Eclectic Paganism
Eclectic practices are hard to define, perhaps because they
are so...darn..eclectic. They can't claim a specific, ancient, tradition (like
the Druids), they don't have a specific founder and liturgy (like Gardnarian
Witchcraft), heck, they may change their Gods and Goddesses every time they
gather for ritual.
Eclectic traditions can best be defined through their
participants and the practices of those participants.
Eclecticism can mean that the participant's practice is an
accumulation of different influences, ranging from Native American to Celtic to
Asian, with the participant drawing from each tradition as they are inspired and
comfortable. Conventionally this type of practice is called syncreticism, where
many different cultural and religious paths are the inspiration for a particular
path's practices.
Gardnarian Witchcraft is an example of an eclectic tradition
under this definition. It incorporates elements of traditional Craft, Masonic
and Ritual Magic ceremonies, and Goddess worship into its practices. While we
can say its eclectic, a more appropriate term for it would be syncretistic, as
it has a core set of practices, some of which are drawn from other traditions.
Paganism is inherently syncretistic, but Eclecticism incorporates syncretistic
into its underlying practice.
In an Eclectic practice the participants can follow different
paths but the celebration, the coming together, allows for a lot of variety in
how the rituals and celebrations are conducted. Sometimes celebrations and
rituals are done by drawing from traditional Witchcraft, while at other times
you might put on a ritual drawing from Asian or Native American traditions. Each
member celebrates the other members rituals and observances, because
individually it is unlikely they will find a group that would celebrate just
their tradition. Some may even find the cross pollination that occurs during
such rituals to be a nice way to expand and extend the experiences of following
just one path.
Eclecticism provides a very concrete Pagan experience.
Historically European Paganism was open to incorporating many different
traditions and ritual elements into its observance. Gods and Goddesses could be
transformed into local deities, or could be simply added to existing pantheons.
Little or no jealousy or consequence was to be had for observing rites to a
different God or Goddess. While they may not have gone so far as to have a
different observance every week, in practice it is unlikely most groups would go
that far with their Eclecticism anyway. In most cases a central "core" of
beliefs and practices forms the baseline for an Eclectic group. This is usually
Celtic/Wiccan Paganism with its wheel of the year, and Celtic Gods and
Goddesses. Other practices hilite and leaven this baseline.
In Eclectic Paganism everyone's path is celebrated as unique
paths, ones that speak to individuals within the group. The group itself only
adheres to broader and more encompassing values such as earth-centeredness,
multiplicity of deity, or immanent experience of the divine. Individuality, in
belief, experience, and practice is central to Eclecticism.
Contemporary Eclectic Paganism, if done well, can provide an
opportunity to grow that is very different from, but no less compelling, than
the single path or coven experience. By participating in, and possibly helping
construct, rituals from a variety of paths the participant is exposed to a range
of styles, beliefs, and ritual practices. Because Eclecticism draws on the
experiences and paths of the participant members it is inherently democratic.
Everyone at one time or another can have the opportunity to lead in ritual, as
all practices become woven into the overall tapestry of the group's practice.
The experience of incorporating member's practices and rituals
into group experience also has consequences for initiation and teaching.
Inherent equality leads to an informal progress of experience within the group.
More experienced members see the advantage in mentoring and assisting less
experienced members in developing and putting on rituals, both for pragmatic
reasons (effort is spread around) as well as spiritual reasons (a greater
variety of experiences and opportunities). While eclecticism does not
immediately imply democracy, when all are capable of leading, influencing the
group automatically becomes important in getting things done.
Lack of specific mentoring opportunities does limit the
individual's ability to advance in more esoteric traditions. However much of the
learning that occurs in group practice involves managing people, developing
group awareness, and maturing spiritually. These, and other, maturing traits
cross over many different types of practices, allowing more spiritually mature
members of the group to help along the less mature, regardless of their
particular path.
Likewise initiation is not an inherent part of Eclectic
practice. Initiation is important for three reasons: the change that occurs in
the initiate, to impart hidden knowledge, and formal recognition of progress in
leadership within the group. In a group that follows a variety of traditions and
paths, the possibility for "hidden" knowledge is unlikely. The whole point of
the eclectic group is to share experiences and ritual, and esoteric or hidden
knowledge gets in the way of that. Likewise recognition of leadership in the
group is taken care of by the participation in a democratic process. Since the
ritual leadership is democratic, it is not far from democratic participation to
democratically elected leadership. Elected, electric, get it?
The loss of the experience of initiation is a significant
shortcoming for electric practices. The trade-off is that participants get to
experience a wide range of traditions and practices, without being locked into
one path. The multiplicity of experiences has to make up for the lack of
initiation in an eclectic tradition.
No tradition is perfect. But with an Eclectic practice you can
draw from the best of all the traditions, and share insights from a variety of
paths. Sure, you lose some focus, but in exchange you get to participate in a
wide range of traditions.