WHO ARE WE

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f8dfc3.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0408dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>COVENANT OF THE SILVEROWLS</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="COVENANT OF THE SILVEROWLS"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="welcome"><U>welcome</U></A>   |   <B>WHO ARE WE</B>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sabbats "><U>Sabbats </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="basic ritual "><U>basic ritual </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="what we do"><U>what we do</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Favourite Links"><U>Favourite Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U>Contact Me</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U>Miscellaneous</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="basics pdf"><U>basics pdf</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id243.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="history"><U>history</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dates"><U>Dates</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id268.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="the local pagans of milton keynes"><U>the local pagans of milton keynes</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="up coming events"><U>up coming events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="covenant of the owl"><U>covenant of the owl</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="INDEX"><U>INDEX</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PAGANISM "><U>PAGANISM </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our thanks to"><U>Our thanks to</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0408dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>WHO ARE WE</I></div> <div> <A HREF="#celtic_wicca__church_of_wicca__" TITLE="WHO ARE WE"><U><I>Celtic Wicca (Church of Wicca) </I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#dianic_wicca_" TITLE="WHO ARE WE"><U><I>Dianic Wicca </I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#discordianism__erisian__" TITLE="WHO ARE WE"><U><I>Discordianism (Erisian) </I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#georgian_wicca_" TITLE="WHO ARE WE"><U><I>Georgian Wicca </I></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>EVOLVE OR DIE.</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>THE CRAFT MUST EVER EVOLVE TO MEET WITH THE TIMES AND PLACES</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>IT FINDS ITSELF IN. ANY PRACTIONER SHOULD BE PREPARED TO EXPAND</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>THIER MINDS AND USE THEIR IMAGINATION TO FURTHER THE PATH OF THE CRAFT.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id197.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="THE REALISATION "><U><I>THE REALISATION </I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Coven Rules </B></div> <div> <B>IF IT HARMS NONE DO AS THOU WILL.</B> </div> <div> <B>LOVE, TRUST AND RESPECT ARE THE BYLAWS FOR THIS COVEN.</B> </div> <div> <B>THE SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE IS THE MAIN. BRING IDEAS AND LISTEN TO OTHERS' OPINIONS.</B> </div> <div> <B>1. WE OFFER YOU THE ABILITY TO TAKE FIRST. SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE INITIATIONS WITHIN OUR GROUP.</B> </div> <div> <B>2. WE OFFER YOU THE CHANCE TO TAKE OTHER FORMS OF INITIATION WITHIN YOUR CORE BELIEF.</B> </div> <div> <B>3. WE WILL LISTEN TO YOUR IDEAS FOR PROGRESSION AND ATTEMPT TO HELP YOU ON YOUR PATH.</B> </div> <div> <B>4. WE WILL TEACH YOU BASICS OF THE CRAFT AS A BASE FROM WHICH YOU MAY THEN FURTHER DEVELOP YOUR OWN PATH.</B> </div> <div> <B>5. WE ARE KEEN TO EXPERIMENT WITH IDEAS BROUGHT TO THE COVEN BY MEMBERS WHO HAVE RESEARCHED THEM.</B> </div> <div> <B>6. WE DO NOT SLAVE AWAY WITH THE IDEA THAT CRAFT IS ALL </B></div> <div> <B>THERE CAN BE. WE TRY TO FURTHER OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE </B></div> <div> <B>GREAT PATH BY ACCEPTING NEW IDEAS AND THOSE OF OTHER PATHS.</B> </div> <div> <B>7. AT ANY TIME THE INNER CIRCLE WILL JOIN THE OUTER CIRCLE TO ASSIST AND TO DECIDE IF ANY MEMBER IS READY TO MOVE ON.</B> </div> <div> <B>8. THE OUTER CIRCLE MEMBERS MAY BRING SOMEONE NEW TO THE CIRCLE ONLY IF THEY VOUCH FOR THEM AND HAVE MADE THE INNER CIRCLE AWARE OF THEM.</B> </div> <div> <B>9. THE INNER CIRCLE'S WORD IS FINAL BUT YOU MAY COME TO US AND STATE YOUR CASE.</B> </div> <div> <B>10. A MEMBER WHO HAS NOT ATTENDED CIRCLE FOR ONE YEAR </B></div> <div> <B>AND ONE DAY SHALL FORFEIT THEIR RIGHT TO ATTEND AND MUST RETURN ANY COVEN PROPERTY WITHIN ONE MONTH.</B> </div> <div> <B>11. A MEMBER WHO BELIEVES THEY ARE READY FOR A COVEN OF THEIR OWN MAY ASK THE INNER CIRCLE . THEY MAY NOT TAKE ANY MEMBER UNLESS PERMISSION IS GIVEN BY THE INNER CIRCLE.</B></div> <div> <B>12. THE GROUP IS FAMILY ORIENTATED AND EVERYONE WILL RESPECT EVERYONES VOWS AND OATHS AND WAYS OF LIVING. NO ONE SHALL ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE A PERSON TO BREAK ANY OATHS TAKEN.</B></div> <div> <B>13. HONOUR AND RESPECT ARE PARAMOUNT IN THIS GROUP. IF YOU TAKE AN OATH OR PROMISE BE PREPARED TO BE HELD TO IT. IF YOU FEEL YOU CANNOT THEN DO NOT TAKE IT.