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[Aniki]

Merry Met,
My name is Aniki and I have been practicing Druidism for 4 years as well as Wicca. I am a leader in a Coven where I live, along with StoryTellerOmega. We have noticed there has been other religious groups on here that have talked about Wicca and what it means to be a Wiccan; however, we have seen some incorrect information being passed around.

This has caused us some concern. We both know the troubles of finding correct information online and trying to figure out what is safe to trust. Because of all this, we have decided to create this thread. On here we will be posting anything and everything that relates to Wicca. Starting from the very beginning with what Wicca truly is and going into more complex things such as Astral Projection as time goes on. Please feel free to comment or send either one of us a PM with your question or comment.

Mind you if you come here only to post negative things (anything inappropriate or just plain crude) I will report you to the staff of Chickensmoothie. I hope we can come to some sort of agreement before that has to happen.
So without further ado, let’s begin.
Blessed Be, Aniki.

[Aniki]

What Does The Word Mean?
This is a personal pet peeve and one that continually arises. Why? Because everyone has their own "interpretation" of words instead of researching the definitions and etymology of language. That's not a bad thing, but it's not really a good thing either. It's human nature to view all things in life from one's own perspective, but quite often, that's where we get into trouble. If people would simply acknowledge the need for common definitions, then it would be much easier to develop a common understanding, or perhaps even acceptance of varying views.

The purpose for defined definitions is to develop that common language and understanding. Aristotle wrote many books of thought in his day. It's interesting to note that the first 8 of those books are based on defining words and what he means when he says this word or that word. Even then the great thinkers of our world, understood the deep importance of common meanings of words, even in 300BC.

One of the other problems we face, is researching words based on their origin, meaning and, this is the important part, English translation. We get even further confused when a word is both English and an ancient dialect. Say for example neo-pagan. We'll get to this word later.

Etymology of Pagan
Some say pagan means "country dweller". Unfortunately that is very inaccurate. The word pagan -translates to- country dweller, it doesn't mean one who dwells in the country.

Look at this word further and you'll find by definition pagan means 'any person who does not espouse to Christian, Muslim or Jewish doctrine'. That's a big open field of beliefs. But that is what the word means and not what it translates to.

The word pagan is associated to pagus, which is a middle English (1100 to 1500 AD) word that further translates to 'country dweller'. Just for further understanding, Old English was a spoken dialect between 400 AD to 1100 AD.

The academic etymology of Pagan:
circa 1375, from L.L. paganus "pagan," in classical Latin "villager, rustic, civilian," from pagus "rural district," originally "district limited by markers," thus related to pangere "to fix, fasten," from PIE base *pag- "to fix".

Religious sense is often said to derive from conservative rural adherence to the old gods after the Christianization of Roman towns and cities; but the word in this sense predates that period in Church history, and it is more likely derived from the use of paganus in Roman military jargon for "civilian, incompetent soldier," which Christians (Tertullian, circa 202; Augustine) picked up with the military imagery of the early Church (e.g. milites "soldier of Christ," etc.).

Applied to modern pantheists and nature-worshipers from 1908. Paganism is attested from 1433.

Today's Meaning Of Pagan
Many people want this word to mean something special to their spiritual path that they've changed the meaning of the word. Now word evolution isn't a bad thing, as long as you keep in mind the origination of the word. But very often, a word evolves from it's defined meaning to a slang term. If you need an example, try B*tch. The meaning of the word is a female dog. The use of the word has evolved to be associated with a mean woman or it has become slang to mean a complaint, or anything unpleasant or difficult.

But looking at the academic definition of Pagan, it differentiates between Abrahamic religions (Christian, Muslim and Jewish Doctrine) and early pagan beliefs. The Christians see Jesus as their savior who died on the cross for their sins. The Jews see Jesus as a teacher and prophet, but not the savior promised by their elders. The Muslims see Jesus as their savior (along with others) who was crucified, but was taken off the cross by the hand of God before he died. Please don't confuse Muslim with Islam. Though these 2 religions are attached today, they were centuries apart during the time periods discussed here.

Keeping that in mind, why does the word pagan translate to country dweller? Well, during the 4th century BC to 13th century AD, most people who lived in cities or large communities had been exposed to at least one of the major religions. Quite a few were followers of one of these faiths, were agnostic or the beginning followers of the sciences. Country folk were more often uneducated in the formalized religions. They were people of nature, farming and living their lives by the breath of the earth, sun and moon. Very few practiced one of the 3 major religions, and thus they were considered pagan.

