Traditions of the Modern Path: Craft, Crowley and the Occult

ALEXANDRIAN: The Alexandrian tradition was officially founded shortly after the Gardnerian gained prominence. Founded by Alex Sanders, who somehow aquired a copy of the Gardnerian Book of Shadows, the rituals of the Alexandrian tradition are essentially G ardnerian, although there is a greater emphasis on ceremonial magic and Qabalah. Sanders is infamous for his adoption of the title \lquote King of the Witches\rquote , certainly a controversial move at the very least.The Alexandrian tradition operates on a three-degree initiatory system. Some of the more well known initiates of this tradition include Alex Sanders, Maxine Sanders, and Janet and Stewart Farrar.

ASATRU: The Astaru path is based on the Nordic mythological cycle and is an attempt at recreation of the ancient faith of the Scandanavian peoples. It is generally centered around a group called 'The Ring of Troth' . Emphasis is placed on 'the Virtues of the True', qualities such as honor and courage that the Asatru believe are part of true living. Asatrus are represented by such authors as Edredd Thorrson.

CELTIC: Another tradition of modern witchcraft, the Celtic branch is a looser, less structured version of the other Wiccan paths; its rituals are strongly influenced by Celtic mythology and culture and are in fact based around the Celtic mythology, especially that of the British Isles. A link to a Canadian Celtic coven, Caer Avalon, may be found on the 'Links' page.

DIANIC: This branch of the Craft is staunchly feminist, some covens even excluding the idea of the God and forbidding membership to men period. Much Dianic Wicca draws on the writings of Z. Budapest and Starhawk (Miriam Simos), although the latter is also strongly connected with the Faery tradition.

FAERY: Another modern tradition, focusing on the worldwide mythology and folklore concerning faeries, natural spirits, and other denizens of the unspoiled realms of nature. Victor Anderson is a well known member of this tradition.

GARDNERIAN: The Gardnerian tradition, named for its supposed founder, Gerald Gardner, became publically known in the early 1950s after the anti-witchcraft laws in Britain were replaced by the Fraudulent Mediums Act. Gardner was intitated by Dorothy Clutterbuck in the New Forest in southern England, but found that the knowledge passed down through the coven was f ragmentary, and a reworking was in order. He accomplished this slowly over a few years, and the influence of Doreen Valiente must not be discounted. The Gardnerian tradition operates on a three-degree initiatory system, with great emphasis placed on the lineage of the initiated witch. Some of the better known Gardnerian initiates include Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, Leo Louis Martello, Ray Buckland, Monique Wilson and Carl Weshcke Llewellyn.

HERETITARY CRAFT: A branch of Witchcraft whose members claim to be part of long lines of witches, whose knowledge has been passed from parents to children for generations, and supposedly predate the modern Gardnerian Craft. These lines are also known as 'Family Traditions' .

HERMETIC ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN: One of the most influential magical socieites of the last thousand years was certainly the Order of the Golden Dawn. Following a system of mysticism and magic derived from the Kabbalah, the Golden Dawn endured for only a relatively short while, but radic ally transformed the face of the Western Mysteries. Well known initiates of the Order included Aleister Crowley, Samuel Mathers, Florence Farr, W.B. Yeats, Wynn Wescott, Alan Bennett and Bram Stoker.

ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS (O.T.O.): } The O.T.O. is a ceremonial magickal order with a great emphasis on sexual magick. Aleister Crowley was strongly connected with this order, and as 'Baphomet' held a place of prominence within its ranks.

SEAX-WICA : Founded by Ray Buckland, who is generally credited with bringing Gardnerian Wicca to North America, Seax-wica draws heavily upon Saxon mythology and culture.

SOCIETY OF THE INNER LIGHT : Founded originally by Dion Fortune, an initiate of the Stella Matutina, as the Fraternity of Inner Light, the Society is concerned with Qabalah and is a natural permutation of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

THELEMA: Based on the writings of Aleister Crowley, Thelema was intended to be the 'religion' of the New Aeon. In Crowley's belief, mankind had worked through two ages; the Aeon of Isis was characterized by matriarchal culture and the worship of the Great Mother and the following Aeon, that of Osiris, focused on the Dying and Rising God principle,. a philosophy recognizable in the Christian faiths. In 1904, when Crowley recieved the Book of the Law, he proclaimed that the third Aeon, that of Horus (the conquering child) had begun. Thelema is a magical/mystical path.

THELEMIC GOLDEN DAWN: The Thelemic Golden Dawn, headed by Frater A.A., is a modern development of the Golden Dawn that incorporates the teachings of Aleister Crowley with the teachings of the Golden Dawn.

Have I left out your tradition or magickal society? Do you feel your tradition is not accurately portrayed? Email me with the details, and I'll make adjustments to this page. Use 'abiegnus' in the 'subject' line.