Eclectic Witchcraft

[Autumn-Forest]

Blessings,
I was wondering if others practiced eclectic witchcraft, as I do? I take things that I have learned with things that I am learning and make it my practice. I do not, however, pull apart traditions and say they are mine. More or less, I just discover that I believe in a certain path, for example, when someone has metioned that Satanism believes that you are your own god, I knew I have believed that for a long time. I had no idea Satanism believed it the same way I did, so I derive that from Satanism. I derive my Goddess and God from Native Americans, since I am Cherokee, I believe in Mother Earth, Father Sky and the Great Spirit. But I am begining to look into more Pagan deities. What makes me a witch is the fact that I practice magick, deriving my powers from within myself, the elements and the Earth. I am now learning about Rastafarian's belief in the journey of one love, this makes much since to me. Buddhism has some great beliefs to live by, and I choose to journey for the ultimate nirvana.

I love being eclectic because no one belief suits me, many of them do. I think that this is more enlightening for me.

Are there other witches like me, or do people look down ecletics?

be well,
Autumn

[dragoncrone]

Personally, I think of Wicca as eclectic by nature. I have been practicing for over forty years, and nothing frosts my butt quite like people who absolutely insist that every ritual they perform has to be right out of Starhawk...
Do as ye will, an harm none.
Blessed Be, woman!:wave:

[Autumn-Forest]

This is true! All of my rituals are planned differently from any book's rituals.

Wicca is a path, though, and can be defined. By eclectic I mean an undefinable path, I guess. But in ways I can see Wicca is eclectic.

be well!
Autumn

[Brightshores]

I'm eclectic, but not a witch. :) Just an eclectic Pagan here.

[Mera_mera]

I believe that all religions and spiritualities touched on very powerful spiritual aspects, I don't believe there is any one way, and I have seen that many traditions/practices work for me and all link me to that which I feel and know as the Truth, that which connects me to the deepest aspects of being. Everything will not work for me, and there are many things that I just don't believe, but my spiritual practices are derived from many different beliefs and sometimes they are just practices in themselves and can be combined with many other practices, however people put boundaries and labels on them and said that they must be done "this way only" and by "these people" only and that "only this is right".

I have been an eclectic pagan for a few years but now I am getting into witchcraft and just like the rest of my spiritual practices they are drawn from different backgrounds.

p.s. I love your avatar Autumn-Forest

[Autumn-Forest]

This is basically how I am, spiritually atleast, Mera mera. No one thing can truly define me, and I don't think thats how it should be. There is no one right way to do things. Everyone is indivdual and they should account themselves like that.

And thank you for loving my avatar, lol.

be well-
Autumn

[PoisonIvy]

I suppose that I'm fairly eclectic when it comes to witchcraft,but I'm not wiccan in any way shape or form.

[Autumn-Forest]

I also am not a Wiccan.
Much too organized and not what I believe in all actuallality. :/

be well,
Autumn

[hikarilove]

I agree, Autumn-Forest. After much soul searching, I've found that there is no one religion that is right for me. Instead, I find wisdom, peace, and empowerment by learning from various paths. :)

[Lunacie]

Blessings,
I was wondering if others practiced eclectic witchcraft, as I do? I take things that I have learned with things that I am learning and make it my practice. I do not, however, pull apart traditions and say they are mine. More or less, I just discover that I believe in a certain path, for example, when someone has metioned that Satanism believes that you are your own god, I knew I have believed that for a long time. I had no idea Satanism believed it the same way I did, so I derive that from Satanism. I derive my Goddess and God from Native Americans, since I am Cherokee, I believe in Mother Earth, Father Sky and the Great Spirit. But I am begining to look into more Pagan deities. What makes me a witch is the fact that I practice magick, deriving my powers from within myself, the elements and the Earth. I am now learning about Rastafarian's belief in the journey of one love, this makes much since to me. Buddhism has some great beliefs to live by, and I choose to journey for the ultimate nirvana.

I love being eclectic because no one belief suits me, many of them do. I think that this is more enlightening for me.

Are there other witches like me, or do people look down ecletics?

be well,
Autumn

Yes, some people do look down on eclectics, but I'm not one of them. I'm basically a Wiccan, but I've been Eclectic as well for about 15 years. As some here have said, I find wisdom and enlightenment in many places, in learning about many beliefs, and that helps to shape my understanding of the way the world works.

I currently work with an Eclectic Group and I intend to do more looking back at my Wiccan roots in order to share those with with the group, while others in the group will be bringing and sharing the things they've found enlightening. Who knows which things they share will also increase my own wisdom?

