Post by osran on Jan 19, 2008 22:58:18 GMT -5
Alexandrian Wicca
A tradition found by Alex Sanders, in England. It has been suggested ( Witches, Michael Jordan; Kyle Cathie, London 1996 ) that Sanders was actually initiated into a Gardnerian coven by priestess Pat Kopanski in Manchester about 1962, despite Sander’s own claims to have been introduced to Wicca by his grandmother. The Alexandrian rituals are mostly Gardnerian with many Judeo-Christian/Ceremonial Magick elemtns incorporated. Covens generally work sky-clad. The eight Sabbats are observed and both God and Goddess are honored.
Sanders himself was unique in the Craft world in that he claimed the title “ King” of his Witches, a title otherwise known in the Craft. An attempt was made, in the 1970’s, to create a denomination known as “ Algard”--A blending of Alexandrian and Gardnerian. Since Alexandrian was already mostly Gardnerian, there did not seem much point to it. Alexandrian is now found in many countries around the world.
American Celtic Wicca
“ The American Order of the Brotherhood of the Wicca” covens stem from Jessica Bell ( “Lady Sheba”), a self-styled Witch Queen. The tradition’s rites are virtually the same as the Gardnerian, though covens work robed. They follow the same practice of Gardnerians in preferring couples; preferably husband and wife. “Ceremonial Magick is the primary work of the American Celtic tradition and it is conceived as being the most powerful and ancient means of psychological and occult therapy by which normal, healthy people can undertake a program on initiation and development”.
Australian Wicca
The Craft is alive and well “down under,” as it is in virtually every country around the globe, with Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Seax-Wica, Scottish, Welsh, Celtic, and other traditions. One of the leaders in that part of the world is Lady Tamara Von Forslun of the Church of Wicca in Western Australia.
Church of Y Tylwyth Teg
Their stated purpose is “to seek that which is of the most worth in the world…to exalt the dignity of every person, the human side of our daily activities and the maximum service to humanity…to aid humanities’ (sic) search in the Great Spirits’s Universe for identity, for development, and for happiness…to relink humanity with itself and nature.”
It is, as it’s name suggests, a Keltic/Welsh tradition and was originally organized by Bill Wheeler, in Washington, D.C., in 1967, as “The Gentle People.” It teaches the balance of nature, folklore, mythology, and the mysteries, and was incorporated as a nonprofit (religious) organization in the state of Georgia in 1977.
Together with it’s inner core, the Church has an Outer Circle of students who may learn through correspondence and may be fo und throughout the United States.
Church of the Crescent Moon
“ The Church of the Crescent Moon is a cohesive, small group of highly dedicated individuals…Each priestess and priest maintains services to the goddess or god she or he serves, and the goddess and gods in general. Therefore, the Church offers many paths to the ultimate ‘Oneness’ with the absolute.
The purposes of the Church of the Crescent Moon include perpetuating “the uncorrupted religion of ancient Ireland,” and providing “information and instruction about the Goddesses and Gods in general, Irish culture, and many occult subjects.”
Although the Church, which was originally organized in 1976, in Camarillo, California, states that “we do not call ourselves Wiccans,” I have included them in this book. Many of their rituals are optn to guests and prospective members.
Circle Wicca
Circle was begun in 1974 by Selena Fox and Jim Alan. It is headquartered at Circle Sanctuary, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin: 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 Shamans, Druids, Eco-Feminists, Native Americans Medicine People, Seers, Ceremonial Magicians, Mystics, and others on related paths.” They publish an annual source, which I recommend to the seeker; the Circle Guide to Pagan Resources. I also recommend their newspaper, Circle Network News.
Circle sponsors a variety of seminars, concerts, and workshops both at their home base and around the country. At least once a year, they also sponsor a special program for Wiccan and other Pagan ministers, and at Summer Solstice hold the National Pagan Spirit Gathering.
