Bound through Difference
Explore the Heart of Our Witchcraft Traditions
Dive into beliefs and principles behind witchcraft, sharing the essence of spiritual paths and the inspiration that fuels our journey.
Witchcraft is, at its heart, a living art—each path overlaps, intertwines, and enriches the others. Practitioners weave goddess invocation, animistic spirit work, trance, sigil magic, rootworking, healing, shadow integration, and ecstatic embodiment into a living continuity of practice. Today, eclectic work is the most widespread approach, blending influences from folkways, initiatory covens, mystical currents, and modern experimentation.
We don’t endorse a single lineage or claim supremacy. We honor the diversity of experience and the personal evolution of every witch—those grounded in Wiccan structure, those guided by ancestral craft, and those drawn toward ecstatic and visionary paths. Each way adds color and depth to the whole, fostering shared learning and creative ritual that transcend borders of lineage and geography.
For clarity, we recognize four broad expressions of the Craft: Folk & Traditional—ancestral practices rooted in land, spirit, and herbcraft; Initiatory & Ceremonial—structured coven lineages that emphasize ritual discipline and the balance of God and Goddess; Mystical & Ecstatic—experiential, intuitive work seeking revelation through trance, energy, and direct spirit contact; and Eclectic—modern, adaptive practice that draws freely from all of these streams to form a personal path.
At Coven of the Veiled Moon, we are rooted in Northern European heritage and nourished through transatlantic exchange. Our work is ecumenical and evolving. We cultivate study, disciplined craft, and conscious ritual while encouraging innovation, divination, spellcraft, and inquiry into the unseen—so that each practitioner can grow, and the circle as a whole becomes more skillful, creative, and kind.
Chart of Some Witchcraft Traditions
| Tradition | Start Date & Origins | Key Figures | Summary | Symbols & Associations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional British Witchcraft | Pre-19th Century | Cunning folk | Rooted in pre-Christian folk beliefs including herbalism, charms, divination, and ancestor work. | Besom, hearth, stang, blackthorn staff |
| Gardnerian Wicca | 1950s (UK) | Gerald Gardner | Formalized Wicca with degrees, covens, and Wheel of the Year rituals. | Pentacle, athame, ritual circle, cords |
| Alexandrian Wicca | 1960s | Alex Sanders | More ceremonial than Gardnerian; structured initiations and magical hierarchy. | Double spiral, wand, elemental tools |
| Seax-Wica | 1973 | Raymond Buckland | Anglo-Saxon symbolism, open initiation, democratic coven structure. | Runes, spear, horn, sunwheel, Seax |
| Dianic Witchcraft | 1970s | Zsuzsanna Budapest | Goddess-centered feminist spirituality; woman-centered rites. | Moon, cauldron, red thread |
| Reclaiming Tradition | 1979 | Starhawk | Eco-magical, participatory ritual blending magic and activism. | Labrys, spiral, cauldron, four elements |
| Feri Tradition | Mid-20th C. | Victor & Cora Anderson | Ecstatic, initiatory, personal gnosis emphasis. | Iron pentacle, crossroads, blue fire |
| Strega (Stregheria) | 1890s revival | Raven Grimassi | Italian folk/family traditions honoring La Vecchia Religione. | Triskele, moon, olive branch |
| Green Witchcraft | 1990s | Ann Moura | Herbalism, seasonal cycles, independent practice. | Greenman, herbs, trees, mortar & pestle |
| Eclectic Witchcraft | 1980s–present | Various | Personalized, syncretic paths drawing from many sources. | Tarot, crystals, mixed altar tools |
| Chaos Magic | 1970s | Peter J. Carroll, Ray Sherwin | Belief-as-tool; experimental and results-driven. | Sigils, chaos star, dice, masks |
Folk & Traditional Witchcraft
Rooted in ancestral ways, land spirits, and pre-modern folk practices
Discover witchcraft that grows from the soil of old customs—cunning folk, hearth magic, and regional traditions that blend herbalism, divination, and ancestral reverence.
