Wicca is a modern pagan, witchcraft religion that was developed in the mid-20th century. It is centered around the worship of nature and the belief in magic. Wiccans follow the Wiccan Rede, which is a moral code that emphasizes harm none. Within Wicca, there are several different branches or traditions that have developed over time. One of the most well-known branches of Wicca is Gardnerian Wicca, which was founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s. Gardnerian Wicca places a strong emphasis on the worship of a Horned God and a Triple Goddess, and its rituals and practices are based on Gardner's original teachings.
3. Eclectic Wicca
Wiccan ritual practices are very diverse magic rituals focused on various intentions; seasonal celebrations that follow the Wiccan liturgical calendar the Wheel of the Year ; and rites of passage that highlight births, unions, deaths, or any other important events chapters 12, 13 and 14. Wicca relies on two types of organizational modalities those who practice in groups called covens under the direction of a High Priest and or a High Priestess ; and solitary practitioners chapter 10.
Gardnerian Wicca places a strong emphasis on the worship of a Horned God and a Triple Goddess, and its rituals and practices are based on Gardner's original teachings. Initiates into Gardnerian Wicca are typically initiated through a coven, and the tradition focuses on the passing down of knowledge and initiatory rites. Another branch of Wicca is Alexandrian Wicca, which was founded by Alexander Sanders and his wife Maxine Sanders in the 1960s.
Branches on the Wiccan Tree
After reading the history, you’ve probably noticed some terminology that you haven’t seen before, specifically the names of the different branches of Wicca.
The three branches are:
1. Orthodox Traditional Wicca
2. Reformed Traditional Wicca
3. Eclectic Wicca
1. Orthodox Traditional Wicca
The term orthodox as used here means ‘accepted and conventional, rooted in established practices’. The term traditional as applied means ‘organized around a tradition’. In Wicca, the term tradition refers to a denomination; hence Alexandrian Tradition’s relationship to Wicca is the same as Presbyterian’s is to Christianity.
As applied in this book, Orthodox Traditional Wicca means “a branch of Wicca where things are done the old way and a tradition (denomination) is followed”.
Orthodox Traditional Wiccan traditions are fairly easy to identify by the following patterns:
Coven practice for 3 to 13 members
High Priestess leads ritual
Solitary practice is rare
Formal initiation is required
Self-initiation is NOT considered valid
Three degrees of initiation
Coven training required
Hand copied book of shadows
Oath of secrecy (at least some topics)
Oath to not divulge another member
Oath to not divulge the coven or coven stead
Orthodox Traditional Wicca dates back to 1948. It existed before New Age, before self-initiation and before the ‘Learn Wicca’ books. One interesting aspect is that Orthodox Traditional clearly pre-existed use of the term Wicca to identify the religion. The original Wiccans did not call their practice Wicca. The religion was termed as either “Witchcraft” or “The Old Religion” with the two terms considered synonymous. The term Wiccan was also not in use yet. Practitioners called themselves “Witches”.
The only hint of the term was the use of the word Wica [sic] which was used as a religious title. The term Wica implied wisdom of the ability to do Magick and indicated initiation into ‘The Craft’.
Orthodox Traditional Wiccan ritual is for the most part quite formal. While freedom is somewhat accepted, in general one is taught to practice according to the ways and beliefs of the tradition.
The tradition’s Book of Shadows was gradually revealed to a dedicant who hand copied it over a period of one year and one day during training. A partial list of traditions includes Gardnerian (1948), Alexandrian (1963) and Georgian USA (1971). Others which may fit in this category are Frost (1968) and 1734 (1964) although their practices and lineage appear to be somewhat different from the others.
2. Reformed Traditional Wicca
Reformed Traditional Wicca, means “a branch of Wicca where new practices have replaced some of the orthodox ways and a tradition (denomination) is followed”.
Reformed Traditional Wiccan traditions are identified by:
Solitary practice is most common
Coven practice is rare
Self-dedication is welcomed
Formal initiation is not required
No degrees of initiation
Self training is the norm
Coven training is seldom even available
The tradition’s defining document is a Wicca 101 style book, or a series of books by one or more authors. Reformed Traditional Wicca dates back to the mid-1970s. The first Reformed tradition was Seax-Wica originated by Raymond Buckland.