Circle is incorporated as a nonprofit spiritual center and is recognized by state and federal governments as a Legal Wiccan Church. Circle differs from many traditions of Wicca in that is more aligned with Shamanism and Amerindian ways than with the Wicca of Western Europe as found in the majority of Craft traditions. This is not to denigrate it in any way, for it is an excellent, dedicated, well organized, and highly respected center. It has probably done more than most groups to promote the Craft and Paganism.
Coven of the Forest, Far and Forever
This is a Flordia denomination formed by a priest and priestess ( Elivri and Giselda ) with collective experiences in Dianic, hereditary Spanish, Egyptian, and Gardnerian Wicca, plus Qabbalism. There is a good balance between the male and female aspects. The group “sees the Goddess and God figures as a living representatives of even more fundamental, living forces that manifest on a variety of levels.” Their stated purpose is “to make ourselves more fit as vehicles for those forces, by invoking them to, in turn, balance and develop our own natures and grow closer to the universe.”
The worship is sky clad. Esbats are held each full moon and there is emphasis on the Book of Shadows being personally handwritten.
Deboran Witchdom
“The Deboran branch is eclectic. We make little ritual use of nudity. We work with balanced polarities ( Goddess-God; positive-negative). What we are aiming for is a reconstruction of the Craft as it would be if the Burning times had never happened----as if Wiccedom had continued without interruption to this day. We 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 have degrees as such but “ Apprentices, ‘sealed and sworn;’ Witches; and Elders.”
“ We view the Craft as a priesthood with a ministry and our principle job, as Witches, is to help others find pathways to religious experience and to their own power.” The Deboran tradition started in 1980, founded by Claudia Haldane and promoted by erinna Northwind of Naphant, Massachusetts.
Dianic Feminist Wicce
Started by Ann Forfreedom, of Oakland, California, this is a tradition that is both religious and practices magic. It includes both female and male practitioners, solo practitioners, mixed covens, and all female covens. “ It is not lesbian oriented and not separatist,” states Forfreedom.
“ Dianic Feminist Wicce encourages female leadership, insists that a Priestess must be present for a Circle ritual to be held, and involves it’s practitioners in feminist and humanist issues.” Groups work either sky clad or robed.
Frost’s Wicca
This is one of the many Welsh-based traditions. It was f ounded by Gavin and Yvonned Frost in the early 1970s as “The Church and School of Wicca,” presenting its material to students in the form of a correspondence course. Orginally there was no mention at all of the Goddess ( though this has now been rectified) and there was various sexual practices detailed that dismayed many and that have subsequently been withdrawn from the tradition. The Church and School, in North Carolina, have students worldwide and are well established.
Gardnerian Wica
This was the very first denomination of the Craft to make itself known publicly ( in the mid-1950s, in England). It was also the first tradition to appear in the United States ( started by Raymond and Rosemary Buckland---initiates of Gardner’s High Priestess--In New York in 1964). The tradition is named for it’s founder, the late Dr. Gerald Gardner, who was himself initiated into a surviving Celtic coven in the late 1930s. The garnerian book of Shadows is Garner’s modification of that original coven’s Book of Shadows, based on his own extensive magical and ritual knowledge. Gardner was aided in perfecting the book by Doreen Valiente, a gifted author and poetess. Despite individual claims to the contrary, the majority of modern Wiccan traditions can be traced to---or are closely based upon Gardnerian Wica.
The Gardnerian tradition places emphasis on the Goddess over the God, though acknowledging the existence, and need, for both. The priestess therefore has dominance over the priest. There is a degree system of advancement, with a “year-and-a-day” minimum time between degrees. Covens work sky clad and aim to have “ perfect couples”---equal numbers of male and female, paired. The couple do not have to be married, though this is preferred. Covens are autonomus, though a “ Queen of the Sabbat” or “Witch Queen” may have a number of off-shoot needed. The emphasis is on worship of the gods with magic focused primarily on healing. Today, Gardnerian covens can be found around the world.