Includes:
Green Witchcraft, Traditional British Witchcraft, Strega
Initiatory Wiccan Traditions
Modern paths with formal structure, sacred rituals, and initiations
Explore the branches of Wicca shaped by lineage and ritual—paths that honor the Wheel of the Year, the elements, and both Goddess and God through ceremonial practice.
Includes:
Dianic Witchcraft, Gardnerian Wicca, Alexandrian Wicca
Mystical & Ecstatic Paths
Magic through personal experience, energy work, and inner vision
Walk the more intuitive and sensual paths of witchcraft, where gnosis, trance, and spirit work shape a personal connection to the sacred. Includes:
Reclaiming Tradition, Feri Tradition, Hedge Witchcraft, Saex Wica
Eclectic Witchcraft
Flexible, personal, and often experimental approaches to magic
Create your own magical path by blending traditions, tools, and beliefs. These practices are often intuitive, adaptive, and centered on results.
Includes:
Chaos Magic, Eclectic Witchcraft
🧹 Traditional British / Folk Witchcraft Folk▾
Summary
Land-rooted craft with household charms, cunning-folk remedies, and regional lore—lineage often oral and local.
Distinguishing Feature
Place-spirit relationship and pragmatic magic over formal liturgy.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Hearth, candles, bread/milk, seasonal herbs; charms and apotropaic marks.
Community Structure
Solitary and family lines; local circles; occasional covens.
Entry Path: family lore, regional teachers, self-guided study.
Popularity & Presence
Common in folk-magic revivals; visible in local festivals, protection-mark research, and online folk-magic groups.
🌿 Green Witchcraft Folk▾
Summary
Nature-centric practice focused on plant allies, garden rites, and ecological devotion.
Distinguishing Feature
Herbcraft as priestcraft; ritual emerges from tending living green spaces.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Fresh herbs, seed offerings, living water, compost/returning gifts to soil.
Community Structure
Solitary or garden circles; workshops with herbalists.
Entry Path: home gardening, herbal study, seasonal rites.
Popularity & Presence
Very popular online and in beginner books; frequent at markets and eco-spiritual events.
🍞 Kitchen / Hearth Witchcraft Folk▾
Summary
Everyday domestic craft—food, brewing, cleaning rites—made sacred.
Distinguishing Feature
The hearth as temple; daily life equals daily ritual.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Bread, salt, kitchen altar, ancestor plates on feast days.
Community Structure
Mostly solitary; family-centered observances.
Entry Path: cookery, homestead crafts, ancestral recipes.
Popularity & Presence
Widely practiced in households; strong blog/YouTube presence; beginner-friendly.
🌒 Hedge Witchcraft (Liminal) Folk/Liminal▾
Summary
Solitary path emphasizing liminal work—spirit flight, trance, and local spirit alliances.
Distinguishing Feature
Liminal travel and spirit-mediated knowledge.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Protective charms, spirit plates, gateway symbols, hedge/branch talismans.
Community Structure
Solitary with occasional trance circles.
Entry Path: trance training, spirit etiquette, protection craft.
Popularity & Presence
Active niche; common in online forums and books on spirit-work and seership.
🍇 Stregheria (Italian Folk Currents) Folk▾
Summary
Italian folk-magic streams with regional spirits, saints, and household rites; modern revivals vary.
Distinguishing Feature
Syncretism with folk-Catholic practice and Mediterranean agrarian cycles.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Wine, bread, oil, ancestor plates, household shrines.
Community Structure
Family-taught lines, small circles, festival observances.
Entry Path: family lore, regional mentors, study groups.
Popularity & Presence
Moderately visible; periodic surges via books/social media; stronger in Italian diaspora communities.
🪶 Braucherei / Powwow Folk▾
Summary
Pennsylvania German folk-healing/warding tradition mixing charms, scripture, and practical remedies.
