What is British Traditional Witchcraft?
British Traditional Witchcraft
Also referred to as 'British Traditional Wicca' or 'BTW', this term applies to the followers of the revivalist
witchcraft religion which was started in the 1950's by Gerald Brousseau Gardner and Doreen Valiente. The
religion is so named because Gardner allegedly revived the hereditary practices that he found among the witches
of the New Forest Coven, located in the south of England. Thus the religion is a 'tradition' of British witches, or British
Traditional Witchcraft.
The basic tenets of British Traditional Witchcraft are embodied in both a book of liturgy referred to as the Book of
Shadows and in oral lore which is passed from teacher to student. BTW is an initiatory mystery tradition which means that
the specifics of the liturgy and religious lore are restricted to initiates only and protected by a series of oaths which are
sworn before participation in the mysteries is granted.
British Traditional Witchcraft does not proselytize or seek converts actively, rather allowing those who are called to come
to the path. Those who are actively trying to gain initiation or information regarding BTW are termed 'Seekers'. There is an
underlying structure to the religion with a system of rank corresponding to the level of training attained and the number of
religious mysteries experienced by the Initiate. These levels of training are called 'degrees', similar to Masonry and other
Ceremonial Magical orders. In British Traditional Wicca, there are 3 Degrees, ranked from 1st to 3rd, abbreviated with
an asterisk representing the word 'degree' (e.g. 1*, 2*, & 3*) with 3* being the highest recognized rank.
Organization British Traditional Witches congregate in semi-autonomous or autonomous groups called 'covens'. Covens
are usually led by a woman of sufficient rank. Because of dogmatic and occult philosophical differences, the body of BTW
has splintered into several different sects and offshoots which are referred to as 'Trads' or 'Traditions'. Each Tradition has
its own dogma and practices which are codified within the oral and written lore specific to each Trad, as opposed to the
'core' material which is shared across each Tradition. The most common BTW Trads found in America in the millennium
are American Gardnerian, Alexandrian, and Central Valley Wiccan. Certain other Trads claim BTW status as well,
although opinion and acceptance varies among the other Traditions of BTW.
In most Traditions, a coven is only led by someone of the 3*, although different Trads hold different restrictions
concerning this. For example, in the American Gardnerian Tradition of BTW, only a 3* High Priestess (HPS) can lead a
full coven, and her male working partner or High Priest (HP) functions in a largely ceremonial fashion. In the American
Alexandrian Tradition of BTW a full coven can be led by either a HPS or HP of the 3*. While the HPS is acknowledged
as first among equals by Alexandrians in religious rites, the HP has more actual duties and powers in the Alexandrian
tradition.
At times however, circumstances may dictate the need to create a coven which is not led by a 3* HP or HPS. Such
circumstances can include restrictions of distance, the size of the coven, or general discontent with the leadership of the
current coven. In this instancce, a 2* BTW can leave the parent coven in a process called 'hiving off' to found what is
called a Maiden Coven. The Maiden Coven operates under the authority of the 3* HP or HPS of the parent coven, until
such a time as the 2* person leading the Maiden Coven has earned or can be elevated to 3*.
Once the process of training is complete, a 3* BTW is considered to be autonomous or semi-autonomous, depending on
the Tradition of BTW. The HPS and HP who gave the initiate their 3* rite are considered by some traditions to be the
Witch Queen and Magus, respectively. Their function and amount of authority vary considerably from line to line and Trad
to Trad.
What makes a BTW a BTW?
Opinions vary widely about what qualifies a Tradition as British Traditional Witchcraft. There are differences in opinion
depending on who is consulted, and since 3* autonomy is generally recognized in one form or another by all BTW's, the
dogma and belief structures are organic, subject to a varying degree of growth and change as circumstances and
environments shift. Generally speaking, however, the following are commonalities observed between various Traditions in
2002.
* Initiatory Practice: BTWs undergo formal Initiation and Elevation ceremonies. Although the concept of Self-Initiation is
nice on paper, it is not recognized by BTW's. Initiation is only granted after the teacher is satisfied with the progress or
standing of their student.