With solitary practice being the most common, ritual tends to be fairly freedom oriented. Ritual in coven environment varies significantly between the individual traditions.
A partial list of traditions includes Faery, Celtic, Dianic, Shamanic, and Dragon.
3. Eclectic Wicca
Eclectic Wicca means “a branch of Wicca where individuals are free to pick and chose what they believe from any Wiccan tradition or any other spirituality”.
Eclectic Wicca is not a tradition unto itself. It is the void of tradition filled with aspects based on an individual’s preference. In essence, an eclectic creates and practices his or her own tradition.
On the conservative side, many practicing Eclectic Wicca are truly Wiccan, the Goddess and usually the God are regarded, nature is sacred, magick embraced, and they strive to abide by the Rede.
On the extreme side, Eclectic practice can be so diluted that it is unrecognizable as a form of Wicca.
Alexandrian Wicca is similar to Gardnerian Wicca in many ways, but it also incorporates elements of ceremonial magic and other occult practices. Alexandrian Wicca places a greater emphasis on the role of the High Priestess and the use of ritual tools. British Traditional Wicca is another branch of Wicca that encompasses several different traditions, including Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca. British Traditional Wicca places a strong emphasis on lineage and the passing down of teachings from one generation to the next. It also incorporates elements of folklore and British mythology. There are also several eclectic or solitary branches of Wicca, which allow individuals to practice Wicca on their own or in small, informal groups. Eclectic Wicca allows practitioners to pick and choose from different traditions and incorporate their own beliefs and practices into their spiritual path. Solitary Wicca, as the name suggests, involves practicing Wicca alone and typically involves self-initiation and personal exploration. While there are many different branches of Wicca, they all share a common belief in the worship of nature and the practice of magic. Each tradition may have its own specific rituals, practices, and teachings, but they are all united by a shared reverence for the earth and a desire to live in harmony with the natural world..
Reviews for "Seax-Wicca: Exploring the Ways of the Saxons"
1. Jane - 1 star - I found "Branches of Wicca" to be superficial and lacking depth. The book barely scratched the surface of the various branches of Wicca, providing only a brief overview that left me wanting more. The information provided felt rushed and incomplete, and I was left with more questions than answers. I expected a comprehensive exploration of different Wiccan traditions, but instead, I got a shallow introduction that failed to do justice to the richness and complexity of this ancient spiritual practice.
2. Mark - 2 stars - As someone with some prior knowledge of Wicca, I found "Branches of Wicca" to be disappointingly basic. The book didn't delve deep into any particular branch and failed to provide any new insights or information. The author seemed to rely on generalizations and stereotypes when discussing different branches, without offering any real substance or nuance. I was hoping for a more scholarly examination of Wiccan traditions, but this book felt more like a simplistic and superficial overview. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied with the lack of depth and originality in "Branches of Wicca."
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "Branches of Wicca" promised to explore the different branches of Wicca, but it fell short of my expectations. The book didn't provide enough depth or detail for each branch and often made sweeping generalizations that left me feeling frustrated. I wanted a more comprehensive understanding of the diversity within Wicca, but instead, I found myself confused by the lack of substance. The author seemed to gloss over important aspects of each tradition and failed to provide adequate explanations or examples. In my opinion, "Branches of Wicca" missed the mark and didn't live up to its promise of providing a thorough exploration of Wiccan branches.
4. Michael - 1 star - I was highly disappointed with "Branches of Wicca" as it seemed more like a regurgitation of basic information easily found on the internet. The book lacked originality and failed to provide any new insights or perspectives on Wiccan branches. It felt like the author simply compiled a list of different branches without adding any meaningful analysis or personal experiences. The lack of depth and originality in this book made it a wasted opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of Wiccan traditions. Overall, I would not recommend "Branches of Wicca" to anyone looking for an in-depth exploration of Wiccan branches.