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Dianic: This is a feminist Wiccan religion. Some Dianic covens choose to only work with women and their view is that patriarchal religion has had its stronghold for long enough and they choose to focus on the matriarchal religion of the goddess. There is more emphasis on the Goddess while the God is viewed as her consort and equal. It's origins come from Italy and probably Greece. A high priestess must preside over Dianic circles in order to represent the Goddess. They are politically feminist groups, usually very supportive, personal and emotionally intimate. There is a strong lesbian presence in the movement, though most covens are open to women of all orientations.
Celtic: The Celtic tradition consists of trying to reconstruct the beliefs and practices of the original Celtic people. As opposed to Druidic teachings the Celtic tradition focuses more on the beliefs of the average Celtic person. There are many different Celtic traditions such as: Witta, Faery Wicca, Pecti-Wicca (Scottish--see below), Druidic, Dryad, and Shamanic. In the Celtic tradition a god and a goddess were observed as well as the 8 sabbats. The pantheon is extensive with its many gods and goddesses. They are very in tune with nature and believe in animism, which means that everything has a spirit. Celtic heavily stresses the elements, nature and the Ancient Ones. They had a vast knowledge of and respect for the healing and magickal qualities of plants and stones, flowers, trees, elemental spirits, the little people, gnomes and fairies.
Egyptian: Egyptian religion was based on polytheism, which means the worship of many deities. This went on until the reign of Akenaton. The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses. Some, such as Amun, were worshipped throughout the whole country, while others had only a local following. Sometimes gods and goddesses were represented as part human and part animal, such as Bast. The Egyptians were sun worshippers. A god and a goddess were observed, and like the Celts they also had a large pantheon. They definitely believed in reincarnation. One could see this by the care they took to preserve their dead for the afterlife.
Ceremonial Magick: Ceremonial magick works with the Kabbalah (Judaic mysticism), angels, arc-angels, talismans, alchemy, sound resonance in chanting, and sex magick. Supposedly, there is more emphasis on a god rather than a goddess, although the feminine aspect in the universe is observed. There is more magick involved in this than a religious consciousness.
Alexandrian: Was founded by Alex Sanders in England. Rituals are basically Gardnerian, but have been modified w/ many Judeo-Christian and ceremonial magick elements. Information about Gardnerian or Alexandrian is very difficult to find, since the information is secret.
Gardenarian/Seax-Wicca: This tradition was started by Gerald Gardner in England when witchcraft was still illegal to practice. It was one of the first denominations of witchcraft to make itself known publicly (1950's) and therefore since it was the first PUBLIC tradition, many people mistake it to be the one true correct way of practicing witchcraft. This tradition places more emphasis on the Goddess than the God, although it sees both as equals. All 8 sabbats are observed. This is where the degree system of advancement came from (1st - 3rd), covens work skyclad, and it does not allow for self-initiation. Covens try to have an equal number of males and females in order to attain balance of the masculine and feminine energies.
Strega: Strega or Stregheria is Italian witchcraft. It's main focus is on spells, omens and natural objects. A lot of what Strega is, is "hereditary" (if you are familiar with my site, you know my point of view on so called "hereditary" witchcraft) witchcraft, but it is also non-hereditary as well. There is a concentration of moon worship with Diana and Aradia as its main Goddesses. It also has a pantheon of gods and goddesses. The practices of the gypsies remind one of some practices of Strega. One interesting fact about Strega witches is that they believe they cannot die and move on to their next incarnation without passing their knowledge to at least one other person. The Strega believe in beings called Lasa which are the collective unconscious of other Strega who have already passed on, as well as their ancestors.
Shamanism: When we think of Shamanism we think of Native Americans, but many of the other traditions also have the element of Shamanism. Shamanism is basically the practice of communing with nature and being at one with it and the animals in it. Shamans believe in animism, they work with herbs, heal, protect, astral travel into different worlds, shapeshift, and work with weather. Native American Shamans were like the Celtic Druids in that they both took care of their tribe by protecting it from evil, healing, performing rites of passage for the members of the tribe, mediating in legal matters, contacting the dead, etc. Being on the Shamanic path is being environmentally conscious and respecting mother nature while continually striving to be spiritually conscious.
