The traditions of Witchcraft are as multiple and varied as there are Witches to practice them.  One of the beautiful things about following Wicca or being a Witch is that we have the freedom to practice how we wish to, with whom or without whom we wish, when we wish, as we wish.  There are no set ways of doing things, no "authority" who will come to your Covenstead and haughtily declare: "you're doing it WRONG!", because there is no wrong.

Traditions are different from rules.  A Tradition is a style of practicing Witchcraft.  If one joins a Coven, then that Coven will have its own set of traditions.  The tradition may stem from Gerald Gardner or Alex Saunders.  Or, it may be a "new" tradition, eclectic in nature, pulling from various cultures throughout history as well as the coven members' own personal belief structures.  A solitary practitioner of the Craft also develops his or her own Tradition that is uniquely theirs alone.

However, the majority of Witches, if not all of them, do observe a certain basic framework of practices and beliefs.  It is those things that we share that I will discuss now.

Wicca is a religion of cycles.  As Witches we honor what is known as The Wheel Of The Year.  By this I mean that we observe specific times during the Year as sacred.  As the year moves on we observe it moving as a wheel does, cyclical, ever revolving, ever changing and renewing for all time.  These holy days are called Sabbats.  There are four Greater Sabbats and four Lesser Sabbats.  In addition to these holy days, Witches generally hold ritual on the Full and New Moons.  For those who do not know, "ritual" is the word that Witches use for "church".  While a person of another religious faith may attend "church" Wiccans and Witches attend ritual, i.e. our "church".

The Goddess and The God

Both the Goddess and the God change as the Wheel Turns.  The changes of the Goddess can also be felt each month as the Moon waxes, becomes full and wanes only to become new again.  Women Witches emulate this cycle when we experience our menses as the uterine lining grows, becomes full and then sheds, only to begin building again.  In the Wheel, the Goddess is the cycle.  The God travels the cycle.  Each of the Sabbats uses these changes to explain the changes in the seasons and the Earth.

It is important to know that although there are only thirteen full moons in a year and eight Sabbats, it is part of the lifestyle of a Pagan to live sacredly every day, not just on the holidays.  We do not leave our religion at the door when it suits us.  This does not mean that we need to wear great big Pentacles on our breasts and shout "hey! I'm Pagan!".  What it does mean is that we take an active part to honor the Earth Mother and Father God as well as all of the elements that make up our Earth each and every day.  It also means that we honor the Goddess and God in each and every one of us by respecting our bodies, our minds and spirits and those of others.