What path would you call this?

[~Belladonna~]

OK, so some of you may have noticed I haven't been around a lot lately, the main reason for this is I needed some time-out to access my path and beliefs, I suppose you could say I've been trying to work out which path I should be walking...

My belief system is very Wicca focused, but I'm not from a Coven, or initiated into a Gardnerian or Alexandrian Tradition, I'm eclectic and I like that, I'm also solitary and want to stay that way. The main problem is I don't know what to call my path (not that it should have a name) just that I want to know where I "fit" lol.

Here are some of my beliefs -

*I believe in the Goddess and God, and the Source, the All that is Everything, the One and All, which I honor and worship as the Divine.

*I honor Nature and see that everything is Nature and Nature is everything.

*I cast Circle for spell working and for some other magickal workings, and call upon the Elements and Watchtowers.

*I acknowledge the Sabbats and Esbats

*I work magick, often sticking to the Moon's phases for the best outcome.

*I believe in Karma in a big way.

*I stick to the Wiccan Rede as best I can (not because I feel I have to but because I agree with it)

*I believe in reincarnation and the afterlife, though I think we go to a place of rest for awhile first before we get reincarnated again.

*I am drawn to Celtic and Egyptian mythology, and like to bring these into my workings, often calling upon Gods/esses from these two pantheons.

*Mixing pantheons is not a problem, though not in the same working. If I'm going to mix pantheons I will not do it on the same day.

*I view the God and Goddess as real i.e. like me and you, only they're of higher being and rest on a different plane, though obviously they're all around and everywhere.

*Angels are a huge part of my magickal workings, and also my mundane life too. I work closely with Angels.

*I use Tarot, Oracle, Crystals, etc. Meditate, practice my psychic skills and do Energy work.


Wow, yeah, it's late right now and I can't think straight, but I think I've covered a lot of my beliefs there. I would call that eclectic Wicca, what do you guys think?

I've been over this lots in the last couple of months and I keep coming to the same conclusion. I just want a second opinion.

BB,

Enlightenment xx

[~*Sacred*~]

I'd call you Wiccan. Why wouldn't you?

[Caitlin.ann]

I agree, I'd say you're Wiccan.

[~Belladonna~]

Yes, I would agree. I would say eclectic Wiccan, though my interest in different Gods and Goddesses from different pantheons, and encourpreting them in with my rituals and spell castings was making me wonder, but I suppose if you're an eclectic Wiccan this is what you do, and I haven't personally come across any problems with working with different pantheons.

I was kind of stuck between thinking eclectic Wicca or just Witchcraft, but as you two have said, Wicca seems more the one. I think I have more of the Wiccan beliefs, plus Wicca is a religion and not just a practice. Wiccan Witch I think it is :)

Thanks for your input :)

BB

[RainInanna]

I'm calling myself Wiccanesque lately because I fit many of the beliefs but not all and am not traditionalist *shrugs* Saves debates.

[~Belladonna~]

I've recently been looking into Traditional Witchcraft too, some parts fitted for me but others didn't. They didn't seem that big on Deities which put me right off. Nor do they cast Circle, acknowledge the Elements, Karma or Chakras, so that was a no, no lol.

I suppose you could say I agree with lots of different paths but there is always something in them that I don't agree with as well, and the one that always calls back to me is Wicca as it just seems right, plus I don't question it like I do others, I seem to agree with all of it which is nice.

[PrincessKLS]

I call myself a Christian witch, although I could include Wicca in their because some of the witchcraft beleifs are Wiccan based.

[Caitlin.ann]

Eh..I'm an eclectic witch. I don't cast circles, but I do place a lot of emphasis on the elementals and dieties.

[ap Dafydd]

Walks like Wicca, swims like Wicca...

Sounds pretty Wiccan to me

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

[Lunacie]

Yeah, it definately sounds like a Wiccan path, but not an Initatory Traditional path. There are many Eclectic Wiccan paths, including an Eclectic Wiccan Church - the CUEW (Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca) http://www.cuew.org/. I was trained in a traditional path, but have always chosen to be an Eclectic Wiccan, eventually leaving my first teacher and group. I now lead my own Eclectic Wiccan Grove.

[~Belladonna~]

Yeah, it definately sounds like a Wiccan path, but not an Initatory Traditional path. There are many Eclectic Wiccan paths, including an Eclectic Wiccan Church - the CUEW (Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca) http://www.cuew.org/. I was trained in a traditional path, but have always chosen to be an Eclectic Wiccan, eventually leaving my first teacher and group. I now lead my own Eclectic Wiccan Grove.