Those who tend to look down on Eclectics have grown frustrated with people who claim to follow one religion while adding elements of many others to it (and generally leaving out some of the important bits), changing it enough that it's often no longer recognizable to those who properly follow it. They don't think there's anything wrong with taking a bit of this and a bit of that and making some thing new, but they find it offensive to use the old title for the new result... as it tends to give others the wrong impression of the original religion or philosophy.

[RainInanna]

I would guess the majority of MW'ers would identify as eclectic, whether they say "eclectic Pagan", "eclectic Witch", etc. :D

[Silverfangs]

Another Eclectic Pagan to join the counting 8O



Peace!

[SweetIsTheTruth]

Are there other witches like me, or do people look down ecletics?

You are not alone, nor is this phenomena related solely to witches. I heard a professor of religion speak and his entire discussion was regarding this. There is a trend occurring in American society, whereby people are doing religion buffet style. A large percentage of the population defines themselves as 'spiritual' now, rather than by any specific denomination. They are taking bits and pieces from many different faiths, and incorporating these ideas into their own beliefs and practices. Some interpret this trend as being part of the age of Aquarius, where individual spiritualities become the norm.

[RoseKitten]

I guess I am O.o I don't really have much of my path figured out yet, so I just kinda do what feels right (or what I'm shown that works). I'm just trying to find a path right now :)

[TheWomanMonster]

I'm definitely Eclectic.
Mostly self taught... pick things up here and there.

I've met a few people that looked down on me for being 'pathless' whereas I embrace it fully. It doesn't get to me anymore, but it sure used to bother me. I usually just don't discuss my spirituality outside of MW and a few other places online.

I don't know a whole lot of Pagans or Witches in person either.

[David19]

Magically, I am definantly eclectic, as I will take what works and use it, religiously, while I think the Sumerian one is for me, I wouldn't mix and match, that said, I do hold some personal spiritual beliefs that probably weren't a part of the religion like I'm also an animist, I believe everything has some kind of spirit and/or god in it, everything in nature is alive to me (and I don't just mean trees, stones, mountains, etc, I also mean cities, things that aren't defined as "natural" such as plastic, and concepts, etc).

[Sethserpenthus]

I'm eclectic in my Witchcraft, not as much with religious devotion, but to a degree I am. I don't tend to wrap my Witchcraft into the religious aspect of my life any more than it is intrinsically so.

[Rosetta Morrigan]

Absolutley, I'm eclectic. Although I do, because it's the path I identify the MOST with, call myself a Christian Witch.

[~Belladonna~]

I'm a Witch and eclectic at that, so yes, there are others here too :)

[Sionnach le Fey]

I have my eclectic moments. I generally stay within the Wiccan format, however, when it comes to witchcraft, and with Kemetic deities. Occasionally Greek.

I used to be very eclectic, but that was before I sort of discovered my way.

[MonSno_LeeDra]

You know I think if people really looked at the core scripts of how, when, where and how to in what degree thier religous practices called for they would find even the most dogmatic of us is really eclectic. Yes, I think many try to hold to an established construct within which we work as based upon some criteria but I bet most do not go word for word and page for page.

I think it is simply how we define eclectic that causes the arguements, not that we are eclectic.

I suppose one could say I am an Eclectic Green Witchcraft / Shamantic practioner with strong Shamanistic overtures and influences built upon a structured Family Folk Tradition and Italian Folk - Stregian Family tradition.

I am unique to myself in the practice and structure of my spiritual and religious beliefs and the implimentation of them in my daily life.

[talamh]

I wonder if anyone ever self-identifies as an eclectic Christian or eclectic Jew or eclectic Muslim. Maybe they wouldn't say it that way but I know a lot of Christians, some of them Roman Catholic, who take from their religious doctrine what they find makes sense to them and let the rest go. It makes sense to me. I have a friend who is intelligent, aware and involved and a practicing Catholic. She doesn't believe in transubstantiation, the virgin birth, or the exclusivity of male priests. I asked her why she was still a Catholic and she said there's a lot there that means something to her and she wasn't going top throw the baby out with the bath water. My friend is a former nun and now works with local social justice organizations. I totally respect her.

