Wiccan Handbook – Part I: History of Traditions, Literature & Lore
Wicca: Why does the word inspire so much controversy- and confusion? Is it one of the oldest religions on earth- or is it the youngest? Is Wicca a spiritual belief system- or is it a religion of witchcraft? Do Wiccans worship God(ess)s or nature? Do they truly possess ancient wisdom, or are they merely a cultural subset that likes to dip their toes in the taboo?
The truth is: Wicca can be described as all of the above. There are ancient Wiccan traditions that have been passed down vocally for thousands of years and still practiced today. There are also modern Wiccan traditions that have evolved through appropriation and from “pop culture.”
All Wiccan traditions do indeed worship God(ess)s, and all Wiccan traditions also worship nature. All Wiccan traditions hold the same fundamental belief of the immortality of the soul, animism (that nature is animated by spirit), and pantheism (that everything is created by the same spiritual force and shares the same spiritual essence). However, some Wiccan traditions honor a single pantheon and have a strict hierarchy, while others are more eclectic and informal.
All Wiccan traditions do incorporate magick and spellcraft, although the forms, or types, of magick can differ between them. And while some Wiccans traditions are more devoted to the spiritual aspects of the religion, others are focused on developing skills in The Craft.
So why are different Wiccan traditions fundamentally similar yet vary regarding God(ess)s, lore, and magical rites? And which one (if any) is actually, true Wicca? To answer these questions, we need to explore the root origins of Wicca and understand its evolution over the last 3,000 years!
The modern word “wicca” is a derivation of the Old English (Anglo-Saxon, Middle Ages) word piċċa, which translates to wizard or sorcerer- a person with magical powers. However, when Anglo-Saxons used this term, it was in direct connotation to those still practicing the heathen traditions of the Celts/Gaels.
Originally from Teutonic/Germanic descent, the ancient Celts/Gaels began inhabiting the British Isles in approximately 1,000 B.C.E. The Celts dominated the territory throughout the Iron Age, establishing their cultural and religious roots in five different geographical locations, the modern-day areas of: Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Ireland, and the Isle of Man (Manx). From these five Celtic cultures derived the original five Wiccan Traditions: Scottish Tradition; Welsh Tradition; Cornish Tradition; Irish Tradition; Manx Tradition.
All of these five societies practiced Celtic Paganism, and although separated geographically, they shared the same fundamental spiritual beliefs and customs. The Celts were polytheistic, with approximately 200 known God(ess)s within the Celtic pantheon. Some of the deities were associated with specific locations and only worshiped by locals, while others, like the Triple Goddess Morrigan, and the Mother Earth Goddess Danu, were widespread.
Celtic festivals and holidays were celebrated during the highs, lows, and equalities of the seasons. They were accomplished astrologers, following a 13-month lunar calendar with a daily cycle beginning at sundown. All Celtic tribes acknowledged magical beings inhabiting the land. While some of these beings were hostile to humans, most were beneficent and taught the Celts metallurgy, herbalism, astrology, and magick! In Ireland, this magical race was referred to as the Tuatha de Danann (Children of Danu), or the Sidhe (pronounced shee). In Britain, these beings were referred to by many names: Tylwyth Teg, Seelies, Fae Folk, Fairies, and Elves. The Celts also believed in Elementals. Elementals were extremely powerful beings formed by the natural elements: air, fire, water, earth, and spirit (Irish).
The Underworld (or Otherworld), was heavily emphasized in Celtic culture. Their priests and priestesses (the Druids) regularly interacted with the Otherworld on behalf of the people for wisdom, guidance, protection and blessings. The Druids practiced magick and divination, and were responsible for organizing worship and performing sacrifices.
But the Druids were not just the Celts’ religious leaders- they were their medical professionals, their political advisors, their history and lore keepers, and their judges and legal authorities. They were highly-educated people held in great esteem within Celtic societies.
The Druids were literate with a runic-type of writing system. Each runic letter of the Celtic alphabet had God(ess)s, myths, and lores associated with it. However, they used writing primarily for commemorative inscriptions as it was “forbidden” to write down their beliefs, practices, knowledge, or mythologies. Some vocal traditions were recited during public gatherings by Bards, the historian and lore-keepers. Yet, most of the Druids’ knowledge was fiercely guarded and only taught to votaries of the priesthood. As Druids did not keep written records, most of what we know about Celtic paganism comes from archeological discoveries, anthropological studies, and Roman military documents pertaining to the invasion and occupation of the British Isles.
The Romans arrived on the British Isles in 43 A.D. The goal was to conquer the Celts and expand the empire. Their arrival caused a group of Celts to flee the islands for western Europe. There they established their own Celtic society which resulted in the formation of the Wiccan Breton Tradition.
When the Romans arrived, they didn’t simply bring their invading armies- they brought their culture and pantheon. The Romans, too, worshiped a Mother Earth Goddess, Venus, as well as a Triple Goddess, Diana Triformis. Over the next two centuries, the two cultures blended, and Celtic Paganism became “Romanized.” This resulted in the formation of the Wiccan Gallo-Roman Tradition. The Gallo-Roman Tradition was still fundamentally Celtic Paganism, however, the names of Celtic deities were combined with (or replaced by) their Roman counterparts.
