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| from http://amolife.com/image/nature/the-rainforest-mystery.html |
I will definately add to this list as I go along... and if you see anywhere I have made a mistake, then please let me know :) There is so much more information to be added, so please bear with me :)
Paganism
Paganism, as I understand it, is like a generic term for a whole collection of Earth loving, nature worshipping Paths where followers.. believers... attune themselves with the Universal energy. I don't believe there is one true path, or one way of doing things, and each tradition within Paganism has its own method to its madnesses. Madness is just sanity in a non-conventional way :) Anyway, while the different branches of the Pagan tree may share beliefs and a common spirituality, they all have their own meaningful ways of connecting with the Divine Source.
I started out thinking I would end up Wiccan, that is the most mainstream pagan path in my opinion, and may serve to attract a lot of people initially to Paganism. If they are serious, they will learn more, explore more and really find the path that suits them. I'm still learning, so I cannot profess to where I will be in a year, in 5 or 10 years from now. I only hope I will be happy :)
Wicca
The new age
version of the Old Relgion, worships the Goddess and the God, believe deity is
within all of us and in everything that exists. They celebrate the change of
seasons and cross quarter days as noted by the Wheel of the Year. Wiccans can
operate in a coven or as solitarites, often specialise in divination,
herbalism, astrology, reiki, crystal healing and talisman magic.
A celtic-based form of paganism., based on nature and Celtic mythology. One of the important legends for Druids is that of Ceridwen and Taliesin. They symbolise the circle of life and death. Merlin is considered a famous Druid as well. (According to the DruidCraft Tarot book) . Druidism is seen as a male dominated religion, however it is not exclusive to males.
I think it
would be interesting to compare Druidism and Dianic Wicca – for the polarities
between ‘female’ and ‘male’ paganism… maybe one day.
This card is from the DruidCraft Tarot Deck. I love it because it has such a woodsy Celtic feeling to it :)
This card is from the DruidCraft Tarot Deck. I love it because it has such a woodsy Celtic feeling to it :)
Dianic Wicca
Known as the ‘feminist’ strand of Wicca, its origins traced back to Egyptologist Dr Margaret Murray in the 1920s. It encompasses a mixture of traditions revering the female aspect of spirituality, the Goddess and Diana as her incarnation. There are solitary practitioners and covens, female and male practitioners. It encourages female leadership, where a High Priestess must be present during coven rituals. Members practice skyclad or robed.
This is
also known as Teutonic or Nordic paganism. It incorporates Scandinavian
mythology and values self-reliance. The deities they honour include Odin,
Freya, and Thor. Norse Runes are one of the three major types of Rune surviving
today. Members work robed, and the religion is strongly traditional. They cast
circles, but don’t call quarters. They observe 4 solar fire festivals and other
indigenous Norse traditions. Culturally includes people from England, Holland,
Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
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| From http://blyssfulwitch.com/basics-crafting-theory-practice/ |
A solitary
form of paganism, where spiritual practices include journeying to to other
planes of existence through introspection, meditation and totem animals. Found
in indigenous cultures from Siberia, Africa, South America, Australia
(Aborigines) and Native Americans. My understanding of Shamanism comes from the
books of Carlos Castaneda, about Dreaming and his apprenticeship with Don Juan
the Yaqui Indian. They would take peyote to reach higher states of
consciousness and communicate with energies within people and natural objects
such as stones, sticks and other planes of existence. Medicine Men in South
American cultures (possibly others) would get cures and treatments from
shamanic states of perception.
Hedgewitchery
Also known
as Kitchen Witches – who concentrate on the practical side of WitchCraft… a
greener, more eclectic form of paganism. They are generally solitary, do not
really bother with ceremonial practices, casting circles, but often practice
herbalism, magic, cooking, arts, crafts and working with the Earth and the
elements. Often take inspiration from farmers and their local communities. Some
worship specific deities, others recognise a higher power.
Funny, when I started 6 months ago, I thought this would be the last place I would end up.. and am still not sure - I don't have a herb garden and the kitchen has connotations of housework for me. But Hedge Witchery sort of makes sense. When I know more and understand it better, I will explain why.
