific Tradition or sect through the teachings of another. For example, a member of a Hereditary Family may choose to teach a close friend the art & science of the Craft, but choose not to adopt them as a Family member for any number of reasons. And finally, a solitary Witch can be a person who has decided to tough it out on their own, learning from books, networking, & fellow Witches of different Traditions. These people have the ability to pick themselves up & brush themselves off, & live to try again. More & more individuals are selecting the solitary path rather than that of group interaction. Another name for a Solitary Witch is a "Natural Witch". You may hear this word from time to time as well.
Strega Witches: Follows a tradition seated in Italy that began around 1353 with a woman called Aradia. Of all the Traditional Witches, this group appears to be the smallest in number in the United States; however, their teachings are beautiful & should not be missed.
Teutonic Witches: From ancient times the Teutons have been recognized as a group of people who speak the Germanic group of languages. Culturally, this included the English, Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, & Swedish peoples. This is also known as the Nordic Tradition.
The Wiccan Witch: So far is this rundown of Witches you may have noticed that I very rarely use the terminology "Wiccan", & that many of the definitions - other than the individuals names & dates - are derived from my own understanding of each term. I have listened to & read many arguments for & against the use of the words "Wiccan" & "Witchcraft". I will tell you quite honestly that I have used both words when discussing my faith, depending on recipients of my conversation. There are those that feel the term "Witch" is an egotistical one. Maybe so. Different words mean different things to a variety of people. Each individual must draw their own conclusion as to the terms they use to describe themselves. I personally like the word "Witch" very much. To me, it means mystery, healing, power, special, different, balance, & history. It means knowledge, secrets, the earth, & a bond with both the male & female sides of myself. The word "Wiccan" does not give me those feelings. It projects a different set of associations - weaving, church, New earth, wicker furniture (don't ask me why), & the movie "The Wicker Man" (which although I despised, I fully understand). It also means "front", a way to bring the public into accepting our belief system for what it actually is, not what their preconceived ideas of a word dictates to them. Both words have their strong & weak points. It is simply how you view them that makes the difference. Neither definition is better than the other; you must choose for yourself.
Sincerely,
Laurasia
Alexandrian Tradition: Founded in England during the 1960's, Alex Sanders referred to himself as the "King" of his Witches. The rituals are said to be modified Gardnerian.
British Traditional Witch: A mix of Celtic & Gardnerian beliefs. Most famous organization at this time is the International Red Garters. British Traditionals move mostly from within the Farrar studies (the famous Witch husband & wife from England). They too are fairly structured in their beliefs, & train through the degree process. Their covens are also co-ed.
Celtic Wicca: the use of a Celtic/Druidic pantheon mixed with a little Gardnerian, & heavily stressing the elements, nature, & the Ancient Ones. they had a vast knowledge of & respect for the healing & magickal qualities of plants, stones, flowers, trees, elemental spirits, the little people, gnomes, & fairies.
Caledonii Tradition: Formally known as the Hecatine Tradition, this denomination of the Craft is Scottish in origin, & still preserves the unique festivals of the Scots.
Ceremonial Witchcraft: Followers of this Tradition uses a great deal of ceremonial magick in their practices. Detailed rituals with a flavor of Egyptian magick are sometimes a favorite, or they may use the Qabbalistic magick.
Dianic Tradition: First pinpointed by Margaret Murray in 1921 in "The Witch Cult in Western Europe," this term appears to include a mixture of various traditions. However, their prime focus in recent years is on the Goddess, & has been pegged as the "feminist" movement of the Craft.
Eclectic Witch: Look in any personal column in a Craft-oriented newsletter or journal & you will see this catch-all phrase. Basically, it indicates that the individual does not follow any particular Tradition, denomination, sect, or magickal practice. they learn & study from many magickal systems & apply to themselves what appears to work best.
Gardnarian Tradition: Organized by Gerald Gardner in England in the 1950's. Just why is this fellow so darned important? Gerald was one of the few people so determined that the Old Religion should not die that he took the risk of publicizing it through the media. Under all the hype, I truly believe he understood that the young needed the Craft as much as the Craft needed a new generation to survive.
Note: Both the Alexandrian & Gardnerian Traditions follow a more structured route in ceremony & practices. Usually, they are not as vocal as other Witches & are careful both in screening & the practice of their Craft. Therefore, if you are ever invited to visit or join either circle, do not expect the High Priest or Priestess to spill his or her guts during your first encounter. They adhere to a fairly foundational set of customs.
