Wicca is a nature and magic based religion that is taken from the Pagan practices of ancient times. Wicca mimics other world religions with its own rituals, seasonal "holidays" and belief system. The beliefs of the religion can vary by region, since there is no orthodox method of practice or central organization. There are, however, published teachings and works that most Wiccans adhere to.
The majority of Wiccans worship a God and Goddess who are considered to be equal, complimentary beings, and often are represented by the sun and moon. There is a trinity concept in this religion, with the Triple Goddess having aspects of the "Mother", "Crone" and "Maiden". Many members of Wicca concede that the Goddess had to predate her companion since she is the giver of life.
It is believed that both the God and Goddess are able to take form in the body of the Wiccan coven's Priests or Priestesses during ritual. Though they believe in deities, the concept of an afterlife doesn't hold strong in the Wicca community. Reincarnation is a favored belief and traditional teaching.
Possibly the most adhered to text in Wicca is the Wiccan Rede, which states "and it harm none, do what ye will". This is interpreted as meaning that as long as a person's actions do no harm to anyone else; they can consider themselves free to pursue them. There is also the concept of the Law of Threes (also known as the Law of Threefold Return) that says whatever positive or negative actions a person puts out into the world will return threefold.
The magic rituals of Wicca are performed within a coven or group of practitioners. The rituals are usually begun by casting a circle by invoking "guardians" of the elements and associated cardinal points: North (earth), West (water), South (fire) and East (air). The four elements are thought to represent every action and being on earth. The five points of the pentagram worn by those practicing Wicca stand for the elements and the presiding spirit.
After the circle is cast, prayers are made to the God and Goddess and spells may be cast. If it is at the time of a seasonal holiday, a special ritual may be performed. Tools a coven may have on hand for the ceremony include a book of spells (Book of Shadows), an altar cloth, cauldron, chalice, wand, broom, candles, crystals, athame (ritual knife) and incense. When the ceremony is finished, the God and Goddess are thanked for their participation and blessings and the coven closes the circle.
The Book of Shadows mentioned above is sort of a personalized religious text for either a single practitioner or- more commonly- a coven. The contents are kept secret but often contain such public domain works as the Wiccan Rede. What type of book is actually used varies between Wicca practitioners.
There are many "holidays" or seasonal observances in Wicca. Full moons (and sometimes new moons) bring about the ritual Esbat. There are also eight Sabbats- four of which, the cross-quarter days, are larger than the others and relate back to ancient fire festivals. These are named Samhain, Beltane, Lammas and Imbolc. The other, lesser celebrated festivals are the Summer and Winter solstices and Spring and Autumn Equinoxes.
The modern Faerie Tradition was established in the 1940s under the leadership of Victor Anderson and was developed by him, his wife Cora, and several important Faerie or Feri (as Victor spelt it) teachers during the years that followed.
So, what are the elements of the Faerie tradition and what are the principles?
1. Energy
The Faerie tradition is more an ecstatic than a fertility tradition. Strong emphasis is placed on sensual experience and awareness. Faerie Power is used, which is:
* Sensual * Sexual * Ecstatic * Mystical * Creative * Eclectic * Invocatory * Trance-possessory * Imbued with a respect for the wisdom of Nature and a love of beauty * Where the sexual and gender orientation is not limited to heterosexuality
Exercises such as the Iron Pentacle, the Pearl Pentacle, the Lead Pentacle, and the Blue Fire visualization are practiced to develop and strengthen the Faerie energy current.
2. Lineage
The mystery of the tradition probably stems from the fact that Faerie Wicca in its true form cannot be studied by distance tuition, by means of books or on the Web.
Like Egyptian Heka, Faerie Wicca is an oral tradition, very much hands-on and taught in person by initiates of the Craft. This being the case and because each initiate has their own take on the Tradition based on their individual experiences and interests, many authentic branches or lineages of the Faerie Tradition resulted. These include:
* Watchmaker. Reclusive group founded by the bardic, shamanic and psychedelic Gwydion Pendderwen.
* Vanthi. Faerie group which incorporates Gardnerian elements and which adheres to the three-fold law. Founded by Alison Harlow (1934-2004).
* FireDrake. An off-spring of Vanthi founded by Feri priestess Jt Argent, an initiate and spiritual heir of the late Alison Harlow. This line considers itself to be a form of Wicca and adheres to the "Three-Fold Law".
* Compost. Eclectic tradition founded by Starhawk, which combines many elements from different traditions.
* Silver Wheel. Formed by Steve Hewell, Eldri Littlewolf, and Gabriel Carillo. This group later became Korythalia, and then finally Bloodrose, which is a teaching coven. Although the latter disbanded, its lineage represents what may be the largest faction of the Faerie Tradition today.
* Draconian Pictish-Elven. Founded by Brian Dragon and an offspring of the Bloodrose lineage. It draws on the Pictish origins of Faerie, Tolkien and Jim Morrison.
* Sacred Wheel. Loose knit group of Faerie teachers and based on material of the Bloodrose group. Now disbanded.
* Nighthares. Descendant from Sacred Wheel. Added elements of Tibetan Buddhism, British Traditionalist Wicca, as well as teachings received directly from Victor and his wife Cora.
* Dustbunnies. Formed by Valerie Walker, an initiate of both the Compost and NightHares lineages. Teaches eclectic Faerie.
* Mandorla. Founded by initiates of the Andersons. Their lineage is known as Vicia which recalls an earlier form of the tradition and their practices are spontaneous.
* Morningstar. Founded by Faerie and Reclaiming Priestess T. Thorn Coyle. Her teachings originate in both the Bloodrose-derived lines of Feri, Feri as passed through some lines of Reclaiming, as well as that from the Anderson Clan. She teaches internationally offering 2 year apprenticeships.
* Blackheart. Derives its origins in both Anderson Feri as well as the Third Road material.
3. Customs and Practices
Some customs and practices are taught whilst other are generally understood as part of the Faerie energy. These include:
* Secret names are only revealed to initiates.
* Although practitioners of Faerie are responsible for what they do, most lineages do not have rules such as those contained in the Wiccan Rede. When in an enchanted, fey state, they can become a little chaotic, shape shifting, not completely human, or at least inspired by their gods and guardians, on the road to Faerie.
* There are deities which may either be the same as or different from other Wiccan traditions.
* Faerie has a unique set of guardians and invocations. These may be associated with the quarters or with the elements or at times with both.
* Knowledge of the Three Selves forms the basis of Faerie work.
* When initiated, the initiate receives a cord or cingulum of a specific color and is passed poetic and liturgical material.
* Trainees are taught how to use of the horned (inverted) pentagram.
* Workings take place either in small groups or solitary
* Trainees are taught the Faerie Warrior Code. This includes the Black Heart of Innocence. The latter is a fierce openness. In the Faerie tradition, weakness is not coddled, insincerities or self-deceptions in others are not supported and submitting one's own Life force to anyone or anything not allowed.
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