The Wiccan Divide – By Jesi (Draco) Jones

 

We’ve all seen them, the age old debates on Tradition Wicca Vs. Neo/Eclectic Wicca, but this isn’t simply an age old debate, it’s a problem that threatens the very core of Wicca itself, here is my take on the subject, one view that even though, is unable to speak for the whole Wiccan community in general, is very familiar with the situation at hand and is affected by this conflict and knows all to well the risks it brings.

 

Some Traditionalist will say that Neo-Wicca is not an accurate representation of Wicca, that now-days anybody can simply claim the religion, even if they know nothing about it, that people think, Wicca is whatever you want it to be, but what is Wicca? There are many variations, many traditions, and while all of them are considered Wicca, sometimes and quite often, it is hard to distinguish which qualities are the core of the religion, especially for those new to it.

 

I am not ignorant, I know there are those that claim to be Wiccan, yet do not understand the history of it, nor how it came about, who don’t understand the phrase, "An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

 

Every religion has their "posers" or "fluffs", but you can't blame the whole community for the actions of a select few, especially those who don't follow the beliefs of the religion

 

Another concern of Traditionalist is that without the oath-bound information of Gardner himself, how can one truly understand the religious practices of the Religion?, but just how much does this inner-court information affect the core beliefs of Wicca?, It’s hard to say, and some claim that there is enough of it that has leaked, to the point that it doesn’t matter anyway.

 

Also, this isn't just Neo vs. Traditional here, I know Tradionalists on both sides here, and some say that there is enough published information to accurately follow Wicca.

 

Some Tradionalists see Neo-Wicca  (as opposed to Trad) was being easily corruptible, I do not agree with this, because on the one hand you have the possibility of those calling themselves Wiccan while knowing nothing about the religion, which is a problem, however, the whole of Neo-Wicca, is not as corruptible as Trad, because of it's structure.

 

Some would argue that Neo or Eclectic Wicca is harmful to Traditional Wicca, I don't believe so, in fact I think it's beneficial...

 

It can keep our numbers up, it will actually keep the religion from dying out, even before Wicca, witch-related communities have often struggled to survive, the problem has always been and even is now, if not to a lesser degree, that Covens and/or other groups are so spread out, that being able to be a part of one may not be possible for some, this limits exposure for those who are genuinely interested, I think that if it weren't for the likes of Garner and Murray, who wrote about the subject and who made it public, that it probably would have died out, or at least it would probably be very close to doing so...

 

As for another thing, I do understand the need to be secretive, although I think that allot of the reasons aren't as valid to day as they used to be, of course one can argue that some countries aren't as tolerant as they used to be...

 

I'm not saying one should give up all their secrets, but I also don't think living in fear is the way to go, especially this day in age, and yes I know fear isn't the only reason for keeping things oath-bound, but I do believe it has been one of the main reasons....

 

I think Neo/Eclectic Wicca, or whatever it is you prefer to call it, has done wonders for the religion in the sense that Wicca and witchcraft are more understood now by the public, and actually seen as a religion, and no, I'm not saying all of the persecution as ended, and it may never end, but at least we have made progress.

 

Of course I think a problem is that, even if it became unnecessary and/or beneficial to release oath-bound information, who has the authority to do so?

 

And what about he different forms of Trad Wicca?

 

Gardnerian, Alexandrian? They are different but still considered Traditional...

 

What about Bucklands own tradition, Seax Wicca?, If I'm correct it does not contain Garners oath-bound information, but has the core aspects of Wicca interwoven into it's practice, and wasn't Buckland chosen my Gardner himself to be the US representative of Wicca?

 

doesn't this prove that Gardner himself was open to different variations, that he understood the need for diversity?

 

it's like with many relation such as Christianity, which is the best example I can think of at the moment...you have Protestants, Baptists, Catholics, Mormons <-- that last one is right isn't it) but they are all Christians, they are just different variations, and I realize most of you won't argue that Neo-Wicca is Wicca, some traditionalists might though...

 

But if Neo-Wicca is referred to as so, then logically it would be Wicca.

