Hereditary Witchcraft

This refers to those people that can trace Craft practice back on their family tree in an unbroken family tradition passed down through the generations by their ancestors from the ancient Pagan Mysteries, and were taught the secrets of the Craft by a living relative (my mother’s grandmother’s sister’s cousin was a Witch, doesn't count). Many Hereditary Witches do not consider their traditions Wiccan, and some admit that they only use the term Wicca because of what they had read about Gardnerian beliefs and practices, which seemed to fit more or less closely with their own beliefs and practices. Hereditary traditions are also often referred to as FamTrad, or Family Traditionalists i.e. a Tradition that has passed down within the family and hence by hereditary descent.

Cyber Wicca


Cyber Wicca is less of a tradition of witchcraft in the practical sense of the craft, and more about networking and disseminating information. The Internet is the ultra-modern age of Wicca, and more and more people are turning to it in their quest to practice The Old Religion. It is the ideal medium for the solitary or eclectic practitioner, to learn from and communicate with others in the craft. It is also ideal for those people unable to meet with and practice with others, and indeed for those who for various reasons need to remain anonymous.

There are now many groups on the Internet that take part in live play and group rituals. This is accomplished through synchronized live imagery and the typed word. When you think about it, magick holds no boundaries, a person practicing in England using the same tools, method and intent, synchronized with a person in America, should and now do work together in common magical goals.

Many teaching covens operate on the net, offering no end of courses in varying aspects of the craft. These range from courses on Healing, the use of Herbs & Spices, Stones & Gems, courses on Divination including the use of Tarot cards and Crystal Ball scrying. Some even offer degree courses for certain traditions, and the list goes on.

I would caution readers here, for many people charge for the privilege of learning, nothing wrong in that, but some do so unscrupulously. It’s worth finding out who they are, what they are, and how qualified they are, before paying them anything. Bare in mind what the “Wiccan Rede” tells us:

"When ye have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend, nor be counted as his friend".

There are on the Internet many Chat rooms, News groups and E-mail discussion groups that can be joined where many Wiccans and other like-minded individuals meet, talk and exchange information freely. These are well worth investigating. My own internet E-mail discussion group can be found at:

Eclectic Wicca


An eclectic Wiccan as the term implies doesn’t follow any strict traditional guidelines in their practice of the craft. Eclectic Wicca includes a broad range of groups and individuals who have based their philosophies, rituals and practices on a wide and varied number of sources, and practice only those beliefs that suit them best. They often mix traditions and practices together in order to find that which most suits their own circumstances, lifestyles and religious belief’s, practicing whatever magic they consider obtains best results. This is mostly of modern origin for previously Wiccan traditions had more restricting boundaries.

Eclectic Wicca emphasizes spontaneity and therefore plays down the importance of such concepts as Initiations, Oaths, Tradition and Lineage. Critics claim that the majority of Eclectic practitioners take the position that Wicca is a completely modern religion created by Gerald Gardner, and that the beliefs and practices of Wicca are completely individualistic, therefore nobody can define “Wicca” for others. Many traditional Wiccans object to these groups using the name Wicca, and believe their practice should simply be called Eclectic Witchcraft.