Gardnerian witchcraft is the foundation tradition of all wiccan practices. Gardnerian is the tradition founded by gerald gardner. Mary nesnick, an american initiate in gardnerian and alexandrian traditions. History of wicca, the priesthood, the book of shadows, the circle, the working tools, altar. The alexandrian tradition is covered extensively in books by stewart and. He was one of the first to go public with information about the craft. One is that not only did aleister crowley write the gardnerian rituals, but that gerald gardner displayed a gardnerian book of shadows in crowleys. The information that actually does cover gardnerianalexandrian wicca could more easily be gained from a witchs bible by the farrars. Alexandrian tradition uses the same tools as gardnerian tradition and the rituals are alike, but there is an emphasis on the ceremonial magic practices. The alexandrian tradition was created in the 1960s by alex sanders and his wife maxine sanders. The father of wicca, gerald gardner, developed this practice in britain during the mid20 th century. Although similiar to gardnerian wicca, alexandrian wicca tends to be more eclectic, and liberal.
Since the alexandrian tradition closely follows the gardnerian tradition some claim this is proof of plagiary. 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. Gardnerian wicca, or gardnerian witchcraft, is a tradition in the neopagan religion of wicca, whose members can trace initiatory descent from gerald gardner. Both traditions are similar in ritual practice, theology, and coven structure. Various forms of wicca and wiccan traditions the celtic connection. Some of gardnerisms strict rules, such as the requirement of ritual nudity, have been made optional by. It is said he took material from the gardnerian book of shadows, from material written by eliphas levi, and from the austrian occultist franz bardon. Also like gardnerian wicca, they have a 3degree system. 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. Apr 27, 2019 alexandrian wicca focuses on the polarity between the genders, and rites and ceremonies often dedicate equal time to the god and the goddess. Alex sanders, who dubbed himself the king of his witches, founded this tradition in the 1960s, initially in england. Though rituals and practices vary among people who identify as wiccan, most observations include the. As an initiation tradition, only another gardnerian coven can bring in a new practitioner.
Selfinitiation is not practiced and the solitary practice is extremely rare, except for high rank gardnerians that are retired from public life. Traditional wicca could also be interpreted to mean just the trads of gardnerian, alexandrian, and algard. The origins of alexandrian witchcraft some refer to as wicca deriving from gardnerian wicca are well documented. The alexandrian tradition was hived off from the gardnerian by alex sanders. Alexandrian wicca tradition alexandrian witchcraft, or alexandrian wicca began in the 1960s, founded by alexander saunders and his wife. There are three degrees of initiation into this tradition. There isnt anything in it that a competent coven leader would not know. Pages from the book of shadows, sacred myth and much lore from the oral, inner teachings of these traditions make this book a unique and extraordinary training manual. There is a good deal of debate within the wiccan community about whether the gardnerian path is the only true wiccan tradition, but the point remains that it was certainly the fir. Written by an initiate of both, the alexandrian and gardnerian tradition, this book presents a serious and complete neophyte training program for alexandrian and gardnerian wicca. The rituals are said to be of modified gardenarian. Gardner compiled a volume of spells, rituals and magical lore that he called the book of shadows. In actuality, he was initiated into a gardnerian coven alex sanders decided to publicize wicca, but encountered opposition from other members of the craft. Most of his activities in the neopagan movement were actually conducted later in life, after his retirement from service as a customs official in malaysia, borneo, and ceylon modern sri lanka.
Gardnerian witchcraft or wica has several different lines or sects withing its ranks. May, 2019 gerald gardner launched wicca shortly after the end of world war ii and went public with his coven following the repeal of englands witchcraft laws in the early 1950s. The coven leaders handbook lessons in gardnerian and. The coven leader s handbook lessons in gardnerian and alexandrian wicca book summary. Public domain alexandrian book of shadows by sekhet sophia 1990 founded by alexander sanders and his then wife maxine, the alexandrian tradition is very similar to gardnerian. Much of their ritual is based on gardnerian wicca, including the insistence on membership of a coven and the naked meetings, although the alexandrians tend to place more emphasis on ceremonial magic. Within wicca as we know it today, there are many different branches that are known as traditions. The initiation is conducted by gardners book of shadows. However, not all branches of wicca follow the gardnerian book of shadows. An introduction to alexandrian wicca the wellhead david. Posted in opinions are like assholes and tagged alexandria tradition, alexandrian wicca, gardnerian wicca, traditional wicca, wicca, witchcraft on november.
