TRADITIONS IN WITCHCRAFT

Wicca does not acknowledge any ‘holy scripture’, dogmatic rules or dictated beliefs. Neither do we have any fixed hierarchy or organizational structure.  We feel it is up to the individual practitioner to decide what  to do, say or believe. He has the first and final say, and the responsibility that goes with it. Witches believe they have the ability to experience Nature’s mystery, without having anyone dictating a certain perception on them.

In search of this divine unity with Nature, witches often work together in small groups, which are called ‘covens’. Covens always respect that each member  needs his or her own ‘space’ for personal development. Yet they offer the possibility to intertwine the different individual energies, thus creating a ‘group power’ with its own characteristics and strength. Covens are usually guided by a  High Priestess and a High Priest. Covens are basically independent, but often choose to follow one of the known Wiccan traditions.

Some of these traditions have been passed on from generation to generation, sometimes within certain families. Others stem from the more recent pagan revivals. The Gardnerian Tradition (founded by the British witch, Gerald Gardner and his partner Doreen Valiente) is one of the latter. The same is true for the Alexandrian Tradition, which was started by another British witch, Alex Sanders and his partner Maxine Morris.

Some covens only allow female members. Such covens can be found within the Dianic Tradition. Each one of these traditions is well-known and widely practiced in Europe as well as the USA. The word ‘Wicca’ originated in Anglo-Saxon regions. Confusingly, the word ‘Wicca‘ refers to something entirely different in France. There, the word seems to be associated with a rather satanically and erotically inspired movement. Of course, it would be unbelievably naive to deny the existence  of satanic cults. Those groups who think of Satan as being ‘Lucifer, the Bringer of Light’ (and therefore not as ‘the Evil’ !) are probably not even dangerous or malignant.

Nevertheless, Wicca clearly and firmly dissociates itself from all worship related to an ‘anti-christ’, blood sacrifice, sinister rituals, or anything of that nature. The Greencraft movement is the youngest, but fast-growing branch on the Alexandrian tree. The Greencraft movement evolved from a coven, founded some years ago by Hera and Arghuicha.

Greencraft now unites several covens in Belgium, the Netherlands and the USA. Characteristic of the Greencraft is its unusual openness. It stems from the need to create a  fairly flexible federation-like structure within which covens can help eachother, hereby creating an environment which allows several solutions in cases of personal conflict. Though Greencraft covens are also basically independent, different forms of co-operation and mutual visits are strongly encouraged.

 Often, if possible, Greencraft covens invite each other to celebrate certain Sabbats together. The Greencraft is determined to pay more than just lip-service to Mother Earth! We aim to truly experience this tie that connects us to Her other children. After all, we all share the same planet!

 The names we use for God(s) and Goddess(es), mainly originate from our Celtic past and the footprints of an Old Religion that still seem to color our local traditions, folklore and customs. Lately, many women seem to have found their way into Wicca, because they discovered the deep-rooted respect for womankind that is embedded in our beliefs. Strangely, this respect is lacking in most of the great ‘world’ religions. This essential role the Goddess plays in the Cosmic Dance, this high status She enjoys, is reflected in the re-thinking of gender-related patterns. The polarity between the male and female (both in the human and in the divine) which lives and moves all around us, is both liberating and inspiring for men and women alike.   All things considered, the different Wiccan Traditions are actually quite similar. Whichever Tradition a witch chooses to follow, the idea of Divinity-revealed-in-Nature will always bind her to other fellows in the craft.