Geogian Wicca
The Georgians, found in 1970 by George E. Patterson, where charted by the Universal Life Church in 1972 as the Church of Wicca of Bakerfield, California. In 1980 they were charted as the Georgian Church.
“ The Georgians are eclectic, much based on Gardnerian-Alexandrian plus some English traditionalist and some orginal…god-goddess.” They generally work sky clad but individual grups or individuals m ay do as they wish. They are both religious and magical and celebrate the eight Sabbats. Members are encouraged to write rituals and to learn from all available sources.
Maidenhill Wicca
A “traditional” Wiccan group established Philadelphia, PA, in 1979, and having-strong ties with the Coven of Rhiannon, in Manchester, England. “ Our main focus is the worship of the great Goddess and her Consort, the Horned One…Our coven does not limit worship to one particular cultural-ethnic ‘tradition.’ Rather, a thorough training in basic Gardnerian Wica is taught and membes are urged, after mastering these basics, to find that particular myth cycle, or path consistent with their beliefs.”
Northern Way
A no initiatory tradition that works robed. “ We try to emulate as authentic and traditional re-creation as possible of old Norse garb…Our God-names are Old Norse, not Teutonic. We do cast a Circle; we do not ‘ call Quarters’… our tradition is Norse…the group, however, is not hereditary in that members need not to be any particular family or ethnic group.”
The Northern Way was found in 1980 and incorporated in Chicago in 1982. Its religion is sometimes called Asatru. They observe the four Solar Fire Festivals as well as those indigenous to the Norse religion.
Nova-Wicca
An eclectic group founded by Nimue and Duncan, two Gardnerians, in Oak Park, Illinois. They work robed at Esbats and Sabbats and sky clad at initiations. The Gardnerian deity names are used, though “working pairs may use others if they wish.” Nova has a degree system, which is “very finely tuned,” and an in-depth training, some classes being open to newcomers. Grand Sabbats are alos open to interested persons, at the Coven’s discretion.
Nova classifies itself as “ a mixed, traditional, teaching/training coven.”
PectiWita
A Scottish Solitary tradition passed on by Aidan Breac who, right up to his death in 1989, personally taught students in his home at Castle Carnonacae, in Scotland.
The tradition is attuned to the solar and lunar changes. There is a balance between the god and the Goddess but the emphasis is on magic rather than worship. Followers of the tradition attune themselves to all aspects of nature; animal, vegetable, and mineral. Meditation and divination play a large part in the tradition as does herbal knowledge. Various forms of solitary magical practice are taught and there is emphasis on the blending of magic into everyday life.
Seax-Wica
This tradition was founded by Raymond Buckland, in 1973. It has Saxon basis but is, in fact, a relatively new denomination of the Craft. It does not pretend to be either a continuation or a re-creation of the orginal Saxon religion. Main features of the tradition are the fact that it has open rituals, all of which are published and freely available; has a democratic organization that precludes ego trips and power plays by coven leaders; there can be coven and solitary pratice; there is the reality of self-initiation in lieu of coven initiation. Covens are led by a priest and/or priestess and covens decide for themselves wheter to work robed or sky clad. Today, the Seax-Wica is found throughout the United States and in many countries around the world.
Today the Saxon tradition flourishes and grows at a steady rate.
Thessalonian Tradition
The tradition of Thessaly is an ancient Greek-oriented tradition found in 1994, in Houma, Louisiana, by Monte. It is basically an attempted reconstruction of ancient Greek magical practices and religious philosophies. Thessalonians acknowledge all of the deities of Ancient Greece, with each member placing emphasis on a “patron” god and goddess, thus giving members a well-balanced polarity of masculine and feminine energy. The group sees the various deities as specialized manifestations of the great unknowable souce of creation that they refer to as O’Eis (‘The closer to divinity through the invocation of divine powers and the application of divine knowledge.”
The worship is performed robed and use consecration of sacred ground more often than ritual circles casting, which is used only for major magical workings. The group encourages personal worship and also holds bi weekly group rituals at their New Orleans French Quarter site, on the first and third Friday of each month.