Carry this further and you'll find the word neo-pagan. Now many people today don't like this word at all, because they feel that it implies new age paganism. Unfortunately this again is an inaccurate interpretation and once more because people view the translation of the word neo as it's definition. Neo is Greek for new. But the key to that sentence is, neo is Greek. At the time the word neo-pagan was created, sometime between the 400th century BC and 4th century AD, the new pagans were people who were defined as pagan, but further defined themselves as nature or earth based believers.

In their writings about physics/metaphysics and spiritual concepts the early Greek thinkers discuss the differences between pagans and pagan communities. Or perhaps a better way to put it is they differentiate between their brand of paganism and others they discuss as nature specific pagans. What we might think of as the early pagans of Celtic origins.

Keep in mind the timing of this word's origin. The Hellenes Greeks reigned from the 8th century BC to the 3rd century AD when Alexander the Great died. Greece was at it's height in scientific knowledge. Explorations across Europe and Asia had begun by both the Greeks and the Romans. The Romans reigned their corner of the world between the 2nd century BC to almost the 4th century AD. The Druids reigned Britain, Ireland and France from about the 2nd century BC to the 4th century AD. Although there is much debate on the age of the Druids, anthropological work can at least place the Druids in the 2nd century. All the while the Christians and the Hebrews were making their own ways in the world.

All this confusion about who is pagan and who is a nature pagan got very confusing. The Greeks in their wisdom to categorize and educate developed the concepts of pagan and neo-pagan. I say concepts, because.. Remember at the beginning of this I said we further confuse the definitions of a word by it's English translation. Well, here you go.

[Aniki]

How does neo-pagan relate to the religion of Witchcraft? Witchcraft, by definition is a neo-pagan classified religion. Today's practitioners do not practice in the strictest form of ancient paganism which would include animal sacrifice, a matriarchal hierarchy and other archaic practices. Nor would we want to. Neopaganism, although centuries old, is based on accumulated and progressive knowledge and understandings of the world and universe. We know today that the Earth is not the center of the Universe, the Earth is round, the Universe was formed through a Big Bang and subsequent evolution.

All this knowledge has evolved our perspectives and allowed practitioners to incorporate knowledge from other centuries and origins into our understanding of metaphysics and belief. It is a melding of many beliefs into a nature based spiritual perspective that works toward bringing balance in all aspects of life; and for that matter, death.

Let's take this a little further. According to Reference.com:
"The roots of Neopaganism begin with the Renaissance, and the reintroduction of Classicism and the resurgence of interest in Graeco-Roman polytheism in the wake of works like the Theologia mythologica of 1532."

The Romantic movement of the 18th century led to the re-discovery of Old Gaelic and Old Norse literature and poetry. Neo-druidism can be taken to have its origins as early as 1717 with the foundation of The Druid Order. The 19th century saw a surge of interest in Germanic paganism with the Viking revival in the British Isles and Scandinavia. In Germany the Völkisch movement was in full swing. These Neopagan currents coincided with Romanticist interest in folklore and occultism, the widespread emergence of pagan themes in popular literature, and the rise of nationalism.

Occultic Revival: During this resurgence in the United Kingdom, Neo-druidism and various Western occult groups emerged, such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Ordo Templi Orientis, who attempted to syncretize "exotic" elements like Egyptian cosmology and Kabbalah into their belief systems, although not necessarily for purely religious purposes. Influenced by the anthropologist Sir James George Frazer's The Golden Bough, several prominent writers and artists were involved in these organizations, including William Butler Yeats, Maud Gonne, Arthur Edward Waite, and Aleister Crowley. Along with these early occult organizations, there were other social phenomena such as the interest in mediumship, magic, and other supernatural beliefs which was at an all time high in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Another important influence during this period was the Romantic aesthetic movement, which venerated the natural world and frequently made reference to the deities of antiquity. The Romantic poets, essayists, artists and authors who employed these themes in their work were later associated with socially progressive attitudes towards sexuality, feminism, pacifism and similar issues.

During the Witchcraft Revival in the 1920s Margaret Murray theorized that a Witchcraft religion existed underground and in secret, and had survived through the Witchcraft prosecutions that had been enacted by the ecclesiastical and secular courts of the Inquisitions. Historians now reject Murray's theory, as she based it partially upon the similarities of the accounts given by those accused of Witchcraft; such similarity is now thought to actually derive from there having been a standard set of questions laid out in the witch-hunting manuals used by interrogators. Murray's ideas nevertheless exerted great influence on certain Neopagan currents."

In the 1940s, Englishman Gerald Gardner claimed to have been initiated into a New Forest coven and began his training with other practitioners such as Aliester Crowley and the OTO. In the mid to late 1950s Gardner created his brand of Witchcraft in a tradition he labeled Gardnerian Wicca. Gardner's Wicca is a modern version of Neopaganism that adheres closely to Gardner's teachings, differentiating it from similar traditions, such as Alexandrian Wicca or more recent Wiccan offshoots.