Green Witches: 'Green' is a generic term for the elements that can be found in herbal, natural, traditional, or family/ traditional Witchcraft. The Green elements can be adapted to those Ceremonial aspects above that you find appealing. It forms the foundation level of the Odinist tradition (which is very restrictive on what elements are acceptable - Kabbalah and Tarot not being used) The key to Green Withccraft is to be attuned to nature and the natural forces surrounding you.
Wicca: It is a modern religion, based upon the ancient Western European, pre-Christian pagan traditions. It is fertility, earth-based and nature oriented; Wiccans recognize and worship during the change of the seasons and the full and new moons. Wicca is a pagan religion, which means it is not Judeo-Christian in origin. Individuality is an honored trait for Wiccans. One can practice either with a coven or as a solitary, and they can worship in their own individual way. Also, some people who belong to covens may branch out and form their own coven. This is totally acceptable and it allows for a greater sharing of beliefs and of the establishment of new ideas and practices. Although Wiccan practices are unique to the individual or coven, most Wiccans have more in common with other Wiccans than they do differences. Such as: wiccans live, worship and celebrate by the changing seasons and lunar cycles, for example. Most of the books and websites out there are about Wicca.
Pecti-Wita: This is the solitary path of the pre-Celtic people known as the Picts. They inhabited mostly Scotland and were at war with the Irish and Welsh Celtics before they were eventually absorbed. Information is difficult to find on this tradition. Your best luck would be to find someone living in Scotland, Ireland or England and ask if they know of the history.
Witta: This is an eclectic Irish path which strives to keep the very old traditions of the Irish and combines it with the Norse influences. Witta values strongly the Irish-pagan history. Long ago, things were more strict, but today Witta covens accept self-initiation and the solitary life.
Eclectic Wicca/Paganism: Although this isn't exactly an "official" tradition there are many Wiccans and Pagans that call themselves Eclectic. In fact most solitary Wiccans consider themselves eclectic. Basically, this means is that they have combined elements from several different traditions into one they feel comfortable with. Many of the newer traditions started out as Eclectic. I personally combine many elements from Celtic/Dianic with Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism into my own "blend" of paganism, so to speak.
Asatru: This is the modern rebirth of the pre-Christian indigenous faith of the Norse peoples (ancestors of the Norwegians, Danes, Swedes, and Icelanders). This faith honored many Gods and Godesses, some of whose names are still familiar to us today, such as Thor, Odin and Freyja.
Odinism: Some Odinists consider themselves to be Ásatrú (see above), while others do not. Ásatrú is a polytheistic religion and the gods and/or goddesses that one chooses to worship or dedicate to among the Elder gods is a matter of individual choice and conscience. Odinism is included in the presentation of Ásatrú although not considered to be exactly the same thing. It refers to religious groups which are based on Northern European pre-Christian Pagan beliefs while Paganism is an even more general term.
Environmental Paganism: Many Pagans today do not follow a specific tradition. Instead, they actively work to save the Earth from further desecration, and honor the land upon which we live as a sacred representation of the Earth Mother. This style of religion often has no formal rites or methods of worship, but encourages each individual to honor divinity by caring for the Earth and all its creatures.
Ethnic Paganism: Many modern Pagan traditions are based upon the practices of a particular ethnic group; some of these modern, some ancient. In this category would come traditions such as Hellenic, Roman or Egyptian Paganism, as well as modern traditions continued by their ethnic groups; for example, voodoo, Santeria and Native American Indian traditions. This would also include the native Pagan traditions of the Pacific, and Australia's Aboriginal people. Unfortunately a great many myths and traditions, and tribal lore, has been lost as a result of the uncompromising practices of missionaries and settlers. (The Aztec's documents on their religious beliefs and practices were burned by missionaries, thus leaving archeologists to guess on their practices.)
