Dianic Wicca
*The Dianic Craft includes two distinct branches:
*1. One branch, founded in Texas by Morgan McFarland and Mark
Roberts, gives primacy to the Goddess in its theology, but honors the Horned God
as Her Beloved Consort. Covens are mixed, including both women and men. This
branch is sometimes called 'Old Dianic', and there are still covens of this
tradition, especially in Texas. Other covens, similar in teleology but not
directly descended from the McFarland/Roberts line, are sprinkled around the
country.
*2. The other branch, sometimes called Feminist Dianic
Witchcraft, focus exclusively on the Goddess and consists of women-only covens
and groups. These tend to be loosely structured and non-hierarchical, using
consensus- decision- making and simple, creative, experimental ritual. 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. The major network is Re-Formed
Congregation of the Goddess, which publishes "Of a Like Mind" newspaper and
sponsors conferences on Dianic Craft. [* Amber K]
Celtic Wicca (Church of Wicca)
The Church of Wicca was founded by Gavin and Yvonne Frost. They
offer correspondence courses in their brand of Wicca, which is sometimes called
Celtic Wicca. The Church of Wicca has just recently begun including a Goddess in
their deity structure, and has been very patrofocal as Wiccan traditions go. The
Church of Wicca terms itself "Baptist Wicca"
*The Frosts call their tradition of Wicca Celtic. To me it seems
more of a mixture of high magic and eclectic Wicca, with a smattering of Celtic
thrown in. For instance, they use three circles, one within the others, made of
salt, sulphur and herbs with runes and symbols between them instead of just one
circle. They also insist on a white- handled athame and will not have a black
handled one, whereas all the other traditions I have heard or read about use a
black handled one. It seems to me the Wicca they practice and teach should not
be called Celtic at all; but since a lot of it is made up or put together by
them from other traditions they should also give it a made-up name; say
Frostism. If you DON'T have to pay for the course, and have some extra time, it
would probably be worth reading just for comparison. [*From Circe, who took
their correspondence course.]
The Frosts have always been rather more public than most
traditions (advertising their course in the Enquirer and similar publications)
which has earned them heavy criticism in less public Craft groups.
Georgian Wicca
If one word could best describe the Georgean Tradition, it would
be 'eclectic. Even though the material provided to students was nominally
Alexandrian, there was never any imperative to follow that path blindly. George
Patterson (the tradition's founder) always said 'If it works use it, if it
doesn't, don't'. The newsletter was always full of contributions from people of
many traditions. I've always felt Pat's intent was to provide jumping off points
for students and members. So even though I can claim initiation into more than
one tradition, I'll always consider myself 'Georgian first: George is greatly
missed, may the God-dess watch over him. Bright Blessings, Lord Fafner.
Discordianism (Erisian)
*The Discordian or Erisian movement is described as a 'Non-
Prophet Irreligious Disorganization and has claimed 'The Erisian revelation is
not a complicated put-on disguised as a new religion, but a new religion
disguised as a complicated put-on. " It all started with the *'Principia
Discordia, or How I Found the Goddess and What I Did to Her When I Found Her'*,
a collection of articles and ideas compiled by Greg Hill (Malaclypse the
Young-er). The central theme is 'Chaos is every bit as important as Order' as
illustrated in the story of The curse of Greyface:
*Humor is central to Discordianism, but Discordianism should not
be dismissed as a joke. Profound experiences frequently accompany the practice
or Erisinaism. It is a perceptual game, one which demonstrates that the absurd
is just as valid as the mundane and chaos is just as valid as order. It frees
the practitioner from the order games (that most have forgotten are games) to
play games with order or games with chaos, or both. The effects of Discordianism
upon an individual can be far reaching and amazingly liberating. [Although a
great many immature individuals have played at Discordianism and thereby side
stepped any chance of spiritual growth whatsoever
Grey Cat *wryly*]
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