|
Alexandrian Wicca:
Founded in England during the 1960s, Alex Sanders referred to himself as the "King" of his Witches. The rituals are said to
be modified Gardenarian.
British Wicca: A mix of Celtic and Gardenarian 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 and wife from England.) They too are fairly structured in their beliefs, and train through the degree process. Their
covens are also co-ed.
Celtic Wicca: The use of a Celtic/Druidic pantheon mixed with a little ritual Gardnerian,
and heavily stressing the elements, nature and the Ancient Ones. They had a vast knowledge of and respect for the healing
and magickal qualities of plants and stones, flowers, trees, elemental spirits, the little people, gnomes and fairies.
Caledonii:
Formally known as the Hecatine Tradition, this denomination of the Craft is Scottish in origin, and 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: 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,
and has been pegged as the "feminist" movement of the Craft.
Eclectic Wicca: Look in any personals column in
a Craft-oriented newsletter or journal and you will see this catch-all phrase. Basically, it indicates that the individual
does not follow any particular Tradition, demonimation, sect, or magickal practice. They learn and study from many magickal
systems and spply to themselves what appears to work best. I happen to be an Eclectic Wiccan.
Gardnerian Wicca:
Organized by Gerald Gardner in England in the 1950s. 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.
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, and 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
and important. After all, it is not every day you can pick your relatives! It is much like the marriage of an individual into
a family.
Kitchen Witch: You will hear this term every once in a while. Basically, this type is one who practices
by hearth and home, dealing with the practical side of religion, magick, the earth and 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, and most likely the kitchen (or cookfire) was the hub of many charms, spells, healings, and 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, and mineral. It is a
solitary from of the Craft and 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.
Seax-Wicca: Founded by Raymond
Buckland in 1973. Although of Saxon basis, it was authored by Raymond himself without breaking his original 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 magickal aspects and practices of the Craft,
thereby enhancing many lives in a positive direction.
Solitary Witch: One who practices alone, regardless of
Tradition, demonination, or sect. Solitaries come in various forms. Some were at one time initiated into a coven and eventually
chose to extricate themselves from that environment and 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. And finally, a solitary Witch can be a person who has decided
to tough it out on their own, learning from books, networking, and fellow Witches of different Traditions. These people have
the ability to pick themselves up and brush themselves off, and live to try again. More and more individuals are selecting
the solitary path rather than that of group interaction.
Strega Witch: 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 U.S.; however, their teachings are beautiful and should not be missed.
Teutonic Witch: From ancient
time 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 and Swedish peoples. This is also known as the Nordic Tradition.
|
