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)

WELSH CYMRI WICCA:  A Wiccan Tradition based on  Y Tylwyth Teg, a Welsh-based tradition named for the faery folk of that land, which maintains deeply Celtic roots and very humanistic philosophy. Students of both these paths are asked to place heavy emphasis on the study of Welsh myth, folklore, and faery lore.

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

Wicca: The single largest tradition within Paganism, which is earth-centered, celebrates the eight Pagan holidays, envisions Deity as both male and female (which it calls the God and the Goddess), practices magick, and believes in an afterlife known as the Summerland. The Wiccan ethical system is stated in the Rede and the Rule of Threes. The Rede contains the ethical instruction to "harm none and do what you will." The Rule of Threes states that whatever you send out from yourself will come back threefold.

(See also: Wicca, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

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)

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.

These groups are also sometimes described as British Traditional Wicca, although this usage is generally found only in the U.S., and that term is rarely used that way by British Traditional Wiccans who regard descent, whether by birth, or by Initiation or Initiatory adoption, as essential to being "of the Blood", and therefore to being "of the Wicca". Again British Traditional Wiccans would not identify this group as Wiccan and would refer to them as American Traditional Witchcraft.

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

BRITISH TRADITIONAL WICCA: The groups of Wiccan Traditions who can 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, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

DIANIC FEMINIST WICCA: A Wiccan tradition started by Ann Forfreedom that includes both female and male practitioners , solo practitioners, mixed covens and all female covens. Dianic Feminist Wiccans must have a Priestess present for a Circle ritual to be held and encourages practitioners to be involved in feminist and humanist issues. Groups work either skyclad or robed.

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

COVENANT OF THE GODDESS WICCA: A cross-traditional federation of over one hundred covens, solitary elders and associates who organized in 1975 at Coeden Brith. The Covenant works to have Wicca recognized as a legitimate and legally recognized religion. It is incorporated as a non-profit religious organization in California, though it has grown to be a nationwide organization with members throughout the United States, as well as a few in Canada and Overseas.

Decisions are made at an annual Grand Council or in local councils which may cover a city, state or an even larger area. A coven can apply for membership if it a cohesive, self-perpetuating group which has been meeting for six months or more; the group follows the code of ethics defined by COG; the coven has three or more members studying for the priesthood, one of whom is an Elder; and the focus of the group's ritual and theology is the worship of the Goddess and the Old Gods (or the Goddess alone).

(See also: COVENANT OF THE GODDESS 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)

COVENANT OF THE GODDESS WICCA: Organized in 1975 at Coeden Brith. It is a cross-traditional federation of over one hundred covens, plus solitary elders and associates, who have joined together to win recognition for the Craft as a legitimate and legally recognized religion. It is incorporated as a non-profit religious organization in California, though it has grown to be a nationwide organization with members throughout the United States, as well as a few in Canada and Overseas.

Decisions are made at an annual Grand Council or in local councils which may cover a city, state or an even larger area. A coven can apply for membership if it a cohesive, self-perpetuating group which has been meeting for six months or more; the group follows the code of ethics defined by COG; the coven has three or more members studying for the priesthood, one of whom is an Elder; and the focus of the group's ritual and theology is the worship of the Goddess and the Old Gods (or the Goddess alone).

(See also: COVENANT OF THE GODDESS WICCA, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

CHURCH & SCHOOL OF WICCA (The): A Welsh-based Wiccan tradition founded by Gavin and Yvonne Frost in the early 1970's. The Frosts are coauthors of The Witches Bible.

(See also: CHURCH & SCHOOL OF WICCA, Magickal Traditions, Magickal Paths, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Reincarnation - The doctrine of rebirth after death. It is one of the tennents of Wicca.

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

Craft, The - A term used by witches to mean Wicca. Inherited from Freemasonry.

(See also: Craft, The, Pagan, Wicca Pagan Dictionary)

CHURCH & SCHOOL OF WICCA (The): One of the many Welsh-based traditions. It was originally founded by Gavin and Yvonne Frost in the early 1970's.

As "The Church and School of Wicca" the material is presented to students by correspondence, though the course is virtually the same as the material presented in their book The Witches Bible. Originally (in the book) there was no mention of the Goddess at all and there were various sexual aspects which dismayed many who were otherwise drawn to the tradition. The latter situation has recently been modified and there is now mention of the Goddess.

(See also: CHURCH & SCHOOL OF WICCA, Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca, )

Summoner - see Fetch.

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

Besom - Broom.

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

Censer - An incense burner.

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

Neo-pagan - A person following a modern religion born from older pagan faiths, such as Wicca.

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

Wand - One of the ritual tools used in Wicca, generally it is another tool of energy direction, much like the athame. The specific choice of wand vs athame varies among Wicca, almost all choose athame over wand for circle casting and many prefer the wand when calling the Goddess and God.

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

Pagan - from Latin paganus a 'country dweller' or villager. Today it' a general term for followers of Wicca and other polytheistic, magic-embracing religions. Some prefer that Wicca are called neo-pagan and that pagan refer to practitioners of ancient polytheistic faiths in their more or less original form , such as Astaru, Odinism, etc... Pagans are not Satanists.

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

Cowan - Used in Wicca and Witchgraft to mean a non Wiccan/Witch in much the same way gentile is used by Jews to desigante a non Jew.

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

Undine - The traditional term for a Water Elemental.

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