Traditions of The Craft

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="041a11c3.gif"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0ff8f560.gif" border=0 width="143" height="86" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://groups.msn.com/oTheWiccanRealmo/join" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://groups.msn.com/oTheWiccanRealmo/j"><U>Join </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://groups.msn.com/oTheWiccanRealmo/join" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://groups.msn.com/oTheWiccanRealmo/j"><U>)o( TWR )o(</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whats New"><U>What's New</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://groups.msn.com/oTheWiccanRealmo/messages.msnw" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://groups.msn.com/oTheWiccanRealmo/m"><U>Message Board</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rules"><U>Rules</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Member List"><U>Members List</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign Up For Your Email"><U>Join The Wiccan Realm Mail</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Login To Your Free Email"><U>Login To The Wicca Realm Mail</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Web Rings"><U>Web Rings</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Wiccan Links</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A warning"><U>Everyone Read</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wicca 101 104"><U>Wicca 101 - 104</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wicca For Beginners"><U>Wicca For Beginners</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pagan Bill of Rights"><U>Pagan Bill of Rights</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Witchcraft as a Recognized Religion "><U>Witchcraft as a Recognized Religion</U></A> </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stone Magick"><U>Stone Magick</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dragon Magick"><U>Dragon Magick</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satanism"><U>Satanism</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Buddhism"><U>Buddhism</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Celtic Druidism"><U>Celtic Druidism</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fairy Faith of Great Brittian"><U>Fairy Faith of Great Brittian</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Celtic Lore Amaethon Tananis"><U>Celtic Lore Amaethon - Tananis</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Zodiac"><U>The Zodiac</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Traditions of The Craft"><U>Traditions of The Craft</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Runes"><U>Runes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Moon Lore"><U>Moon Lore</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Divination"><U>Divination</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Charka"><U>Charka</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Auras"><U>Auras</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Astral Projection"><U>Astral Projection</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Traditions of the Craft</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Witches follow a variety of traditions, or practices. Here are descriptions of some of the different kinds:</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Gardnerian Wicca - In the 1950's, after England repealed its Witchcraft laws, Gerald Gardner went public about his practice of Witchcraft. He rewrote the rituals of the coven he belonged to so that they would be more accurate. Gardnerian covens have a degree system in which one learns about the Craft. Individuals must be initiated by the coven and cannot intitiate themselves through self-study. Gardnerian covens work skyclad. In addition, some try to have equal numbers of men and women in the group.</div> <bR> <div> Alexandrian - Alex Sanders founded this tradition in the 1960's. Originally based in England, practitioners work skyclad and much of their ritual is similar to Gardnerian practices, although the Alexandrians place more emphasis on ceremonial Magic, and tend to be more Eclectic and liberal. Sanders called himself the "King" of his Witches. Some of Gardnerisms strict rules, such as the requirement of ritual nudity, have been made optional by Alexandrian Wicca.</div> <bR> <div> Georgian Wicca - George Patterson founded the Georgian tradition in Bakersfield, California, in 1970. They also are known as The Georgian Church. Their rituals are drawn from Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions with other elements added as the coven members see fit. In fact, in some covens members write their own rituals. Some Georgian covens work skyclad, and some do not.</div> <bR> <div> Algard Wicca - In 1972, Mary Nesnick combined the Gardnerian tradition with the Alexandrian to form the Algard tradition. Some people think that in practice this combination ends up being very close to the Gardnerian tradition because much of Alexandrian ritual is similar to Gardnerian to begin with.</div> <bR> <div> Seax-Wica - In 1962, Raymond Buckland, a protegé of Gerald Gardner, moved to the United States where he founded this tradition. Buckland taught the Gardnerian tradition for a number of years. Because of problems that he saw in the practice of the Craft, he started his own tradition in 1973. Seax-Wica is based on Saxon traditions, but as Buckland admits, he made it up alone. Covens decide for themselves if they will work skyclad or robed. Witches of this tradition can be initiated by the coven or through self-study.