* Mystery Tradition: BTW is a Mystery Tradition, which means that the core of the tradition is experiential. The Mysteries
must be undergone to provide direct experience to the Initiate. Reading about or talking about the rites is no substitute at
all for the actual experience therein.
* Lineage to Gardner: The concept of lineage is important to BTW. Essentially the same as Catholic Apostolic
Succession, a BTW is Initiated and/or Elevated by someone who was Initiated and Elevated, etc., on back in unbroken
lines to Gerald Gardner. Certain Gardnerian lines only trace lineage through the Initiating HPS, other trads alternate
between HPS and HP. Alexandrian lineage traces only to Alex Sanders, who claimed lineage to Gardner which has been
questioned in the past, but is generally acknowledged as valid nowadays.
* Cross-Gender Initiatory Chain:Strictly enforced in the past, now a subject of often heated debate, the standard model
for passing Initiation and Elevation insisted that a man may only be Initiated by a woman, and a woman may only be
initiatied by a man. The only exception to this rule was if a father were initiating his son (or grandson), and a mother
initiating her daughter (or granddaughter).
* Passage of Lore: Both the Oral and the Written lore must be passed on to the trainees in the manner in which it was
received by the Initiator. This includes many oathbound topics, core lore, and the specific lores which define each Trad
and 'family line'.
* Preservation of Core Practices: Although the definition of 'core practices' constitutes a fairly broad gray area, the general
consensus is that certain parts of the core lore and rituals must be actually practiced. Each Tradition and family line within
each Tradition interprets this portion differently, but in general it is accepted that the rituals for the Initiations and Elevations
for the three degrees must be preserved without subtraction. This allows some to add to the rites, but this is a matter
decided by the customs of each Tradition.
Further Information
One of the best places to learn more about British Traditional Witchcraft and the issues pertinent to this revivalist religion is
in the Yahoogroup (groups.yahoo.com) 'amberandjet@yahoogroups.com'. This list has become an unofficial meeting
place for Craft Elders of various British Traditional Witchcraft Trads, and those who are Seekers.
(C) Adam Pacio
Alexandrian 3* Elder
British Traditional Witchcraft
Also referred to as 'British Traditional Wicca' or 'BTW', this term applies to the followers of the revivalist
witchcraft religion which was started in the 1950's by Gerald Brousseau Gardner and Doreen Valiente. The
religion is so named because Gardner allegedly revived the hereditary practices that he found among the witches
of the New Forest Coven, located in the south of England. Thus the religion is a 'tradition' of British witches, or British
Traditional Witchcraft.
The basic tenets of British Traditional Witchcraft are embodied in both a book of liturgy referred to as the Book of
Shadows and in oral lore which is passed from teacher to student. BTW is an initiatory mystery tradition which means that
the specifics of the liturgy and religious lore are restricted to initiates only and protected by a series of oaths which are
sworn before participation in the mysteries is granted.
British Traditional Witchcraft does not proselytize or seek converts actively, rather allowing those who are called to come
to the path. Those who are actively trying to gain initiation or information regarding BTW are termed 'Seekers'. There is an
underlying structure to the religion with a system of rank corresponding to the level of training attained and the number of
religious mysteries experienced by the Initiate. These levels of training are called 'degrees', similar to Masonry and other
Ceremonial Magical orders. In British Traditional Wicca, there are 3 Degrees, ranked from 1st to 3rd, abbreviated with
an asterisk representing the word 'degree' (e.g. 1*, 2*, & 3*) with 3* being the highest recognized rank.
Organization British Traditional Witches congregate in semi-autonomous or autonomous groups called 'covens'. Covens
are usually led by a woman of sufficient rank. Because of dogmatic and occult philosophical differences, the body of BTW
has splintered into several different sects and offshoots which are referred to as 'Trads' or 'Traditions'. Each Tradition has
its own dogma and practices which are codified within the oral and written lore specific to each Trad, as opposed to the
'core' material which is shared across each Tradition. The most common BTW Trads found in America in the millennium
are American Gardnerian, Alexandrian, and Central Valley Wiccan. Certain other Trads claim BTW status as well,
although opinion and acceptance varies among the other Traditions of BTW.
