Foundations of Traditional Wicca

Gerald Gardner’s Wicca, specifically, was experiential: Everyone had their own experiences of the Gods, and the Wiccan tradition is particularly concerned more with the practice and further experience of it over maintaining an inherent structural belief; members are united within a body of shared, structured ritual praxis collected within a ‘Book of Shadows’, rather than a strict set of Deital beliefs.

Overwhelmingly, Traditional Wicca, unlike NeoWicca, emphasizes formal training within a coven setting, culminating in initiation and elevation through a degree system. In order for this initiation and elevation to be considered valid, the Coven and its leaders must be capable of tracing their own initiatory lineage to one of those early Wiccan founders- particularly Gerald Gardner or Alex Sanders (typically through one of their original High Priests[esses]).

Traditional Wicca is marked by higher levels of organization because of this. Seekers, for instance, are typically brought in and taught by Elders, who are usually arranged within a degreed hierarchy. This should not be taken to mean that traditional covens are stodgy, static, or perform their rites by rote, however. Rather, it means that particular structures are in place to encourage growth in individual members over time as well as continuity across the tradition as a whole; it is not to discourage creativity or independence but rather to facilitate learning and steady, consistent growth; a hierarchy need not be oppressive.

Aside from a shared initiation experience, a shared body of rites or some other common core of practice further unites these Covens within a tradition. Usually, as in Gardnerian Wicca, this involves the passing of the ‘Book of Shadows’ or some other body of liturgy or oral lore (and often plenty of both); theoretically, two initiates from different covens could meet for the first time and find that they connect through this intimate, shared knowledge.

Wicca is still a natural and spontaneous religion, however, in which rigid forms are largely avoided by most; once hived by Third Degree initiates every individual Coven is a law to itself. Nothing, therefore, is quite the same for two Circles or Covens.

Traditional Wicca is therefore understood to be: Coven Based, Initiatory, Lineaged, Hierarchical, and Experiential.

There are additional subjects which define traditional Wicca.

Polarity

Regardless of the theistic outlook on the Divine that a person may hold, all Wiccans abide by and ultimately work with the concept of essential polarity, both ritually and spiritually; however, many Deities or forces a Wiccan may believe exist in the Universe, only two polarities are ever present at once.

Immanence

The sacredness of all is essential to Wicca- but especially the sacredness of the Human; the fact that the Divine dwells within us and is our truest guide.

Nature

Wiccans recognize the sacredness of the physical and seek to attune themselves with the natural; they worship agricultural, pastoral, and fertility Deities, show reverence to the land and its Spirits and Elementals, celebrate the changing seasons, and more in pursuit of this goal.

Magic

Magic is real. It is something that anyone can do. And- being an orthopraxic Witchcraft religion- it is something that Wiccans are encouraged to do as part of the rituals, rites, celebrations, and general acts of worship of the Wiccan faith.

Circles and Quarters

A circlecast and quartered correspondingly with the four elements is the fundamental format of Wiccan ritual regardless of purpose or other structural changes; as we do not have Temples and places of worship, we bring ours with us.