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Beliefs and practices
Dianic Tradition is a feminist, earth based, neopagan religion. It was revived by Zsuzsanna Budapest in the 1970s. It
is a spiritual tradition that encourages creativity, and celebrates diversity. Some Dianic's are allied or involved with a
certain lineage, but most of the Dianics still acknowledge Zsuzsanna Budapest as their founder, even though they might not
acknowledge her as their foremother. This tradition is similar to traditional wicca in its practice, however it differs significantly
in its beliefs.In the Dianic tradition the Goddess is worshiped only. They see her as the source of all living, and contains
all within her, and this includes the male principal. Most of the Dianic Witches will worship in women only circles, however
there are some mixed gender Dianic traditions.Political action is an important part of the Dianic tradition, and these wiccans
are generally on a positive path of practicing, and do not manipulate spellwork. Many of them believe that there was a universal
matriachy that worshiped the Goddess before recorded history, they believe that this society had a matrilineal family structure,
and that there was true equality between the sexes. Some of the traditions within the Dianic tradition are Folk religion,
Hedge Witchery, and Kitchen Witchery, and others practice a more formal tradition that is highly developed litural, and cosmology
aspects. Although for most this tradition is about womens mysteries, and its practices are in celebration of womens bodies,
experiences, and the biology and culture of womanhood. The Dianics practice the celebrations and worship of the pagan wheel
of the year in terms of seasonal reality, and also the life stages of women, and the Great Goddess in the maiden, mother,
queen, crone, and hag aspects.
History
This tradition draws from the Roman Cults of Diana, all Goddess centered, matrifocal traditions worldwide, and Gardnerian
tradition. The birth of this tradition is also traced back to the feminist movement of the 1960's. It was in 1968 that a group
of women that were radically political formed a protest organization called W.I.T.C.H that stood for Womens International
Terrorist Conspiracy From Hell, and they called themselves a coven. This organization was purely political however from this
group came the inspiration to start covens around the world that were both spiritual as well as political. Soon after is when
Z Budapest from Hungary whom was a hereditary witch formed the Susan B Anthony Coven in California, along with opening the
first womens spirituality book, and magic store that she called Feminist Wicca. In 1973 womens cultural festivals became a
networking organization for the women interested in the Dianic Wicca.
Diana
Diana is the equivalent in the Roman Methology as the Greek Goddess Artemis. She is the daughter of Jupiter, and Latona,
and her twin brother is Apollo. She is the mother of the forrests, and wild animals, and she is the Moon Goddess. The Oak
groves are sacred to her, and she is praised for her strength, beauty, hunting skills, and athletic grace. People worshiped
her in the Aventine Hill, and it was mainly the lower class, and slaves that worshiped her.She is now worshiped by the people
of the Dianic Tradition. Diana is a symbol of imagination, sensibility, creativity, and insanity of the poets, and artists.
Holidays
The wheel of the year celebrations, are based on the everchanging cycle, and the enternal nature of the Goddess.Unlike
the other traditions, the seasonal rites of the Dianic are not celebrated or focused on the heterosexual fertility cycle of
the Goddess and God rather they are rituals that are creativly altered by there design year to year even thought the seasonal
theme remains the same. The Dianic celebrate the Goddess in her triplle aspect of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone, as it is
the entire life cycle that we all experence. In this the Goddess has the power to bring forth life, nurture life, protect
it, sustain it, and take life away.The Dianics are committed to valuing the equallity, and all phases of womens lives, as
with the turning of the seasons, each phase of life is honored from childhood, to adulthood, to elder. The Dianic rituals
are held in or out doors, and they coinside with the seasonal, and lunar holidays.
Role of Clergy & Organization of Groups
In the Dianic tradition there are levels of learning, and spiritual service. The levels are apprentice, initiate, priestess,
and high priestess. Learning from elders in this tradition is less comon as it does not have a leader but rather it has ordianed
priestesses that earn their respect through the community with their spiritual services. The Dianic tradition is practiced
within covens and groves, these groups are autonomous, and create their own structures, and leadership.It is often within
these groups that have been formed out of pears to rotate their leadership. If one of these groups is lucky enough to have
an elder as a teacher, it is possible for this group to become organized according to magical skill.
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