</div> <bR> <div> Feri Tradition - There are a number of ways to spell the name of this tradition. You'll also see Fairy, Faery, and Faerie. Victor Anderson is credited with bringing the Feri tradition to the United States, where he has taught in the San Francisco area since the late 1960's. Feri teachers tend to add something of their own when they teach, so there is a strain of Eclecticism in this tradition. Feris are usually solitary, or they work in small groups.</div> <bR> <div> Solitary - Individuals prefering to work in private rather than within the confines of a group setting. Wicca lends itself well to this sort of practice. Solitaries can pick any number of traditions that fit well into this sort of practice. The historical traditions often work well for this. Can be as fulfilling as working in a group setting.</div> <bR> <div> Strega - This tradition began around 1353 in Italy, with a woman called Aradia. The teachings are beautiful and should not be missed, for those who practice solitary or in covens,especially if you are interested in studying all traditions.</div> <bR> <div> Dianic Tradition - The Dianic Tradition focuses on the Goddess with little talk about a God. The Goddess is worshipped in her three aspects- Maiden, Mother, and Crone. It is a mix of many traditions, but its focus is on the Goddess, and Diana. Since the 1970's, the Dianic Tradition has been seen as the feminist movement of the Craft. Some, but not all, Dianic covens are women only. This tradition from western Europe has been tracked back to Margared Murray in 1921. </div> <bR> <div> British Tradition - There are a number of different British Traditions, all of which are based on what people believe to tbe the pre-Christian practices of England. Many British Traditional groups follow Janet and Stewart Farrar, who have written a number of influential books about Witchcraft. The groups tend to be structured, with training for neophytes (beginners) following a degree program. Their practices are said to be a mix of Celtic and Gardnerian traditions.</div> <bR> <div> 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 that deeper reaches of the human spirit.</div> <bR> <div> Celtic Wicca - This tradition looks to ancient Celtic and Druidic Deities and beliefs with an emphasis on the Magical and healing powers of plants, minerals, gnomes, fairies, and Elemental spirits. Some of the rituals are derived from Gardnerian practice. 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 tradition is extremely Earth based and strong in the religious aspects of the Craft.</div> <bR> <div> Northern Way or Asatru - This tradition is based on the Old Norse Gods. Practitioners generally work in re-creations of Old Norse dress. They celebrate four Solar Fire festivals and Old Norse holidays.</div> <bR> <div> Strega Witches - This group follows traditions from Italy. Some people trace Strega teachings back to a woman named Aradia in the 14th century. The Strega tradition is rapidly gaining poplularity in the United States today.</div> <bR> <div> Pecti-Wita - A Scottish Solitary tradition passed on by Aiden Breac, who personally teaches students in his home at Castle Carnonacae, in Scotland. The tradition is attuned to the Solar and Lunar changes, with a balance between the God and the Goddess. Meditation and divination play a large part in the tradition and it also teaches several variations on solitary working of Magic. Information is not generally available and Mr. Breac (Now in his 90's) is not seeking further students.</div> <bR> <div> Ceremonial - Less religion, more emphasis on the art and science of Magic. Rituals are generally complex and practices lean towards the esoteric side of Wicca. Not geared towards the solitary practitioner, but can easily be adapted for those who choose to work alone.</div> <bR> <div> 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.)</div> <bR> <div> Kitchen Witch - This type is one that practices by home and hearth concentration on the practical side of religion, Magic and the Earth and Elements. A more convenient form of practice for those who have limited space and resource, mainly suburbanite and city Witches.</div> <bR> <div> Deboran Witchdom - Founded by Claudia Haldane around 1990, the Deboran branch is Eclectic. They make little ritual use of nudity, and work with balanced polarities (Goddess-God; positive-negative). What they are aiming for is reconstruction of the Craft as it would be if the Burning Times had never happened- as if Wicca had continued without interference to this day. They use research, logical deduction, and divination in this quest. Sabbats are open to guests, but Esbats are closed. Coven leaders are called Robin and Marion, with their seconds-in-command called the Maiden and the Green Man. They do not haze First, Second, and Third Degrees as such, but they are sealed and sworn Witches and Elders.</div> <bR> <div> Eclectic Wicca or Witchcraft- Eclectic Wicca or Witchcraft is widely used. This is done by taking bits and pieces from different traditions. Most solitary Witches or Wiccans choose this path as it is easy to "follow" and "make-up" parts as you go.</div> <bR> <div> Information from Coven For One</div> <bR> <div> Some of this information was taken from Angelfire</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>