Traditions Dictionary

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)

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)

PROTEAN FAMILY (The): A Wiccan tradition based on Gardnerian Wicca that are the lineal descendants of Proteus Coven in New York City. The High Priestess of Proteus, Judy Harrow, founded the coven in the Gardnerian practice during the early 1980's. In late 1985, after a series of internal conflicts over some of the changes of practice instituted by Harrow, a body of Gardnerian Elders indicated a desire to disassociate with Proteus and her descendants. In the early 1990's, Harrow declared the Protean Family to be a "self-aware subgroup" of the Gardnerian line.

(See also: PROTEAN FAMILY , Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR: An Order of Knights founded between 1119 and 1188 by Hugh de Payens of Champagne, France, and a small group of knights dedicated to protecting pilgrims journeying to the Holy Land and in routing the Infidels from Jerusalem. The Order idealized ideals of chivalry, crusades and Christian faith as practiced by an exclusive club of monastic knights but was brought down two centuries later by accusations of heresy, devil worship, blasphemy and homosexuality.

(See also: KNIGHTS TEMPLAR , Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

HUNA: The ancient Polynesian philosophical, scientific and magickal system. Huna teaches that there are three selves: lower, middle and higher that may be integrated by directing Mana properly. Practitioners are called Kahuna.

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

ENOCHIAN MAGICK: A system of magick that teaches communication with angels and spirits and travel through various planes, or aethyrs of consciousness. Enochian magick apparently originated with John Dee and Edward Kelly in the 16th century and communication with spirits involved the Nineteen Calls (or Keys): incantations in the Enchonian language, a complex language of unknown origin. Enochian magick was revived by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and studied at length by Aleister Crowley.

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

NUMEROLOGY, NUMEROMANCY: The system of magick and divination developed by Pythagoras. In numerology, all words, names and numbers may be reduced to single digits which correspond to certain occult characteristics that influence one’s life. Numerology is used to analyze a person’s character; assess weaknesses, strengths and natural gifts; predict one’s future and fate; determine the best place to live; and discover the best times to make decisions and take action.

(See also: NUMEROLOGY, NUMEROMANCY , Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

CELTIC SHAMANISM: A shamanic path that is based on the Faery Faith of the Celtic peoples of Western Europe and especially of Britain, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Cornwall, Isle of Man and Brittany.

(See also: CELTIC SHAMANISM , Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

HENOTHEISM: A religion that acknowledges the existence of many gods but chooses to revere, worship or acknowledge only one. They are often confused with, or assumed to be, monotheistic (believing in one god). Judaism and Christianity are examples of Henotheistic religions. See Also: Pantheism, Polytheism, Monotheism

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

MOHSIAN WICCA: An offshoot of Gardnerian Wicca, founded by Ed Fitch and several Southern Californian Gardnerians in the late 1970's. The tradition includes Gardnerian material and additional material supplied by the founders. Also known as American Wicca.

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

HECATINE TRADITION: A Scottish tradition of Witchcraft that preserves the unique festivals of the Caledonii. Also known as Caledonii Tradition.

(See also: HECATINE TRADITION , Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

CARPOCRATIAN: A sect of Gnosticism founded by Carpocrites of Alexandria. Carpocrites claimed that Christ had studied the mysteries at the Temple of Isis in Egypt for six years and had taught these mysteries to his apostles, who in turn, taught Carpocrites. The sect was believed to have lasted for several centuries and used theurgic magick.

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

PAGAN FEDERATION: Founded in 1971 and formerly called the Pagan Front, Pagan Federation is a London-based organization that seeks to provide contact between the Craft of the Wise and “genuine seekers of the Old Ways”, and to promote harmony among the various European Pagan religions. It works with institutions, governmental bodies and the public to present accurate information on Pagan religious views and rights.

(See also: PAGAN FEDERATION , Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

CHAOS MAGICK, CMT: A magickal system invented by Austin Osman Spare, and developed by a few others during the 1980's. Chaos mages enter the "abyss", in simplistic terms the "Unknown". Anarchistic, clever, self-referential, and self-annihilistic, Chaos Magick is an extraordinary deconstruction of magick, semantics, and psychology designed to eradicate consensual belief structures and, using the energy freed by this act, glimpse the fractal contours of reality. It is a synthesis of ceremonial magick, freestyle shamanism and sigilizing, however, its practitioners reject the traditional discrimination of magick into white, grey, and black, and assume a highly individualistic approach to the interplay between ethics and personal will.

