Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

The Dianic Wiccan tradition is one of the most misunderstood of all Pagan traditions. With this message, I hope to shed some light on this fascinating path and introduce you to the specific traditions and beliefs from Dianic Wicca.Why do Dianics get such a bad rap? There are many factors that have created a separation between Dianics and other Pagan pathways. Dianics focus solely on the Goddess, the female deity. The beliefs and practices of the groups are grounded in feminist principles and they practice in women-only circles.

These characteristics make sense when you understand that this tradition grew out of the feminist movement. Many of the early feminists were unable to reconcile their activism within the structure of traditional religion, which led to exploration into other spiritual pathways. The early 1970s marked a time where women began sharing their spiritual experiences in conscious-raising groups. This prompted a search for a spirituality that supported social change for women and sustained a woman-centered perspective.

Zsuzanna Budapest was the first to recognize the relationship between Wicca and feminism. Her 1976 book The Feminist Book of Light and Shadows formed what has now become the Dianic tradition.
One of the elements that lead Dianic Wicca to become so controversial was that in the early days a vast majority of Dianic Wiccans were also lesbians. Anyone who claimed themselves as Dianic was assumed to be a lesbian, and felt the shun from homophobic Pagans. Also, many mainstream Pagans hold onto the belief that duality is needed in this religion (male and female deities). Dianic Wiccans run counter to this. Despite a few initial setbacks, Dianic Wiccans are now embraced by the mainstream Pagan movements and vice-versa.

The core beliefs of Dianic Wicca follow the adherence to feminist principles. They believe in female divinity, most often referred to as ‘the Goddess.’ They celebrate the Celtic holy days. Their religion has an underpinning of feminist ideology, including the belief that women’s bodies are sacred, and honoring women’s experiences as authentic. They recognize that the patriarchal society does not accurately reflect a woman’s experience. There is no recognition of male Gods in ritual or elsewhere.

Contrary to what one might think, the Dianic Wiccan tradition does not focus on the Goddess Diana. Dianics believe in focusing on the great Goddess. They are global in their approach to divinity, and recognize the Goddess in all of her forms. They believe that the presence of the Goddess in all cultures unites woman all over the world.

Dianic Wicca has changed over the years and is no longer exclusively lesbian. Also, Dianic Wiccans are encouraged to participate in mixed-gender Pagan groups on certain occasions. For example, a woman might choose to honor the Full Moon with her Dianic circle but attend Summer Solstice with her family in a mixed-gender Pagan group.

While the vast majority of Dianic Wiccans practice in women-only circles, Morgan McFarland of Texas created a mixed-gender Dianic tradition. The McFarland tradition worships both female and male deities.

The oldest and largest Dianic Wiccan group is the Re-formed Congregation of the Goddess – International (RCG -I), which was founded in 1984. It was the first recognized women’s religion in the United States. There are affiliated circles and solitary members around the world.

The Dianic Wiccan tradition represents just one of the diverse and interesting Pagan paths. Hopefully, I’ve demystified this tradition in this message. If you are interested in Dianic Wicca, I encourage you to seek a local group, or contact the RCG-I to get you in touch with a local group.
Brightest Blessing,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

This week, we continue our exploration of popular Pagan traditions. These are paths that I have drawn wisdom and inspiration from over the years. Most Pagans enter this path as Eclectics, but later find that something more structured is their cup of tea. If you find yourself drawn to any of the traditions that I speak of in these messages, please continue your research of it. Your Spirit Guides are trying to tell you something.Asatru is the modern revitalization of the indigenous religions of Northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia. This was the religion that was displaced by Christianity in the middle Ages. The old religion left a rich legacy and traditions that were carried on by the people of Iceland. In 1972, the Icelandic government recognized Asatru as a legitimate religion. Since that time, the religion has spread throughout Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

The followers of Asatru function in worship groups called kindred. There is typically a male and female religious leader within each group. The male (gothi) and female (gythia) are selected by the kindred in a democratic way. These leaders develop and conduct rituals and handle all of the administrative chores of the kindred.

There are variations within Asatru for beliefs and practices but there are many points that all kindred share. Members of Asatru share a defining personal loyalty to the Gods and Goddesses of the North, like Odin, Thor, Frigga, the land wights and others. They have a deep respect for Germanic religious, cultural and historical heritage. They share a strong determination to practice the moral principles followed by the Ancients. The beliefs of the Asatru are also informed by the “lore” from historical records, folklore, heroic sagas and the poems of the Poetic Edda.

For those who follow Asatru, spirituality is not separate from everyday life. Spirituality informs life. They believe that they are working with the Gods to improve the human condition and oppose the ill-behaved beings that seek disorder and destruction. To the Asatru, the Gods are real entities separate from one another (true polytheism). The earth itself is personified as a Deity, normally a Goddess.

Magick is not part of Asatru worship, and many Asatru don’t believe in magick at all. However, rune divination and other similar workings are popular as a supplement to their religious practices.

Those who follow Asatru are expected to follow a specific set of guidelines. They are to honor the Gods with regular offerings. They are to respect and honor the land and the family. Asatru followers live ‘tru’ according to a strict moral code based on honor, courage and hospitality. They must keep all promises and sworn oaths. They take bold and decisive action when it is called for. They set high goals for themselves and seek to achieve those goals. The Asatru are both autonomous and interdependent with the rest of the Asatru community. They take responsibility for their actions and accept the consequences of those actions.

Asatru worship occurs in group observances and private offerings. A blot is an offering of food or drink to the Gods. This can be done in a simple action in a backyard or as part of an elaborate ceremony. The exchange of gifts creates a bond between people and the Gods.

If the principles of the Asatru path are interesting to you, you can explore this form of Paganism in several ways. You can study the Nordic pantheon and get to know the Gods and Goddesses of Asatru. You can also learn more about runes and try you hand at divination with these ancient tools.

