Pagan News - Pagan News & Information

Pagan Traditions

In the sense we mean it here, a Tradition is a group or organization that initiates and instructs individuals in some kind of magical or spiritual path. Use the links on the left to find out more about a particular tradition. Do you know of a tradition that we need to include that is not here? Please let us know by sending email to traditions@pagannnews.com. Please include as much information as you can so we can research as thoroughly as possible!

Alexandrian

American Tradition of the Goddess

Asatru/Norse

Black Forest Clan

Blue Star

British Traditional Wicca

Brotherhood of the Phoenix

Celtic

Correllian

Dianic

Faery

Family Wiccan Tradition

Gardnerian

Georgian

Golden Dawn

Isian

Lycian

Add a Coven

British Traditional Wicca

British Traditional Wicca is the name given to several Wiccan denominations that have received (via lineage)and maintained an established body of lore and practice passed down from generation to generation. The most well known of these are the Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions. Developed by English civil servant, tea-planter, and folklorist Gerald Brosseau Gardner (aka Scire) (1884-1964) and Craft author Doreen Valiente, Gardnerianism did not begin to develop until shortly after the 1951repeal of the English anti-witchcraft laws. Alex Sanders spun off the Alexandrian tradition from the Gardnerians, and both of these traditions are explained in more detail in this section.

In all branches of British Traditonal Wicca, members are formed into covens led by a High Priestess or High Priest. There is a formal ceremony of initiation, which includes oathbinding. Member of British Traditional Wicca are forbidden from charging money for training or initiation.

The three degree system which is prevalent throughout various traditions originated here, and in British Traditional Wicca consists of Priest/ess, Elder and High Priest/ess. The BTW has Articles of Faith, which are followed by all their initiates:

"We, the undersigned, being Witches of various British Traditions, in recognition of our common origin and similarity of religious practice, do ordain and declare these articles to strengthen our religion, emphasize our uniformity of belief and to demonstrate to the people and governments of this planet our serious dedication to the worship of the Gods. Witchcraft is composed of numerous traditions, but it is ONE religion. Therefore, we do declare:

Article I.That we are Wicca and our religion is Witchcraft.
Article II.That we give due worship to the Gods and obey their will.
Article III.That we worship both the Goddess of the Moon and her consort, the God of Death and Resurrection.
Article IV.That the Art is the secret of the Gods and may only be used in earnest and never for show or vain glory.
Article V.That we will never do anything to disgrace the Gods, the Mighty Ones, the religion or its members.
Article VII.That a Wicca (Witch) is a proper person who has been validly initiated within a Magic Circle by a Witch of the Opposite sex who has the authority to perform the initiation.
Article VIII.That the power may only be passed from woman to man and man to woman, and that a man shall never initiate a man and a woman shall never initiate a woman.
Article IX.That we will ever keep secret and never reveal: the secrets of the religion; the identity, rank or residence of any Wicca without their expressed permission; the location of any secret meeting place of the Wicca; the identity of any person attending such a meeting be they Wicca or not; the secret writings of the Craft or the methods of working magick.
Article X.That we will celebrate our Mysteries in secret and never permit a cowan (non-witch) to observe or participate in our secret ceremonies, rituals or rites.
Article XI.That we will never use magic to kill or injure anyone except in self defense.
Article XII.That we will never use magic to take revenge against anyone.
Article XIII.That we will never curse anyone.
Article XIV.That we will never kill or injure any living thing as a sacrifice or offering to the Gods. This prohibition does not include the pricking the finger as demanded at initiation.
Article XV.That we do not believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and that we do not mock or parody Christianity.
Article XVI.That we do not believe in the existence of Satan or the devil nor do we worship him.All this we do declare by the Gods and our past lives and our hope of future ones to come. So mote it be."

Known resources, groups and covens for British Traditional

(Kitsap Washington USA)

Search for British Traditional on the web:

[BACK]