Thanks for that link, Lunacie :smile:

Can I ask, why did you decide to go Eclectic after being Traditionally trained? Sorry if that seems too personal, tell me to :gagged:lol.

[Lunacie]

Hm, maybe I've never been too fond of following the rules. It seems to stiffle creativity. And there are a few things that Traditionals do that I'm not comfortable with, so those folks wouldn't call me a Trad Wiccan; some of them wouldn't call me a Wiccan at all, but that's only their opinion, eh. I do feel the majority of Wiccan beliefs, practices and ethics fit my own natural beliefs very well, and that it all fits better than anything else I've looked into.

[~Belladonna~]

Thanks for sharing :smile: That's why I don't think I'd be too good in a Coven as I like to be able to do my own thing, plus rules have never been one of my strong points either lol.

[Lunacie]

Thanks for sharing :smile: That's why I don't think I'd be too good in a Coven as I like to be able to do my own thing, plus rules have never been one of my strong points either lol.

I came across this recently and think it's a great explanation of the difference between covens and other groups. Yes, there are more choices than just "coven or solitary".



TEMPLES, COVENS AND GROVES - OH MY !
by KHALED

CIRCLE - Three or more people who gather together to work ritual or Craft. Some are ritual only, some worship only, but most do both. The following are all special cases of a Circle:

GROVE - Circle usually led by, and under the auspices of, a coven. Frequently eclectic in practice, Groves are commonly used as an introduction to the Craft as a whole but not necessarily to any given Tradition. Groves ususally don't initiate. May also be called a study group.

COVEN - Circle gathering at least once per month (with a majority gathering twice) for worship and/or magic. Membership tends to be stable with gradual personnel changes. Normally practicing within in a single Tradition, Covens typically have strong group rapport. Most train their members to whatever standard they use. Rites of passage
(the "I" word) are the norm.

TEMPLE - Two or more Circles, generally at least one Coven (the Inner Circle) and a Grove (the Outer Circle), the latter being open to the public. Serves the publid as a place to worship and/or learn about the Gods with advanced training for those seekers who meet the Temple's standards.


more of this article can be found at: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bos/bos475.htm

The group I'm currently leading used to be a very loose Circle, now it's more of a Grove with a few of the elements of a Coven such as meeting bi-monthly for Rituals and Classes and a very strong group rapport. But we come from a variety of traditions including Wicca and Shamanism, with a Catholic and a non-denominational Christian thrown in for good measure. They are mostly there for the classes and learning metaphysics (magic). They fit into the definition of Christo-Witches and participate in rituals in a minor way.

I have initiated one person who has been studying Wicca for over a year and a day, it was an Eclectic Initiation based on traditional initiatory practices. Two of the members have completed the 2nd level at WitchSchool.com and consider themselves to be Initiates. I don't expect any of the others to ask for Initiation.

[David19]

I'd consider you a Wiccan, not an traditional (Gardnerian, Alexandrian, etc) one, but a Wiccan, none-the-less.

But, I don't think it matters what I think, or what anyone else thinks - do you feel, in your heart, in the very thing that makes you, you, that you're a Wiccan, if so, then call yourself it with pride, and you won't even care what anyone else thinks, if not, try and find a name that you personally love and suits you even if you make it up.

[~Belladonna~]

I came across this recently and think it's a great explanation of the difference between covens and other groups. Yes, there are more choices than just "coven or solitary".



more of this article can be found at: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bos/bos475.htm

The group I'm currently leading used to be a very loose Circle, now it's more of a Grove with a few of the elements of a Coven such as meeting bi-monthly for Rituals and Classes and a very strong group rapport. But we come from a variety of traditions including Wicca and Shamanism, with a Catholic and a non-denominational Christian thrown in for good measure. They are mostly there for the classes and learning metaphysics (magic). They fit into the definition of Christo-Witches and participate in rituals in a minor way.

I have initiated one person who has been studying Wicca for over a year and a day, it was an Eclectic Initiation based on traditional initiatory practices. Two of the members have completed the 2nd level at WitchSchool.com and consider themselves to be Initiates. I don't expect any of the others to ask for Initiation.

Thanks for this info, very interesting! I'd not heard of a Grove before. Deffo sounds more like my thing than a Coven.

I actually go to a monthly meet-up at a wonderful little pub called 'Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem' it's pretty local to where I live, and in fact it's the oldest pub in England :smile: Very Pagan orientated, and it's where I meet a small group (normally 6 of us, give or take a couple) to discuss our paths and do Tarot and Oracle. Its the only time I get to meet other Pagans, apart from the classes I take at one of my local New Age/Witchy shops. So I suppose I'm not totally solitary, but it does me, it fits well with what I'm after.

