Universal Eclectic Wicca
Encyclopedia
Universal Eclectic Wicca (UEW) is one of a number of distinctly American Wicca
n traditions which developed following the introduction of Gardnerian
and Alexandrian Wicca
to the United States in the early 1960s. Its corporate body is the Church
of Universal Eclectic Wicca (CUEW) which is incorporated and based in Great Falls, Virginia
.
It is particularly noted for its early Internet
teaching coven
- the Coven of the Far Flung Net
(CFFN), and for its inclusive approach to solitary as well as coven based practitioners.
based in Westchester NY
.
Silver Chalice had a diverse membership drawing from both Dianic
and British Traditional
Wiccan backgrounds. It was partly as a response to this diversity, as well as a perceived need for reform in Wicca, that their High Priestess, Jayne Tomas, began to create a body of liturgy for Silver Chalice Wica as a distinct tradition.
A defining text is the Ordains of Silver Chalice, which may be seen as an attempt to refer to, and move away from, the Old Laws
of Gardnerian Wicca
. Together with the Fifteen Creeds of Silver Chalice Wicca (1969) they emphasised modernism; democratic principles; historical, intellectual and personal integrity; race and gender equality; self determination; and engagement with society.
'Universal' because "Wicca is universal because it can be used by all, and anything can be used in Wicca"; and 'Eclectic' because "UEW is based not on one or two sources, but an infinite number of sources".
(CFFN), which began operating in January of the following year; and which it maintains was the first on-line teaching coven.
UEW has two other on-line teaching groups, the Coven of Non-Fluffy Wicca (2006), which is aimed at more advanced students with some prior knowledge of Wicca; and Vircle, which is for Third Circle Studies.
Later, in 2008, the first Australian UEW coven, Oak and Mistletoe
, split away to establish the Inclusive Wicca
tradition.
The Wiccan Rede
; The Law of Return
; The Ethic of Self-Responsibility; The Ethic of Constant Improvement; and The Ethic of Attunement.
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
n traditions which developed following the introduction of Gardnerian
Gardnerian Wicca
Gardnerian Wicca, or Gardnerian Witchcraft, is a mystery cult tradition or denomination in the neopagan religion of Wicca, whose members can trace initiatory descent from Gerald Gardner. The tradition is itself named after Gardner , a British civil servant and scholar of magic...
and Alexandrian Wicca
Alexandrian Wicca
Alexandrian Wicca is a tradition of the Neopagan religion of Wicca, founded by Alex Sanders who, with his wife Maxine Sanders, established the tradition in the United Kingdom in the 1960s...
to the United States in the early 1960s. Its corporate body is the Church
Wiccan church
Wiccan churches are a type of organization found within some groups of Wicca, particularly in North America. While in Europe Wicca is most often organized into independent covens, in the United States some covens choose to combine to form a "church". Churches are often formed from hive covens...
of Universal Eclectic Wicca (CUEW) which is incorporated and based in Great Falls, Virginia
Great Falls, Virginia
Great Falls is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 15,427 at the 2010 census.Although primarily a bedroom community for Washington, D.C., one major attraction is Great Falls Park which overlooks the Great Falls of the Potomac River, for which...
.
It is particularly noted for its early Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
teaching coven
Coven
A coven or covan is a name used to describe a gathering of witches or in some cases vampires. Due to the word's association with witches, a gathering of Wiccans, followers of the witchcraft-based neopagan religion of Wicca, is also described as a coven....
- the Coven of the Far Flung Net
Coven of the Far Flung Net
Coven of the Far Flung Net , is a virtual school which was one of the earliest Internet covens. A wholly on-line teaching arm of the Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca , it continues to offer free training in the first two degrees, or circles, of the UEW tradition...
(CFFN), and for its inclusive approach to solitary as well as coven based practitioners.
Silver Chalice Wica
What was to become UEW began, in 1969, as the core coven associated with the Silver Chalice Land Trust; an Intentional communityIntentional community
An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They...
based in Westchester NY
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
.
