Book of shadows

Different types of wicca

There are, admittedly, purists within Wicca who insist certain things must be done in the traditional way; otherwise it must be wrong. Sadly all religions have purists who insist theirs is the right way and anywhere or anything else is heading down the wrong path. But Wicca has many different paths and traditions and there is no right or wrong way to be Wiccan. Wicca is a living religion that is ever growing and evolving, although it must be noted that all paths do follow the eight Sabbats and twelve Esbats. Apart from that you are free to choose and so, to help you, here's a brief discription of different Wiccan Paths you may want to consider following.

Old Wicca

Wicca is an old English (Anglo Saxon) word meaning witch. If you were a witch in England and most of Europe you would have been called a Wicca (male) or Wicce (female). The word also means 'Wise' or 'Wise One', which is appropriate given Wicca were village healers, sages and wise people, called upon for many things including midwifery, fortune telling and convening with the Gods. In nearly all ancient cultures and civilizations there were wise people who would treat the sick, foretell future events, bless births and marriages. People who follow the old path are Eclectic Wicca and incorporate many Gods and Goddesses into the religion. They are mostly solitary witches who do not belong to a group or coven and learn through reading old accounts and books of the wise women, men and sages from ancient scriptures and records.

Gardnerian Wicca

Gardnerian Wicca was derived from a man named Gerald Gardner who used the old English name for Witch (Wicca) and turned it into a coven based religion. Gardner was taught about magic and witchcraft in 1938 when he joined a group called The Rosicrucian Order based on Freemasonry. The people in this coven called themselves Wica (with one 'c'). Gardner disagreed with many of the groups beliefs though and left disenchanted. In 1939 he was initiated into a Coven called New Forest in England, which was said to be a very old world coven with traditions passed down from many generations of Witches.

Around 1946 Gardner left the New Forest Coven and created The Bricklewood Coven. He taught people in his own unique way, taking on board steps and insights he'd learned from other groups. The Wicca he taught at Bricklewood went up in degrees, much like Freemasonry which Gardner was very interested in. Many of his witches reached the highest degree and became High Priestesses and Priests and went out and created their own Covens under Gardner's teachings, henceforth becoming known as Gardnerian Wiccans. Gardner was highly influenced by Alistair Crowley, a famous witch and social critic, and he also worked very closely with a woman called Margaret Murray to write 'Witchcraft Today,' published in 1954. Gardner felt Wicca was fragmented and wanted to draw all his experience and knowledge together to create a universal coven known today as Gardnerian Wicca. You must be initiated into a Gardnerian coven by the High Priest or Priestess and you must sign an oath to keep the coven's secrets when joining.

Alexandrian Wicca

Alexandrian Wicca, introduced by Alexander Sanders in the 1960s, is based heavily on the teachings of Garderian Wicca which Alexander Sanders (known as the Witch King in his circles) mentions in many of his books. Alexandrian Wicca is based on Gender polarity and all rituals are carried out with a High Priest and Priestess. While Gardnerian is strictly ritualistic and only believes in one God and one Goddess, with a High Priestess leading all rituals, Alexandrian Wicca lets you believe in whichever Gods and Goddesses you like. A saying in Alexandrian Wicca is, "If it works, use it." Alexander Sanders and his wife Maxine Sanders were both trained in Gardnerian tradition, becoming a High Priest and Priestess, but they wanted to move away from it and make changes as they felt Garderian was too controlled and forced. Alexandrian Covens meet on the New Moon, the Full Moon and on the eight Sabbats. Like Garderian Wicca, you must sign a secret oath when joining an Alexandrian Coven and you must first be initiated by the High Priest or Priestess.

Seax Wicca

Seax Wicca is a tradition founded by Raymond Buckland in 1973 and is detailed in his book 'The Tree - The Complete Book of Saxon Witchcraft.' This path follows the practice of the Anglo Saxon traditions, including Germanic Gods and Goddesses such as Woden and Freya. Raymond Buckley was a Gardnerian before founding Seax so numerous Gardnerian traditions are used in his book and within coven meetings. Buckley left the Gardnerian tradition as he wanted to create a coven where only the Anglo Saxon Gods and their traditions were used as a base for coven meetings. Unlike Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca you do not need to sign a secret oath to join a Seax Coven; in fact they are very open and welcoming to anyone interested in the tradition.

Dianic Wicca

Dianic Wicca is a feminist form of Wicca that is only for women, with its followers worshipping the Roman virgin hunter Goddess Diana. Founded by Zsuzsanna Budapest in the 1970s, this path follows the traditions of Gardnerian or Alexandrian Wicca. It has covens but they do not allow males and do all their ritual workings with only the High Priestess. Diana the Goddess is worshipped as all powerful and the source of all living things.

Hereditary Wicca

Hereditary Wicca pertains to those born into a Wiccan family and brought up within the Wicca tradition. This can come from any form of Wicca in which the family follow. If the family are involved in a coven then often the child will be given a choice around the time of their teenage years, where they can choose or follow their own spiritual path.

Eclectic Wicca

About 70% of Wiccans are Eclectic, meaning they do not follow any specific Wicca tradition but instead choose the Gods and Goddesses they wish to worship, whether they be Norse, Egyptian, Roman, Greek or any other. Alternatively they may worship them all believeing they are all the same Gods and Goddesses but have been known by different names within different civilizations. Eclectic Wiccans are usually solitary in their practice of Wicca, celebrating Esbats and Sabbats at their own altar at home. However, there are many covens and groups for Eclectic Wiccans, where they choose their own way of covening meetings.

Solitary Wicca

Solitary Wicca is the fastest growing form of Wicca. As the name suggests, a solitary Wiccan does not belong to any coven or group. They may follow one God and Goddess or they may follow all Gods and Goddesses. Solitary Wiccans celebrate Esbats and Sabbats and they have their own altars at home for worship. They are mostly Eclectic Wicca that shun away from covens and specific traditions, preferring instead to make their own journeys and discoveries and follow their own spiritual path.

Faery Wicca

Faery Wiccans place emphasis on Faery lore or the Fae as they are known. These aren't the cartoon type of Faery such as Tinkerbell but sprites who keep everything balanced and moving in nature. The Faery has an extensive history in Britain, Ireland and the rest of Europe - and in lands whose natural beauty is still largely unspoiled, belief in faeries, sprites and elves remains strong. Faery Wiccans claim their beliefs originate from the early Celtic traditions of Tuatha De Danann.

Draconic Wicca

Draconic Wicca places emphasis on Dragons and Dragon lore. Dragons and their lore are ancient and have been worshipped, feared and talked about in almost every ancient culture in history. Artwork and cave drawings of such creatures have been found that bear striking resemblances to each other, and yet originate from cultures that had never connected with each other. Dragons are invoked during magical workings and are ruled over by the Sun God and the Moon Goddess. Each element has a dragon named after it, such as Fire Dragon which is called upon for strength. Draconic Wicca is not very well known but has been growing steadily for a number of years. It is mostly found in Asian countries, but it is also growing in America and Europe.

Dwell on her graciousness, dewll on her smiling,
Do not forget what flowers
The great boar trampled down in ivy time.
Her brow was creamy as the crested wave,
Her sea-blue eyes were wild
But nothing promised that is not performed.