Although i am a solitary witch i have decided to do my first research project on one of the older wiccan traditions, 'Alexandrian', out of an interest in the origins of wicca today. I chose Alexandrian over Gardnerian just because it symbolises from an early stage the way this religion can change and evolve while still sticking to core beliefs, practices and values. If it didn't evolve then maybe solitary witches like myself would not be accepted today.

Alexandrian wicca started in the 1960's and was established in England by Alex Sanders (born Orrell Alexander Carter in 1926) and Maxine Sanders (formerly Maxine Morris). The tradition isn't named after Alex Sanders but rather named after the ancient library of Alexandria, one of the worlds first libraries, which was seen as an early attempt to gather the knowledge and wisdom of the world in one place. This inspired the name of the tradition which according to Maxine was suggested to the Sanders' by Stewart Farrar, an early student of Sanders, while writing a book called 'What witches do'.

Alex Sanders claimed that he was initiated as a witch by his grandmother at the age of 7 although there was some controversy over this and later he apparently admitted it was untrue and he was a 1st degree witch of the Gardnerian tradition.

The Alexandrian tradition is a highly ceremonial tradition that borrows alot from Gardnerian wicca but seems to be more eclectic and liberal. For example; working skyclad is not a neccessity as in the Gardnerian tradition, some tools used differ, several god/goddess names differ and ceremonial practices derived from Hermetic Qabalah are utilized. In fact Alex's wife Maxine Sanders was once quoted as saying 'If it works, do it'.

The Alexandrians occasionally accept guests at rituals and often accept people who are interested in the tradition to join in with their meetings and rituals before deciding if they want to commit themselves. They call these newcomers Neophytes.

Alexandrian Wicca like other traditional Wiccan practices places emphasis on gender polarity, focusing on the relationship between the Goddess and God and also shares the belief with the Gardnerian tradition that only a witch can make a witch. The Alexandrian tradition sees god and goddess as equal whereas Gardnerian wicca tends to favour the goddess, although both goddess and god are recognised. Like the Gardnerian tradition there are 3 degrees of initiation.

Distinctions between the Alexandrian and Gardnerian wicca have blurred over the years and some initiates of both traditions recognize initiation within one tradition as qualification for the other.

Although Alexandrian wicca differs in some ways and is more eclectic and 'looser' than the 'original' Gardnerian wicca i don't believe any of its practices should be discounted, or the practices of any other newer traditions for that matter, because the Gardnerian tradition itself seems to be rooted in a compilation of older sources and pagan practices that Gerald Gardner put under the one name of 'Wicca'.

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Great Job on your research! It was great that you chose to go with something different than what you practice. Keep up the good work!

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