Alexandrian Wicca

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Alexandrian Wicca is a tradition of the Neopagan religion of Wicca, founded by Alex Sanders (also known as "King of the Witches"[1]) who, with his wife Maxine Sanders, established the tradition in the 1960s. Alexandrian Wicca is similar in many ways to Gardnerian Wicca, and receives regular mention in books on Wicca as one of the religion's most widely-recognized traditions.[2]

Contents

[edit] Origins and history

The tradition is based largely upon Gardnerian Wicca, in which Sanders was trained to the first degree of initiation,[3] and also contains elements of ceremonial magic and Qabalah, which Sanders had studied independently.

The name of the tradition is a reference both to Alex Sanders and to the ancient library of Alexandria, which was one of the first libraries in the world.[4][3] The choice of name was inspired by a view of the library as an early attempt to bring together the knowledge and wisdom of the world into one place.[5] Maxine Sanders recalls that the name was chosen when Stewart Farrar, a student of the Sanders', began to write What Witches Do. "Stewart asked what Witches who were initiated via our Covens should be called; after much discussion, he came up with "Alexandrian" which both Alex and I rather liked. Before this time we were very happy to be called Witches".[6]

Alexandrian Wicca is practiced outside of Britain, including both Canada and the United States. Encyclopedia Mystica states that Alexandrian Wicca "never gained the popularity as did the Gardnerian tradition because it is believed Sanders’ negative publicity hurt it. As of the 1980s none of the American Alexandrian covens had any connection with Sanders himself. The Alexandrian covens have done better in Canada where they were more firmly established before all of Sanders’ negative publicity".[7]

[edit] Practices

Alexandrian Wicca, in similarity with other traditional Wiccan practices, emphasizes gender polarity. This emphasis can be seen in the Sabbat rituals, which focus on the relationship between the Wiccan Goddess and God.

As compared to Gardnerian Wicca, Alexandrian Wicca is "somewhat more eclectic", according to The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism.[3] Maxine Sanders notes that Alexandrians take the attitude "If it works use it".[6] Tool use and deity and elemental names also differ from the Gardnerian tradition.[3] Skyclad practice, or ritual nudity, is optional within the tradition, training is emphasized, and ceremonial magic practices, such as Kabbalah and Enochian magic may be part of ritual.[3]

Alexandrian covens meet on new moons, full moons and during Sabbat festivals.[3]

[edit] Ranks and degrees

Alexandrian Wicca shares with other traditional Wicca systems the belief that "only a witch can make another witch".[5] The process through which an individual is made a witch is called "initiation". As in Gardnerian Wicca, there are three levels, or "degrees", of initiation, commonly referred to as "first", "second", and "third" degree. Only a second or third degree witch can initiate another into witchcraft, and only a third degree witch can initiate another to third degree. A third degree initiate is referred to as a "High Priestess" or "High Priest".[5] The Farrars claimed to have published the rituals for the three ceremonies of initiation in Eight Sabbats for Witches.[8]

Some Alexandrians have instituted a preliminary rank called "neophyte" or "dedicant." In these Alexandrian covens, a neophyte is not bound by the oaths taken by initiates, and thus has an opportunity to examine the tradition before committing to it[5]. Neophytes are not, however, considered to have actually joined the tradition until they do take first degree. As such they would not experience certain aspects of rituals that were considered oathbound.

[edit] Relationship to other traditions

Scholar Ronald Hutton records comments from British practitioners of Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca that distinctions between the two traditions have blurred in the last couple of decades, and some initiates of both traditions have recognized initiation within one as qualification for the other.[9] Author Vivianne Crowley often trains her students in both traditions.[3] In the United States, Alexandrian priestess Mary Nesnick, an initiate of both traditions, created a deliberate fusion of the two, which she named the "Algard" tradition.[3]

Janet and Stewart Farrar, both of whom were initiated into the Alexandrian tradition by the Sanderses, describe themselves as having left the tradition after the release of Eight Sabbats for Witches.[10] They were later referred to as "Reformed Alexandrian",[11] a description that Janet Farrar does not use.[10] The "Starkindler Line" is derived from Alexandrian Wicca,[12] and Alexandrian Wicca was a major influence on both Blue Star Wicca[13] and Odyssean Wicca.[14]

The High Magical and Qabalistic strands of the Alexandrian tradition also informed the Ordine Della Luna in Constantinople which, from 1967 onwards, Sanders operated as a 'side-degree' or ancillary rite to Alexandrian Wicca, most notably in collaboration with Derek Taylor in the 1980s.[15][16]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Johns, June (1969). King of the witches: The world of Alex Sanders. P. Davies. ISBN 0-432-07675-1. 
  2. ^ See Adler, Margot (1979). Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today. Viking. ISBN 0-670-28342-8. , and Farrar, Janet and Stewart, Bone, Gavin (1995). The Pagan Path. Phoenix Publishing. ISBN 0-919345-40-9. , amongst others.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Rabinovitch, Shelley and Lewis, James R. (2004). The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism. Citadel Press, 5-6. ISBN 0-8065-2407-3. 
  4. ^ The Alexandrian Tradition. Retrieved on 18 March, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d An Introduction to Alexandrian Wicca. Gay Pagans, Gay Witches...?. Retrieved on 11 December, 2005.
  6. ^ a b a  Priestess of the Goddess: TWPT talks with Maxine Sanders. The Wiccan/Pagan Times. Retrieved on 11 December, 2005.
  7. ^ Alexandrian Wicca. Encyclopedia Mystica. Retrieved on 11 December, 2005.
  8. ^ Farrar, Janet and Stewart (1988). Eight Sabbats for Witches, revised edition. Phoenix Publishing. ISBN 0-919345-26-3. 
  9. ^ Hutton, Ronald (2000). Triumph of the Moon. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-500-27242-5. 
  10. ^ a b Bone, Gavin and Farrar, Janet. Our Wiccan Origins. Wicca na hErin. Retrieved on 11 December, 2005.
  11. ^ Dunwich, Gerina (1995). The Wicca Book of Days. Citadel Press, 78. ISBN 0-8065-1685-2. 
  12. ^ The StarKindler Line. Retrieved on 11 December, 2005.
  13. ^ Gillette, Devyn Christopher. Home Again: An Introduction To Blue Star Wicca. Retrieved on 11 December, 2005.
  14. ^ Landstreet, Lynna. A Brief History of the WCC and the Odyssean Tradition. Retrieved on 11 December, 2005.
  15. ^ Strachan, Francoise (1970). The Aquarian Guide to Occult, Mystical, Religious, Magical, London and Around. London: Aquarian Press. ISBN 0-85030-074-6. 
  16. ^ The Ordine Della Luna/Nova: The Work of Alex Sanders and Derek Taylor. Retrieved on 27 August, 2006.

[edit] External links

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