Well this is probably the dumbest question but I've got to ask, and it's not going to end up one question. How do you determine what tradition or path you are? I am a solitary practitioner and do not know what tradition or path I am following if that makes sense. I've read so much about Wicca and have gone to a class from November till last week and still have no idea. My practice is simple and I follow the goddess and god aspects. What makes you Alexandrian, Gardnarian or whatever? What am I not seeing? Mab

chances are, if you're a solitary, you don't follow a tradition.
To be part of a tradition, you are generally trained in a coven and progress through different degrees of training.
Different paths are more like flavors of magico-religious-spiritual practice. Paths are more of a self-identification thing used to describe your practice, rather than any definite 'thing'

Also: there are no such things as dumb questions.

I agree. The only solitaries that claim to be following a tradition are ones who follow only a specific tradition's literature. For example, They will get books on only a specific path of reconstructionism and do their best to only follow that and nothing else. For example if they are trying to be Asatru, they will only get books on Asatru, or Norse mythology and things of that nature and only use Runes (not Tarot etc) and so on and so forth.

A ceremonial magician might only get books on one type of lodge or school, for example the Golden Dawn, and study ONLY that and try to progress through its grades etc.... forsaking anything outside that particular school of thought.

The older traditions are for the most part coven-based and initiatory. So if you are not in a coven then chances are you are not Gardnerian (or other older traditions)... and even if you get the "Gardnerian book of shadows" and try your best to only follow it most Gardnerians would not consider you "one of them".

There are, however more modern groups that are calling themselves "Traditions". One example off the top of my head is the Correllian Tradition. They created a website and a series of books called "Witch School". So you could get all the "Witch School" books (there are 5 that I know of), pay for membership and teaching at their website, take their tests and read their literature, etc etc and call yourself "Correllian Tradition". But for the most part if you are following a Tradition you are NOT grabbing information from lots of sources like eclectics do. You follow the teachings of one particular sect of the religion.

In the example of the reconstructionists.... you would choose a certain ancient pagan path that appeals to you (there are reconstructionists from just about every ancient and tribal path...) and follow ONLY that. In my example of Asatru, your training materials would be Asatru, your Holidays would be, your ways of practicing ritual would be, your Gods would be, etc etc.

I think that we already covered this, when you described your practices and asked what tradition you were the answer was "ECLECTIC". Meaning that you don't follow ANY tradition, you take information from many sources and incorporate what you like and what works for you.

On another note, if you have to ask "what tradition do I practice" then you aren't following one. Period. If you were following a tradition, you would know it.

I don't mean for that to sound rude... but its just true. You'd say "I'm a Druid" or some such thing because if you were an initiate of say.... a coven of the Feri Tradition they would make sure to tell you what you were joining... its often a source of pride.... a sense of belonging... an exclusive club so to speak. And if you were following a certain type of reconstructionist path there would be no doubt in your mind that everything you did was say.... Egyptian and nothing else.

So if you don't know what tradition you are.... you have no tradition. Plain and Simple. That's not to say you can't join one, or become one in the future.

Okay, the duh moment is over. I would then consider myself to be Eclectic. I like that. Anyway, my last Wiccan class was 22 July and I just happened to ask what tradition the teacher was and by what she was teaching and by what I've been leaning to, I guess I am Eclectic. Thank you for pounding that home, sometimes I get brain freeze or something and I'm just not seeing the full picture, but this was easy enough. I have a god and goddess I follow, not from the same pantheon, but I feel comfortable with them, however when I perform certain rituals, I call upon other gods and goddesses for guidance and it kind of confused me a bit, like okay, I am able to pick and choose. Now that's over, let's move on so I can hide my embarrassment. Mab

I just received a bunch of books I ordered about Wicca, witchcraft, gems & stones, and healing, along with the "Idiot's guide to Wicca". I just glanced through it and I already like it. I have lots of other books too, but that one just spoke to me ( ). I'm an old crone, and haven't had that ceremony yet either, but it takes a lot to get through this thick skull, though I must say that I'm rather proud of myself of how much I have learned and especially how much I've comprehended. Blessed be! Mab