Thanks again for sharing :smile:

[Lunacie]

We have a couple of meet ups in my area, but I've never been able to attend them. I'm very sensitive to cigarette smoke and perfume/after shave/scented fabric softner, etc. Makes it hard to be around people, especially when the meet ups are held in places where the people can smoke.

We have a local Pagan Yahoo group and I enjoy reading the stuff that's posted there, and occasionally throwing in my two cents. Makes me feel at least a little connected to the local Pagan community.

[~Belladonna~]

I'd consider you a Wiccan, not an traditional (Gardnerian, Alexandrian, etc) one, but a Wiccan, none-the-less.

But, I don't think it matters what I think, or what anyone else thinks - do you feel, in your heart, in the very thing that makes you, you, that you're a Wiccan, if so, then call yourself it with pride, and you won't even care what anyone else thinks, if not, try and find a name that you personally love and suits you even if you make it up.

Yes, I truly feel I'm Wiccan (Eclectic Wiccan) but seeing as my beliefs fit else where too, I was wondering if I had the right title, but after lots of searching Wiccan definitely fits the best, it's the one that I agree with and don't question. I'm very Eclectic and I think this is what has thrown me, but I can't help that, it works for me and that's what matters the most :smile: I don't want to bring the whole Eclectic vs Traditional debate up here as this thread will get hi-jacked lol, but I suppose you could say others have been trying to tell me what I should be, when really I know what I am and what is right for me, but others have been making me question my path, but I can't help always coming back to the same answer - Eclectic Wiccan!

Thanks for your advice, puts things into perspective again ;)

[~Belladonna~]

We have a couple of meet ups in my area, but I've never been able to attend them. I'm very sensitive to cigarette smoke and perfume/after shave/scented fabric softner, etc. Makes it hard to be around people, especially when the meet ups are held in places where the people can smoke.

We have a local Pagan Yahoo group and I enjoy reading the stuff that's posted there, and occasionally throwing in my two cents. Makes me feel at least a little connected to the local Pagan community.

I know what you mean about that and I'm a smoker myself :smash: Especially when in such a closed space, the cigarette smoke can be over-powering, yuk! Smoking in England has now been banned in all closed spaces so if you want to smoke you have to go outside, it's much better and my eyes don't sting like hell the next day.

[WitchyPoo3333]

I think what a lot of people forget, is that Wicca is a very individual path. We like to put labels on things to make ourselves feel like we fit a bit more, but all in all, Wicca is what you make it. I've met a lot of Wiccans who claim to be from the same path, but practice very differently.

I've recently returned to the craft after a long hiatus, and am looking to "recreate" my path. I understand wanting to give it a name, as this comes up for me often as well. But the truth is, that no matter how you practice, or what you believe.... if you call your path Wiccan, then you are Wiccan (or whatever other title you choose to give it). Simple as that. Don't get to wrapped up in the logistics. Do what feels right to you, and just call it "your path". Not sure if this is sound advice, but it works for me.

Good luck!

[CzechWoods]

i agree with everyone about the non importance of naming - as long as its your path and
if need be for a name, wiccan sits fine with it.

if you were into a more descriptive definition, i d call i
ecletic angelistic wiccan

but as i said

its not the name. its the dedictation that counts

[Lunacie]

I think what a lot of people forget, is that Wicca is a very individual path. We like to put labels on things to make ourselves feel like we fit a bit more, but all in all, Wicca is what you make it. I've met a lot of Wiccans who claim to be from the same path, but practice very differently.

I've recently returned to the craft after a long hiatus, and am looking to "recreate" my path. I understand wanting to give it a name, as this comes up for me often as well. But the truth is, that no matter how you practice, or what you believe.... if you call your path Wiccan, then you are Wiccan (or whatever other title you choose to give it). Simple as that. Don't get to wrapped up in the logistics. Do what feels right to you, and just call it "your path". Not sure if this is sound advice, but it works for me.

Good luck!

Some people make that claim, but many of us disagree. Wicca is a well defined path with an authentic history, and diverging too far from that path means that what you're doing isn't really Wicca, although it probably works quite well for you and should in no way be invalidated... it simply shouldn't be called Wicca unless it has a majority of the core beliefs and practices that are commonly agreed to make it Wicca. There is a sticky thread here that lists those core values and a discussion on whether one can wander too far from them without loosing the core of what Wicca has always been.

the core beliefs... http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=151625