We are continuing our “What is…?” series today by looking at the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca another form of NeoPaganism. The popularity of the Alexandrian tradition has sometimes been over shadowed by the flamboyance of Alex Sanders but that does not make Alexandrian Wicca any less of a valid tradition. In the sub class of NeoPaganism this tradition is one of the oldest forms of Wicca coming after Gardnerian.
Alexandrian Wicca was founded by Alex and Maxine Sanders in 1960’s England. Alex had been trained in the Gardnerian tradition and was a First Degree initiate by Pat Kopanski. After he broke away to from his own coven, as a High Priest he initiated Maxine who later became his wife in a hand fasting ceremony in 1965. The type of Wicca that their coven practiced had no formal name until Stewart Farrar began writing his book What Witches Do. Stewart asked Maxine what their form of Wicca should be called and it was decided based both upon Alex’s name and the name of the old Alexandrian library. After Stewart’s book was published in 1971 popularity of the Alexandrian tradition spread throughout the world.
Though the Alexandrian tradition is close to the Gardnerian tradition there are added elements of Hermetic Qabalah, Enochian and ceremonial magic. There are three degrees within the tradition, with the First Degree being the initiate where one officially becomes a Witch, the Second Degree which is the level where one can initiate another into the tradition and the Third Degree where one becomes either a High Priest or High Priestess within the tradition. There is the added neophyte step that some covens have used letting a person study the tradition without yet becoming an initiated Witch.
The belief structure in the Alexandrian tradition is based on the duality of energies, meaning that like other forms of Wicca there is the Goddess and God archetype. Which particular Goddess and God or if they are generalized is up to each individual coven but the basic belief in the “Lord and the Lady” is one of the foundations to the practice. Basic Wiccan rituals are followed but differentiate from one coven to the next and you’ll find various styles all over the world practiced today.
If you would like more information please see the following links:
The Alexandrian Tradition at COG
Alex Sanders Memorial by Vivianne Crowley
Alex Sanders
Maxine Sanders
Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone
Stewart Farrar