What are you feelings on the "types" of Wicca?

Question

Alexandrian, Gardenerian (I think I spelled that wrong), Green, Fae, Eclectic, I have heard of so many "types" of Wicca. Opinions? Complaints? I seek knowledge...

Matthew: Very well put I also prefer the title Pagan myself.

whiteraven_1976: I agree, it gets to be quite iritating when someone goes on and on about "the burning times" when in reality most of the people who were acusing witches were in fact witches them self, acusing those who abused power.

Nandina (Miss Melon Collie) : Love the coloring book comparison. I think you've hit it right on the bunnies nose!

Tahuti: Truthfuly I see it happening a lot all around me. We are not too far off.

Wiccan Hellenic Polytheist : So what your saying is you either are a wiccan or a pagan, with no gray area? (not an atack, just want bo clear)

Answer 1

I personally think the word "Wicca" has evolved from "Lineage-based, British Traditional Witchcraft that follows its lineage to Gardner" to "A group of traditions that are based on the foundations of Gardnerian Wicca (honoring the God and Goddess, using the Rede as the core ethical belief, ritual observances that honor the cycles of Nature) but differ from it in various ways, depending on the tradition".

Just as "Christianity" used to mean "Only those who follow the teachings as laid down by Paul", the word now means "A group of denominations that are based on the teachings of the Bible but differ in their interpretation and practice in various ways, depending on the denomination."

There are still those who say "If it ain't Gardnerian, it ain't Wicca", but personally I think that it is moving beyond that. Which will no doubt annoy people.

An analogy that I liked:

Think of it as a coloring book page of a bunny rabbit on a blank page. Wicca is the ink drawing of the bunny rabbit that we are given free will to color in. The bunny is the framework that defines the picture. If I were to take the uncolored picture and show it to someone, they are going to say "That's a picture of a bunny." Wicca is that. If I go and describe someone who follows the rede and follows the other things that defines a pagan as someone following the specific path of Wicca, then a theologist (or at least someone familiar with Wicca) would say "That's a description of a Wiccan." Wicca then is the religious framework that allows us to "color in" the details that help define our spiritual connection to the divine.

The different traditions and/or the various personalizations of Wicca are like what happens when we color in the bunny. One tradition says the bunny is brown. Another tradition says that the bunny is white with spots. One tradition favors colored pencils over crayons, another may like magic marker. Still other traditions may draw in grass, color in the sky, add a tree, toss in some clover...but it is still a picture of a bunny.

Answer 2

While I have nothing against the variety, I think the plethora of names can become overly divisive and unhelpful. Gardnerian and Alexandrian are both Traditions - the closest thing we have to denominations. There are very specific requirements to applying such a word to yourself (namely, you have to be initiated by the corresponding coven). Those terms have distinct meanings and are therefore useful. Eclectic indicates all non-Traditionalists. That division is incredibly important in understanding's someone's WIccan practice.

But what the heck is Green Wicca? Fae Wicca? Celtic Wicca? Many people call themselves "Celtic Wiccan" if they follow Celtic gods. Is that necessary? Compare two people within this loose definition, and you may find they have absolutely nothing in common other than very general WIccan beliefs: they could be using different rituals and different sets of correspondances, following different gods, etc. So is the term really helpful? I don't think so.

Seriously, I have no idea what "Green Wicca" would mean. And Fae Wicca...is that just Wicca by someone who believes in fairies? I believe in the Big Bang. Should I call what I practice Big Bang Wicca?

Answer 3

As a point of order....
Some traditions are eclectic. Eclectic does not mean lacking a tradition.
As another...
British Traditional Witchcraft never called its RELIGION Wicca, nor its practitioners Wiccans. Next time those of the Wica (spelled right) claim another tradition isn't REAL Wicca, and the followers aren't real Wiccans, laugh in their faces, because the term Wicca for a religion and Wiccans for people come from American Eclectic Wiccan movements, not British Traditional Witchcraft...

That being said:

There are three types of metatraditions in Wicca I am aware of, and I'm including such diverse groups as Dianic Wicca and Gardnerian Witchcraft in these big ubercategories:

#1. There are new traditions or reconstructions of ancient traditions. These reconstructed traditions might be based on good scholarship, or shoddy scholarship, but you can point to an individual or small group as the originator of these core traditions. Gardnerian and New Forest are two examples.

#2. There are "protestant" traditions, traditions that evolved from members of the core traditions generally hiving off of those traditions because they have serious theological issues with the beliefs of the core traditions and they want to change it. Blue Star, UEW and Alexandrian (as it exists TODAY) are examples. These traditions usually teach about where they differ from those in group #1.