Hereditary Witch: One who can trace the Craft through their family tree and who has been taught the Old Religion by a relative who was living at the same time. Channeling doesn't count. How far one has to go back on the family tree to meet the conditions of the first part of this definition is debatable. Family Trades (another name for Hereditary Witches) occasionally adopt individuals into their dynasty. This decision is never a light one, & usually stems from the lack of offspring to carry on the line, or the high regard they hold for the person in question. The ceremony is intricate & important. After all, it is not everyday that you can pick your relatives! It is much like the marriage of an individual into the family.
Kitchen Witch: You will hear this term every once in a while. Basically, this type is one who practices by hearth & home, dealing with the practical side of religion, magick, the earth & the elements. There are some who groan loudly at this type of terminology, viewing it as degrading or simply inappropriate. Just remember that the Old Religion started somewhere, & most likely the kitchen (or cookfire) was the hub of many charms, spells, healings, & celebrations. After all, where does everyone congregate during the holidays? Grandma's kitchen has always produced magickal memories for humanity; visions of Mother making that something special for a sick child still holds true today for many of us.
Pictish Witchcraft: Scottish Witchcraft that attunes itself to all aspects of nature: animal, vegetable, & mineral. It is a solitary form of the Craft & mainly magickal in nature with little religion.
Pow-Wow: Indigenous to South Central Pennsylvania. This is a system, not a religion, based on 400-year-old Elite German magick. Pow-Wow has deteriorated to a great degree into simple faith healing. Although Pow-Wow finds its roots in German Witchcraft, few practicing Pow-Wows today in Pennsylvania follow the Craft or even know the nature of its true birth.
Satanic Witch: One cannot be a Satanic Witch as Witches do not believe in satan. Administrator Note: This statement does not stand for this site, as my site is meant to be open-minded toward all belief systems so long as they are positive & benign in nature. If a practitioner of Witchcraft decides to employ Satanic images or Satanic values (NOT devil-worshiping images or values!) within their path, that is their own choice. ~ Laurasia
Seax-Witch: Founded by Raymond Buckland in 1973. Although of Saxon basis, it was authored by Raymond himself without breaking his Gardnerian oath. Raymond Buckland's contribution to the Craft is a significant one. Not only did he develop a Tradition that is more than acceptable to many individuals, he also has written a large volume of textbooks on different magikal aspects & practices of the Craft, thereby enhancing many lives in a positive direction.
Solitary Witch: One who practices alone, regardless of Tradition, denomination, or sect. Solitaries come in various forms. Some were at one time initiated into a coven & eventually chose to extricate themselves from that environment & continue practicing a particular Tradition or sect by themselves. A solitary can also be an individual who has no desire to practice with or learn from a coven structure, but still may adhere to a specific Tradition or sect through the teachings of another. For example, a member of a Hereditary Family may choose to teach a close friend the art & science of the Craft, but choose not to adopt them as a Family member for any number of reasons. And finally, a solitary Witch can be a person who has decided to tough it out on their own, learning from books, networking, & fellow Witches of different Traditions. These people have the ability to pick themselves up & brush themselves off, & live to try again. More & more individuals are selecting the solitary path rather than that of group interaction. Another name for a Solitary Witch is a "Natural Witch". You may hear this word from time to time as well.
Strega Witches: Follows a tradition seated in Italy that began around 1353 with a woman called Aradia. Of all the Traditional Witches, this group appears to be the smallest in number in the United States; however, their teachings are beautiful & should not be missed.
Teutonic Witches: From ancient times the Teutons have been recognized as a group of people who speak the Germanic group of languages. Culturally, this included the English, Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, & Swedish peoples. This is also known as the Nordic Tradition.
The Wiccan Witch: So far is this rundown of Witches you may have noticed that I very rarely use the terminology "Wiccan", & that many of the definitions - other than the individuals names & dates - are derived from my own understanding of each term. I have listened to & read many arguments for & against the use of the words "Wiccan" & "Witchcraft". I will tell you quite honestly that I have used both words when discussing my faith, depending on recipients of my conversation. There are those that feel the term "Witch" is an egotistical one. Maybe so. Different words mean different things to a variety of people. Each individual must draw their own conclusion as to the terms they use to describe themselves. I personally like the word "Witch" very much. To me, it means mystery, healing, power, special, different, balance, & history. It means knowledge, secrets, the earth, & a bond with both the male & female sides of myself. The word "Wiccan" does not give me those feelings. It projects a different set of associations - weaving, church, New earth, wicker furniture (don't ask me why), & the movie "The Wicker Man" (which although I despised, I fully understand). It also means "front", a way to bring the public into accepting our belief system for what it actually is, not what their preconceived ideas of a word dictates to them. Both words have their strong & weak points. It is simply how you view them that makes the difference. Neither definition is better than the other; you must choose for yourself.
Sincerely,
Laurasia