Thursday, January 31, 2013

Finding a Pagan path...

 
 
from http://amolife.com/image/nature/the-rainforest-mystery.html
I personally have no idea where I am heading.... some of these sound alluring, others sound.. just interesting. Here is a list of some of the various Pagan paths you may find yourself on. The info here is from Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, Silver RavenWolf's To Ride a Silver Broomstick, the Wiccan Sisters Witches Academy and Wikipedia :)
I will definately add to this list as I go along...  and if you see anywhere I have made a mistake, then please let me know :) There is so much more information to be added, so please bear with me :)



Paganism

Paganism, as I understand it, is like a generic term for a whole collection of Earth loving, nature worshipping Paths where followers.. believers... attune themselves with the Universal energy. I don't believe there is one true path, or one way of doing things, and each tradition within Paganism has its own method to its madnesses. Madness is just sanity in a non-conventional way :)  Anyway, while the different branches of the Pagan tree may share beliefs and a common spirituality, they all have their own meaningful ways of connecting with the Divine Source.

I started out thinking I would end up Wiccan, that is the most mainstream pagan path in my opinion, and may serve to attract a lot of people initially to Paganism. If they are serious, they will learn more, explore more and really find the path that suits them. I'm still learning, so I cannot profess to where I will be in a year, in 5 or 10 years from now. I only hope I will be happy :)
 

Wicca

The new age version of the Old Relgion, worships the Goddess and the God, believe deity is within all of us and in everything that exists. They celebrate the change of seasons and cross quarter days as noted by the Wheel of the Year. Wiccans can operate in a coven or as solitarites, often specialise in divination, herbalism, astrology, reiki, crystal healing and talisman magic.

 
Druidism


A celtic-based form of paganism., based on nature and Celtic mythology. One of the important legends for Druids is that of Ceridwen and Taliesin. They symbolise the circle of life and death. Merlin is considered a famous Druid as well. (According to the DruidCraft Tarot book) . Druidism is seen as a male dominated religion, however it is not exclusive to males.

I think it would be interesting to compare Druidism and Dianic Wicca – for the polarities between ‘female’ and ‘male’ paganism…  maybe one day.

This card is from the DruidCraft Tarot Deck. I love it because it has such a woodsy Celtic feeling to it :)
 
Dianic Wicca

Known as the ‘feminist’ strand of Wicca, its origins traced back to Egyptologist Dr Margaret Murray in the 1920s. It encompasses a mixture of traditions revering the female aspect of spirituality, the Goddess and Diana as her incarnation. There are solitary practitioners and covens, female and male practitioners. It encourages female leadership, where a High Priestess must be present during coven rituals. Members practice skyclad or robed.
 
Asatru

This is also known as Teutonic or Nordic paganism. It incorporates Scandinavian mythology and values self-reliance. The deities they honour include Odin, Freya, and Thor. Norse Runes are one of the three major types of Rune surviving today. Members work robed, and the religion is strongly traditional. They cast circles, but don’t call quarters. They observe 4 solar fire festivals and other indigenous Norse traditions. Culturally includes people from England, Holland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

 
 
From http://blyssfulwitch.com/basics-crafting-theory-practice/
Shamanism
A solitary form of paganism, where spiritual practices include journeying to to other planes of existence through introspection, meditation and totem animals. Found in indigenous cultures from Siberia, Africa, South America, Australia (Aborigines) and Native Americans. My understanding of Shamanism comes from the books of Carlos Castaneda, about Dreaming and his apprenticeship with Don Juan the Yaqui Indian. They would take peyote to reach higher states of consciousness and communicate with energies within people and natural objects such as stones, sticks and other planes of existence. Medicine Men in South American cultures (possibly others) would get cures and treatments from shamanic states of perception.


Hedgewitchery

Also known as Kitchen Witches – who concentrate on the practical side of WitchCraft… a greener, more eclectic form of paganism. They are generally solitary, do not really bother with ceremonial practices, casting circles, but often practice herbalism, magic, cooking, arts, crafts and working with the Earth and the elements. Often take inspiration from farmers and their local communities. Some worship specific deities, others recognise a higher power.

Funny, when I started 6 months ago, I thought this would be the last place I would end up.. and am still not sure - I don't have a herb garden and the kitchen has connotations of housework for me. But Hedge Witchery sort of makes sense. When I know more and understand it better, I will explain why.