Silver Chalice had a diverse membership drawing from both Dianic
Dianic Wicca
Dianic Witchcraft and Dianic Feminist Witchcraft, is a tradition, or denomination, of the Neopagan religion of Wicca. It was founded by Zsuzsanna Budapest in the United States in the 1970s, and is notable for its focus on the worship of the Goddess, and on feminism...
and British Traditional
British Traditional Wicca
British Traditional Wicca is a term used to describe some Wiccan traditions which have their origins in the New Forest region of England...
Wiccan backgrounds. It was partly as a response to this diversity, as well as a perceived need for reform in Wicca, that their High Priestess, Jayne Tomas, began to create a body of liturgy for Silver Chalice Wica as a distinct tradition.
A defining text is the Ordains of Silver Chalice, which may be seen as an attempt to refer to, and move away from, the Old Laws
Wiccan Laws
The Wiccan Laws, also called the Craft Laws, the Old Laws, the Ardanes or simply The Laws are the traditional laws of Wicca from the Book of Shadows...
of Gardnerian Wicca
Gardnerian Wicca
Gardnerian Wicca, or Gardnerian Witchcraft, is a mystery cult tradition or denomination in the neopagan religion of Wicca, whose members can trace initiatory descent from Gerald Gardner. The tradition is itself named after Gardner , a British civil servant and scholar of magic...
. Together with the Fifteen Creeds of Silver Chalice Wicca (1969) they emphasised modernism; democratic principles; historical, intellectual and personal integrity; race and gender equality; self determination; and engagement with society.
Change of Name to UEW
By 1986 the land held by the Silver Chalice Land Trust was sold, and all the covens that originated with Silver Chalice were referred to as Universal Eclectic Wicca.'Universal' because "Wicca is universal because it can be used by all, and anything can be used in Wicca"; and 'Eclectic' because "UEW is based not on one or two sources, but an infinite number of sources".
On-line Teaching Covens
In 1997 UEW chartered the Coven of the Far Flung NetCoven of the Far Flung Net
Coven of the Far Flung Net , is a virtual school which was one of the earliest Internet covens. A wholly on-line teaching arm of the Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca , it continues to offer free training in the first two degrees, or circles, of the UEW tradition...
(CFFN), which began operating in January of the following year; and which it maintains was the first on-line teaching coven.
UEW has two other on-line teaching groups, the Coven of Non-Fluffy Wicca (2006), which is aimed at more advanced students with some prior knowledge of Wicca; and Vircle, which is for Third Circle Studies.
Schisms
In 2004, following a re-organisation of CFFN which abolished its then clan structure, one of the dissolved clans, Athames's Edge, re-established itself to form an independent Progressive Eclectic Wicca tradition.Later, in 2008, the first Australian UEW coven, Oak and Mistletoe
Circle of Oak and Mistletoe
The Circle of Oak and Mistletoe is a Wiccan teaching coven based in Flagstaff Hill in the City of Onkaparinga; and an online teaching group and community. It is the founding coven of the Community Church of Inclusive Wicca which was incorporated in South Australia in 2008...
, split away to establish the Inclusive Wicca
Inclusive Wicca Tradition
Inclusive Wicca Is an Eclectic Wiccan Tradition which developed from the Oak & Mistletoe Teaching Coven founded by Amethyst Treleven. It aims to present Wicca in an open way that adapts to the needs of individual seekers....
tradition.
Core Beliefs
UEW allows for diverse interpretations of Wiccan practice and belief; provided that a core set of ethical values are observed. These are commonly referred to as the Five Points of Wiccan Belief and the Affirmation of Acknowledgement.Five Points of Wiccan Belief
The 'Five Points' are:The Wiccan Rede
Wiccan Rede
The Wiccan Rede is a statement that provides the key moral system in the Neopagan religion of Wicca and other related Witchcraft-based faiths. A common form of the Rede is An it harm none, do what ye will....
; The Law of Return
Rule of Three (Wiccan)
The Rule of Three is a religious tenet held by some Wiccans. It states that whatever energy a person puts out into the world, be it positive or negative, will be returned to that person three times...
; The Ethic of Self-Responsibility; The Ethic of Constant Improvement; and The Ethic of Attunement.