In addition to these historical events, modern Witchcraft also incorporates Shamanistic concepts. Relation to the animal kingdom, animal sign, psychic abilities and connecting to not just the Divine, but to each other through energy are all refined through the basic practices of Shamanism.

[Aniki]

When we define the titles and labels used in a discussion we need to include the etymology of the word. How did the word come about, how was it used, when was it established and what was the environment or culture that it was used in. For instance, if we talk about cars and whether or not they are fuel efficient what are we talking about? Are we talking about all cars? Are we talking about compact or mid-sized cars? What about SUVs, pickups or other types of cars? An exercise in defining what "cars" means when we use the word is the first step.

Late Latin (LL): Latin language used in the 3rd to 6th centuries
Latin (L): Italic language of ancient Latium and of Rome and until modern times the dominant language of school, church, and state in western Europe
Old English (OE): Indo-European Languages from the time of the earliest documents in the 7th century to about 1100
Middle English (ME): Indo-European Languages from the 12th to 15th centuries.
Proto-Germanic (PGmc): Proto-Germanic is the stage of the language constituting the most recent common ancestor of the attested Germanic languages, dated to the latter half of the first millennium BC. The post-PIE dialects spoken throughout the Nordic Bronze Age, roughly 2500–500 BC, even though they may have no attested descendants other than the Germanic languages, are referred to as "pre-Proto-Germanic" or more commonly "pre-Germanic.
Old French: The French language from the 9th to the 16th century
Anglo-French (Anglo-Fr): The French language used in medieval England, about A.D. 500 to about 1500
Old French (O.Fr.): The French language from the 9th to the 16th century; especially : French from the 9th to the 13th century.

Religion
c.1200, from Anglo-Fr., religiun, "religious community," from L. religionem (nom. religio) "respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods,". Modern sense of "recognition of, obedience to, and worship of a higher, unseen power" is from 1535. "Religious" is first recorded c.1225. Transferred sense of "scrupulous, exact" is recorded from 1599.

1. A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects.

When we say religion we are talking about a group of people who have organized a fundamental set of common spiritual beliefs as the foundation for their religious practice.

Pagan
c.1375, from L.L. paganus "pagan," in classical L. "villager, rustic, civilian," from pagus "rural district," originally "district limited by markers," thus related to pangere "to fix, fasten".

Religious sense is often said to derive from conservative rural adherence to the old gods after the Christianization of Roman towns and cities; but the word in this sense predates that period in Church history, and it is more likely derived from the use of paganus in Roman military jargon for "civilian, incompetent soldier," which Christians (Tertullian, c.202; Augustine) picked up with the military imagery of the early Church (e.g. milites "soldier of Christ," etc.). Applied to modern pantheists and nature-worshipers from 1908. Paganism is attested from 1433.

While pagan is attested in English from the 14th century, there is no evidence that the term paganism was in use in English before the 17th century. The OED instances Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776): "The divisions of Christianity suspended the ruin of paganism." The term was not a neologism, however, as paganismus was already used by Augustine.

By modern definition: any religion that does not espouse to the doctrine of Abrahamic religions, which include Judaism, Christianity and Islam. When we say pagan we are talking about the 'rural adherence to the old gods', meaning religions that do not follow the doctrine of Abrahamic religions. This would include a large category of religions from ancient Buddhism to Shamanism.

neo-Pagan
Neopaganism: A movement by modern people to revive nature-worshiping, pre-Christian religions, or other nature-based spiritual paths. This definition may include anything on a sliding scale from Reconstructionist at one end to non-reconstructionist groups such as neo-Druidism, Witchcraft and neo-Norse movements.

When we say neo-Pagan we are talking about pagan groups that define themselves as nature or Earth based religions.

Craft
O.E. cræft "power, strength, might," from P.Gmc. *krab-/*kraf-. Sense shifted to "skill, art" (via a notion of "mental power"), which led to the n. meaning of "trade." Use for "small boat" is first recorded 1671, probably from some nautical sense of "vessels of small craft," referring either to the trade they did or the seamanship they required.

Use of the word in modern contexts: another name for Witchcraft.

When we say Craft, we are talking about the practice of a skill utilizing the Science of Energy Manipulation; also called Magik.

Wicce
OE - a wise woman, shaman, or priestess in Germanic paganism, later in Norse paganism, and are a recurring motif in Norse mythology.

Derived from PGmc - The Old Norse word Völva meaning "wand carrier" and it continues Proto-Germanic *walwo-n, which is derived from a word for "wand" (ON völr). Vala, on the other hand, is a literary form based on Völva. Other names were seiðkona for women and seiðmaðr for men.

