I once heard someone say, "Traditions are for those people who aren't intelligent enough to figure out a path for themselves". I've also heard someone else say that "Eclectics are those people who lack the integrity to stick to things that have worked for ages". One side calls the other Hardheads- they respond by calling the other Fluffy Bunnies. And it goes around, and around and around... Isn't there any way for the two worlds to meet? Oh wait- they already have.

Whether some traditionals want to admit it or not, much of things they have passed down to them were eclectic at one time or another. This is not unusual; It was very common in the ancient world for religious practices and philosophies to be mixed and blended together as different cultures came into contact with one another. We see this all over the place in the similarities in the Myths and legends from so many different cultures. Babylonians adopted Sumerian deities, Aset from Egypt spread throughout the Mediterranean as Isis (her Greek name), and there's even evidence that Cerrnunos and Shiva have a common origin. This never seemed to bother our ancestors, so why does it bother us now?
This seed of dissention comes to us subconsciously from Paganism's greatest adversary, christianity. In christian thought, there is only one "right" way, so therefore anything that is not this way must be "wrong". This intolerant, narrow mindset has led to a number of wars, created rifts between peoples, and "justified" violence and acts of terror. Sadly, this "I'm right-you're wrong" attitude has been so conditioned into our minds that we don't even recognize it. This mindset is a trap, one that we must free ourselves from if we are ever to bring unity to the Pagan community as a whole.

Now, before I have a bunch of people jumping on me saying, "Aha! He's saying that Eclecticism is better than Traditionalism!"- let me just clarify that No, I'm not saying that at all. I was simply bringing out the point that to the ancients, where the idea came from wasn't nearly as important as the idea itself. So yes, the ancients were eclectic, to a degree. However, they were also traditional. How does this work? Simple: New ideas, information, understandings, and practices (as well as deities and concepts) were adopted and adapted (eclectic) into the structure of the religious belief system (tradition). The bringing together of the different ideas was eclectic, however the "filter" for how this information was understood and utilized was the tradition. So where does that leave us now?

The Traditions which we have now (their eclecticness from the past set aside) have a structure and method for understanding information in a larger sense. The information itself may come from a variety of sources, but how it is understood and all put together has to do with the Tradition. What many strong-willed independent eclectics fail to see is that the system and the structure of the Traditions is not a limiting factor in any way, but rather a liberating factor in that the individual has a cohesive means of assimilating information into a system that is fully functional. Because there is that consistency and structure, the knowledge and lore can be passed down in a tried and tested format that makes sense. It's not a matter of being a "Hardhead", it's a matter of using a proven method to understand the Universe. The critical failure of some traditions comes in their "closing off", or refusing to consider different ideas or viewpoints than what is "traditional". This is usually the result of individuals who are reacting, and not thinking.
Eclectics, on the other hand, have the "luxury" of being able to assimilate bits and pieces of this and that, and put it together into a system that works for them. For some, this is a good thing, and they end up with their own traditions along the way. For many, however, the lack of any sort of structure or consistency leads to a very "watered down" spirituality. This is especially true of those who pick and choose rites and rituals without ever learning the system where the rite or ritual came from in the first place. Many times, it just becomes a confusing mess of things thrown together with no rhyme or reason. Some persons are able to put the pieces together into a functional system, but then, they're usually the ones who end up starting their own tradition as a result of this.

My criticism of the Traditionalists applies to those who are stuck in superiority complexes. These individuals, for whatever reason, seem to have some sort of issues in their lives and have missed the point, in my opinion. It's important to remember that differences in traditions and practices are just that- differences- and it does not make one better and the other worse. My criticism of the Eclectics applies to those who just take bits and pieces of things without ever fully understanding the meanings behind them. Commonly, these individuals are referred to as "Clueless", because although they may know perfectly how a ritual is done, they have no idea what it all means, or why certain things are done. These persons need to work hard on finding the depth of understanding- the "Why's"- and not be content with just doing things for the sake of doing them. This may prove to be a bit difficult, but if they apply themselves to "Seeking the Answers within", they'll figure it out sooner or later.

Where do I personally fit into this whole thing? I'd say I am an Eclectic Traditional (This is not to say I am of the Tradition of Eclectic Wicca, which is it's own tradition). I have been initiated into 3 different Traditions (one of which may not count for some, as it is Native American as opposed to NeoPagan) and am currently studying a fourth. Do I ever blend these things together? You bet- but I can do so because I have an understanding of the functioning of the elements which I blend. Do I ever use other things eclectically? Of course- but my understanding of the things which I learn eclectically comes from the Traditions I have learned. Am I Traditional? Very much so- and by being traditional I am liberated, not limited.

May the Gods Bless you on whichever Path you Walk.
Shadow Viper