A tradition found by Alex Sanders, in England. It has been suggested ( Witches, Michael Jordan; Kyle Cathie, London 1996 ) that Sanders was actually initiated into a Gardnerian coven by priestess Pat Kopanski in Manchester about 1962, despite Sander’s own claims to have been introduced to Wicca by his grandmother. The Alexandrian rituals are mostly Gardnerian with many Judeo-Christian/Ceremonial Magick elemtns incorporated. Covens generally work sky-clad. The eight Sabbats are observed and both God and Goddess are honored.
Sanders himself was unique in the Craft world in that he claimed the title “ King” of his Witches, a title otherwise known in the Craft. An attempt was made, in the 1970’s, to create a denomination known as “ Algard”--A blending of Alexandrian and Gardnerian. Since Alexandrian was already mostly Gardnerian, there did not seem much point to it. Alexandrian is now found in many countries around the world.
American Celtic Wicca
“ The American Order of the Brotherhood of the Wicca” covens stem from Jessica Bell ( “Lady Sheba”), a self-styled Witch Queen. The tradition’s rites are virtually the same as the Gardnerian, though covens work robed. They follow the same practice of Gardnerians in preferring couples; preferably husband and wife. “Ceremonial Magick is the primary work of the American Celtic tradition and it is conceived as being the most powerful and ancient means of psychological and occult therapy by which normal, healthy people can undertake a program on initiation and development”.
Australian Wicca
The Craft is alive and well “down under,” as it is in virtually every country around the globe, with Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Seax-Wica, Scottish, Welsh, Celtic, and other traditions. One of the leaders in that part of the world is Lady Tamara Von Forslun of the Church of Wicca in Western Australia.
Church of Y Tylwyth Teg
Their stated purpose is “to seek that which is of the most worth in the world…to exalt the dignity of every person, the human side of our daily activities and the maximum service to humanity…to aid humanities’ (sic) search in the Great Spirits’s Universe for identity, for development, and for happiness…to relink humanity with itself and nature.”
It is, as it’s name suggests, a Keltic/Welsh tradition and was originally organized by Bill Wheeler, in Washington, D.C., in 1967, as “The Gentle People.” It teaches the balance of nature, folklore, mythology, and the mysteries, and was incorporated as a nonprofit (religious) organization in the state of Georgia in 1977.
Together with it’s inner core, the Church has an Outer Circle of students who may learn through correspondence and may be fo und throughout the United States.
Church of the Crescent Moon
“ The Church of the Crescent Moon is a cohesive, small group of highly dedicated individuals…Each priestess and priest maintains services to the goddess or god she or he serves, and the goddess and gods in general. Therefore, the Church offers many paths to the ultimate ‘Oneness’ with the absolute.
The purposes of the Church of the Crescent Moon include perpetuating “the uncorrupted religion of ancient Ireland,” and providing “information and instruction about the Goddesses and Gods in general, Irish culture, and many occult subjects.”
Although the Church, which was originally organized in 1976, in Camarillo, California, states that “we do not call ourselves Wiccans,” I have included them in this book. Many of their rituals are optn to guests and prospective members.
Circle Wicca
Circle was begun in 1974 by Selena Fox and Jim Alan. It is headquartered at Circle Sanctuary, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin: 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 Shamans, Druids, Eco-Feminists, Native Americans Medicine People, Seers, Ceremonial Magicians, Mystics, and others on related paths.” They publish an annual source, which I recommend to the seeker; the Circle Guide to Pagan Resources. I also recommend their newspaper, Circle Network News.
Circle sponsors a variety of seminars, concerts, and workshops both at their home base and around the country. At least once a year, they also sponsor a special program for Wiccan and other Pagan ministers, and at Summer Solstice hold the National Pagan Spirit Gathering.
