AMERICAN TRADITION: This Wiccan tradition is an offshoot of Gardnerian Wicca, founded by Ed Fitch and several Southern Californian Gardnerians in the late 70's. The tradition includes Gardnerian material and additional material supplied by the founders. This tradition is sometimes known as Mohsian, after two of the founders whose last name was Mohs.

(See also: AMERICAN TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

AMERICAN TRADITIONAL WICCA: The groups that have no initiatory connection to Gardner or Sanders, but who have based their rituals and practices on what has been published about the Gardnerian and Alexandrian Traditions; they therefore follow a Wiccan practice based upon Gardnerian or Alexandrian without having initiatory lineage.

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

WICCAN TRADITION: a specific branch or SECT of Wiccan religion, with its own structured practices.

(See also: WICCAN TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Traditional - A name used by British witches and covens who claim that their practices pre-dated Gardnerian ones. In America, it tends to mean adhering consistently to a particular cultural tradition, often from family racial roots. See also Hereditary.

(See also: Traditional, Pagan, Wicca Pagan Dictionary)

ALGARD TRADITION: A Wiccan religious tradition founded by Mary Nesnick, of N.Y. City, in late 70's. Their Book of Shadows includes a combination of Gardnerian and Alexandrian components.

(See also: ALGARD TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

KINGSTONE TRADITION: A conservative American form of British Traditional Wicca. It has existed in California since the 1960's. and was founded by a student of Gerald Gardner.

(See also: KINGSTONE TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

TRADITION - the branch of Paganism followed by any individual witch or coven. There are hundreds of these traditions, most drawn along ethnic or cultural lines, but several are modern amalgamations. The word is synonymous with “Path” E.g. Witta is but one tradition of Paganism. (CMM)

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

ISIAN TRADITION:

1) a Wiccan tradition founded in Texas by an English Traditional Wiccan High Priestess and a Qabalistic ceremonial magician. It is Egyptian-oriented, and its training and initiatory system are based on the Qabalistic Tree of Life.

2) a Wiccan tradition founded in Canada and consisting of a family of related covens including Isis-Artemis, Isis-Urania, and others. It is basically English Traditional in approach.

3) a Pagan tradition founded by The Fellowship of Isis, and originating in Ireland.

(See also: ISIAN TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

SAXON TRADITION: A Germannic tradition practiced by the people of Saxony. The Saxon path also shares some common elements with the Celtic traditions, including a veneration of trees. Their invasion of southern England brought their Pagan influence in contact with the Celts.

(See also: SAXON TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

FAIRY TRADITION:

1) Wiccan tradition practiced by Victor Anderson and the late Gwydion Pendderwen, and their students. Sometimes called Old Fairy. See also Welsh Tradition.

2) Wiccan practice derived from the teachings of Starhawk sometimes called New Fairy.

(See also: FAIRY TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, 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;

Sometimes used to distinguish Traditions that claim initiatory descent from hereditary or traditional Witchcraft via persons other than Gerald Gardner or Alex Sanders; distinct from Wiccan practice.

Sometimes used to refer to any Tradition that follows a specific body of rites and practices - including admittedly modern revived or reconstructed Traditions, especially ones that focus on a particular ethnic or cultural background - in order to distinguish between "Traditional" and "Eclectic" Witchcraft.

(See also: TRADITIONAL WITCHCRAFT, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

CELTIC TRADITION:

1) Old Celtic Tradition as practiced by the late Lady Gwynne (or Gwen) Thompson  d. 1987. This is a tradition similar to Welsh Traditional but which adopted rituals similar to those of Gardnerian. This Family Tradition derived from Southern Welsh sources and was brought to the U.S. through Nova Scotia.

2) American Celtic Tradition as practiced by Lady Sheba (Jessie Bell) allegedly derived from Family traditional, Mike Howard of "The Cauldron" in Wales, and Gardnerian sources.