When we say Wicce, we are speaking of a woman who utilizes her knowledge and skills of Energy Manipulation to provide guidance to those who seek her counsel.

Wicca
An O.E. noun meaning "male witch, wizard, soothsayer, sorcerer, magician;" the male form of wicce.

Use of the word in modern contexts traces to English folklorist Gerald Gardner (1884-1964), who is said to have joined circa 1939 an occult group in New Forest, Hampshire, England, for which he claimed an unbroken tradition to medieval times. Gardner seems to have first used it in print in 1954, in his book "Witchcraft Today". Gerald Gardner's followers (c.1954) established the tradition of Wica as a form of Witchcraft. In later years, one of Gardner's students assumed he spelt the word incorrectly Wica instead of the 'old world' spelling of Wicca and that he chose this word because of it's 'masculine association for a male witch'. Today his tradition is known as Wicca.

When we say Wicca today, we are talking about the modern tradition of Wicca established by Gerald Gardner.

Witchcraft
OE - wiccecraft. The practice and beliefs held by the Wicce. A magical religion or the religion of the Wicce.

Witchcraft was first declared a crime in Eng. law in 1542; trials there peaked in 1580s and 1640s but fell sharply after 1660. The last, in 1717, ended in acquittal. The Witchcraft Act was repealed 1736. Earlier documented use of the word occurs c1480 in OE papers documenting the negative influences of the Wicce and her efforts to consort with the devil. Some believe this to be the precursor or beginning movement against neo-pagan practices and the start of the Inquisitions of Europe.

When we say Witchcraft, we are talking about a religion that holds a common set of Nature based fundamental beliefs and practices. These beliefs include a deep desire to live in harmony and balance with ones natural world (seen and unseen), a respect for all things, reincarnation and karma, the believe that all things are connected on both a physical and spiritual/soul level through energy and the God/Goddesses or Divine, that this energy can be utilized to advance the soul toward spiritual enlightenment. This certainly isn't a complete list of all the practices and beliefs of the religion, but is offered as a general synopsis.

Tradition
c.1380, from O.Fr. tradicion (1292), from L. traditionem (nom. traditio) "delivery, surrender, a handing down," from traditus, form of tradere "deliver, hand over". The notion in the modern sense of the word is of things "handed down" from generation to generation.

Traditional is recorded from c.1600; in ref. to jazz, from 1950. Slang trad, short for trad(itional jazz) is recorded from 1956; its general use for "traditional" is recorded from 1963.

1. a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting.
2. a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices.
3. Theology:
a. (among Jews) body of laws and doctrines, or any one of them, held to have been received from Moses and originally handed down orally from generation to generation.
b. (among Christians) a body of teachings, or any one of them, held to have been delivered by Christ and His apostles but not originally committed to writing.
c. (among neo-Pagans) a body of teachings, or any one of them, held to have been received from family/clan/cultural group ancestors and originally handed down orally from generation to generation.

When we speak of Tradition in the neo-pagan community we are speaking of a specific group that implements the beliefs held by the religion of Witchcraft and further defined and put into practiced by a specific set of activities held in troth to that group. In other words, a Tradition of Witchcraft further defines the beliefs and put those into practice based on their own troth, creed or rede of faith.

Magic/Magick/Magik
c.1384 from O.Fr. magique "art of influencing events and producing marvels"; from L. magice "sorcery, magic"; from Gk. magike female form of magikos "magical," from magos "one of the members of the learned and priestly class".

Practitioners of Witchcraft adopted the Greek spelling "magike" and later "magik" to differentiate between stage magic and the science of energy manipulation. The practiced faded and was repopularized in the first half of the 20th century by Aleister Crowley when he introduced it as a core component of Thelema.

1. The science of energy manipulation. A conscious direction of will to accomplish a goal.
2. An action or effort undertaken because of a personal need to effect change through energy, spells or ritual.
3. Any act designed to cause intentional change. To change nothing into something and something into something else. To cause in any object any change of which that object is capable by nature.

When we speak of Magik we are talking about the science of energy manipulation through ritual, ceremony or spell as a conscious direction of will to accomplish a goal.

Witch
O.E. wicce "female magician, sorceress," in later use "a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their cooperation to perform supernatural acts."

Use of the word in modern context refers to any person, female or male, who practices the science of energy manipulation/magik. It has been associated primarily with the religion of Witchcraft, but the label is used amongst other practitioners in other religions, including Christianity, especially Christians from northern Spain, Latin America and various Celtic regions.

When we speak of witch we are talking about any person who practices magik along with their own personal spiritual belief, be it Witchcraft, Christian, or some other form of religious practice. Those that do not practice magik with or on a spiritual path are not witches, but rather Ceremonial Mages. The label "witch" distinguishes a person who practices magik with religion, vs. one who only practices magik.