Distinguishing Feature
Charm books, spoken prayers, and community service orientation.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Household shrines, protective sigils, bread/salt, water blessings.
Community Structure
Local healers and family lines; apprenticeships.
Entry Path: mentorship or text-based charm work.
Popularity & Presence
Regionally concentrated; renewed interest via folklore scholarship and revival groups.
🜂 Gardnerian Wicca Initiatory▾
Summary
Mid-20th-century initiatory coven tradition (Gerald Gardner); structured rites and degrees.
Distinguishing Feature
Lineaged initiation and Book of Shadows praxis.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Quarter calls; athame/pentacle/chalice/wand; Sabbat/Esbat cycle.
Community Structure
Covens with degrees and elders; strong gatekeeping for lineage integrity.
Entry Path: seek coven, dedicate, initiation.
Popularity & Presence
Global presence; many covens in UK/US; stable but selective growth.
🜁 Alexandrian Wicca Initiatory▾
Summary
Lineaged tradition (Alex & Maxine Sanders); Gardnerian-adjacent with ceremonial influences.
Distinguishing Feature
More ceremonial/Hermetic coloration within a Wiccan frame.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Formal circle craft, tool consecrations, balanced polarity rites.
Community Structure
Degree-based covens; teacher lineages.
Entry Path: contact coven leaders; initiation.
Popularity & Presence
Smaller than Gardnerian but well-represented in UK/US and online directories.
🌙 Dianic Traditions Initiatory▾
Summary
Goddess-centered currents (diverse lineages) emphasizing feminist spirituality; women-focused in some streams.
Distinguishing Feature
Priestess-led rites, lunar emphasis, reclaiming sacred feminine.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Lunar altars, chalice rites, goddess epithets and seasonal offerings.
Community Structure
Priestess circles, covens, and temple groups.
Entry Path: training circles, priestess programs, initiation.
Popularity & Presence
Visible in urban centers and retreats; strong book/online footprint.
🗡️ Modern Traditional Witchcraft (non-Wiccan) Initiatory▾
Summary
Non-Wiccan lineages (e.g., Cochrane-influenced) emphasizing cunning lore, spirit pacts, and traditional praxis.
Distinguishing Feature
Spirit-led gnosis and traditional fetishes, often outside Wiccan liturgy.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Devotional fires, oaths, ancestral/land-spirit offerings; tool minimalism or bespoke.
Community Structure
Small lines, teacher-led cells, oathbound lore.
Entry Path: teacher contact, vetting, initiation.
Popularity & Presence
Niche but influential; recognized among experienced practitioners and specialty publishers.
🕯️ Reclaiming Tradition Ecstatic▾
Summary
Eco-feminist, activist magic emphasizing trance, chanting, and participatory ritual.
Distinguishing Feature
Consensus process and community-centered ritual arts.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Communal altars, candles, shared offerings for land/waters.
Community Structure
Public rituals, camps, and cells.
Entry Path: public classes, camps, practice groups.
Popularity & Presence
Well-known in North America/Europe; strong festival and activist visibility.
🜃 Feri Tradition Ecstatic▾
Summary
Experiential, visionary witchcraft emphasizing personal gnosis, power/beauty, and deep trance.
Distinguishing Feature
Inner alchemy and idiosyncratic lore; teacher-based lineages.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Devotional icons, flame, libations; strong inner temple work.
Community Structure
Small, teacher-led groups; oaths vary by line.
Entry Path: teacher contact, coursework, initiation or dedication.
Popularity & Presence
Niche but respected; steady presence via teachers, workshops, and classic texts.
🧵 Oracular Seiðr (Trancecraft) Oracular/Ecstatic▾
Summary
Seership via trance, song, and “thread-craft”; spirit-mediated counsel rather than formal liturgy.
Distinguishing Feature
Seating, chanting, and altered states to receive guidance.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Spirit plates, mead/water libations, protective wards, staff or distaff as axis.
