ECLECTIC: a mixture of beliefs borrowed from various Traditions and Theologies, as opposed to one Tradition or Theology and its set mode of ritual and belief.

(See also: ECLECTIC, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

ECLECTIC - n. or adj. believer in the truth of opposing schools, a synthesizer. (NAD)

(See also: ECLECTIC, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

ECLECTIC WICCA: Although this isn't exactly an "official" tradition there are many Wiccans that call themselves Eclectic, in fact most solitary Wiccans consider themselves eclectic. What this means is that they have combined elements from several different traditions into one they feel comfortable with. Many of the newer traditions started out as Eclectic.

(See also: ECLECTIC WICCA, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

ECLECTIC WICCA: Wicca traditions that combine elements from several different traditions to form their own unique system of reverence and/or magick. Many solitary practitioners are considered to be Eclectic.

(See also: ECLECTIC WICCA, Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

a witch who works with deities from or worships within more
than one culture or mythological system

(See also: eclectic, Magic, Shamanism, Pagan Dictionary)

ECLECTIC MAGICK: A form of Ceremonial Magick which  is Magick that calls upon the aid of beneficent spirits  and is based upon a blend of doctrines of Plato and other Greek philosophers, Oriental mysticism, Judaism and Christianity. Eclectic Magick draws from these sources in addition to a variety of different sources including Enochian Magick, Thelemic Magick, Egyptology, Alchemy and Chaos Magick.

(See also: ECLECTIC MAGICK, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

ECLECTIC MAGICK: A form of Ceremonial Magick which is Magick that calls upon the aid of beneficent spirits and is based upon a blend of doctrines of Plato and other Greek philosophers, Oriental mysticism, Judaism and Christianity. Eclectic Magick draws from these sources in addition to a variety of different sources including Enochian Magick, Thelemic Magick, Egyptology, Alchemy and Chaos Magick.

(See also: ECLECTIC MAGICK, Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Eclectic Philosophy. One of the names given to the Neo-Platonic school of Alexandria.

(See also: Eclectic Philosophy, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

AMERICAN ECLECTIC WICCA: A broad range of individuals or groups that have based their philosophy, rituals and practices on the published works of Scott Cunningham and StarHawk.

American Eclectic Wiccans emphasize spontaneity and intuitive understanding of the Mysteries. Because they downplay, or discarded, the importance of Oaths, Initiations, Lineage, and Tradition many Traditional Wiccans object to these groups using the name Wicca, and believe they should be called American Eclectic Witchcraft.

(See also: AMERICAN ECLECTIC WICCA, Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Eclectic (from Greek eklektikos selective, picking out)

Applied to systems of philosophy or religion which cull the best from a variety of systems, with the view of thus arriving at essentials.

It was applied to the School of Ammonius Saccas and other Alexandrian philosophers, implying that they picked out what was best in all faiths in order to make a new system, doing so because they knew that all the major systems of human religion and philosophy fundamentally derive from a common wisdom-religion of remote antiquity, and therefore that each such system contains at least some elements of truth.

Hence they were teaching the wisdom-religion through synthesizing, and by illustrating it from various faiths. The word is also applied to other matters, e.g. schools of painting.

(See also: Eclectic, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

AMERICAN ECLECTIC WICCA: A broad range of individuals or groups that have based their philosophy, rituals and practices on the published works of Scott Cunningham and StarHawk.

Critics claim that American Eclectics take the contradictory position that Wicca is a completely modern religion created by Gerald Gardner but that the beliefs and practices of Wicca are completely individualistic, and therefore nobody can define "Wicca" for others.

This form of Wicca emphasizes spontaneity and tends to downplay the importance of such concepts as Oaths, Initiations, Lineage, and Tradition, or even to discard those concepts altogether. Many Wiccans object to these groups using the name Wicca, and believe they should be called American Eclectic Witchcraft.

(See also: AMERICAN ECLECTIC WICCA, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

INTEGRATED/ECLECTIC MASSAGE

Indicates a combination of various massage, bodywork, and somatic therapy techniques utilized by a practitioner in the course of a session.

(See also: INTEGRATED/ECLECTIC MASSAGE, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Pauranika (Sanskrit) Eclectic school. {BCW 12:343n}

(See also: Pauranika, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Theodidaktos (Ancient Greek). Lit., "God-taught". Used of Ammonius Saccas, the founder of the Neo-Platonic Eclectic School of the Philalethe in the fourth century at Alexandria.

(See also: Theodidaktos, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

SACRED WHEEL WICCA: An eclectic neo-Pagan path which was organized in Delaware within the past decade. Calling themselves Wiccan, they focus on balance and learning. Celtic beliefs are a Part of their teachings. They state that they are a Wiccan religion dedicated to the health of Mother Earth, and to all her children in whatever forms they may take.

(See also: SACRED WHEEL WICCA, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

SACRED WHEEL WICCA: An eclectic neo-Pagan path based on Celtic beliefs, that focuses on balance and learning. Celtic beliefs are a part of their teachings. They state that they are a Wiccan religion dedicated to the health of Mother Earth, and to all her children in whatever forms they may take.

(See also: SACRED WHEEL WICCA, Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Combine Spirituality and Psychotherapy: Eclectic integrative system developed and practiced by author Bernard Green, Ph.D. It includes consciousness expansion, Eastern psychotherapy (see Eastern psychology), nutritional psychology, psychosynthesis, Simonton techniques (see Simonton method), and Sufi psychology (see Sufi healing).

(See also: Combine Spirituality and Psychotherapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

DIANIC WICCA: A group of Wiccan traditions that focus primarily (but not always exclusively) on the Goddess. Known as the "feminist" movement in Wicca, it was first identified by Margaret Murray in 1921 in "The Witch-Cult in Western Europe". Most Dianic Wiccan traditions follow a Roman or Eclectic Pantheon that reveres Diana, but the term has been applied to traditions embracing other pantheons that are Goddess focused.

(See also: DIANIC WICCA, Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

HEDGE WITCHCRAFT: A non-initiated solitary practice of Witchcraft that focuses on the traditional European, especially British Isles, role of Witch as healer, midwife and seer for a community. Highly intuitive, Hedge Witchcraft emphasizes the practical role of magick in daily living over the religious doctrine and it is acceptable for Hedge Witches to be self taught and eclectic in the spiritual aspects of their faith.

(See also: HEDGE WITCHCRAFT, Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

TRADITIONAL WITCHCRAFT:

Hereditary or traditional Witchcraft or Wicca, which includes the Gardnerian and Alexandrian Traditions and their branches and offshoots via Gerald Gardner and/or Alex Sanders;

 A Witchcraft tradition that claims initiatory or hereditary descent through a familial or other line;

 Any Witchcraft Tradition that follows a specific body of rites and practices collectively as distinguished from solitary eclectic Witchcraft or Wicca practitioners.

(See also: TRADITIONAL WITCHCRAFT, Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)