We were initiated and elevated 3 gardnerian in salem, mass. Alexandrian wicca or alexandrian witchcraft is a tradition of the neopagan religion of wicca, founded by alex sanders also known as king of the witches who, with his wife maxine sanders, established the tradition in the united kingdom in the 1960s. Gardnerian wicca is the direct initiatory line of coven based wicca started by gerald. In wicca, it is normally copied by hand from the book of ones initiating high priestess or priest, who copied theirs from their initiator. Some people say you cant be wiccan unless youre initiated, others believe. It introduces the main characters involved in the early, modern. Lessons in the correllian tradition set foot on the witchs path and embark on a journey that will transform you at the deepest levels of your being.
Theoretically, none at allas the witchs will is the most important tool. I hereby sign and consecrate you with the great magic sign. In an ongoing effort to clear up some misconceptions within the wider eclectic wiccan community, wed like to describe the traditional idea of a year and a day which is traditionally used to describe the time spent as a seeker, before initiation. Gardnerian wicca an unofficial and informative website. Focusing on the importance of individualism in your spiritual path, cunningham explains the very basics of sabbats holy days, ceremonies, altars, and other nuts and bolts of wicca that a solitary practitioner may have trouble. Return to index gardnerian book of shadows 1957 the second degree initiation. Modern initiatory wicca has many variants gardnerian, alexandrian, and offshoots of these but all share an adherence to a similar ritual structure and the practice of initiation.
We who are called gardnerian are children of the wica. There is often a great deal of dissension over the issue of wicca and initiation. Wicca, gardnerian and alexandrian, it has been said that gardnerians initiate. Gardnerian was a never a term used by gardner himself. The eight or nine, or tools of wicca grove and grotto. The covens are very secretive and take oaths upon initiations. We specifically love to get all up in arms whenever a very tiny minority of vocal maroons thats the moron spelling of moron, and those trained in a vacuum by them, attempt to tell us what we can and cannot do within the pale of the tradition. If youre interested in gardnerian or alexandrian wicca, then absolutely, yes, you have to be initiated. As in any other neopagan traditions, gardnerian wicca honors the nature because the man and all living creatures are part of it. Magus now unties her feet, unties the cable tow from the altar, and helps the witch to her feet. Dismisses and belittles anyone who disagrees with them.
As in gardnerian wicca, there are three levels, or degrees, of initiation, commonly referred to as first, second, and third degree. Gardners usage of wica versus wicca i have looked at the usage of wica and wicca in gardners writings and it is clear that gardner mainly use d one c wica. Gardnerian wicca is one of founding traditions of modern paganism. The recommended time frame to complete your studies is one year. In gardnerian and alexandrian craft, the first degree initiate is known as a witch and priest or witch and priestess, and the second and third degree initiate as high priest or high priestess.
Return to index gardnerian book of shadows 1957 the first degree initiation. This edition was created and published by global grey globalgrey 2019. However, there are other specializations available, such as administrators, bards, healers, diviners, etc. While alexandrian ritual tool use and the names of the deities differ from gardnerian tradition, maxine sanders has.
We can neither confirm nor deny that cords are used within witchcraft or with gardnerian wicca. The guild structure of british traditional wicca wiccan rede. Nov 10, 2012 in the gardnerian and alexandrian traditions this would bring the new member into the first of three degrees within the coven. In the church of wicca we combined the second and third degrees because we work by correspondence, and bringing people in from distant places twice seemed to us to be too much of a burden for a single initiation. You can email me if you like, but i have to warn you. Gardnerian wicca gardnerian wicca is an initiatory mystery tradition or branch of witchcraft named after gerald brosseau gardner, a man initiated into a traditional witch coven in the new forest region of england in 1939. The initiation into second degree wicca learn spells. Contents casting the circle drawing down the moon the charge.
