Alexandrian witchcraft path is a modern form of witchcraft that was developed in the 1960s by Alexander and Maxine Sanders. It is a derivative of Gardnerian witchcraft and shares many similar practices and beliefs. The Alexandrian tradition emphasizes the worship of both the goddess and the god, and seeks to balance both feminine and masculine energies. It places a particular emphasis on the priesthood and the ritual of initiation, and its practitioners often refer to themselves as witches rather than Wiccans. Rituals in Alexandrian witchcraft are typically performed in a coven setting, and often involve the use of ceremonial tools such as wands, swords, and chalices. The tradition places a strong emphasis on ceremonial magic, with practitioners working with the four elements and invoking deities associated with various aspects of nature and the divine.
Alexandrian Wicca is one of the British Traditional Witchcraft Traditions - a group of related religious traditions that share a common initiatory history, often tracing back to Gerald Gardner, one of the first people to start writing about Witchcraft as the Mystery Religion that it is - basing his writings on the teachings he had received as an Initiate of a surviving coven in the New Forest in the 1940's.
Alexandrian Wicca is one of the British Traditional Witchcraft Traditions - a group of related religious traditions that share a common initiatory history, often tracing back to Gerald Gardner, one of the first people to start writing about Witchcraft as the Mystery Religion that it is - basing his writings on the teachings he had received as an Initiate of a surviving coven in the New Forest in the 1940 s. Though, just because someone is born in a witch family it does not necessarily mean that they will be more knowledgeable or powerful than a non-hereditary witch.
The tradition places a strong emphasis on ceremonial magic, with practitioners working with the four elements and invoking deities associated with various aspects of nature and the divine. Like other forms of witchcraft, Alexandrian witchcraft also acknowledges the eight Sabbats, or seasonal festivals, that mark the Wheel of the Year. These Sabbats are celebrated with rituals and ceremonies that honor and connect with the cycles of nature.
10 Types of Witches
There are a multitude of different types of witches out there in the world and I'd like to give you an introduction to some of them. To begin with, I think it's important to first define what a witch is. To me a witch is simply someone who practices witchcraft. Witchcraft is something you do, like ritual or spellwork, and it’s not necessarily a belief system in of itself. So, you don’t need to follow any specific religion to call yourself a witch or to practice witchcraft. There are, however, many witches who use witchcraft as part of their religious practice. So it's up to you to determine which path best fits your own spiritual journey.
1: Gardnerian Witch
A Gardnerian Witch is someone who follows the belief system of Gardnerian Wicca, which was created by Gerald Garner in the 1950s. Gardnerian Wicca is hierarchical system that consists of a high priest and priestess as well as various initiations. So, one is not a Gardnerian Witch until they have learned their specific traditions and have gone through proper initiation.
2: Alexandrian Witch
Alexandrian Witchcraft is like Guardian Wicca in that it is a formalized belief system which contains it’s own traditions and initiations. Alexandrian witches follow some of the similar traditions in Guardian Wicca, but also incorporate ceremonial magic as well as the Qabalah.
3. Solitary Witch
A solitary witch is someone who performs spellwork and rituals alone and without a coven. This may be by choice, or perhaps they just haven’t yet found a group of fellow witches they would like to work with. A solitary witch can incorporate various different paths based on their interest and may or may not use witchcraft as part of a wider spiritual path or religion.
4. Eclectic Witch
An Eclectic witch is someone who pulls from various witchcraft traditions for their spellwork and rituals. They rely on a variety of different cultures, beliefs, and systems to formulate their own personal witchcraft practice which may change and evolve over time.
5. Traditional Witch
A traditional witch is someone who takes a historical approach to witchcraft. They look at old grimoires, witch trials, various witch lore, and historical accounts to lay the foundation for their own spells and rituals. Often traditional witches focus on working with the nature and history of the place they live and may work with the genius loci, or the local spirits.
6. Hereditary Witch
A Hereditary witch is someone who was born into a family that practices witchcraft. Usually their knowledge is passed down through generations and each family may have their own traditions and belief system. Though, just because someone is born in a witch family it does not necessarily mean that they will be more knowledgeable or powerful than a non-hereditary witch.
7. Hedge Witch
A Hedge witch works with the liminal spaces and the spirit realm. In the past a ‘hedge’ would mark a boundary of a village or settlement and thus represents the boundary between our physical reality and the spirit world. A hedge witch may be skilled at crossing that boundary through practices like astral travel.
8. Kitchen Witch
A kitchen witch enjoys making their home and surroundings a sacred space. They often like to incorporate witchcraft with their cooking and put their energy and focus into to the food and the meals they create. They care deeply about the ingredients, and may have their own herb and vegetable garden.
9. Green Witch
Green witches are extremely nature based. They are likely to be in-tune with the seasons and often use natural materials to create their own magical tools. They most likely try to perform all their spellwork and rituals outside in nature when possible.
10. Cosmic Witch
A cosmic witch incorporates astrology and astronomy into their witchcraft. They most likely closely follow the alignment of the planets and they will often will coordinate their spells and rituals based on the location of the planets and the moon.
What type of witch are you? Share in the comments below!
You can learn more about these types of witches in my corresponding Youtube video below:
We invoke Her as the Moon - and She speaks to us through the words of the Great Mother Charge - saying:
In terms of magical practice, Alexandrian witchcraft incorporates a wide range of spells and rituals, including divination, healing, and spellcasting. It places importance on personal responsibility and ethics, and encourages its practitioners to live in harmony with nature and the divine. Overall, Alexandrian witchcraft is a modern form of witchcraft that draws on ancient pagan traditions and the teachings of Gerald Gardner. It is a path that seeks to honor the divine in both feminine and masculine forms and provides a framework for spiritual growth, connection with nature, and the practice of magic..
Reviews for "Exploring the Connections Between Alexandrian and Gardnerian Witchcraft"
1. Lisa - 1 star
I found the Alexandrian witchcraft path to be extremely confusing and inaccessible. The rituals and practices were overly complicated and seemed to be more focused on appearance rather than on spiritual growth. I also found the teachings to be contradictory and lacking in depth. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this path to others.
2. Mike - 2 stars
I had high hopes for the Alexandrian witchcraft path, but I was left feeling disappointed. The practices and rituals felt outdated and out of touch with modern spirituality. The emphasis on hierarchy and initiation felt exclusionary, and I struggled to find a sense of community within this path. I was also frustrated with the lack of clear guidance and structure. Overall, I believe there are better alternatives out there.
3. Sarah - 1 star
I found the Alexandrian witchcraft path to be unnecessarily secretive and elitist. There was a strong emphasis on keeping knowledge and practices limited to a select few, which goes against the principles of witchcraft being inclusive and empowering. I also found the rituals and practices to be overly formal and rigid, leaving little room for personal creativity and exploration. I would not recommend this path to anyone looking for a more flexible and open approach to witchcraft.
4. John - 2 stars
As someone who was looking for a more nature-based witchcraft path, I found the Alexandrian witchcraft to be too focused on ceremonial magic and symbolism. The rituals felt detached from the natural world, and I struggled to connect with the teachings and practices. Additionally, I found the hierarchy and emphasis on titles to be off-putting. I would suggest exploring other paths that align more with a connection to nature and the Earth.