The Romans also brought with them “hired mercenaries” that had experience fighting the barbaric, yet courageous, Celts (the Anglo-Saxons). The Anglo-Saxons, too, brought with them their paganistic practices and pantheon. Once again, cultures began to blend and merge, from which arose the Wiccan Anglo-Saxon Tradition.
After the Roman Empire declared Christianity the state religion, paganism went into hiding. But the vocal lore was not forgotten; it was recited around hearth fires and retold over and over from one generation to the next. During the Middle Ages, Christian monks began collecting the “old lore” and for the first time, these ancient teachings were recorded in writing. Although Christianity was mandatory, and violators were punished by torture and death, the Wiccan Traditions continued to be practiced in secret across the British Isles and Western Europe. It wasn’t until the 1800s and the Age of Enlightenment, that Wicca, and other paganistic religions, finally began to reemerge from the shadows. It was also during the Age of Enlightenment that Celtic lore was first translated and published. It is through these works that we become illuminated to the ancient traditions lost by time and persecution. Some of the most respected works include:
*Bonwick, James. Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions (1894)
*Gregory, Lady Augusta. Cuchulain of Muirthemne. (1902)
*Gregory, Lady Augusta. Gods and Fighting Men. (1904)
*Rolleston, T.W. Celtic Myths and Legends. (1911)
*Speranza-Wilde, Lady Francesca. Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland. (1887)
*Stephens, James. Irish Fairy Tales. (1920)
One highly significant publication to have derived during the Age of Enlightenment was Aradia: Vangelo delle Streghe (Aradia: The Gospel of the Witches. 1899). This work was published by Charles Godfrey Leland, an American folklorist, author, and journalist. As a thoroughly, well-traveled gentleman with a focus on anthropology, Leland also happened to be a respected authority on magick and witchcraft. According to Leland, he received the handwritten manuscript from a woman named, Maddelena (a generational Italian Witch). The book itself was very similar to a “Medieval Grimoire” that contained creation lore, wisdom and knowledge of charms, spells, incantations and rituals, as well as folk magick.
Many neo-pagans (including some Wiccans) have dismissed the historic manuscript due to its obvious play on the “negative stereotype” of Witches. Unfortunately, the Aradia stereotype has had a dramatic and mainly negative impact on Hollywood and pop culture. However, what Wiccans have greatly failed to understand regarding the The Gospel of Aradia, is the historic stereotype was “deliberate” as a means to hide many “truths” as it was forbidden (and against the law) to reveal beliefs and rituals to the uninitiated. While it is true there are traditions that have taken the The Gospel, literal in every sense (for example, insisting rituals must be performed skyclad), other traditions have mainly adapted the wisdom, knowledge and lore (of creation) as a valid doctrine. In truth, there may not be an absolute right or wrong path to interpreting The Gospel of Aradia just as many Christians and Catholics derive their own interpretations of the Bible.
Despite there being controversy surrounding The Gospel of Aradia, there is no denying that The Gospel, has become one of the most influential and historic doctrines in Wiccan faith. Aradia is considered the Wiccan “bible” for many traditions, including: Alexandrian, Correllian, and Gardnerian. Additionally, the foundations of some of the most beloved Wiccan rituals, including The Charge of the Goddess and the Wiccan Rede (Doreen Valiente), were both adapted from Aradia. The Gospel has also had a major influence on some of the most well recognized Wiccan authors over the last century including: Raymond Buckland, Stewart and Janet Farrar, Gerald Gardner, Raven Grimassi, and Alex and Maxine Sanders.
Furthermore, The Gospel of Aradia opened the path for a diversity of publications of vocal lore pertaining to the original Wiccan Traditions. One such example comes from the Welsh Tradition, written by their late High Priestess Lady Gwen Thompson. Published in Green Egg (1975), the “Rede of the Wiccae” holds a treasure trove of information regarding the beliefs and practices of Celtic Witches. Although, the “Long Rede” (as it is also known by) has its own share of controversy regarding the exact age of the poem; the poem contains vocal lore originating from the 17th and 18th century. It has been concluded by professionals that the majority of the document must have been authored by an individual born no later than the 19th century.
With such debate surrounding Wiccan doctrine and literature, it is little wonder why there is much controversy regarding the spiritual path known as Wicca. Many make the argument that Wicca is one of the oldest religions. Celtic paganism can be traced as far back as the Iron Age. So such an argument would be correct. Others may argue that Wicca is a “modern neopaganism” religion. There is truth in the matter that Wicca has evolved over the last three millennia as cultures around the world have blended and melded. So they, too, would have a valid argument. Despite Wicca’s many facets and the fact that over the last two-thousand years, Wiccans (and Witches) have been persecuted and stereotyped as a cultural subset with a penchant for the taboo – Wiccans and Witches today, span every profession and walks of life. Doctors, teachers, politicians, lawyers and even scientists have followers of the Wiccan faith among their rankings.
So then: What is required for one to claim themselves as “Wiccan?” Must one be initiated into one of the original traditions? Or may one self-initiate oneself? Is there only one Wiccan path? Or can one choose to follow a mix of traditions with primary principles as a foundation? The answer to each of these questions is: Yes. The true Wiccan path is the one that calls you to the Goddess. A path felt deep within your spirit and soul. A path that grows more personal each day between you and Her. A path that teaches you how to progress your own evolution so that one day you may return to the Divine from which you were created. Simply worded- the true Way of the Wiccae is a path filled with Love and Light.
– The Goddess Kingdom© 2023
