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Traditional Practicers?

To: alt.traditional.witchcraft,alt.magick.tyagi
From: catherine yronwode 
Subject: Re: Traditional Practicers?
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 01:16:32 GMT

Beirn wrote:
> 
> Hello.
> Traditional forms of witchcraft, pre-gardner, include
>  1) indigenous folk traditions of the occult/magic/
>  2) Hereditary lineage of occult practitioners
>    and their would always have been:
>  3) naturally adept people who are either trained or who self 
> educate in the occult.
> 
> The idea of wicca is based in a series of anthropological and 
> historical misconceptions, that took popular but inaccurate ideas 
> about both paganism and the occult and created out of these a new 
> cult. (I say cult in the sense that it is a religious philosophy not 
> an occult art).
> 
> This new path also called itself witchcraft, and there are those who
> think that Gardner's original form, or some similar but differently
> named form, is traditional Witchcraft: ie thinking, "it's like 
> GARDNER'S original form, and that must be ancient so therefore this 
> must be ancient and traditional". Whereas once you realise that 
> Gardner's "witchcraft" was his own attempt to reconstruct a path 
> using very very flawed set of sources, you realise that no matter 
> how old a wiccan coven is, or how old the rules they follow they are 
> in fact very very modern.
> 
> Therefore usually the term "traditional Wicca" is used to denote
> followers of wicca who follow the formula laid down by gardner or 
> who try to claim ancient lineage for an obviously gardnerian / 
> wiccan path.
> 
> Traditional Witchcraft is the term for adherents and practitioners 
> of older, family or culturally based magic. As a general rule - and 
> these are very broad strokes - if one comes from a long tradition of
> practising witchcraft; or studies the indigenous witchcraft of one's
> culture under a qualified teacher; or inherits the talent from one's
> family; sees witchcraft an occult art; is not subject to a rede/law 
> of three/etc; practices alone; this is traditional witchcraft .
> 
> Practicing witchraft as a religion; assuming it to be a pagan 
> religion; following a rede/law of three/; working in covens under a
> high priest / priestess; keeping a book of shadows; using a variety 
> of gods from diferent cultures; linking magic to prayer; these are 
> general give=aways that Traditional Wicca is involved, not 
> Witchcraft...
> 
> Of course this is a wide and hotly debated issue : the above is 
> intended as a general and broad differentiation.
> 
> regards
> Beirn

Beautifully stated! Thanks. 

cat yronwode 

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