In most Traditions, a coven is only led by someone of the 3*, although different Trads hold different restrictions
concerning this. For example, in the American Gardnerian Tradition of BTW, only a 3* High Priestess (HPS) can lead a
full coven, and her male working partner or High Priest (HP) functions in a largely ceremonial fashion. In the American
Alexandrian Tradition of BTW a full coven can be led by either a HPS or HP of the 3*. While the HPS is acknowledged
as first among equals by Alexandrians in religious rites, the HP has more actual duties and powers in the Alexandrian
tradition.
At times however, circumstances may dictate the need to create a coven which is not led by a 3* HP or HPS. Such
circumstances can include restrictions of distance, the size of the coven, or general discontent with the leadership of the
current coven. In this instancce, a 2* BTW can leave the parent coven in a process called 'hiving off' to found what is
called a Maiden Coven. The Maiden Coven operates under the authority of the 3* HP or HPS of the parent coven, until
such a time as the 2* person leading the Maiden Coven has earned or can be elevated to 3*.
Once the process of training is complete, a 3* BTW is considered to be autonomous or semi-autonomous, depending on
the Tradition of BTW. The HPS and HP who gave the initiate their 3* rite are considered by some traditions to be the
Witch Queen and Magus, respectively. Their function and amount of authority vary considerably from line to line and Trad
to Trad.
What makes a BTW a BTW?
Opinions vary widely about what qualifies a Tradition as British Traditional Witchcraft. There are differences in opinion
depending on who is consulted, and since 3* autonomy is generally recognized in one form or another by all BTW's, the
dogma and belief structures are organic, subject to a varying degree of growth and change as circumstances and
environments shift. Generally speaking, however, the following are commonalities observed between various Traditions in
2002.
* Initiatory Practice: BTWs undergo formal Initiation and Elevation ceremonies. Although the concept of Self-Initiation is
nice on paper, it is not recognized by BTW's. Initiation is only granted after the teacher is satisfied with the progress or
standing of their student.
* Mystery Tradition: BTW is a Mystery Tradition, which means that the core of the tradition is experiential. The Mysteries
must be undergone to provide direct experience to the Initiate. Reading about or talking about the rites is no substitute at
all for the actual experience therein.
* Lineage to Gardner: The concept of lineage is important to BTW. Essentially the same as Catholic Apostolic
Succession, a BTW is Initiated and/or Elevated by someone who was Initiated and Elevated, etc., on back in unbroken
lines to Gerald Gardner. Certain Gardnerian lines only trace lineage through the Initiating HPS, other trads alternate
between HPS and HP. Alexandrian lineage traces only to Alex Sanders, who claimed lineage to Gardner which has been
questioned in the past, but is generally acknowledged as valid nowadays.
* Cross-Gender Initiatory Chain:Strictly enforced in the past, now a subject of often heated debate, the standard model
for passing Initiation and Elevation insisted that a man may only be Initiated by a woman, and a woman may only be
initiatied by a man. The only exception to this rule was if a father were initiating his son (or grandson), and a mother
initiating her daughter (or granddaughter).
* Passage of Lore: Both the Oral and the Written lore must be passed on to the trainees in the manner in which it was
received by the Initiator. This includes many oathbound topics, core lore, and the specific lores which define each Trad
and 'family line'.
* Preservation of Core Practices: Although the definition of 'core practices' constitutes a fairly broad gray area, the general
consensus is that certain parts of the core lore and rituals must be actually practiced. Each Tradition and family line within
each Tradition interprets this portion differently, but in general it is accepted that the rituals for the Initiations and Elevations
for the three degrees must be preserved without subtraction. This allows some to add to the rites, but this is a matter
decided by the customs of each Tradition.
Further Information
One of the best places to learn more about British Traditional Witchcraft and the issues pertinent to this revivalist religion is
in the Yahoogroup (groups.yahoo.com) 'amberandjet@yahoogroups.com'. This list has become an unofficial meeting
place for Craft Elders of various British Traditional Witchcraft Trads, and those who are Seekers.
(C) Adam Pacio
Alexandrian 3* Elder
