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On the Dangers of 'Denominationalism' in the Craft

 “She hath a grip of all the Craft.”

(Andrew Mann, of the Queen of Elfhame [1591])

 

“Tradition” is Witch for “denomination.”

For its own good reasons, the collective intuition of the modern Craft has seen fit—you'll pardon the expression—to organize itself into various Traditions.

Some among us strongly identify with a particular Tradition; some of us define ourselves by our Tradition.

There's nothing wrong with that. In some ways, this constitutes a strength.

But there's a difference between letting ourselves be defined by a given Tradition, and letting ourselves be limited by that Tradition.

The Craft is, always has been, and always will be, bigger than any given Tradition.

Were there no witches before Tradition X? Nonsense. There have always been witches. There were witches before there were Traditions. Traditions are made for witches, not witches for Traditions.

The Craft is more than the sum of its Traditions.

No Tradition embodies the fullness of the Craft.

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Recent Comments - Show all comments
  • Steven Posch
    Steven Posch says #
    It's instructive to note that the Far Right was able to co-opt the word "Christian" because, in effect, mainstream Christianity ha
  • Gus diZerega
    Gus diZerega says #
    Well said. Denominationalism is a Christian affliction we do not need and that makes no sense in a Pagan context, historically or
  • Aline "Macha" O'Brien
    Aline "Macha" O'Brien says #
    Huzzah! From Macha, Witch at Large
PaganNewsBeagle Airy Monday December 1

The PaganNewsBeagle took off last week (our internet went down!) but we are back in the saddle. In today's Airy Monday segment, we concentrate on academic issues of interest to Pagans and their allies. Magpie Wicca?; degrees of British traditional Wicca; Pagans and the land; Novo Religio (an academic magazine devoted to New Religious Movements); the World Religions and Spirituality Project.

Is Wicca inherently syncretic? Sable Aradia says "yes!" and offers ideas as to the difference Wicca's borrowing of ideas from many paths makes in inter-Pagan relations.

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Posted by on in Paths Blogs

The other day a member of my coven offered to lead an upcoming ritual.  I was extremely pleased by this development. Though my wife and I often function as the "High Priestess" and "High Priest" of our group we didn't start this endeavor with the idea that we would run every ritual.  It's nice to just sit back sometimes and participate instead of having to stand forward and "lead."  

I know that our group is kind of set up in a such a way that it often looks like I'm in charge. My wife and I started our coven, we selected our initial circle-mates, and I organized our week to week gatherings.  As time went on we adopted a formal ritual structure, which I wrote.  

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