[Aniki]

If we look at the origins of the word and how it was used, then yes, Witchcraft is a religion. Wicca as it is used today is a modern denomination of that religion. It's important to understand that Wicca in it's original form was not a tradition at all. And those who claim Wicca is the older base of the religion are not accurate in their assumption. That does not diminish the value or stature of Wicca.

There have been many Traditional practices of Witchcraft handed down among families and cultures long before these words and labels were established. The earliest we can go back in time is to the Late Latin period of the 3rd century AD and the use of paganus by the scholars of that time. Even then we know from the writings of Caesar's Commentarii de bello Gallico (52–51 BC; The Gallic War) that there were pagan practices in place in the Celtic lands.

Because of this, modern attempts to suggest that Wicca is the original religion doesn't take into account these earlier practices of the faith. We know the Druids and Celtic Shamanism existed and were practiced long before the Wicce and Wiccecraft were labeled by the old English.

We certainly know the Norse practiced earlier forms of Norse Shamanism that evolved into Odinism, Asatru and neo-Pagan Witchcraft traditions. We also know these early forms of Norse paganism influenced other regions of the world as the Vikings traveled, conquered and settled in new lands. That is certainly true of their invasion and influence in the Celtic lands.

We also know that Native American pagan practices in North, Central and South America existed long before Indo-Europeans invaded those lands, bring Christianity to the 'new worlds'. These forms of Shamanism are also the pre-cursors to modern neo-paganism. And in many instances heavily influenced modern pagan beliefs and practices. Calling these early traditions "wiccan" degrades the contributions these early people made to our belief systems today.

Taking all this into account, modern practices cannot be labeled or generalized as 'Wicca'. The historical evolution of the words, and their associated practices pre-date Wicca as a practice or tradition. Because of this, we cannot say Wicca is the religion. Rather it is a denomination of the religion.

In or about 1100AD practitioners of nature paganism adopted the label Wiccecraft and later Witchcraft as the title for their religious beliefs. As with all things, that large category of practitioners developed their own doctrine of practices, or ways of implementing those beliefs based on their own generational or cultural perspectives. Traditions became the denominations of the faith and there are many of these within the global religion of neo-paganism.

Many of the Traditions we know and practice have greatly evolved since these earlier times. In part because of the time and general evolution of thought, in part because of the eventual secrecy that blanketed earlier practitioners who were forced to hide from Inquisitions and death. Sadly much of this secrecy caused a large portion of information to be lost and forgotten over time. Even before the Inquisitions we know a large amount of information and documentation was lost as conquers destroyed villages and cultures as they took over the lands and people they invaded.

But the evolution also occurred because the more the human culture learned from science and scientific exploration, the more our understanding of the universe and our place in it also evolved. We no longer see the need or value in sacrificing a life as an appeasement or in honoring our Gods/Goddesses. Today we see greater value in life and caring for the life of nature and the world around us. Because we have grown as a species, our religious values have also grown.

Today modern Traditions are based on advancements in science, merging practices from two or more traditions into one, or even taking aspects of beliefs from other religions and merging them with neo-pagan traditions to create new traditions of the religion.

Through all this, there is one constant - Witchcraft is the religion that sets the foundation of belief and the Traditions further define and implement those beliefs into their own perspectives of practice. Defining their own creed, troth or rede of faith to provide guidance and principles for that tradition. Wicca is a tradition of Witchcraft, along with a large number of other Traditions that existed before the creation of Wicca.

[Aniki]

The Religion
Witchcraft is a spiritual practice, a way of life, a belief system and a religion. Witchcraft is the religion that sets the foundation of belief. The denominations of Witchcraft are called Traditions. They further define and implement the foundation of beliefs into their own perspectives of practice. Defining their own creed, troth or rede of faith to provide guidance and principles for that tradition.
Witchcraft comes in many forms or Traditions. Many are based on historical evidence, others from archeological and anthropological discoveries. Some are passed down through cultural practices. But many are based on oral traditions passed down through families, communities or cultures. Perhaps this passing down of information is where the word "Tradition" comes from as it relates to sects of Witchcraft. There are many Traditions within the religion of Witchcraft. One of the more commonly known today is Wicca which has become one of the most popular traditions in America. It needs to be understood that Wicca is not the religion, but rather one of many denominations of the religion.

Think of it this way:
The tradition is to Witchcraft what a denomination is to Christianity.
That is to say: Wicca is to Witchcraft what Baptist is to Christianity.

The Creation of a Tradition
There are many different types of Traditions. Just as in the familiar Christian faith, you'll find Catholics, Baptists, Methodist and so on. Each denomination is Christian at it's base, but the implementation of the doctrine and practices might be slightly different. Similarly there are variations in traditions and practices within Witchcraft.

