A course on Traditional Craft principles, beliefs, and magical practices.

Learn about spellcraft, the spirits, the gods, the celebrations, the rituals, and the "how to's"...

For more
information

Witchcraft
No Certificate, Just Knowledge

The Gods in Traditional Witchcraft

Introduction to the Gods and Spiritual Orientation
in Traditional Craft of Britain

Most Traditional Crafters, or witches, are a spiritually minded folk with a wide spectrum of beliefs. However most believe in either pantheism or panentheism along with polytheism.

Pantheism & Panentheism

Underlying most Trad Witchcraft spirituality is the concept of pantheism or panentheism. They are similar but different.

Pantheism believes that everything in the universe is God and God is everything in the universe.

Panentheism goes beyond pantheism to believe that the universe is contained within God, or that God is the universe and everything beyond the universe.

We also believe that nature encompasses the physical world as well as the Spirit World (heaven), and that nature and the Spirit World are part of God.

To the pantheist and panentheist, the divine is not a remote monotheistic "Almighty God" male figure kept busy judging and punishing us. Instead, the divine is an intimate God that surrounds us in this world, and that is very much part of everything in our lives, but more, that we are part of God.

But for many it is nature that evokes a religious feeling of awe and belonging, and it is nature that we especially honour as sacred.

While pantheism or panentheism is a worldview most share in the Traditional Craft, traditionally Crafters also subscribe to polytheism in a complimentary belief system. This dual approach is held by the vast majority of Crafters. It is in fact one belief system with two aspects.

Nevertheless, a few think differently. Some maintain pantheistic or panentheistic beliefs alone and do not include a polytheistic aspect. While usually not objecting to the observance of polytheistic religion, these "hard" pantheists and panentheists believe the concept of God should remain abstract, without personifications or human representations. This is very much a minority view that is neither traditional nor popular.

For most, pantheism or panentheism along with polytheism form a complete worldview.

Polytheism

Apollo & Daphne

Polytheism is the belief in more than one god, usually in the form of a few specific gods or a pantheon of gods. These gods are always directly related to British pagan history. These include either local British gods, or the gods from the Norse, Celtic, or Roman cultures.

If the presence of the Roman gods surprises you, know that Britain was a Roman province for hundreds of years. There was considerable tolerance, mutual respect, and attraction between the Romans and native British peoples. Roman pagan practices intermeshed with British pagan practices well, although the religions were kept separate. The influence of Roman life and religion greatly influenced many aspects of daily life in Britain.

Note that religious ceremonies are not technically part of the Traditional Craft in this Trad, they are complimentary but separate.

The observance of a pantheon or of specific gods is a dichotomy, their ritual observance is held separately and in the proper form of the god's culture. In other words, we keep the god's old observances as close to the original manner as possible, of course without animal sacrifice. Magic and religious observances are held side by side, in a complimentary manner, at times in harmony with each other, but not together.

Thus, we honour and observe the gods in their true manner. Another important point is that the gods of different cultures are never mixed with each other. So beginner witchcraft seekers that do not have a tradition or Trad to guide them, should wait before selecting which gods to honour until this issue can be properly researched and the seeker can have time to search within themselves before making any decision and commitment.

We have explained the religious beliefs of the vast majority of Crafters. However, it should be kept in mind that this is to a degree variable.

Two Cases In Point:

While habitually Traditional Crafters have very strong religious beliefs, a very small percentage of young Crafters today are agnostic or atheist. This is tolerated but not advocated.

It must be understood that a seeker to Traditional Craft cannot be a faithful and observant Jew, Christian or Muslim. This is because the fundamental beliefs of European paganism of which we are part and the fundamental beliefs of those three monotheistic religions are mutually incompatible. In fact, they are mutually exclusive. That means there are radically conflicting beliefs that cannot be reconciled. If you would like to read more on this topic, go to Can a Christian Become a Traditional Witch?

However, be aware those that select to become a pagan are welcomed with an open heart.

Universal Tolerance

We may strongly disagree with the three monotheistic religions, especially with their intolerance but we are always courteous to other people.

Most Crafters have a disinterested attitude towards the three monotheistic religions but always treat individual Christians, Jews, and Mohammedans with due respect.

Next, The Spirits & The Spirit World.

Click to continue

::: Traditional Witchcraft Home :::

· • ·