</B></div> <div> <B>14. OPENESS AND HONESTY ARE HIGHLY REGARDED BY THIS GROUP.</B></div> <div> <B>15. FAMILY EVEN NOT BY BLOOD OR VOW IS STRENGTH SO ALL SHOULD WORK TO BE CLOSE.</B></div> <div> <B>16. AT TIMES PEOPLE WILL CLASH BUT PEOPLE SHOULD ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS</B></div> <div> <B>ISSUES. NO ONE SHOULD HOLD BACK AS THIS LEADS TO SEPERATION.</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>WHAT WE DO</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>we are an eclectic group that goes beyond the wiccan path but we use techniques from wicca as a basic training.</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>but we are witches the practioners of the magick and followers of the god and goddess </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>we have christian, buddhist ,gypsy ,kabbalist ,trad wiccan and oriental in our group</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>we work with many ideals and that is the point of a working coven against a celebration coven</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>wicca== religion</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>pagan==way of life</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>witch== practioner of the science of magick</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>religion has a major part but a witch practises their magick</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>that is our view on the whole coven the reilgious aspect is but a part the magick is the drive </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>myself i am pagan witch and i follow the old gods</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>TYPES OF WICCA</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>w</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Alexandrian Wicca </B></div> <div> <B>*As most everyone by now is aware, the Alexandrian Tradition is very close to Gardnerian with a few minor changes. (One of the most obvious ones being that the Alexandrians use the athame as a symbol for the element of fire and the wand as a symbol for air. Most of the rituals are very formal and heavily indebted to ceremonial magick. It is also a polarized tradition and the sexuality of that female/male polarity is emphasized. The ritual cycle deals mostly with the division of the year between the Holly King and the Oak King and several ritual dramas deal with the dying/resurrected God theme. As with Gardnerians, the High Priestess is supposedly the highest authority. However, it is odd that the primary spokespersons for both traditions have been men. [*This material provided by Gillan] </B></div> <div> <B>Alexandrian Wicca is the creation of Alex Sanders (with his then wife Maxine) who claimed to have been initiated by his grandmother in 1933. It's principal proponents are Janet and Stewart Fararr whose books set forth most, if not all, of the Alexandrian tradition. Contrary to popular belief, the name Alexandrian refers not to Alex Sanders, but to Ancient Alexandria. </B></div> <div> <B>Although similar to Gardnerian Wicca, Alexandrian Wicca tends to be more eclectic, and liberal. Some of Gardnerisms strict rules, such as the requirement of ritual nudity, have been made optional by Alexandrian Wicca. </B></div> <div> <B>Mary Nesnick, an American initiate in Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions founded a 'new' tradition called Algard. This tradition brings together both Gardnerian and Alexandrian teachings under a single banner. This was possible due to the great similarities between the two traditions. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="dianic_wicca_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Dianic Wicca </B></div> <div> <B>*The Dianic Craft includes two distinct branches: </B></div> <div> <B>*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. </B></div> <div> <B>*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.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="celtic_wicca__church_of_wicca__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Celtic Wicca (Church of Wicca) </B></div> <div> <B>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" </B></div> <div> <B>*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.] </B></div> <div> <B>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. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="georgian_wicca_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Georgian Wicca </B></div> <div> <B>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-des's watch over him. Bright Blessings, Lord Fafner. </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>OTHER DISCIPLINES WITHIN OUR GROUP</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="discordianism__erisian__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Discordianism (Erisian) </B></div> <div> <B>*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: </B></div> <div> <B>*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]</B></div> <div> <B>and many many more forms of pagan worship and spiritual path</B> </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>