A tradition can be established in various ways. The most common comes from Hiving. All covens, clans and groups establish their own set practices based on their chosen tradition. As the coven grows and initiates new Priests/Priestess, these individuals often break off from the original coven and establish their own coven groups. This is called Hiving. A hive might be a closely related coven to the original coven, it can be an expansion of ideas and practices, or it can implement an alternative practice of the original coven.

A good example of this is Gerald Gardner's tradition of Wicca. In 1939 he became involved with the Fellowship of Crotona, an occult group of Co-Masons, a Masonic Theosophist Annie Besant. The members claimed to be hereditary Witches who practiced a Craft passed down to them through the centuries of family training. In 1946, Gardner was introduced to Aleister Crowley. Crowley made Gardner an honorary member of the Ordo Temli Orientis (OTO), a magickal order at one time under Crowley's leadership. Reportedly learning a large amount of magikal practices from Crowley.

Based on these earlier coven training and his own historical research, Gardner developed specific rituals, learning criteria and initiation tests for his new denomination of the Craft. In 1953 he initiated Doreen Valiente into his coven. The two collaborated on writing ritual and non-ritual material, a body of work which continues to stand as the authority for what became known as the Gardnerian tradition of Witchcraft or what many know today as Wicca.

Most covens and their eventual traditions are formed in this same way. A teacher often reads, researches and grows beyond their teacher. They expand their knowledge along with their understandings of spirit, nature and beliefs. Being exposed to other religions and other people can also provide for alternative views and beliefs. A well educated teacher/initiated Priest/Priestess will take this knowledge and add it to their practices for their new coven. In doing so, they can establish a new Tradition of Witchcraft

[Aniki]

All traditions of Witchcraft are based on the ancient craft traditions in one form or another. Often they have been influenced by regional customs and existing spiritual beliefs. As the human existence evolves, so does the human belief and understanding of their place in the Universe. Remaining the same with the exact same beliefs and practices will do a disservice over time.

This is one of the greatest characteristics of Witchcraft. As humans evolve and grow, so does our religion. We do not ignore the advances of sciences; we examine new understandings and contemplate how they add to, confirm or provide alternative views of current beliefs. Traditions are therefore the result of a successful melding of ancient Pagan traditions, Cultural histories and legends, Metaphysical concepts and experiences and modern advancements and understandings.

There are three major categories of Witchcraft traditions:
*Classical Witchcraft: Early Nordic which included the Germanic languages, Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish peoples.
*Gothic Witchcraft: Celtic, Anglo-Saxon which includes Druid, Irish, Scottish, and English, as well as, many of the French, and Italian cultures.
*Neo-Pagan Witchcraft: Modern sects which have primarily been influenced by the melding of all previous traditions through evolution and expansion of those historical denominations.
***This by no means is a complete list.

Classical Craft

-Ceremonial:
Encompasses many traditional rituals with a basis of Egyptian magik and often follow the ceremonies outlined in the ancient Cabalistic writings. Less religion, more emphasis on the art and science of magick. Rituals are generally complex and practices lean towards the secrete, hidden side of magick. Not geared towards the solitary practitioner, but can easily be adapted for those who choose to work alone. Not necessarily a wiccan-only tradition, though there are many ceremonial witches.
-Strega:
A tradition begun in Italy around 1353. Often associated with it's founder, a woman called Aradia. Leland's book "Aradia, Gospel of the Witches" is the most veritable literary remainder of the original tradition. The teachings are insightful and should not be missed, for those who practice solitary or in covens, especially if you are interested in studying all traditions.
-Teutonic:
The Teutons have been recognized as one of the earliest and formal practioners of the craft. Their ways of practicing the Craft are also known as Nordic. The Teutons have been recognized as a group who speak the Germanic group of languages. The languages include the English, Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish. Norse practitioners are often Astruar that is, followers of Asatru. Many worship similar to their Norse predecessors, following Scandinavian and Germanic deities such as Odin and using divination methods like the runes.
-Romani:
Many people add Romani (which is a Germanic Gypsy practice) to this list. Others argue this gypsy traditions is based more in the tradition of Gypsy con artists than spirituality. It's an argument that is not easily discussed or resolved.
-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 the deeper reaches of the human spirit.
-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 suburban and city witches. This focuses on practicality, the use of magick in the home and in the workplace, and convenient ritual writing that includes readily available "ingredients" on short time and a tight budget.