Circle is incorporated as a nonprofit spiritual center and is recognized by state and federal governments as a Legal Wiccan Church. Circle differs from many traditions of Wicca in that is more aligned with Shamanism and Amerindian ways than with the Wicca of Western Europe as found in the majority of Craft traditions. This is not to denigrate it in any way, for it is an excellent, dedicated, well organized, and highly respected center. It has probably done more than most groups to promote the Craft and Paganism.
Coven of the Forest, Far and Forever
This is a Flordia denomination formed by a priest and priestess ( Elivri and Giselda ) with collective experiences in Dianic, hereditary Spanish, Egyptian, and Gardnerian Wicca, plus Qabbalism. There is a good balance between the male and female aspects. The group “sees the Goddess and God figures as a living representatives of even more fundamental, living forces that manifest on a variety of levels.” Their stated purpose is “to make ourselves more fit as vehicles for those forces, by invoking them to, in turn, balance and develop our own natures and grow closer to the universe.”
The worship is sky clad. Esbats are held each full moon and there is emphasis on the Book of Shadows being personally handwritten.
Deboran Witchdom
“The Deboran branch is eclectic. We make little ritual use of nudity. We work with balanced polarities ( Goddess-God; positive-negative). What we are aiming for is a reconstruction of the Craft as it would be if the Burning times had never happened----as if Wiccedom had continued without interruption to this day. We 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 have degrees as such but “ Apprentices, ‘sealed and sworn;’ Witches; and Elders.”
“ We view the Craft as a priesthood with a ministry and our principle job, as Witches, is to help others find pathways to religious experience and to their own power.” The Deboran tradition started in 1980, founded by Claudia Haldane and promoted by erinna Northwind of Naphant, Massachusetts.
Dianic Feminist Wicce
Started by Ann Forfreedom, of Oakland, California, this is a tradition that is both religious and practices magic. It includes both female and male practitioners, solo practitioners, mixed covens, and all female covens. “ It is not lesbian oriented and not separatist,” states Forfreedom.
“ Dianic Feminist Wicce encourages female leadership, insists that a Priestess must be present for a Circle ritual to be held, and involves it’s practitioners in feminist and humanist issues.” Groups work either sky clad or robed.
Frost’s Wicca
This is one of the many Welsh-based traditions. It was f ounded by Gavin and Yvonned Frost in the early 1970s as “The Church and School of Wicca,” presenting its material to students in the form of a correspondence course. Orginally there was no mention at all of the Goddess ( though this has now been rectified) and there was various sexual practices detailed that dismayed many and that have subsequently been withdrawn from the tradition. The Church and School, in North Carolina, have students worldwide and are well established.
Gardnerian Wica
This was the very first denomination of the Craft to make itself known publicly ( in the mid-1950s, in England). It was also the first tradition to appear in the United States ( started by Raymond and Rosemary Buckland---initiates of Gardner’s High Priestess--In New York in 1964). The tradition is named for it’s founder, the late Dr. Gerald Gardner, who was himself initiated into a surviving Celtic coven in the late 1930s. The garnerian book of Shadows is Garner’s modification of that original coven’s Book of Shadows, based on his own extensive magical and ritual knowledge. Gardner was aided in perfecting the book by Doreen Valiente, a gifted author and poetess. Despite individual claims to the contrary, the majority of modern Wiccan traditions can be traced to---or are closely based upon Gardnerian Wica.
The Gardnerian tradition places emphasis on the Goddess over the God, though acknowledging the existence, and need, for both. The priestess therefore has dominance over the priest. There is a degree system of advancement, with a “year-and-a-day” minimum time between degrees. Covens work sky clad and aim to have “ perfect couples”---equal numbers of male and female, paired. The couple do not have to be married, though this is preferred. Covens are autonomus, though a “ Queen of the Sabbat” or “Witch Queen” may have a number of off-shoot needed. The emphasis is on worship of the gods with magic focused primarily on healing. Today, Gardnerian covens can be found around the world.
Geogian Wicca
The Georgians, found in 1970 by George E. Patterson, where charted by the Universal Life Church in 1972 as the Church of Wicca of Bakerfield, California. In 1980 they were charted as the Georgian Church.