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. The difference between alexandrian and gardnerian traditions. Gerald gardner launched wicca shortly after the end of world war ii and went public with his coven following the repeal of englands witchcraft laws in the early 1950s. Book one of wicca introduction, this has nothing to do with new age 62 pages book two of wicca a study in the universal eclectic wiccan tradition 44 pages the alexandrian book of. Types of wiccan witches list gardnerian, dianic, alexandrian. For the most part, this book is an introduction to wicca and witchcraft. Gardnerian wicca is a wiccan tradition named for its founder, gerald gardner. 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.
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. If you really want a gardnerian or alexandrian bos, contact a legit coven and get yours the oldfasioned way, earn it. Covens of these traditions do not publish their book of shadows and only. The information that actually does cover gardnerian alexandrian wicca could more easily be gained from a witchs bible by the farrars. According to ronald hutton, in his book triumph of the moon, many of the differences between gardnerian wicca and alexandrian wicca have. Based on a talk given to the lgbt fountain moot, birmingham. Alexandrian wicca focuses on the polarity between the genders, and rites and ceremonies often dedicate equal time to the god and the goddess. While alexandrian ritual tool use and the names of the deities differ from gardnerian tradition, maxine sanders has been famously quoted as saying, if it works, use it.
Though alex sanders originally claimed to have been initiated by his grandmother when he was seven, he later admitted that this was false. The only way to obtain a complete alexandrian book of shadows is to be. Traditions of wicca contemporary witchcraft witchcraft. These groups differ with regard to the rites they perform and the pantheon of deities through which they worship the goddess but the overall worldview remains the same. In 1949 he wrote a novel high magics aid about medieval witchcraft in which. From his original coven, bricket wood, he passed on his interpretation of witchcraft. Alexandrian wiccans are more interested in ceremonial magic, which is highly formulaic and ritualistic, but gardnerian wicca focuses on folk medicine. Alexandrian wicca, like gardnerian, has a hierarchical structure and an emphasis upon training in ceremonial magic topics. Alex sanders received all three degrees of gardnerian initiation and therefore in truth alexandrian witchcraft is just another line withing bt craft. After the old english witchcraft act of 1735 was repealed in 1951, a new and contemporary movement of witchcraft in various forms and traditions began to emerge and spread quickly throughout the u. To make spirits appear, they require more details and magic objects. Since he came from the original gardnerian coven, there is a lot of similarity between the two forms of wicca.
This is an extremely traditional path with a hierarchical grade structure. Did aleister crowley write the gardnerian book of shadows. Jun 22, 2005 written by an initiate of both, the alexandrian and gardnerian tradition, this book presents a serious and complete neophyte training program for alexandrian and gardnerian wicca. Wicca starter kit this package is designed especially for beginners to wicca and includes four downloads. Basically, the book of shadows is a compilation of various spells, rituals, and incantations developed by various wiccans according to the style of their tradition. The energy generated within an alexandrian rite is dangerously high voltage, at times almost palpable and visible. Alexandrian wicca is similar in many ways to gardnerian wicca, and receives regular mention in books on wicca as one of the religions most. Deborah has a new book on the way and we are planning on discussing that a little bit. The tradition is itself named after gardner 18841964, a british civil servant and amateur scholar of magic. Alexandrian wicca the alexandrian wiccan tradition. Alexandrian wicca is similar in many ways to gardnerian wicca, and receives regular mention in books on wicca as one of the religions most widely recognized traditions. Some of gardnerisms strict rules, such as the requirement of ritual nudity, have been made optional by alexandrian wicca.
Contentsshow history gerald brousseau gardner was the founder, and remains the central figure of the gardnerian tradition. Alex sanders refered to himself as the king of his wiccans. Alexandrian wicca or alexandrian witchcraft is a tradition of the neopagan religion of wicca. Alexandrian book of shadows public domain version of the alexandrian book of shadows, by sekhet sophia 1990 founded by alexander sanders and his then wife maxine, the alexandrian tradition is very similar to gardnerian. Gardnerian was a never a term used by gardner himself. The similarities between alexandrian wicca and gardnerian wicca are large and the topic of more than a few neopagan injokes.
