One Gardnerian, who went under the craft name of Starhawk, started practicing Dianic Wicca, and tried to reconcile the two, writing the 1979 book The Spiral Dance on the subject. The tradition she founded became known as Reclaiming, and mixed Wicca with other forms of Neopaganism such as Feri, along with strong principles of environmental protection. [47] Solitaries and the "Wicca or Witchcraft" debate (1970–present) [ edit ]

Many newcomers to the religion may start out as solitaries, learning and exploring until they feel drawn to explore practicing with others. Similarly, some coven members may ultimately decide to move to a solitary practice, whether due to the dissolution of the coven they belonged to or other circumstances. Either way, one type of practice is not superior to the other—while there are significant differences between coven membership and solitary practice, the essence of the core beliefs and rituals carries through both forms of Wicca. Eclectic Wicca The fire element is symbolized by a triangle. Sometimes known as the living element, it’s associated with power and the principle of duality, as it can create and destroy. Over time, this resurgent practice of what many Wiccans refer to as “the Old Religion” began to spread, as members of Gardner’s group went on to form their own covens, which led ultimately to the spread of what came to be called “Wicca” from England to North America and beyond. Eventually, it became clear that there was not, in fact, a verifiable direct link between Wicca and a singular pre-Christian pagan religion. Nonetheless, Wiccans do feel a timeless connection to the energies of the Earth, which are very much still active today, and can be tapped into by communing with Nature. Practicing WiccaDruidic Wicca emphasizes the belief that all of nature is inherently divine, and all things as connected. There is more of a metaphysical and shamanistic bent than what is found in more traditional Wicca. Animals are important to this belief system, in particular the stag, the salmon, the raven, the boar, and several other animals indigenous to ancient Ireland. An emphasis on herbal magic and sacred stones is also often part of this tradition. Again, hierarchy may or may not be present in Druidic covens, but there is a greater likelihood of a more egalitarian structure than that found in more traditional Wicca. Solitary Wicca

There's a bit of irony in calling Eclectic Wicca a “tradition,” since the only thing eclectic practices truly have in common with each other is that they’re different from any other practice. In other words, the only tradition of Eclecticism is a desire to forge one’s own path to a unique Wiccan practice. Since the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon culture shares Germanic roots with the Norse culture of Scandinavia, and many similarities have been between the religions of the two areas, there is potential for overlap between Norse Wicca and Seax-Wica. For example, the use of runes for divination is found in both traditions. A significant symbol in Wiccan practice, the besom or broom is symbolically used for purification or cleansing, as well as sweeping negative influences away from any place.

Sea witches have a special connection to the ocean. They might practice water magic, use seawater in their rituals, bring seashells home for their altar, and pay special attention to the Moon (because it controls the tides, after all). Sex Witch In the US, the court case of Dettmer v. Landon in 1986 established that Wicca was a religion, and therefore should be treated as such under the eyes of the law. Murray, Margaret Alice (1921). The Witch-cult in Western Europe: A Study in Anthropology. Clarendon Press. ISBN 9780722226407. There is great diversity among individuals and groups that practice a Wiccan religion, but many are duotheistic, worshiping both a female goddess and a male god (sometimes referred to as a Mother Goddess and a Horned God). The feminist influence in Wicca strengthened in the 1970s and 1980s, brought about by women who had entered the religion attracted by the female deity, but were faced with a misogynist reality in the religion’s ranks.