 

You can't bend the rules for Raymond or Alex sanders and then not for anybody else, that isn't very fair now is it?

 

As for the origins of Wicca, Garner said he was initiated into an existed group, the reconstruction of ancient pagan and witchcraft related practices, now weather or not you believe it started with him or not, while important isn't really relevant to the topic, and here’s why...

 

When Wicca as a religion was created is among much debate, however, many would, as do I, say that Wicca is a modern reconstruction of many older beliefs and therefore is at it's core, eclectic, a religion founded on many spiritual princpals that were not of it's own accord, there is nothing wrong with is, but I think denying that Wicca is self is very diverse while acknowledging that is is eclectic by nature, is just a tad hypocritical dont you think?

 

Another thing, although Wicca as a religion is relatively new, (considering the length of human existence anyway) compared to most religions, the term itself is ancient, and means 'The Wise One", "The Wise Ones" or simply, "The Wise" and was often attributed to Witches, Shamans, healers and the like.

 

There are many variations, Wica, Wicca, Wice, Wicce, ect, but the definition for the most part remains the same,

 

It describes those at one with nature and seemed to be able to manipulate it or become one with it, to make their will, their though, their desire, manifest, to perform Magic(k)

 

To become spiritually aware and connect with the divine, and I think it was this that Gardner, or whoever applied this name to the now known religion, was trying to capture, universally.

 

For something to be universal, it needs to fit in with other belief systems, it must give a sense of unity, while also presenting a sense of great diversity, it must bring people closer together, as a religion it must bring one closer to the divine, while still allowing one to have their own ideas.

 

It must accept the need for people of various personalities and religious thoughts on deity.

 

I am not saying Wicca, is right for everyone, but can you honestly say that it doesn't try to be?

 

If you look at the history of witchcraft, no religion itself, wasn't it created to understand the world around ones self? to connect to a higher sense of being, sure not all religions are like this, but if you look back at the earliest ones, and see the need for understanding, to feel as though your simply more than flesh and blood, to capture the meaning of life, often through Deity, isn't this what Wicca is truly about?

 

It may be structured differently than these first religions to allow more universal compatibility but the feeling is still there, at least for me it is.

 

I think people of every religion often tend to forget about their roots, to understand what a religion represents, don't just look at scripture or those who have influence over it, to truly understand a religion, I belief you must live it, experience it's history, ask yourself why you believe in it, and understand how and why it was formed, and I also believe that his is even more important with Wicca, a religion without hundreds of pages of sacred texts, without 100's of rules and guidelines......it is very simple yet very diverse, very complex, and may be sometimes hard to define the whole Wiccan community with words, but this is ok, it's what Wicca is about, instead of looking at how both sides are different, you need to focus on how they are the same, how the concept applies for both, the goals, the morals, the lifestyle

 

With people looking into new paths, becoming more spiritually aware, I think that we are looking upon a Golden Age, not just for Wicca, but or Paganism and other religions who have generally been "set aside" if you will.

 

It's easy to argue the about Trad vs. Neo, or whatever you prefer to call the debate itself, but I think what the Wiccan community really needs is a sense of brother/sisterhood between the two, sure many of us get along, but we need that sense of community, we need to work together, make a positive image for the community, to teach those who are interested but may be not realize their history, we need to be their for each other, we need to work this out, because this "Wiccan Divide" as I call it, while seemingly passive now, may eventually tear us apart to the point which the religion itself, as a whole, will suffer.

 

I believe that our biggest problem at the moment, lies within, and that we need to remember, the core aspects of Wicca, the foundation that all is connected, and that that connection can manifest itself in many ways, in many forms, that we are apart of it, we can affect it for better or for worse, that we have responsibility, and that no one path is the true path, because in the end, it is all one, and over the centuries man has tried to grasp this, often worshiping what makes sense to him, I'm not saying that Wicca is a Buffet religion or that  that it's what you want it to be, far from it, but I do believe that this is the sense of brotherhood, this sense of unity, but also of vast diversity, is what Gardner was trying to teach.