Mar 21, 2017 the initiation into second degree wicca. The initiation 1949 first degree magus leaves circle by the doorway, goes to postulant, and says, since there is no other brother here, i must be thy sponsor, as well as priest. Leo martello writes in his forward to gardners the meaning of witchcraft,1 pioneer, publicist, advance pressman, gardner was the right man for the right time, a channel, who tapped the dormant spritual reservoir of thousands. On this page are symbols more specific to wicca and wiccan initiation. According to ronald hutton, in his book triumph of the moon, many of. It is not unusual to find that earlier initiates did not receive the same books as later ones. In modern the book of shadows is a collection of magical and religious texts of wicca and other neopagan witchcraft traditions, containing the core rituals, magical practices, ethics and philosophy of a. In gardnerian wicca, the true names of the gods are revealed only to initiated members, and are kept secret from anyone outside the tradition. Gardnerian book of shadows index witchcraft wicca by rick branch founder.
I dont know about the allegation that gardnerian wicca requires initiation by sex, so wont comment. Based on a talk given to the lgbt fountain moot, birmingham. Magus kneels, placing left hand under her knees and right hand on her head, thus forming magic link. I will point out that strictly gardnerian wicca is rare these days, by my own experience. This is the text of the gardnerian book of shadows. Founded by alex sanders and his wife maxine, alexandrian wicca became a. The seconddegree initiation 1957 form circle in usual manner, invoking the mighty ones at the four quarters.
A degree shows that the student has spent time learning, studying and practicing. Second degree magus binds witch as before, but does not blindfold her, and circumambulates with her, proclaims to the four quarters, hear, ye mighty ones, name, a duly consecrated priestess and witch, is now properly prepared to be made a high priestess and witch queen. Despite this, there are some inaccuracies as there is. The initiation 1949 second degree second degree magus binds witch as before, but does not blindfold her, and circumambulates with her, proclaims to the four quarters, hear, ye mighty ones, name, a duly consecrated priestess and witch, is now properly prepared to be made a high priestess and witch queen. An introduction to alexandrian wicca the wellhead david. Gardnerian wicca was an initiatory mystery religion, admission to which was at least in theory limited to those who were initiated into a preexisting coven. From the gardnerian book of shadows this is the text of the gardnerian book of shadows. Merlin sythove, the second opinion initiative it is a really good idea to get a second opinion from another wiccan before joining a group.
How many working tools are used in gardnerian witchcraft. Consequently, i prefer to use the term the wica when talking about gardnerian crafters. Return to index gardnerian book of shadows 1957 the firstdegree initiation. Its a common misconception that attaining a degree is an end goal, but in fact, most high priestesses hps will tell their initiates that being granted a degree is just the beginning of a new and empowering process. This ritual is a compilation of gardnerian, fairy, and traditional wiccan sources, and is intended to be used as an initiation for graduates of my training course in basic technologies of witchcraft. In 1961 he wrote to gardnerian high priestess patricia crowther claiming to have an affinity for the occult and to have experienced second sight. He was one of the first to go public with formation about the craft. The higher the magical degree first, second, or third, the longer the person has studied, and thereby mastered deeper magical skills. Second degree priestesses are considered teachers, and in our particular coven must have taught us, as a coven, something before elevation to that degree.
There is a great deal of emphasis on using the original book of shadows that. Initiation for second degree wicca black witch coven. Keep in mind, initiation isnt required to be wiccan, its only required to join a coven or specific trad. Gardnerian is the tradition founded by gerald gardner. Self initiation is not practiced and the solitary practice is extremely rare, except for high rank gardnerians that are retired from public life. Magus binds witch as before, but does not blindfold her, and circumambulates with her, proclaims to the four quarters, hear, ye mighty ones. Gardner is generally credited with the modern revival of wicca, he was neither the first to practice nor the founder of witchcraft.
Posts about gardnerian witchcraft written by gardnerians. Sep 27, 2015 3 gardnerian, running a coven in ripley since 1999 with my wife and hps. The firstdegree initiation gardnerian book of shadows. Gardner, the english witch for whom the gardnerian tradition is named, the measure serves as a sort of insurance policy that the oath will be kept. This served to impress on initiates that wicca was a serious secret society.
