Post by brandra on Feb 3, 2006 6:05:56 GMT -5
The father of Seax Wica is undoubtedly the well-known occultist and author Raymond Buckland. The tradition itself being brought about in the early 70`s, was in response to the growing number of spurious covens at the time practicing their one-oneupmanship and elitist degree systems. Secrecy meant power and power was everything. The craft needed to develop beyond ego trips and self-gratification into a bone-fide religion, which did away with an oath of secrecy and became democratic and enjoyable. Seax Wica is just that, allowing all to have a relationship with the God and Goddess. With access to the mysteries and kinship with all, "Love is the law, Love is the bond".
In a Seax Coven until you have been initiated you would be termed a Ceorl (pron-cawl) you would spend time with the other members of the Coven learning all you could before you were ready for your intuition.
As you neared the date it is advisable to make or obtain a robe of some description, (British weather being what it is skyclad is, for the most part not exactly practical) or even an item of clothing that can be discarded into the fire marking your transition from Ceorl to Gesith (Priest or Priestess of Seax)
During your initiation an oath is made;
"As this libation drains from the horn, so shall all blood drain from my body if I should do aught to harm my God and Goddess or those in kinship with their love"
The founder of Seax Wica sent this message to the tradition as a whole last year.
A word from Raymond Buckland
18/01/2005
Gerald Gardner found that there was much wanting, when he went through the Book of Shadows of the Clutterbuck coven. Things had crept-in over the years which did not belong there (or so Gerald felt) and things had got left out which he thought should have been there. So, with the help of Doreen Valiente, he put together his own Book of Shadows, based on that original. The Gardnerian BOS, therefore, is no older than fifty years in its generally accepted form.
I carried the torch for Gerald (at his request) to the United States. In my turn, after following the Gardnerian path for over a decade, I became somewhat unhappy with the Gardnerian Book. I consequently put together THE TREE, the Seax-Wica "BOS." I felt very strongly that Gerald would have approved of it (He and I had a tremendous amount in common.).
The Seax-Wica is now over thirty years old; far older than many - if not most - other "traditions". It is found around the world: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Russia, Europe and the United States. I am extremely proud of it and of its followers. They are all what I would term "thinking people" - they don't just accept what is handed to them but think things through and either accept or reject. That is, or should be, the true Wica way. I like to think it was also the Saxon way, but I'd be the first to admit I'm no Saxon scholar! It gives me great joy to see new Covens, Solitaries, Moots, and simply discussion groups of Seax-Wica come into being. I give my full blessings to any such.
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OK my view now
I started in Seax Wica 21 years ago I don't think that I can claim to still be Seax but I still have roots there and I am always welcome with them.
Seax has a number of advantages over other traditions,
firstly it is not a ridged follow me tradition.
It is democratic when in coven form the priesthood serve only for a year and a day the there has to be elections some covens make the rule that the existing priest and priestess cannot stand for two consecrative terms.
Seax is based as much on sun cycles as it is moon orientated there is no triple goddess aspect the time of the goddess is summer the growing season protector of the young and giver of life. The time of the god is winter the hunter and worrier protector.
The two are equal as are the high Priest and Priestess ether one can take a coven meeting or Esbat without the other. this is not so in many Wicca traditions the the high Priestess can take a meeting but the high Priest cannot.
One possible drawback with the democratic system is you can have a weak priesthood and a lack of continuity where with an autocratic system there is the danger of the priesthood power tripping I have seen this happen to.
In a Seax Coven until you have been initiated you would be termed a Ceorl (pron-cawl) you would spend time with the other members of the Coven learning all you could before you were ready for your intuition.
As you neared the date it is advisable to make or obtain a robe of some description, (British weather being what it is skyclad is, for the most part not exactly practical) or even an item of clothing that can be discarded into the fire marking your transition from Ceorl to Gesith (Priest or Priestess of Seax)
During your initiation an oath is made;
"As this libation drains from the horn, so shall all blood drain from my body if I should do aught to harm my God and Goddess or those in kinship with their love"
The founder of Seax Wica sent this message to the tradition as a whole last year.
A word from Raymond Buckland
18/01/2005
Gerald Gardner found that there was much wanting, when he went through the Book of Shadows of the Clutterbuck coven. Things had crept-in over the years which did not belong there (or so Gerald felt) and things had got left out which he thought should have been there. So, with the help of Doreen Valiente, he put together his own Book of Shadows, based on that original. The Gardnerian BOS, therefore, is no older than fifty years in its generally accepted form.
I carried the torch for Gerald (at his request) to the United States. In my turn, after following the Gardnerian path for over a decade, I became somewhat unhappy with the Gardnerian Book. I consequently put together THE TREE, the Seax-Wica "BOS." I felt very strongly that Gerald would have approved of it (He and I had a tremendous amount in common.).
The Seax-Wica is now over thirty years old; far older than many - if not most - other "traditions". It is found around the world: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Russia, Europe and the United States. I am extremely proud of it and of its followers. They are all what I would term "thinking people" - they don't just accept what is handed to them but think things through and either accept or reject. That is, or should be, the true Wica way. I like to think it was also the Saxon way, but I'd be the first to admit I'm no Saxon scholar! It gives me great joy to see new Covens, Solitaries, Moots, and simply discussion groups of Seax-Wica come into being. I give my full blessings to any such.
----------
OK my view now
I started in Seax Wica 21 years ago I don't think that I can claim to still be Seax but I still have roots there and I am always welcome with them.
Seax has a number of advantages over other traditions,
firstly it is not a ridged follow me tradition.
It is democratic when in coven form the priesthood serve only for a year and a day the there has to be elections some covens make the rule that the existing priest and priestess cannot stand for two consecrative terms.
Seax is based as much on sun cycles as it is moon orientated there is no triple goddess aspect the time of the goddess is summer the growing season protector of the young and giver of life. The time of the god is winter the hunter and worrier protector.
The two are equal as are the high Priest and Priestess ether one can take a coven meeting or Esbat without the other. this is not so in many Wicca traditions the the high Priestess can take a meeting but the high Priest cannot.
One possible drawback with the democratic system is you can have a weak priesthood and a lack of continuity where with an autocratic system there is the danger of the priesthood power tripping I have seen this happen to.