[MsMollimizz]

...it sounds as tho most of those that responded are eclectic !
I'm an eclectic pagan witch whose looking deeper into some
candle magick. Herbs and stones, crystals and gems are a part of
healing I like also but since I fell off the horse I have a hard
time remembering of concentrating for very long. My mind just
switches channels when it wants to and don't tell me !
Gemtle Rainbow Light
MsMolli

[Nafiala]

I am an eclectic witch i mostly follow the wiccan path but i am not inaugurated in a coven. And i write most rituals myself or if i really dont have the time or the inspiration i use one from the wiccan path.

[Twinkle]

I'm not a witch, but I would never look down on anyone practicing with an eclectic approach.

I think it's honest, and as long as it is done respectfully, there should be no issues.

I think that sometimes eclecticism is mistaken for not educated and fluffy - and nothing could be further from the truth.

[*oonagh*]

it seems to me that each witch (we are talking witchcraft and not religion...yes?) is unique and therefore eclectic by default.

[roguetamlin]

it seems to me that each witch (we are talking witchcraft and not religion...yes?) is unique and therefore eclectic by default.

Well that's certainly my position. I practice witchcraft as a hodgepodge of whatever works from whatever culture. But I've been talking to a friend involved in the current implosion of the BTW and he's really struggling with the idea of being "eclectic" vs. being part of a tradition. He speaks of being "eclectic" as a wholly separate thing from his 20+ years of being in BTW.

And yes AFAI am concerned "witchcraft" is completely separate from Wicca of any sort. I consider myself an agnostic and although I received Alexandrian training, I am not Wiccan.

[roguetamlin]

I wonder if anyone ever self-identifies as an eclectic Christian or eclectic Jew or eclectic Muslim.

My mother was an eclectic Christian and may have even called herself that and my stepmother is an eclectic Jew and would almost certainly use that term.

[roguetamlin]

I am an eclectic witch i mostly follow the wiccan path but i am not inaugurated in a coven. And i write most rituals myself or if i really dont have the time or the inspiration i use one from the wiccan path.

I'm proud to say I have been a witch for 17 years and have never been formally initiated. :uhhuhuh:

[Ravens Call]

In my craft I am very eclectic, I am mainly self-taught and have picked up many bits of lore and work from many places. I mainly prefer old folk type crafting. I think I must have been a magpie in previous life :D Religiously I am not very eclectic. I follow who I do but I also acknowledge other Gods/Goddesses as quite real.

[Philosophia]

I'm not a witch, but I would never look down on anyone practicing with an eclectic approach.

I think it's honest, and as long as it is done respectfully, there should be no issues.

I think that sometimes eclecticism is mistaken for not educated and fluffy - and nothing could be further from the truth.

_handclapp

[David19]

I'm not a witch, but I would never look down on anyone practicing with an eclectic approach.

I think it's honest, and as long as it is done respectfully, there should be no issues.

I think that sometimes eclecticism is mistaken for not educated and fluffy - and nothing could be further from the truth.

QFT, and I definitely agree, eclecticism does not = fluffy or uneducated, it means finding inspiration in multiple religions and paths, and drawing inspiration from them, to create something new, something person for yourself. That's probably a lot closer to what I do.

[SpiritCaller]

In my "humble" opinion, every path is somewhat eclectic due to the fact that each individual brings something unique to their path, whether they are taught formally by others or self-taught. No two witches/pagans (or even Christians) believe the exact same way, and even if they are entirely devoted to one pantheon or form of magic, they add their own flair however small it may be.

So, each individual is a bit eclectic since no two individuals are exactly alike.

[amidalen]

I am eclectic as I have found that every path that I have looked into has something missing for me. I found the 'eclectic pagan that is also a witch' path to be the best for me.

[WildThing]

I'm an eclectic pagan & witch. =)
Been for nearly four years now...and it's always interesting.

[brandonc1981]

I agree, Autumn-Forest. After much soul searching, I've found that there is no one religion that is right for me. Instead, I find wisdom, peace, and empowerment by learning from various paths. :)

That's like me. I couldn't either so if I had to call it something now i'd say Eclectic Pagan Witch. lol

[LittleAcorns]

I don't consider myself an eclectic witch, just a green witch. Although I am drawn to and inspired by Druidry.

[Astucity]

My humble opinion.

As far as I am concerned, every religious path has been man made. Very few religions exist that remotely resemble those that were practiced since prerecorded history or even survived the mass conversion that happened in so many, many places.

With that said, since we know that "sticking to the old ways" is sort of .. not happening anywhere inside of paganism for the most part (there are exceptions, Vodou being one) then we should all agree that some man/woman studied a bit, but based their religion around their own opinion and got a couple people to agree. Does that make them wrong? No.

It doesn't make an eclectic wrong either, though.