Gothic Craft

-Caledoni:
Of Scottish traditions, this sect is also known as Hecatine. It continues to encompass many of the festivals and celebrations of the Scots.
-Celtic:
A mix of Celtic/Druidic pantheon energy. This sect focuses heavily on the elements, nature and the Ancient Ones. With a great knowledge of healing and the magikal qualities of nature, including plants, animals and stones, this tradition is most commonly linked to in the Neo-Pagan sects. Aided by the little people, gnomes and fairies, Celtic magik is full of fun, mirth and mythology. The Celtic tradition is based on the practices of the pre-Christian Celtic world. This includes Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Gaul. 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. Many aspects of Christianity were drawn from the Celtic pagans, such as Cerridwyn's cauldron translating into the Holy Grail, and the goddess Brigit becoming Saint Bride.
-Hereditary:
Based on family traditions passed on generation to generation, (does not included Channeling). Also called "Family Trades", it is up for debate how far back on the family tree one must go to meet the conditions of this sect. The traditions can be passed on to blood relatives or adopted offspring which have been raised within the family ceremonies and rituals. The beliefs are typically Celtic in nature, but include a smattering of many of the current and ancient structures, as well as, many home spun ones.
-Pictish:
Also of Scottish tradition, this sect focuses heavily on all aspects of nature. It is a solitary form of Craft. The practice is actually mostly magickal with little emphasis on the religious aspect.

Neo-Pagan Craft

-Alexandrian:
Originated in England in the 1960's, founded by Alex Sanders. The rituals are said to be of Gardnerian basis. Alex Sanders referred to himself as the "King" of his Wiccans. Although similar to Gardnerian Wicca, Alexandrian Wicca tends to be more eclectic and liberal. Some of Gardner's strict rules, such as the requirement of ritual nudity, have been made optional by Alexandrian Wicca.
-British Traditional:
A mix of Celtic and Gardenarian rituals it is the most famous organization in the International Red Garters society. This sect is based on the Farrar studies of Wicca and is exceptionally structured in belief and ritual. A witch becomes part of the Coven through a training, education and degree process.
-Dianic:
Also called "the Feminist" movement of the craft, this sect focuses on the Goddess aspect of Witchcraft. It was first brought to major attention in 1921 by Margaret Murray and includes aspects of many Classical and Gothic traditions. It is a mix of many traditions, but its focus is on the goddess, especially Diana. (Diana is a reference often crossed during study of Greek/Roman mythology.)
-Eclectic:
An eclectic 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. This is mostly of modern origin, previously most Wiccan traditions had more restricting boundaries; the eclectic tradition marks witchcraft's expansion into a patchwork quilt of various beliefs and theories..
-Faeri/ Faery Wicca:
This tradition places an emphasis on the Fae (gnomes, elves, faeries, sprites, etc.), their lore, and their relation to the natural world. Many associate this tradition with an ancient fairy race called the Tuatha De Danaan, the mythological precursors to the Celtic people. It is often, but not always, associated with the Faery tradition founded by author Kisma Stepanich.
-Feri Wicca:
Not to be confused with Faeri Wicca. Feri Wicca is based on Victor Anderson's (1917-2001) was developed in the late 1950's and early 1960's. It is an ecstatic, rather than a fertility, tradition stemming from the teachings of Cora and Victor Anderson . Strong emphasis is placed on sensual experience and awareness, including sexual mysticism, which is not limited to heterosexual expression
-Gardnerian Wicca / Wicca:
Gardnerian is the tradition founded by Gerald Gardner. He was one of the first to go public with information about the Craft, modern Wicca has mostly been derived from his books. Gardner's inspiration was drawn from many sources, including 'Aradia, Gospel of the Witches', where strands of the Gardnerian tradition such as required ritual nudity can be found. This is an extremely traditional path with a hierarchical grade structure. These individuals are very secretive and take oaths upon initiation. 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, especially eclectics.
-Seax-Wicca:
Based on the Saxon beliefs, this sect is very closely related to the Gardnerian traditions. Without breaking his oath, founder Raymond Buckland wanted to pull the ancient rituals into modern language and acceptable ceremonies. In 1973 his dream became a reality with the organization of Seax-Wicca, bringing Witchcraft into the public as a very positive force.

[Aniki]

1. Know Thyself
It is very important that you know who you are in order to practice the Craft. Sometimes we think we do know ourselves, but in truth we don't. Most of the time we have an image of who we think we are or how others think we are instead of really being ourselves. It is not easy to be ourselves since we are constantly open to criticism. So we learn from an early age to hide our true selves deep inside and create an outer shell that we show to the world. Therefore, you must look deep down within yourself. Start exploring yourself anew. Yes, even look into your dark side. See yourself for who you truly are, and embrace yourself for the person you have become.

