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Western Transformational Wicca

What is Western Transformational Wicca is and where did it come from? 

Before they met, Seanara's (my high priestess and teacher) previous high priest was originally initiated and trained in Welsh Traditionalist Wicca. He received his third degree from a Welsh Traditionalist high priestess and was the high priest of her coven during the mid 1970s. But he eventually felt that the Welsh tradition was too structured and confining. Drawing on his background and training in Welsh Traditionalist Wicca and his study of other pagan cultures, he started his own tradition which emphasized creativity and divine inspiration.  Although there was a Book of Shadows, with established ritual structures for different occasions, students of this tradition were trained to tap into their personal channels to the Goddess and the God in order to create original magical invocations, charges, etc. and to be able to perform spontaneous, improvisational ritual. Creating one's original Book of Shadows was one of the requirements for 3rd degree.

Although Seanara has her 3rd degree in Welsh Traditionalist Wicca, she primarily trained in and practiced the new tradition. After a period of time, she modified / evolved the new tradition into what she calls Western Transformational Wicca ("WesTran" Wicca for short). Western, because most of the mystical sources that we draw on are from western  (rather than eastern) cultures; Transformational, because the primary purpose of our Craft is personal transformation. Welsh Traditionalist Wicca emphasized structure, the new tradition emphasized creativity and divine inspiration (5th chakra work). WesTran uses these tools to accomplish its main focus --4th (heart) chakra work -- the transformation from wounded healer into healed healer.

While WesTran combines creativity and improvisation with traditional Wiccan structure, its primary goal is personal emotional and spiritual growth. We feel that the main purpose of magical work should be personal transformation. We liken this process of self-healing to the initiatory journey through, up, and out of the cave of Persephone, and see it as our primary reason for being. We must be committed first to developing, maintaining and improving our emotional balance, integrity, serenity and spiritual development; otherwise, all magical exercise is meaningless -- if not downright harmful -- to ourselves and to others.

Although we feel that some structure is necessary (hence this IS an initiatory tradition), too much structure restricts the flow of power around and through us and our rituals.  This is not to be construed to mean that we have abandoned structure, rather that we have built upon the structure of the more 'traditional' Wiccan paths by encouraging students of our tradition to learn how and sense when to be open to divine inspiration to cast the circle, consecrate the elements, call upon the quarters,   invoke the God and Goddess and bless the cakes and drink, instead of using rote memorization or, even worse (in our opinion), reading straight from the book.

We also feel that nobody is perfect; we can always use improvement. Through our practice of Wicca, we evolve; becoming more whole; becoming better people, becoming Transformed.  

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