Pagan Traditions
Alexandrian - This is one of the traditions generally
groupen under the heading of British Traditional form of Wicca. A
structured degree system of first through third degree is used for
advancement within the coven. Alexandrian Wicca is an initiatory Tradition
and is therefrore not open to solitaries.
British
Traditional Witch - This is a highly structured traditional and
training requirements that need to be met for advancement within a coven
through a degree process. This is an initiatory tradition where an
initiation is done only by an approved Elder, and the initiates can
typically trace their lineage back to the original coven of Gerald Gardner;
thus, BTW is not a tradition open to the solitary pratitioner.
Celtic
- This tradition is a mix of the Kitchen Witch Path with the very early
Celtic pantheons of Scot, Irish, and Welch, and even having some Druid
flavors. The emphasis is on nature veneration and the elements identified
as the Ancient Ones or Old Ones, and it stresses the magickal properties of
trees and plants. Celtic Wicca does not, however, have the firm connection
to be specific and holy groves, springs on trees, as does the Druid
Tradition, and is easily adaptable for Solitaries.
Dianic
- The focus of many Dianic Covens can be totally on the Goddess to
the exclusion of the male God componet, with all emphasis on "wimmin" or "womyn"
only. This is generally only an initiatory tradition, but many individuals
pratice its tenets as solitaries.
Eclectic
- This tradition is essentially a mix of various paths wherein the
worshipper selects what are considered the best parts of several paths and
combines them into a new whole, without following any specific or single
tradition or magickal pratice. It is easily adaptable to the Solitary
Practitioner.
Gardnerian
- Gardnerian Wicca is another of the British Traditionals and is highly
structured, with firm requirements in both time and skills that have to be
met for advancement through the various degrees. Self - initiation is not
possible in Gardnerian Wicca; thus, it is not a viable path for solitaries.
Hereditory
- This is a highly restrictive tradition, since you must be able to trace
your Wiccan ancestry back to several generations in your genealogy.
Teachings and initiations are done only by a loving relatice who was
similarly instructed and initiated, and outsiders or non-family members are
not considered for participation. It is ideal for solitaries if you can
meet these qualifications.
Kitchen
Witch - This tradition is devored essentially to the pratical or
working end or the Old Relition, with emphasis on the use of plants and
spells for such things as protection and healing. This is also one of the
traditions most easily praticed by solitaries, since the required education
can be obtained from either self - teaching or can be learned from others.
Seax
- Wicca - Seax-Wicca differs from Gardnerian primarily in its
ability to accomodate the Solitary practitioner. There are no degrees in
Seax-Wicca, but emphasis is placed on skells learned either through
instruction or self-instruction, and one can self-initiate.
Strega
- This is an Italian tradition, dating from about the middle of the
fourteenth century A. D., that emphasizes worship of the Goddess in her form
of Aradia, daughter of Diana.
Teutonic or Nordic - This tradition
is probably just as ancient a form of Wicca as the Celtic form, but it has a
base in the Nordic countries of Europe, with emphasis on the Nordic Nordic
pantheon more than the British Isles or Celtic Deities.
Caledonii
Tradition - Formally known as the Hecatine Tradition, this
denomination of he Craft is Scottish in orgin and still preserves the unique
festivals of the Scots.
Ceremonial Witchcraft - Followers of this tradition used a great
deal of ceremonial magick in their practices. Detailed rituals with a
flavor of Egyptian magick are sometimes a favoriet or they may use the
Qabbalistic magick.
Pictish
Witchcraft - Scottish Witchcraft that attunes itself to all aspects
of nature: animal, vegetable, and mineral. It is a solitary form 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 rootes in German Witchcraft, few practicing Pow
- Wow's today in Pennsylvania follow the Craft or even know the nature of
its true birth.
Satanic Witch - One cannot be a Satanic Witch because Witches do
not believe in Satan.
Solitary Witch - One who practices alone, regardless of tradition,
denomination or sect. Solitaries come in different forms. Some were, at
one time, initiated into a coven and eventually chose to extricate
themselces from that eviornment and continue practicing a particular
tradition orsect by themselves. A solitary may also be an individual who
has no desire to practice with or lear from a coven structure, but still
may adhere to a specific tradition 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. Another name for a solitary
witch is "Natural Witch."
The Wiccan Witch - Wicca means "Front," a way to bring the public
into accepting oru belief system for what is actually is, not what their
preconceived ideas of a word dictates to them. There is no right or wrong
defination for people who are Wiccan Witches.