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demoness of wolves

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Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 10:54 pm

Okay, time to make a complete fluffy fool out of myself sweatdrop

Here it is: I am confused completely. I keep hearing about how you have to trace your lineage back to Gardner and everything, but I'm not sure about why. I know he is the one who, for lack of a better term, founded the whole thing. But, what if you don't want to practice that? Is his "version" the only way to practice Wicca? Or are there, like, branches that you can study under? Everyone I talk to, and everywhere I read on here says that you have to do this, but what about all the other people? Are they just neo-pagan?

So, in essense, here are my questions:
1. Is Gardner's Wicca the only way to practice Wicca?
2. Are there any other ways to practice if not?
3. Are all the other people I've heard of neo-pagan? or are they Wiccan also?

Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:37 pm

demoness of wolves

But, what if you don't want to practice that?

Then you aren't practicing Wicca, something else. As to what, you'd have to give details. Next just because it isn't Wicca doesn't mean it's an invalid practice, just that it's not Wicca.

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Is his "version" the only way to practice Wicca?

All Wicca covens can trace lineage back to Gardner and preserve core practices, initiation being one of those core practices. What the core practices are only initiated Wiccans know and are oathbound from revealing.

Quote:

Or are there, like, branches that you can study under?

Branches is a bit inaccurate. There are different traditions of Wicca that have added to the what was practice when it was first created but all these traditions still preserve certain core practices that makes Wicca what it is. I say practices because the religion is defined by it's practices, not it's beliefs like other religions.

Quote:

Everyone I talk to, and everywhere I read on here says that you have to do this, but what about all the other people? Are they just neo-pagan?

If they aren't practicing an Orthopraxic, Oathbound, Initiatory, Mystery-based, Experiential, Coven-based, Fertility-focused, Dithesitic Witch-cult whose members are all Clergy within a Lineaged Tradition that can trace an line of initiation back to Gardener, then they are more than likely practicing some other Neo-Pagan religion.

Quote:

So, in essense, here are my questions:
1. Is Gardner's Wicca the only way to practice Wicca?
2. Are there any other ways to practice if not?
3. Are all the other people I've heard of neo-pagan? or are they Wiccan also?

Hopefully I've answered your questions already.

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Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 12:58 am

demoness of wolves

Okay, time to make a complete fluffy fool out of myself sweatdrop

Fluffies rarely ask questions. wink If you're asking and genuinely wanting to know what's what, you're fine. If you're blocking your ears and going "LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU" you're a fluffy.

Quote:

Here it is: I am confused completely. I keep hearing about how you have to trace your lineage back to Gardner and everything, but I'm not sure about why.

There's elements of energy exchange involved in initiation as far as I know, but because of my lack of understanding on that wise I'll skip it and focus on the orthopraxy.

Essentially, Wicca is taught by experiencing ritual, and it's taught in a proper Wiccan ritual circle to someone who has been properly prepared and initiated. That which is Wicca can only be taught in this way. The teachings are passed down, from Gardner and his HPSs, down through their coven, and down their various initiatory lines. If you, down at the bottom, can trace your way back up to Gardner, you know the teachings have been unbroken, and what you're practising is legitimately Wicca.

Did that make sense, or would you like further clarification on that one?

Quote:

But, what if you don't want to practice that? Is his "version" the only way to practice Wicca? Or are there, like, branches that you can study under?

That sort of depends, a little. There are bits of Gardnerian practice that aren't "core", that is, they're not essential to the practice of Wicca. For example, Gardner favoured scourging as a form of raising energy, for example, because he was an asthmatic and kinda a bit kinky that way wink . Other practitioners weren't really so big on that. Within a tradition, the way you do things may vary a bit.

But then you have people who want to change the additional practices (you can add to Wicca, but never take away) and do things a little differently. They branch off and form their own Traditions, like Alex Sanders did.

So there are different versions, but it's all Gardner's religion. They all maintain those core practices, and they can all trace their initiation back to Gardner.

Quote:

Everyone I talk to, and everywhere I read on here says that you have to do this, but what about all the other people? Are they just neo-pagan?

I don't really like the "just", myself. I mean, being a Neo-Pagan of another path means you're different, but the "just" sometimes implies, to me, that it's "lesser" or not quite as cool and important. It feels dismissive to say "just a Neo-Pagan". But yes, it means you're practising something different, and that a different label (or set of labels) will be more accurate and appropriate for your path.

I mean, I am one of those "other people" wink What I do isn't Wicca. It took me a while to find the schools of Paganism and witchcraft that I felt most at home in, but hey, it's a journey. You'll get there.

Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:00 am

Just to throw my two cense in here, some one who practices paganisme similar to Wicca but is not in a wiccan coven is often called a Eclectic Neo Pagan, or so it is to my understanding though Im not 100% on that. and I agree that bein a neo pagan does not lessen the power, or anything of that form. it just meens that you arent Wiccan. and personally I findWicca a bit overrated for myself, Im just not into fertility religions.
I may have the same Gods, but I just practice under them differently. they still love me ^_^ or atleast I assume they do as I havent been struck by lightning or anything of that nature yet. lolz
what ever path fits you, go with it! if you want to be a wiccan, then find your self a coven. if you want to continue without the lineage and such other formalitys that I find to be a bit of a hastle, then by all means, knock your self out.

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demoness of wolves

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Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 5:48 pm

Thank you all for the replies. It did help me with understanding. Also, when I had said ''just neo-pagan'' I meant no offense, I should have worded it differently I guess.... what I meant by it was that they weren't what they claimed to be, therefore being by the definitions I've read on here neo-pagan or eclectic neo-pagan. 3nodding

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