About coven members coven oldenwilde wiccan website. The second degree initiation 1957 form circle in usual manner, invoking the mighty ones at the four quarters. The traditional british wicca, and many traditions that share the same values, have a system with three degrees of initiation. Progression is similar to masonry and other esoteric traditions with secrets being revealed progressively. The 1 year recommended guideline allows for the student to. When you join a coven and complete their training and membership requirements, the initiation is when they mark your admission. Typically each coven has a handwritten copy of a book of shadows, sometimes in cypher or code, which reflects its own practices and knowledge. Alexandrian wicca focuses on the polarity between the genders, and rites and ceremonies often dedicate equal time to the god and the goddess. Ones first degree is initiation, or becoming one of the wicca. Second degree magus binds witch as before, but does not blindfold her, and circumambulates with her, proclaims to the four quarters, hear, ye mighty ones, name, a duly consecrated priestess and witch, is now properly prepared to be made a high priestess and.
Nov 21, 20 wicca has developed in several directions and institutional structures from the time it was brought to wider attention by gerald gardner. Posts about shit that moves us written by gardnerians. A high priestess in northwind tradition is autonomous except as provided for in the northwind bylaws andor policies. First degrees are considered competent to do a circle for themselves only and given only that part of the book which is relevant to that scope of practice. He was initiated into a coven of witches in the new forest region of england in 1939 by a high priestess named old dorothy clutterbuck.
Alexandrian wicca the alexandrian wiccan tradition. Is initiation really necessary for me to be wiccan. This article looks at the traditional altar tools that are used in the gardnerian tradition of wicca. New members are brought in based on compatibility with present members, and as space is available. Gardner 18841964, who stumbled upon a hereditary coven practicing witchcraft in england in the 1930s. It also acted to preserve wiccan teachings as exclusive to those who had been formally admitted to. Tries to prevent you from reading widely and critically about wicca.
The gardnerian book of shadows is the central sacred text of the wicca religion. The process through which an individual is made a witch is called initiation. Weve done it robed, sky clad, and some interesting. In a broad sense, first degree initiation is open to all witches but the second and third degree are only for those who seek and respond to an inner call. A book of shadows is a book containing religious texts and instructions for magical rituals found within the neopagan religion of wicca. After attending a performance staged by the rosicrucian order crotona. The third degree is generally regarded as a personal step in british gardnerian wicca, not something that is required in order to be able to run a coven. A central aspect of wicca particularly in gardnerian and alexandrian wicca, often sensationalised by the media is the traditional practice of working in the nude, also known as skyclad. In the second degree initiation, the witch is blindfolded and bound, and renews the oath that it is necessary to suffer to learn and be purified. Gardner, an author as well as an amateur archaeologist and anthropologist, in the late 1940s or early 1950s, which he used in his bricket wood coven and. Others branched off, including alexandrian wicca and cochranian wicca, drawing on the teachings of gardner, and moving forward to create their own paths. The witchs journey venture further on your journey into the magical life of a witch. Alexandrian wicca is much more eclectic than gardnerian wicca, and includes elements of ceremonial magic and much else, and to gardners 30 witch laws, alex sanders added a further. Group for people interested in gardnerian wicca, sometimes known in the us as british traditional wicca.
However, it is important to point out that there is no official book of shadows. Gardnerian wicca new moon pagan wicca witchcraft occult shop. Alexandrian wicca or alexandrian witchcraft is a tradition of the neopagan religion of wicca. A guide for the solitary practitioner is the essential primer from one of the best known authors on wicca. In some groups, this is referred to as becoming one of the twiceborn. Return to index gardnerian book of shadows 1957 the seconddegree initiation. The tradition is itself named after gardner 18841964, a british civil servant and amateur scholar of magic. Peremptorily dismisses any concerns you have about something that makes you uncomfortable, e.
Most paths of wicca follow the traditional practice of insisting on at least a year and a day of study before initiating anyone to the first degree. Shauna aura knight, the frosts and consent culture 2014 shauna aura knight, compassion, truth, and bonesetting 2016 good people do bad things. Gardnerian wicca contains three separate degrees of initiation, and those. The initiate should be properly prepared and bound with the cords.
