New Traditions

[Pure Ahimsa]

Merry Meet
A question for fellow Wiccans and Witches.
I just heard the term "Family Tradition" and that pretty much describes my moms side.
I just want to know, have any of you or friends of yours created their own tradition?
Or do you have a family tradition?
Blessed Be

[MorningDove030202]

IMHO anyone who starts a coven from scratch is starting a new tradition, even if it's an ecletic tradition.

I tried unsucessfuly to start covens 3 or 4 times and they never lasted, so I decided to join the Correllian Tradition of Wicca and train under them via their online school so that eventualy I could start my own coven in the Correllian Tradition.

Dove

[Luciferish]

Merry Meet
A question for fellow Wiccans and Witches.
I just heard the term "Family Tradition" and that pretty much describes my moms side.
I just want to know, have any of you or friends of yours created their own tradition?
Or do you have a family tradition?
Blessed Be

I have seen questions like this in many a thread here, mainly because most people have not been in a Coven or a solid traditional environment and have no idea what it takes to put something like this together. I spent a good deal of time formulating a reply to this because I believe it’s a subject that requires some understanding of subtle and almost in tangible aspects of human nature.

Covens aren’t clubs or social structures as much as they are institutions created for the spiritual exploration of the soul. Traditions are more than a set of ideals and beliefs, it would be more accurate to say that a tradition is a common spiritual language. A strong tradition, either new and eclectic or older and well developed, requires one major ingredient, respect.

The leadership of a Coven must have a good deal of respect for the tradition being worked with and the younger members of a Coven must have respect for its leadership. Without this little ingredient a Coven is doomed to failure, a tradition is shallow and very loose.

Analogous to the process of building a house, a Coven requires total dedication by the leadership for creating it and then holding it together. A tradition must provide spiritual focus and growth and would be considered the foundation of said house. Without respect the foundation is missing the required ingredient to become Cement, sand and rocks without Lime is just rocky mud, a coven without respect is merely a social gathering.

When thinking of building a Coven a person must understand that it will require an immense amount of work, funding, dedication and determination. You must be willing to spend whatever it takes in time and money to provide certain things for the Coven to form. To create a tradition the person doing so must have explored their own spiritual growth and somehow quantified it into something that others can understand and follow with some level of conviction.

With the Family traditions when they started to surface in the 1960s and 1970s it was important that they quantify the family tradition into something that could be transmitted. Most of the reasons this happened was because the caretakers of these family traditions feared for its loss. When bringing your family traditional aspects into the light you must be ready to face criticism, doubt and fear. This is inevitable and unfortunate but because its different from what others practice there will be many who tell you that it is false, without “academic basis” and counter to the common ideals of Wicca.

My advice to you is, think hard, long and thoroughly before even beginning. If you are willing to face the obstacles then let nothing stand in your way, be determined and unmoved by doubt and nay-sayers.

[Athene]

Excellent Luciferish.

I myself am forming a coven of Christian witches. This comes after 18 years of walking the path, 10 years of deep study and spiritual exploration (both solitary and from family), years of relevant academic study (psychology, education, theology, etc), and years of people relations. And it's still has it's daunting side! lol

I have noticed the word coven thrown around much more loosly these days, to refer to a gathering of like-minded people.
Although traditionally a coven meant any gathering of witches, not necessarily in the Wiccan definition of the term, these were witches of deep conviction to their ways. Perhaps Pagans that simply want to be with those that are like-minded and to learn together could form 'Circles'. I think that the aspect of Respect is so ingrained in the notion of a coven that the majority of people expect a huge deal from a coven they choose to join; not a social gathering and much more than a student study group. The leadership needs a wide range of skills and talents that can't be found in books. The responsibility of other people's spiritual studies in your hands is enormous, how many leaders can give their members room to grow their own way?

In answer to the thread question, I believe that in some ways, a new tradition will be formed with my coven. And it will be flavoured by my family's tradition. However, as it will be mainstream 'Christian witch' (LOL), I expect that more recognisable trads will branch off from it that will further define their type of Christian witchery.

What about you, tigerlad, are you thinking of starting one? :)

Love & Light

[DebLipp]

In Wicca, we use the word “tradition” to mean “denomination.” However, I think it is important to remember the original and primary meaning of the word when we talk about “inventing traditions.” Ultimately, of course, all traditions were invented somewhere, sometime, by someone, whether that happened hundreds of years ago or last week.

But in addition to structures that govern the holidays and normal days, that apply in emergencies and ordinary situations, that cover days, months, years, and life passages, traditions also need inherent value. Unless you can say “I do it this way because it is traditional,” what meaning does the word have? A tradition is a system that has enough value that its ways are meaningful just because they are part of the tradition.

For example, there is no inherent meaning in wearing a wedding ring. It doesn’t enhance your marriage in any way. They only reason that people do it is because it is part of the social tradition of marriage. Traditions can be plus or minus (minus traditions are taboos). But unless they matter to people, it is nonsense to call them traditions, they’re just stuff you do or don’t do.

The reason that many “invented traditions” don’t last is because they don’t attend to this idea of inherent value and cohesiveness. If, for example, our traditional robes have no meaning to anyone in the tradition, why wear them? If our traditional full moon rite is no more beautiful to us than any other full moon rite, how long do you think we’ll continue doing it?

Covens aren’t traditions. A coven is a group of people committed to practicing Wicca together. Their practices may or may not be a part of a tradition, and that tradition may or may not be larger than themselves.

[Athene]

In Wicca, we use the word “tradition” to mean “denomination.” However, I think it is important to remember the original and primary meaning of the word when we talk about “inventing traditions.” Ultimately, of course, all traditions were invented somewhere, sometime, by someone, whether that happened hundreds of years ago or last week..

Blessings,

I do understand where you are coming from. However, I tend to think that this way of looking at it negates the different meanings of the same word. I believe that 'tradition' can denote denomination, AND it can mean 'an established way of doing things'.



A coven is a group of people committed to practicing Wicca together.



Could the above be improved upon? I believe than witches can belong to a coven, not just Wiccans. :)

[DebLipp]

Could the above be improved upon? I believe than witches can belong to a coven, not just Wiccans. :)

Wiccans and/or Witches is fine with me. I think "committed" is the operative word.

[Ben Gruagach]

I've mentioned this in other threads that came around to the topic of traditions. Personally, I wish we would stop using the word "tradition" to mean denomination or sect. It's misleading because the other meaning for it, "an established repetitive way of doing things" also tends to imply a venerable history.

It's like called Wicca "the old religion" is misleading because, at least according to many scholars these days, Wicca didn't come into being as an actual religion until Gerald Gardner. Sure, it's a religion that draws on pre-Christian ideas and practices, but the religion itself is modern. Calling Wicca "the old religion" is deceptive.

I could start up a brand new Wiccan sect today with plenty of new ideas and new ways of doing things. If I were to call my new, perfectly valid Wiccan sect "traditional" I think I would be misleading people to think that it has been around for a lot longer than it really has. If I just call my group a sect or a denomination it doesn't imply any unproven ancient heritage.

Sorry for getting off topic. I just thought I'd mention this little peeve of mine.