Traditional Wicca?

Question

Where can I find good information about traditional Wicca? I don't want the "follow your own path" for others this may be ok. But for me...I want Wicca. Traditional Wicca as it is. Any information would be lovely. Also Christians don't bother telling me I'm wrong for doing what I do and Gary G.don't give me an entire quote from a book that I do not follow. Sorry for sounding so rude....I'm just getting very tired of all the crap.

Blessed Be )o(

Answer 1

This is the best BTW (British Traditional Witchcraft) Yahoo group that I've found so far. It's a group that has been around since 1999, which is a long time for a Yahoo group. This is a large group with many knowledgeable people. There are quite a few different trads represented:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amberandjet/

This site has a genealogical listing of traditions with links to learn about most of them:
http://beaufort.bravepages.com/index.html

This is a great site about Gerald B. Gardner, who is considered the founder of Wicca. If you click on the tab for Articles you'll find very interesting reading:
http://www.geraldgardner.com/

I like the articles on this page. I especially like the article "How Do I Know What to Believe? Critical Thinking and Pagan Books":
http://www.tangledmoon.org/other_voices.htm

Another site about BTW that I've found interesting:
http://www.tradwicca.org/beginnings.html
In addition to checking Witchvox for local Wiccans and traditions, you could also check to see if there's a local Wiccan meetup. Just type in your zip code:
http://wiccan.meetup.com/

Answer 2

Easy one. Witchcraft is a practice & a religion. It depends on what way you look at it. Wicca is a religion. It was founded by a Gerald Gardner and the people of his time who had a desire to rebuild the old Traditions of English Witchcraft, Familiar Witchcraft is somewhat diverse. Not many *real* fam-trad Witches will admit that they are part of such a group. But, for the ones who do, they rarely share what they are taught. It can be anything from lighting candles to saints, all the way to sacrificing a goat for a Deity. P.S Before you say "wicca doesn't do bad stuff, harm none"....well, guess what....fam trad Witchcraft really has nothing to do with Gardnerian BTW Craft.

Answer 3

OK, I'm going to drop the "hippy chick" persona I've been having fun with today, because this deserves a serious answer.

For FAQ's: http://www.newwiccanchurch.net/articles/btwfaq.htm

A quote from the site:

"British Traditional Wicca (BTW) is the name we give to a number of denominations of Wiccans who have received (via initiatory lineage) and maintain an established body of lore and practice passed down from generation to generation. The best known of these are the Gardnerians, of which there are distinct British and American branches.

Alexandrians, Mohsians and (California) Central Valley Wicca are also British Traditionals."

So if you're looking for the "real deal", you'll need to hook up with someone in one of those Traditions.

Be aware that BTW covens don't go around looking for new members. Also be aware that for some of them, even after you've known them for a while and expressed interest, you might have to ask three times to be taken on as a student (it'a a tradition).

I'd advise you to start at Witchvox.com and look for teaching covens in your area. Another possibility is to look for some sort of pagan social event - a Pagan's Night Out or Witch's Night Out.

You might even want to attend an open ritual: although you will NOT see "open" BTW rituals, if you attend a NROOGD or CAW (Church of All Worlds) ritual, you may meet some hard Gards - these two are "public" traditions that some Gardnerians and other BTW folks follow.

Best of luck with your search.

Answer 4

Which tradition? There are many.

Gerald Gardner and Alexander Sanders started the whole Wiccan thing. Based on what they took from Aleister Crowley and their love of nudity.

http://www.geraldgardner.com/

Sorry. Sanders doesn't seem to have a website dedicated to him.

You know - wicca is just a corruption of Catholicism.

The term "Blessed Be" comes from an 11th Century Catholic prayer called the Divine Praises.

Blessed be God.
Blessed be his holy name
etc...

The chalice, candles, incense. All catholic. Whereas a Catholic priest would consecrate the host on an alter - the wiccan priest imitates sex with the use of a chalice and an athame.

From the earliest of times Catholics celebrated Ember Days. Quarterly seasonal days of fasting and thankgsiving to God for the bounty given. Now Wiccans celebrate the solstices and equinoxes - and a moon that gives nothing. Neither heat nor light.

There's also Buckland's tradition. Cunningham's tradition. Cabot's tradition. None of these are very old.

I love all my Wiccan friends. But really. What these two gentlemen have done, twisting Catholicism like this is really a slap in the face to Catholics.

Plus, if furthers the Protestant belief that Catholics are Pagans. Getting US burned at the stake.

Answer 5

Find a Gardenerian Wicca coven, that is as traditional as you can get. Raymond Buckland brought Wicca to the U.S in 1960 any of his works are good reading, but traditional Wicca is covens and sky clad. I Like Buckland's Complete Book Of Witchcraft. also try his official website here
http://www.raybuckland.com/

Greencraft tradition is traditional Wicca. As far as books anything by Raymond Buckland as I mentioned and Wicca for men by A.J. Drew is a good look at what is Wicca and what is not.

Answer 6

I also <3 Witchvox. It's a very good site.

By "traditional Wicca" you probably mean Gardenerian (sp?), it was the first.

Answer 7

Depends on which tradition interests you, frankly.

The best general resource I've seen is Margot Adler's "Drawing Down the Moon." There's a revised edition just out with lots of updated information since its first publication in 1979.

Answer 8

I second the witchvox site vote.

Answer 9

http://www.witchvox.com/_x.html?c=trads

Follow the link, read the profiles and remember it doesn't need to be British to be traditional. (Though it can help.)

:)