Buckland took some cues from both gardnerian witchcraft and alexandrian wicca, then added his own spin founding seax wicca. For the most part, alexandrians are engrossed in writing books, making a name for. Biography of gerald gardner and the gardnerian wiccan. Advanced alexandrian witchcraft a wiccan golden dawn i have recently wrote an article stating my opinion that alex sanders was a modern day pagan magus. Posted in opinions are like assholes and tagged alexandria tradition, alexandrian wicca, gardnerian wicca, traditional wicca, wicca, witchcraft on november 4, 2016 by gardnerians. Consequently, i prefer to use the term the wica when talking about gardnerian crafters. You can buy this book, and even learn it by heart wordforword, but it will not make you gardnerian or alexandrian. Pdf the alexandrian and gardnerian book of shadows. Returning to tapestrys faeryelven trad, the hps ran a very active and longrunning coven in the area. Mary nesnick, an american initiate in gardnerian and alexandrian traditions founded a new tradition called algard. I expected a serious book on gardnerian and alexandrian wicca. Pages from the book of shadows, sacred myth and much lore from the oral, inner teachings of these traditions make this book a unique and extraordinary training manual for the solitary practitioner as well as for long. The alexandrian tradition was founded by alex and maxine sanders in the 1960s. I demonstrated, by carefully examining an old documentary, that he was clearly engaged in an experimental approach to witchcraft and magick.
Alex sanders claimed to have been initiated by his grandmother in 1933, and his tradition is somewhat more liberal than traditional gardnerian wicca. Oct, 2017 one is that not only did aleister crowley write the gardnerian rituals, but that gerald gardner displayed a gardnerian book of shadows in crowleys handwriting at his museum of witchcraft and. Gardnerian wicca is based solely on conciliar activities and initiations. These individuals are very secretive and take oaths upon initiations. He borrows heavily from gardnerian book of shadows, but adds focus on ceremonial magic. Nov 21, 20 although similiar to gardnerian wicca, alexandrian wicca tends to be more eclectic, and liberal. While alexandrian ritual tool use and the names of the deities differ from gardnerian tradition, maxine sanders.
There is a good deal of debate within the wiccan community about whether the gardnerian path is the only true wiccan tradition, but the point remains that it was certainly the first. Alexandrian wicca is a blend of ceremonial magic with heavy gardnerian influences and a dose of hermetic kabbalah mixed in. This book of shadows bear too many marks of the copyn paste from the internet. Other differences between gardnerian and alexandrian wicca include the choice to. Alexandrian book of shadows public domain version of the alexandrian book of shadows, by sekhet sophia 1990. Both alexandrian and gardnerian wicca are oath bound, lineage based religions. Alexandrian wicca founded by alexander sanders, alexandrian wicca is a tradition that is closely related to, and greatly resembles gardnerian wicca.
What are the differences between alexandrian wicca and. Jun 27, 20 gardnerian witchcraft is the foundation tradition of all wiccan practices. Little did he know that just over a decade later this tradition would be featured in earth religion news. Alexandrian wicca is similar in many ways to gardnerian wicca, and receives regular mention. The timing was ideal as weiser books was soon to release the tree, his first tome on this subject. The gardnerian tradition is the name given to the body of ritual, belief, magickal practices and training techniques inherited by the initiatory descendents of gerald b. Although there are a number of gardnerian covens active. Alexandrian covens can be very different from each other, but in general these covens focus on training and education. Although similar to gardnerian wicca, alexandrian wicca tends to be more eclectic, and liberal. Essentially, wicca has its own denominations such as gardnerian, alexandrian, deboran, thessalonican etc. There are definite strains within the wiccan community.
The origins of alexandrian witchcraft some refer to as wicca. The author didnt care to remove tags from web pages. They were the ones who published the alexandrian book of shadows. What is the difference between gardnerian wicca and. Alexandrian, founded by alex sanders and his wife maxine, is an offshoot of garnerian wicca, founded by gerald gardner so the similarities are more prominent than the differences. Seax wicca saxon wicca wise witches and witchcraft.
As in traditional wicca, the standard initiation practice is crosssex initiation female to male. While eclectic, alexandrian rituals are still formal and based in ceremonial magick, with highly polarized references to the sexual dichotomy of male. Farrar, who based his book on hours of recorded interviews with alex, wanted to. This magical tradition has similarities to gardnerian and remains a wellrecognized wiccan path. Wicca starter kit gardnerian and alexandrian book of. Alex sanders received all three degrees of gardnerian initiation and therefore in truth alexandrian witchcraft is just.
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