3) In England, British Celtic covens are called tribes and are led by Elders instead of High Priests and High Priestesses. See WELSH TRADITION

(See also: CELTIC TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

BRITISH TRADITIONAL WICCA: The groups of Wiccan Traditions that trace their lineage to Gerald Gardner, and/or to Alex and Maxine Sanders. Some British Traditional Wiccans practice the arts of Traditional Witchcraft from ancestors in ancient Europe, that have been preserved and passed on by the Ordo Anno Mundi, a magical order of Initiates dedicated to the training of its members in the arcane sciences of nature.

British Traditional Wiccans experience the same Mysteries, using substantially the same rituals and techniques. Variations may exist between individual Covens, Lineages and Traditions but it is the same Initiatory Mystery Path. The British Traditional groups view Wicca as an Initiatory, Oathbound, Magick-using, Pagan Mystery Priesthood celebrating the Mysteries contained in the Legend of the Descent of the Goddess and in the Charge of the Goddess.

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

ARCADIAN TRADITION: A Male oriented worship of the Horned God, less sexist than Dianic Wicca, as most Arcadian groups admit women.

(See also: ARCADIAN TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

ALEXANDRIAN TRADITION: A Wiccan religious tradition which traces its linage to Alex Sanders of England, who died in 1988. Alex and Maxine Sanders were the founders; The Alexandrian tradition is an offshoot of Gardnerian Wicca, but also includes traces of Ceremonial Magick, Egyptian & Classical religions, Qabala, and the teachings of Aleister Crowley. This tradition has become the most popular in England because of its openness which makes it more accessible to seekers.

(See also: ALEXANDRIAN TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Tradition, Wicca - An organized, structured, specific Wiccan subgroup. Much like Christianity has denominations each with their own style, Wicca has many traditions (and some Wicca follow no specific tradition see eclectic Wicca). Common examples include Garnerian, Seax (not sex), Dianic, Faery, Pecti, Teutonic, Caledoni, Alexandrian, and there are many others...

(See also: Tradition, Wicca, Pagan, Wicca Pagan Dictionary)

DIANIC TRADITION:

1) A feminine based craft movement, which rejects the concept of the Male God, concentrating on the worship of the Goddess. Named after Diana, virgin goddess of the hunt; a stem of the Old Religion which has all-female members.

2) The Old Dianic Tradition. This a particular English tradition of Witchcraft honoring the Goddess Diana. It is a structured tradition and fairly similar to Gardnerian Wicca. Morgan McFarland, Mark Roberts, and Sybil Leek brought this tradition from England. It is called the Old Dianic tradition as opposed to the New Dianic tradition started by Z. Budapest.

3) The New Dianic Tradition is a particular tradition founded by Z. Budapest and other modern feminists. It has a loose ritual structure, a small core of feminist teachings, and encourages spontaneity among its members. Most covens accept women only, some accept only lesbians, a few accept women and men.

4) The original tradition of Shan, Clan Mother to the House of the Goddess in London, England. This tradition seems to have used a little of everything in it's formation, but primarily derives most of its teachings from the New Dianic Tradition. In the Dianic Tradition, there is much diversity in ritual and religious practice. Most covens honor the Goddess primarily or exclusively. Quite a few are Goddess Monotheistic.

(See also: DIANIC TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

FAMILY TRADITION - a term used to describe people who have Craft lineage before the 1950's that has been handed down in their families or people who have been taught by them.

(See also: FAMILY TRADITION, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

SHAMANIC TRADITION: a very individualistic tradition of Wicca as typified by the practice of Shan of the House of the Goddess in London, England. Chanting, Drumming, and simple dance is their way of expressing love for the Goddess. Most Shaman Traditions take their ideas from various sources: Tibet, Finland, North America, South America and Celtic to name a few. They incorporate these aspects into their own rituals. Some groups use natural hallucinogenics such as marihuana and peyote. This path needs an expert teacher if natural intoxicants are involved.

(See also: SHAMANIC TRADITION, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

traditional acupuncture (Traditional Chinese acupuncture): Form of acupuncture based on the meridian theory of, and usually practiced in the context of, TCM.

(See also: Traditional acupuncture, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Traditional Witchcraft:

See Tradition and Witchcraft, Familial.

(See also: Traditional Witchcraft, Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)