 
Gardnerian

Founded by Gerald Gardiner, the ‘creator’ of modern Wicca, based on a variety of magical and esoteric practices and lore. Strongly traditional, structured and ritualistic. Members belong to secretive covens, train in the three degree systems and take oaths of secrecy. Rituals are generally done skyclad. An influential person in Gardnerian Wicca was Doreen Valiente, who wrote most of the rituals. Interestingly, Alex and Maxine Sanders (of Alexandrian Wicca) and Raymond and Rosemary Buckland (of Saxon Wicca) were both originally trained in the Gardnerian tradition, but then ‘created’ their own.


Alexandrian

Founded by Alex Sanders, named after the ancient library of Alexandria. It is a very similar offshoot of Gardnerian, but more relaxed, suited to the interests of hippies in the 1960s-70s. It is more eclectic than Gardnerian, with a variety of Pantheons honoured by its’ members. It also incorporates kabbalah, ceremonial and Enochian magic. They celebrate the Esbats and usually only go skyclad for initiations.




From http://sacredmistsblog.com/the-celtic-tradition-of-witches-and-wiccans
 

Celtic

Based on pre-Christian practices in British Isles and Europe, honouring and working with Earth and Nature – and strong in religious aspects. A lot of the knowledge has been lost – but modern forms of Celtic wicca are often mixed with Alexandrian or Gardnerian and Druidic elements. The religion is adapted to the seasons, the interests and spiritual beliefs of coven members. There are many gods and goddess in the Celtic pantheon, which I will post another time and place the link here :)  


The Feri Tradition

Founded by:  By poet Victor Anderson and his wife Cora

Where and When it was founded: Victor began teaching it in the 1940s one on one, then formed a coven in California in the 1960s.

Where it is based: I would guess its still based in the US (no specific info found right now) – but with the advent of online wicca – it could be incorporated into solitary traditions universally.

Where it currently operates: as above.

What its systems are:

  • The Three Souls – they believe that 3 souls make up the structure of humans and should be brought into communication with eachother to facilitate self awareness and knowledge of the God and Goddess.
    • The Talking-Self – rational consciousness
    • The ‘Fetch’ – where dreams and desires come from – the subconscious
    • The God-Self – the Higher Self
  • The Iron Pentacle – a ymbolic and energetic tool used to realign and purify the practitioner. The five points are Sex, Pride, Self, Power and Passion.
  • The Pearl Pentacle – when the points of the Iron Pentacle are present, the pearls appear on the pentacle and the human evolves. Sex becomes Love, Self becomes Knowledge, Power becomes Liberty, Passion becomes Wisdom.
  • The Black Heart of Innocence – a state of being when all souls are aligned. Likened to primal sexuality.

The deities:

  • The Star Goddess – the androgynous point of all creation, primal darkness of deep space, the Absolute.
  • The Divine Twins – The consorts to the Star Goddess in any coupling form – represent duality.
  • The Peacock God – The result of the union of the Star Goddess and the Divine Twins. Holding all duality within himself.
  • The Feri Guardians – Similar to the watchtowers in Wicca, they guard and represent north, south, east, west, above, below, center.

Degree system:

Currently a schism between traditional and progressive Feri traditionalists – teaching the public for publics sake – for pay vs teaching one on one. No mention of degree system here.

Publications:

The most famous is the Spiral Dance by Starhawk. There are a number of other titles by Victor and Cora Andersen, and a few other authors.

 
Seax – Wicca

Founded by:  Raymond Buckland.

Where and When it was founded: The United States, 1973.

Where it is based: : I would guess its still based in the US (no specific info found right now) – but with the advent of online wicca – it could be incorporated into solitary traditions universally. It may have a following in Germanic Europe – as something that is influenced by Saxon mythology and lore.

Where it currently operates: as above.

What its systems are:

Covens are run democratically, with elected High Priests or Priestesses serving 13 full moons. No oath of secrecy. Rituals are open, robed or skyclad. Solitary or in a coven.

Raymond Buckland, in the Complete Book of Witchcraft, gives no indication that Seax Wicca as a different set of holidays or rituals to Wicca. Would require further research.

The deities: Woden and Freya, incarnations of the Horned God and Mother Goddess.

Degree system: Allows self-initiation into the tradition. No degree structure. 

Publications:  Raymond Buckland has written The Tree: The complete book of Saxon Witchcraft. Being the creator of Seax Wicca, this book would be its more important publication.  It was republished in 2005 as Bucklands Book of Saxon Witchcraft.

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