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

CIRCLE WICCA: A Wiccan tradition founded in 1974 by Selena Fox and Jim Alan. Its headquarters are at Circle Sanctuary, a 200 acre Nature preserve and organic herb farm in the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin. Circle is incorporated as a non-profit spiritual center and is recognized as a legal Wiccan Church by state and federal governments. Circle differs from many traditions of Wicca in that it is more aligned with Shamanism and Amerindian ways than with the Western European influences found in the majority of Craft traditions.

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

ASATRU FREE ASSEMBLY: A Norse Pagan tradition founded in 1972 by Stephen McNallen that recognizes both the Aesir and the Vanir.

(See also: ASATRU FREE ASSEMBLY , Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

CRAFT (The):

 Traditional Witchcraft;

 Masonry as referred to by Masons;

Wicca.

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

CEREMONIAL MAGICK: Magick that calls upon the aid of beneficent spirits and is akin to religion. Ceremonial Magick is based upon a blend of doctrines of Plato and other Greek philosophers, Oriental mysticism, Judaism and Christianity and currently is divided into three forms: Enochian, Thelemic and Eclectic.

Enochian Magick originated with John Dee and Edward Kelly in the 16th century and communication with spirits involved the Nineteen Calls (or Keys): incantations in the Enchonian language, a complex language of unknown origin. This system of Magick was revived by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and studied at length by Aleister Crowley. In turn, Crowley developed the Thelemic Magick system from his studies and Ceremonial Magickians have since expanded to develop Eclectic Magick systems based on a variety of different systems, inclusive of Alchemy, Egyptology, Kabbalistic doctrines, Chaos Magick etc..

Ceremonial Magick requires a rigorous discipline and has an intellectual appeal, the mage derives power from God (the Judeo-Christian God) through the successful control of spirits, usually demons, which are believed easier to control than angels. Demons may be good, evil, or neutral. In its highest sense, Ceremonial Magick is a transcendental experience that takes the mage into mystical realms and into communication with the Higher Self. Also known as High Magick, Ritual Magick, Theurgic Magick, Theurgy.

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

RITUAL MAGICK: Magick that calls upon the aid of beneficent spirits and is akin to religion. Ritual Magick is based upon a blend of doctrines of Plato and other Greek philosophers, Oriental mysticism, Judaism and Christianity and currently is divided into three forms: Enochian, Thelemic and Eclectic. Enochian Magick originated with John Dee and Edward Kelly in the 16th century and communication with spirits involved the Nineteen Calls (or Keys): incantations in the Enchonian language, a complex language of unknown origin.

This system of Magick was revived by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and studied at length by Aleister Crowley. In turn, Crowley developed the Thelemic Magick system from his studies and Ritual Magickians have since expanded to develop Eclectic Magick systems based on a variety of different systems, inclusive of Alchemy, Egyptology, Kabbalistic doctrines, Chaos Magick etc..

Ritual Magick requires a rigorous discipline and has an intellectual appeal, the mage derives power from God (the Judeo-Christian God) through the successful control of spirits, usually demons, which are believed easier to control than angels. Demons may be good, evil, or neutral. In its highest sense, Ritual Magick is a transcendental experience that takes the mage into mystical realms and into communication with the Higher Self. Also known as Ceremonial Magick, High Magick, Theurgic Magick, Theurgy.

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

PICTISH WITCHCRAFT: The study and practice of the religion of the Picts, the pre-Celtic inhabitants of northern Scotland. Pecti-Wita is concerned with all aspects of prosperity, growth, abundance, creativity, and healing, and honors the Celtic Dieties. The main tools in Pecti-Wita are the Staff and the Athame or Dirk. Pecti-Witans use a "Keek-Stane" which is, in effect, a scrying stone or the equivalent of a crystal ball. Also known as Pecti-Wita, Wita.

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

CELTIC WICCA: The use of a Celtic/Druidic pantheon mixed with Gardnerian Wicca, and heavily stressing the Elements, Nature and the Ancient Ones. Celtic Wicca focuses on knowledge of, and respect for, the healing and magickal qualities of plants and stones, flowers, trees, elemental spirits, the little people, gnomes and fairies.

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