Seax-Wica
, or sometimes
Seax Witchcraft
, is a tradition of
neopagan
practice blending aspects of
Wicca
with the iconography of
Anglo-Saxon paganism
, while not seeking to reconstruct the early mediaeval religion itself.
[1]
The tradition was founded in 1973 by
Raymond Buckland
, an English-born high priest of
Gardnerian Wicca
who had recently moved to the
United States
. His 1974 book
The Tree
was written as a definitive guide to Seax-Wica, and subsequently republished in 2005 as
Buckland's Book of Saxon Witchcraft
.
The tradition primarily honours two principal deities:
Woden
and
Freya
, representations of the Wiccan deities the
Horned God
and the
Mother Goddess
. The tradition uses ceremonial tools such as the spear and
runes
.
Openness
[
edit
]
Seax-Wica does not employ any secrecy oath.
[2]
Buckland's Book of Saxon Witchcraft
was written in mind that the reader would already be well versed in the various techniques of Witchcraft and Wiccan ritual. However, Buckland has pointed out that his
Complete Book of Witchcraft
gives instructions on how to proceed when no tools are available. These instructions are enough to allow one to begin, self-initiate, and consecrate one's first tools.
Organisation
[
edit
]
Seax-Wica allows self-dedication as entry into its tradition, as well as solitary practice. In the Seax tradition, covens work by a form of democracy, electing, un-electing, and re-electing coven officers, the high priest and priestess. Within ritual settings, there are the
thegn
, a type of sergeant-at-arms/guard/watchman, who can also be responsible for the covenstead (the meeting place of the coven), or guarding a ceremony being performed; there is also a scribe/secretary, who keeps most, if not all, of the coven's records. The word "
Thegn
", or "
Thane
" is an Anglo-Saxon title (
Anglo-Saxon
: þeg(e)n meaning "a servant, one who does service for another."
[3]
)
Buckland was not the head of the tradition, but is respected as its founder, and continued to practice and contribute to it, until his death on September 27, 2017.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
|
---|
History
| | |
---|
Traditions
| |
---|
Notable
figures
| |
---|
Deities
| |
---|
Key
concepts
| |
---|
Rites
and ritual
| |
---|
Holidays
| |
---|
Paraphernalia
| |
---|
Literature
| |
---|
Related
| |
---|