TRADITIONS

Celtic: The Celtic tradition is based on the practices of the pre-Christian Celtic world. This includes Ireland, Wales, Scotland and some overlap with the Teutonic traditions. 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 traditional is extremely earth based and strong in the religious aspects of the Craft. Alexandrian: Originated in England in the 1960's, by Alex Sanders. The rituals are said to be of modified Gardenarian. Alex Sanders refered to himself as the "King" of his Wiccans. Although similiar to Gardnerian Wicca, Alexandrian Wicca tends to be more eclectic, and liberal. Some of Gardnerisms strict rules, such as the requirement of ritual nudity, have been made optional by Alexandrian Wicca.

Eclectic: An electic Wiccan doesn't follow any strict traditional guidelines, but instead, practices the beliefs that suit them best. They mix traditions to find their most fitting stance on their religion, using the magick that is most practical for their lifestyle and studying the parts of the religion they consider to be essential.

Faerie Wicca: Also refered to as fae, fey, faery, fairy, fairie... tradition based on faery lore and belief

Gardnerian: Gardnerian is the tradition founded by Gerald Gardner. He was one of the first to go public with information about the Craft. This is an extremely traditional path with a hierarchical grade structure. These individuals are very secretive and take oaths upon initiations. This is really the foundation of modern Wicca. Although there are a number of Gardnerian Covens active in the US, they are difficult to locate and once located are not easy to join. This tradition does not lend itself well to solitary practice, but some aspects of it do. It therefore deserves study by solitary practitioners.

Dianic: Tradition from western Europe, tracked back to Margaret Murray in 1921. This tradition has been pegged as the "feminist" movement of the Craft. It is a mix of many traditions, but its focus is on the Goddess, and Diana. (Diana is a reference often crossed during study of Greek/Roman mythology.)

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.

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.

British Traditional Witch: This is a mix of Celtic and Gardenarian beliefs. These traditionals move mostly within the Farrar studies and are fairly structured in their beliefs. They train through a degree structured process. The International Red Garters is the most famous organization at this time. Often includes druids.

Ceremonial: Less religion, more emphasis on the art and science of magick. 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.

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.)

Kitchen Witch: This type is one that practices by home and hearth concentrating on the practical side of religion, magick and the earth and elements. A more convenient form of practice for those who have limited space and resource, mainly suburbanite and city witches.

Pictish: Pictish is Scottish witchcraft with a strong connection to nature in all of its forms. The practice is actually mostly magickal with little emphasis on the religious aspect. This is practiced as a solitary tradition.

Pow-wow: This is a system, not a religion, based on 400 year old German Magick. In this day and time it has lost much of its concentrations and is basically now into simple faith healing.

Seax-Wica: (Or Saxon-Wica) Founded in 1973, by Raymond Buckland. Raymond Buckland, authored this tradition without breaking his original Gardnerian oath. His contributions to the Craft is of great significance.

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

Teutonic/Nordic: This is from ancient time, the Teutons have been recognized as a group who speak the Germanic group of languages. The lanugages include the English, Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish peoples. Also known as the Nordic Tradition.