#3. There are poseur/power trip traditions that are largely based on core traditions and/or protestant traditions but are founded because their founders could not gain membership in the above traditions, were removed from those traditions, could not achieve the power they want in those traditions or wanted the attention of founding their own traditions. Examples include the Alexandrian Tradition (for the first several years of its existance, but not currently,) The Corellian Tradition (which is now trying to sort itself out and divorce itself from its founders*,) Silver Ravenwolf's homegrown tradition and The Frost's Church and School of Witchcraft.

I generally have no problems with trads that fall into the definitions of #1 and #2 above. Trads in the #3 category have a very hard time changing enough to be seen as legitimate. The REALLY easy way to tell a #2 from a #3 is in the foundation story. If a trad says that a core tradition teaches X, Y and Z and they teach X,Y and W, and tells you why, they are PROBABLY not a type 3 tradition.

Answer 4

Several good answers several bad. I will only address what I do know and leave what I don't to the Wiccans.

Wiccan is a type of pagan and not all pagans are witches OR wiccan. I am Norse Heathen Reconstructionalist. That is in no way witch or Wiccan but it is very pagan. So if you are Wiccan you ARE pagan. Period.

There are those who believe in fairies, Hellensitic. There are those that believe that they are a part of the land spirits. Now I tend to arch a brow at fairies, until I realize the irony in that as I make daily offering to the landvaettir and really...is that any different? That has nothing to do with being "real" anything. Different traditions believe in different land spirits. Brownie's, fairies, elves, wights. I can only go off what I believe, and I believe in the wights. So who am I to critisize those who believe in fairies? Does that make me not a "real" pagan? Most Asatru believe in and hail the wights. Are those "pretend entities"?

To answer your questios sure there are a lot of different views and paths in Wicca, just like there are in Christianity. Doesn't make them any more or less valid, unless #3 with Labgrrl. I have to go with her on that.

Hail the landvættir!

Answer 5

There are as many "sects" to Wicca as there are stars in the sky. Personally, it's all in what "speaks" to you. I don't follow Gardnerian or Alexandrian, because I don't believe in the Wiccan Rede, the 3-in-1 goddess/god/unknowable idea, or the idea of degrees of initiation. That's me. Eclectic wiccans pick and choose from many different pantheons/paths and make their own path. What are your beliefs? Do the Fae speak to you? Is the idea of living Green with Nature Herself more your thing? Do the gods of a particular pantheon hold your interest?
As far as complaints go, I do get a bit annoyed with people who call upon gods/goddesses from totally different pantheons. I find it disrespectfull, personally. Also, people who scream about the "Burning Times", or who berate Christians, or think that their way is the only way. There is no "one way". I don't have a beef with any particular Wiccan path, just with superior persons claiming that they follow the "ancient religion". There never was any kind of universal Mother Goddess religion. There isn't any "ancient lineage" passed down either.
My advice would be to watch out for "instant witch" courses and books. The Path is long, hard, and ultimately rewarding.

Answer 6

I belong to a fairly organized wicca/pagan temple. We don't identify ourselves as a particular type or order. We are pretty eclectic, though we do emphasize the pleasure of seeking knowledge. To this end, we occasionally talk about Classical Greek philosophy, witchcraft of various sorts, epic poetry, and so on. And we like music a lot!

Answer 7

I'm fine with most branches of Wicca. Right now I'm in the process of deciding whether or not I want to direct myself towards one particular tradition, or stay open and eclectic.

Though it's unfortunate that some branches attract more fluffies that others. I've noticed Faerie Wicca attracts a lot of 'em, and Dianic Wicca tends to attract man-haters only interested in worshiping the goddess and ignoring the god.

Answer 8

Each draws different believers and offers different things for those believers. I wasn't into naked rituals (especially after seeing some of the Alexandrians in my area and picturing them naked) and absolute duality so Alexandrian and Gardnerian was out for me.

The key is reading up on the paths and talking to different groups and find what meets your needs. It can be a long process but its worth it. Its something like a new Christian finding which denomination and church is right for them.

Answer 9

They are commonly known as "traditions" of Wicca. They may have some different views on certain interpretations within Wicca, but generally adhere to the same core beliefs. Much like Christianity has several different "branches" or denominations - like Catholic, Luterhan, Baptist, Protestant.

Some traditions of Wicca would suit me better than others, but they are all fine in and of themselves and share my basic foundation of beliefs.

I have to wonder if we have as much trouble getting along with those of other traditions as many Christians have with those of other denominations of their own base religion. (i.e. the Protestants vs. the Catholics in Ireland) Well, if so, I'm pretty sure no actual wars were started over debates between differing Wiccan traditions. Hmmmm. Sorry, this paragraph was more my thinking out loud...er, or rather thinking with my fingers. ;)

Answer 10

I'm not sure they're all that different. I can see 200 years down the line Wicca having the same denominational problems as Christianity has, with Alexandrians not liking Feri, and Catholics not like Presbyterians, etc...