Gardnerian
Founded by
Gerald Gardiner, the ‘creator’ of modern Wicca, based on a variety of magical
and esoteric practices and lore. Strongly traditional, structured and
ritualistic. Members belong to secretive covens, train in the three degree
systems and take oaths of secrecy. Rituals are generally done skyclad. An
influential person in Gardnerian Wicca was Doreen Valiente, who wrote most of
the rituals. Interestingly, Alex and Maxine Sanders (of Alexandrian Wicca) and
Raymond and Rosemary Buckland (of Saxon Wicca) were both originally trained in
the Gardnerian tradition, but then ‘created’ their own.
Alexandrian
Founded by
Alex Sanders, named after the ancient library of Alexandria. It is a very
similar offshoot of Gardnerian, but more relaxed, suited to the interests of
hippies in the 1960s-70s. It is more eclectic than Gardnerian, with a variety
of Pantheons honoured by its’ members. It also incorporates kabbalah,
ceremonial and Enochian magic. They celebrate the Esbats and usually only go
skyclad for initiations.
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| From http://sacredmistsblog.com/the-celtic-tradition-of-witches-and-wiccans |
Celtic
Based on pre-Christian practices in British Isles and Europe, honouring and working with Earth and Nature – and strong in religious aspects. A lot of the knowledge has been lost – but modern forms of Celtic wicca are often mixed with Alexandrian or Gardnerian and Druidic elements. The religion is adapted to the seasons, the interests and spiritual beliefs of coven members. There are many gods and goddess in the Celtic pantheon, which I will post another time and place the link here :)
Founded
by: By poet Victor Anderson and his wife
Cora
Where and
When it was founded: Victor began teaching it in the 1940s one on one, then
formed a coven in California in the 1960s.
Where it is
based: I would guess its still based in the US (no specific info found right
now) – but with the advent of online wicca – it could be incorporated into
solitary traditions universally.
Where it
currently operates: as above.
What its
systems are:
- The Three Souls – they believe
that 3 souls make up the structure of humans and should be brought into
communication with eachother to facilitate self awareness and knowledge of
the God and Goddess.
- The Talking-Self – rational
consciousness
- The ‘Fetch’ – where dreams and
desires come from – the subconscious
- The God-Self – the Higher Self
- The Iron Pentacle – a ymbolic
and energetic tool used to realign and purify the practitioner. The five
points are Sex, Pride, Self, Power and Passion.
- The Pearl Pentacle – when the
points of the Iron Pentacle are present, the pearls appear on the pentacle
and the human evolves. Sex becomes Love, Self becomes Knowledge, Power
becomes Liberty, Passion becomes Wisdom.
- The Black Heart of Innocence –
a state of being when all souls are aligned. Likened to primal sexuality.
The
deities:
- The Star Goddess – the
androgynous point of all creation, primal darkness of deep space, the
Absolute.
- The Divine Twins – The consorts
to the Star Goddess in any coupling form – represent duality.
- The Peacock God – The result of
the union of the Star Goddess and the Divine Twins. Holding all duality
within himself.
- The Feri Guardians – Similar to
the watchtowers in Wicca, they guard and represent north, south, east,
west, above, below, center.
Degree
system:
Currently a
schism between traditional and progressive Feri traditionalists – teaching the
public for publics sake – for pay vs teaching one on one. No mention of degree
system here.
Publications:
The most
famous is the Spiral Dance by Starhawk. There are a number of other titles by
Victor and Cora Andersen, and a few other authors.
Founded
by: Raymond Buckland.
Where and
When it was founded: The United States, 1973.
Where it is
based: : I would guess its still based in the US (no specific info found right
now) – but with the advent of online wicca – it could be incorporated into
solitary traditions universally. It may have a following in Germanic Europe –
as something that is influenced by Saxon mythology and lore.
Where it
currently operates: as above.
What its
systems are:
Covens are
run democratically, with elected High Priests or Priestesses serving 13 full
moons. No oath of
secrecy. Rituals are open, robed or skyclad. Solitary or in a coven.
Raymond
Buckland, in the Complete Book of Witchcraft, gives no indication that Seax
Wicca as a different set of holidays or rituals to Wicca. Would require further
research.
The
deities: Woden and
Freya, incarnations of the Horned God and Mother Goddess.
Degree
system: Allows self-initiation into the tradition. No degree structure.
Publications: Raymond
Buckland has written The Tree: The complete book of Saxon Witchcraft. Being the
creator of Seax Wicca, this book would be its more important publication. It was republished in 2005 as Bucklands Book
of Saxon Witchcraft.