“ The Georgians are eclectic, much based on Gardnerian-Alexandrian plus some English traditionalist and some orginal…god-goddess.” They generally work sky clad but individual grups or individuals m ay do as they wish. They are both religious and magical and celebrate the eight Sabbats. Members are encouraged to write rituals and to learn from all available sources.
Maidenhill Wicca
A “traditional” Wiccan group established Philadelphia, PA, in 1979, and having-strong ties with the Coven of Rhiannon, in Manchester, England. “ Our main focus is the worship of the great Goddess and her Consort, the Horned One…Our coven does not limit worship to one particular cultural-ethnic ‘tradition.’ Rather, a thorough training in basic Gardnerian Wica is taught and membes are urged, after mastering these basics, to find that particular myth cycle, or path consistent with their beliefs.”
Northern Way
A no initiatory tradition that works robed. “ We try to emulate as authentic and traditional re-creation as possible of old Norse garb…Our God-names are Old Norse, not Teutonic. We do cast a Circle; we do not ‘ call Quarters’… our tradition is Norse…the group, however, is not hereditary in that members need not to be any particular family or ethnic group.”
The Northern Way was found in 1980 and incorporated in Chicago in 1982. Its religion is sometimes called Asatru. They observe the four Solar Fire Festivals as well as those indigenous to the Norse religion.
Nova-Wicca
An eclectic group founded by Nimue and Duncan, two Gardnerians, in Oak Park, Illinois. They work robed at Esbats and Sabbats and sky clad at initiations. The Gardnerian deity names are used, though “working pairs may use others if they wish.” Nova has a degree system, which is “very finely tuned,” and an in-depth training, some classes being open to newcomers. Grand Sabbats are alos open to interested persons, at the Coven’s discretion.
Nova classifies itself as “ a mixed, traditional, teaching/training coven.”
PectiWita
A Scottish Solitary tradition passed on by Aidan Breac who, right up to his death in 1989, personally taught students in his home at Castle Carnonacae, in Scotland.
The tradition is attuned to the solar and lunar changes. There is a balance between the god and the Goddess but the emphasis is on magic rather than worship. Followers of the tradition attune themselves to all aspects of nature; animal, vegetable, and mineral. Meditation and divination play a large part in the tradition as does herbal knowledge. Various forms of solitary magical practice are taught and there is emphasis on the blending of magic into everyday life.
Seax-Wica
This tradition was founded by Raymond Buckland, in 1973. It has Saxon basis but is, in fact, a relatively new denomination of the Craft. It does not pretend to be either a continuation or a re-creation of the orginal Saxon religion. Main features of the tradition are the fact that it has open rituals, all of which are published and freely available; has a democratic organization that precludes ego trips and power plays by coven leaders; there can be coven and solitary pratice; there is the reality of self-initiation in lieu of coven initiation. Covens are led by a priest and/or priestess and covens decide for themselves wheter to work robed or sky clad. Today, the Seax-Wica is found throughout the United States and in many countries around the world.
Today the Saxon tradition flourishes and grows at a steady rate.
Thessalonian Tradition
The tradition of Thessaly is an ancient Greek-oriented tradition found in 1994, in Houma, Louisiana, by Monte. It is basically an attempted reconstruction of ancient Greek magical practices and religious philosophies. Thessalonians acknowledge all of the deities of Ancient Greece, with each member placing emphasis on a “patron” god and goddess, thus giving members a well-balanced polarity of masculine and feminine energy. The group sees the various deities as specialized manifestations of the great unknowable souce of creation that they refer to as O’Eis (‘The closer to divinity through the invocation of divine powers and the application of divine knowledge.”
The worship is performed robed and use consecration of sacred ground more often than ritual circles casting, which is used only for major magical workings. The group encourages personal worship and also holds bi weekly group rituals at their New Orleans French Quarter site, on the first and third Friday of each month.