The gardnerian book of shadows for android apk download. Learn traditional wiccan witchcraft the gardnerian book of shadows, by gerald gardner. The twelve lessons of the witch schools second degree, designed to be completed in the traditional year and a day format, build on the skills and knowledge you gained in the first degree training program. The second initiation, which confers the rank of high priest or high priestess, is given when. Gardnerian wicca is named for the religions founder, gerald gardner, and it is considered by many people to the be the original form of this spiritual path. In 1949 gardner published his first book, which was later followed by several other works. In most wiccan covens, there is some form of initiation and a degree system. The northwind second degree training is designed to produce coven and ritual leaders hpses in the usual sense. What we can do is refer you to books written by gardnerians who also cannot confirm or deny that we use cords, to see how they instruct you on how to use them. This is a ceremony we have used a couple of times with variations to suit the candidate for the second degree initiation. Third degree initiation confers upon the candidate full priestesshood, making hser a high priestess in northwind. This family tree is based on my own research as well as other source material that can be found on the internet, or in books. M ost wiccan traditions have three levels of initiation.
Gardnerian wicca is based solely on conciliar activities and initiations. Whether in the third degree initiation practiced by the wider community, or in the single initiation of the church of wicca, it is. In one sense, this is the central sacred text of the wicca religion. Go round circle with magic sword or athame, saying, i conjure thee, o circle of power, that thou beest as a boundary and a protection to contain the magic power which i will raise within thy bounds. Alexandrian wicca is one of the british traditional witchcraft traditions a group of related religious traditions that share a common initiatory history, often tracing back to gerald gardner, one of the first people to start writing about witchcraft as the mystery religion that it is basing his writings on the teachings he had received as.
Gardnerian wicca, or gardnerian witchcraft, is a tradition in the neopagan religion of wicca. The inverted pentagram, symbol of second degree initiation, has more sinister connotations for many, particularly in the usa where it is associated with satanism and where even the upright pentagram is generally misunderstood and displayed or worn at some risk. Ceremony for becoming a wiccan high priestess synonym. If youre not sure exactly what gardnerian witchcraft is, you could perhaps start off by reading this article which i wrote as a handout for the 2005 conference of the transpersonal psychology section of the british psychological association.
The voynich code the worlds most mysterious manuscript the secrets of nature duration. Within wicca as we know it today, there are many different branches that are known as traditions. The seconddegree initiation gardnerian book of shadows. Gardnerian witchcraft was the father tradition of many others that were to follow. It is an endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. This is an extremely traditional path with a hierarchical grade structure. The second and third degree initiations are sometimes alternatively called elevations, though that term was not used in early wicca. Gardnerian wicca, or gardnerian witchcraft, is a tradition in the neopagan religion of wicca, whose members can trace initiatory descent from gerald gardner.
Finding the rituals fragmentary, he rewrote them with the help of doreen valiente, one of his initiates, resulting in the. The key understanding we need to take away here is that an initiation is something thats done to you, by someone who belongs to a specific group, bringing you into that specific groupin wicca, that would be a coven. Go round circle with magic sword or athame, saying, i conjure thee, o circle of power, that thou beest as a boundary and a protection to contain the magic power which i will raise within thy. Casting the circle drawing down the moon the charge initiation. The first degree confers initiation into the craft. Alexandrian wicca is similar in many ways to gardnerian wicca, and receives regular mention in books on wicca as one of the religions most. Gardnerian wicca is considered one of the oldest forms of wicca and most wiccans acknowledge it to be the beginning of the wicca movement. Initiation into the second degree follows a similar procedure with the person selecting a new craft name.
The gardnerian book of shadows, by gerald gardner, at initiation. When he first started promoting the religion of wicca he included oaths of secrecy as part of the first degree initiation rite. After the first degree initiation, the initiate is responsible for their own spiritual. Form circle in usual manner, invoking the mighty ones at the four quarters. We are open to interested seekers over the age of 21 only after an extensive interview. The initiation is conducted by gardners book of shadows. In gardnerian wicca, there are three grades of initiation. Wicca, a pagan religion founded in the early 20th century, is practiced in diverse ways known as traditions by solitary practitioners and groups called covens. This is a guideline only you can complete the entire course as fast as you like. This practice seemingly derives from a line in aradia, charles lelands supposed record of italian witchcraft.
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