Community Structure
Ritual seiðr seats, seer circles, lineage-aware groups.
Entry Path: trance training; cultural context study; elder mentorship.
Popularity & Presence
Active specialty niche; appears at pagan gatherings and reconstructionist spaces.
⚗️ Ceremonial / Hermetic Magic (adjacent) Ceremonial▾
Summary
Ritual systems (e.g., Golden Dawn, Hermeticism) influencing many modern witches’ methods and symbolism.
Distinguishing Feature
Formal correspondences, graded work, and complex ritual architecture.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Four-tool set, planetary/kabbalistic layout, incense/water/fire consecrations.
Community Structure
Orders, lodges, and study colleges.
Entry Path: order application, study grades, initiation.
Popularity & Presence
Longstanding occult backbone; strong in literature, lodges, and magician communities.
🌀 Chaos Magic (method) Method/Trickster▾
Summary
Results-driven toolbox using belief as technique (sigils, servitors, paradigm-shifting) with a playful, trickster ethos.
Distinguishing Feature
Fluid, irreverent, and experimental—outcomes can be powerful, skewed, or unpredictable depending on framing and ethics.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Minimalist or bespoke; sigil plates, inks, flame; symbolic “payments” to close workings and reduce drift.
Community Structure
Loose networks and labs; DIY cells; author-centric scenes.
Entry Path: self-study, zines/books, peer labs.
Popularity & Presence
Highly visible online; adopted across scenes for technique—variable results and trickster blowback are common cautions.
🍂 Celtic Revival (Ceremonial Druid currents) Ceremonial▾
Summary
Nature-reverent ceremonial streams inspired by Celtic sources—grove practice, poetry, well-and-fire symbolism.
Distinguishing Feature
Triads, Awen (inspiration), and seasonal rites in a structured ceremonial frame.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Tree lore, ogham staves, mead/poetry offerings, land blessings.
Community Structure
Groves, orders, bard/druid training paths.
Entry Path: order courses, grove membership.
Popularity & Presence
Well-established worldwide; strong in festivals, eisteddfod-style arts, and land-steward groups.
🛡️ Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism Reconstructionist▾
Summary
Historically grounded devotional practice aiming to reconstruct pre-Christian Celtic religions with scholarly rigor.
Distinguishing Feature
Source-based praxis and cultural care; low tolerance for anachronism.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Historically attested offerings, clean altars, seasonal feasts tied to the land.
Community Structure
Study groups, hearths, and groves; scholarship-centric.
Entry Path: source study, language/culture work, devotional practice.
Popularity & Presence
Smaller but dedicated; active in academic-adjacent and cultural communities.
✨ Eclectic Witchcraft Eclectic▾
Summary
Curated, personalized practice pulling from multiple sources with consent, respect, and clear attribution.
Distinguishing Feature
Customization and experiment balanced by ethics and cultural awareness.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Mixed toolsets, adaptive offerings, modular seasonal layouts.
Community Structure
Solo practitioners with meetups, online covens, and study circles.
Entry Path: self-study, courses, curated mentors.
Popularity & Presence
Very widespread; strong social media and book ecosystem; common entry route for newcomers.
🌗 Veiled Moon (MCC) MCC▾
Summary
House current of mystery and initiation—the moon that both veils and reveals the Pattern’s unfolding.
Distinguishing Feature
Shadow & Illumination as one rhythm; learning by thresholds and returns.
Altar & Offerings Focus
Dark-velvet lunar altars, beeswax flame, crescent bowls, ancestor plates on hinge nights.
Community Structure
MCC circles and study cohorts; shared language and seasonal rites.
Entry Path: MCC pages, interviews, seasonal participation.
Popularity & Presence
Growing project with web presence, essays, and community outreach.
Note: Popularity & Presence is a qualitative snapshot to help newcomers gauge visibility and access. It varies by region.