2. Know Your Craft
Learn all you can about the Craft. There are plenty of books, good and bad, on the topic. Read as much as you can. Meditate about what you have read. No witch is an expert on all aspects of witchcraft. Some are good herb healers, and others prefer gems. There are those who are excellent tarot readers, and those who prefer the runes. If you are interested in a specific topic, study it seriously and become an expert in the field. Practice your Craft. Keep a Book of Shadows in which you keep a thorough record of your witchy activities.

3. Learn
Read...read...read! The more you read, the more you learn. Ask questions. Broaden your horizons by learning from other pagans and Wiccan. You will be amazed how much you can learn from others through their enriching experiences. Being a witch is a never ending learning experience. You never stop learning. If you do, you become stale. This doesn't apply only to your religion; this applies to your life. Enrich your life. Get a new hobby. Visit new places. Study something you really like. Meet new people. Your life will be more exciting! And believe it or not, you will have a better understanding of the world around.

4. Have Patience
Patience is a virtue every witch and pagan must have, and it is the hardest to achieve. First practice having patience with your own self. Then you will be able to be patient with others.

5. Apply Knowledge with Wisdom
Knowledge is a very powerful tool. The more you learn, the more knowledgeable you will become. Therefore, use your better judgment when you do your magickal works. Remember that the Wiccan Rede says, "Do as you will but harm none."

6. Achieve Balance
Lead a well-balanced life. Don't let one part of your life take over your whole life. Let's face it, for most of us, our jobs practically take 95% of our time. We live and breath our jobs! That is unhealthy. Take time to do things you like. Set time to enjoy activities with your family and friends. Don't overdue things.

7. Keep Your Words in Good Order
Speak clearly as you express yourself. Measure your words. Speak truthfully always, except when what you speak might lead to great harm. Do not lie. Do not gossip or speak ill of others. Look inside yourself and see if you are the right person to be badmouthing someone. Criticism is okay, but one thing is a constructive critic and another is bashing. Never speak in anger. You will say things you will regret later. Take a time-out if necessary.

8. Keep Your Thoughts in Good Order
Keep your thoughts clear. Express your ideas and opinions but always keep an open mind. Keep away negative thoughts that might depress you. Be careful of what you think about others. Don't be hasty to judge a person, or you might be misjudging the person and being unfair.

9. Celebrate Life
Life is beautiful! Life is the most precious gift from the Goddess to her children so enjoy it. Go out and witness the miracles around you for there is life wherever you look. Take a walk through a park and enjoy nature's beauty. Maybe plant a tree. Watch a sunset. Bask in the morning sun. Join a group and help clean forests and protect animals. Recycle. But most important, be happy and thankful to know that you are alive.

10. Attune with the Circles of the Earth
Seasons bring change to both nature and people. Become attune with them. Celebrate the Sabbats. Do activities to help you out in becoming attune with the seasons, like decorating your place and/or altar according to the Sabbats. Take a stroll through a park and observe nature as it changes from one season to another.

11. Keep Yourself Healthy
Eat right and exercise your body regularly. You should have all three daily meals, drop eating between meals, and reduce the fat in your meals. Drink a lot of water and take vitamins. Avoid the yo-yo diets. This isn't about being a health freak, it is about achieving a balance. Exercise keeps your body healthy and strong. Exercising should be fun. Don't run about two miles daily unless you really want to. There are other exercises you can do like yoga or power walking. Both are very effective! Stop smoking and drinking.

12. Meditate
Find a quiet place where you can't be disturbed and take at least 10 - 15 minutes every day to meditate. You can either do this either when you wake in the mornings or before going to sleep. Clear your mind of negative thoughts and fill it with positive ones. Find inner peace. If you meditate in the afternoons or in the evenings, use your meditation time to recharge your energies.

13. Honor the Goddess and the God
Always remember to honor the Goddess on the Esbat. Maybe create a little altar for the Goddess and her cohort, the God. Then light candles or incense for them. Thank them for all the good things in your life (and even for the not-so-good ones!).

[Raella]

I found this topic to be really informative and interesting, and it was written in a way that both kept me interested and wanting to explore the ideas further. I myself am agonistic; I am questioning and exploring different religions. Wicca in particular has always interested me, but because all of the people I know are either atheists, Christians, or Catholics, I don't have anyone to ask and talk to about the Wiccan religion. There are two shops that I know of that sell stones, minerals, herbs, statuettes and other things like that, but I can't drive yet and rely on my mom or dad to take me places, and they rarely have time to take me to hose stores. (I hope that didn't come across as whining or complaining.)
Also, what is a Book of Shadows? Like a diary of sorts to write down....whatever it is you do in relation to Wicca?"

[Aniki]

A Book of Shadows is a witch’s collection of information, spells, notes, or just random facts. As for what I do/practice within the Wiccan religion is a broad question. I personally am a Druid (Celtic Witch), which is why I know so much about herbs and stones.

Feel free to ask away.