The next message will bring to light another Pagan tradition.
Love And Light,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

Many newcomers to the Pagan path would be surprised to find out that there are many ‘sub-paths’ within the larger body. I use the word sub only to indicate their inclusion in the larger Pagan family, and not as a means to imply they are in any way less than other groups. Just like Methodists, Baptists and Lutherans are all considered Christians, there are many traditions within Paganism that have their own separate beliefs and practices that fall into the broad definition of Paganism.In the next few messages, I’d like to introduce you to a few of the more popular traditions and explain the similarities and differences between them. The first in this series is the Alexandrian tradition. Alexandrians define their religion as a Pagan mystery faith that includes initiations, oaths and experiments with nature. Its origins lie in the Ancient British Isles. Alexandrians consider themselves to be the first Wiccans, and have distinguished themselves from other Wiccans by requiring an initiation.

The tradition dates back further than the name “Alexandrian” does. The roots are in what is now called Gardnerian Wicca, which in the Ancient days was called simply ‘the Old Religion’ or ‘the Wica.’ The name “Alexandrian” references the founder of this modern formal interpretation of the Old Religion, Alex Sanders. It is also a reference to the Great Library of Alexandria, which was the center of Occult knowledge for the ancient world.

Alex Sanders was initiated into Wicca sometime in the early 1960s. He later gained a reputation as a Ceremonial Magician, as well as having a media presence. For this reason, he was given the name “King of the Witches” by some of his Covens. Most of the modern Alexandrians descend from the original London Coven, which was founded by Sanders and his wife Maxine.

His flair for showmanship and courting of the media led to widespread recognition of Wicca in the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s. This attention was not welcomed by all in the Wiccan community, and resulted in a schism between his coven and several others. As a result, the Alexandrian Tradition of Wicca began to be developed apart from other Wicca traditions.

Alexandrians work primarily with the Old Gods of Europe, and focus their worship on the Lady of the Moon and her Consort, the Horned One. The Gods are not jealous, however, and Alexandrian witches are free to work with other deities on a personal or group basis. They aim for a personal connection and understanding of the deity, and ancestors. They respect the rhythms and tides of nature. They believe in the power of magick, and use traditional and experimental techniques to achieve their goals.

Unlike some Wiccan traditions, Alexandrians have no formal clergy. They believe that everyone initiated into the tradition is a Priest or Priestess in their own right. However, the tradition is organized into covens. To become an Alexandrian, a properly prepared and authorized Alexandrian High Priestess or Priest must initiate you. It is not possible to self-initiate into Alexandrian Wicca.
Shortly after being initiated, the initiate begins to hand copy the Alexandrian Book of Shadows from the person who initiated him or her. It is the initiator’s responsibility to make sure that the new member gets the information they need about their new religion. The Book of Shadows has a core section that has been passed down from the original London Coven, and then sections that are specific to the local coven.

The tradition is an oath bound Mystery Tradition; which is why many details of the workings of the coven and the spellwork are in secret. The secrecy among the initiates is because they hold their traditions to be sacred, private and respected.

In the next message, we’ll explore the origins of another popular Pagan tradition.
Brightest Blessing,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

I’m sure a lot of my readers are either solitary pagans, or those interested in solitary practice. For those of you who are, I wanted to take the time to share what a coven is and why it is important to me, and to others, in the practice of witchcraft.

What is a coven, you ask? it’s a group just like any other. Think of a church, or a quilting circle, or a think tank. As you define these, you may be surprised to find that they have functions similar to a coven’s function.
A church has long been the source of strength and cohesion for people throughout many centuries. It is a cornerstone of many communities. The primary definition of a church is a building where people get together to observe religious practices associated with the Christian faith. It can also be used to describe the people that get together in observation of the customs of their religion.

When a group of people gets together to practice magick (observe their religion) it is called a coven. This group normally decides on a ‘statement of purpose’ which establishes their reasons for being. This is a foundation for the goals the group will later set and the magick they will perform.

Conflicts arise from time to time and the coven finds ways to solve the problem. Problem solving is an important part of the evolution of a coven. These problems can be addressed by a few of the members, or all depending on the nature of the situation. In this way, a coven acts like a think tank – a coven’s main purpose is to solve problems.

In a quilting circle, the members are close and participate together to achieve a goal. Everyone lends a hand and takes prize in the finished work. Everyone’s hands are busy performing the necessary task, and people become comfortable with one another. Members allow each other to let their hair down, discuss problems and share techniques that help the group work.

In a coven, this happens as well. The members are very close and they work toward a common goal. The level of comfort allows for exchanges that are both fun and educational.

A coven is the fastest and best way to learn the craft. It can be done alone, but it requires a lot of dedication and focus (or a very good book or course). As you spread your magickal wings, I encourage you to search for a coven if it feels like the right time to do so. Your spirit guide will let you know when it is time.

When the time comes for you, there are some things to ask yourself before you join any group. First, you’ll want to ask the God and Goddess to point you in the right direction. Do this before you even start your search. Ask them to bring to you what you seek, and then define what you seek. Do you want a coven that focuses on rituals, or do you want to be part of a more informal group. The Deities can only give you what you ask for.

Once you’ve found a group that interests you, spend some time getting to know the members and evaluating your comfort level with them. Do you have common ground with them? Can you see yourself having developing relationships with them?

Next, evaluate their requirements for membership or their group dynamics. Are their mandates agreeable to you? Do they participate in things that you aren’t comfortable with (like drugs)? If you see any red flags, seek a group elsewhere.

Get to know the other members of the coven. See if they are happy being part of the group. Find out about them and share about yourself. This will allow you to see if you would be a good fit in their group and vice versa.
Love And Light,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”