Lessons from Living Traditions

Pipe smoking is a spiritualized pursuit in our Border traditions, used as a method to contemplate and share incense with spirits and ancestors.

In our workshops, we use the term Living Traditions to describe the complex and diverse nature of esoteric systems in the British Isles that have existed before living memory. The description is inadequately broad and could define any number of cultural practices, both tangible and intangible.

When we use the term, in our thoughts at least, we are referring very specifically to that kernel of the old faith that tugs at our hearts. It comes from long ago and has endured the test of time, blending the old and the new in endless varieties of regional manifestations. To those who share in a similar journey, they will know the sense of home it brings. Those who still yearn for it will know the ache caused by its absence.

These esoteric practices may seem invisible, but there is evidence of their existence hidden in plain sight. They are referred to in quiet ways with hints and nods, because when directly spoken about the words become trite and misused. For centuries, these stewards of tradition have been immune to the conjecture and theories of who they are, and what they believe. The name of their faith and their deities may be lost to the passage of time, but the relationship between its adherents and the spirit world has not diminished.

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When I married into a Scottish family-based tradition, there were nuances I did not understand. While some comprehension could be gained by study, there was significantly more that could only be absorbed by osmosis - living in a Scottish household, quality time with elders, life-altering journeys to rural villages, and embracing ritual and custom. These things helped me to communicate with ancestors and dispel deep-seated misconceptions.

I also learned to appreciate the presence of living traditions passed through generations of my own family, including practices and knowledge preserved by the remoteness of immigration and displacement, which can become lost in their place of origin.

This change of perception about my ancestors was spiritually liberating.

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The survival of living faiths in Britain is complex and multifaceted, encompassing a diverse array of beliefs and practices. Despite history’s best efforts to eradicate them, these faiths persist silently alongside other religions, often assuming a thin veneer of Christianity or synthesizing ideals into their own practice. Scholars might describe their approach as Henotheist, although whether this comes from ingrained virtues of druidism or the need to thrive in a society dominated by Christianity is debatable.

It is clear these practices have deep ethnic roots specific to their region, shaped by topography, heritage, and legacy. Practices originating by the seaside are vastly different to those in remote mountains or agrarian regions. Town-based traditions evolve differently from villages and rural areas - the roads and channels that connect them, offering insights into the spread of information.

Language also provides evidence of ancient concepts and their development - the adaptation of outside influences and lone words borrowed from neighboring languages which become recast into specific meanings. The tendency to group practices based on broad language groups like Gaelic is sometimes helpful, but for the most part it is inadequate to accommodate for the subtleties of local dialect and usage which vary, based on multiple factors.

These regional differences are very dear to their practitioners, tying them to an ancient land and its people, shrouded in the mists of an otherworld which they stand astride.

The way living faiths evolve are unique to their circumstances. Even within localities, format can vary widely from highly organized secret societies to rustic guilds and small family groups holding onto treasured fragments. While some teachings are practice-based, others are heavy with philosophy. Rituals can be simple gestures, complex rites, or revelries on par with old mystery schools. Folk traditions sit comfortably beside deep occult themes. Systems are revived using contemporary information or folded into other magical organizations.

This experience of esoteric tradition in Britain is quite different from the neat, homogenized package the age of misinformation delivers – one which dismisses the possibility of surviving regional practices and derides the credibility of anyone who claims otherwise. This type of false narrative is dual edged for living faith, not just in Britain but across the globe. On the one hand it serves as a reliable smokescreen to dissuade idle curiosity and conceal those things which should remain hidden from view. But over generations, it can cultivate an impenetrable barrier to those people who would become the future custodians of tradition from finding their way home.

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Here in the Appalachian Mountains where we have been drawn to reside (at least for now) the concept of living traditions is easy to grasp. These Pangean formations parallel the Cailleach’s abode, crafted by ancient hands and home to a hearty stock of people of all nations. We came here to learn from the descendants of the borderlands, what might have been lost in our homeland. But in the process, we have had the privilege of igniting interest in the old faith as it survives in Britain now.

To those seekers who feel called to pursue these genuine mysteries I encourage you to be patient and respectful. Know that discretion is important, even if you do not understand why.

Gently put aside what you already know about Celtic magic, wicca or paganism, at least for now. Likewise, divest yourself from revisionist academic theory, which looks for commonalities across nations and elevates certain literary themes and historic events framed in a linear progression. These narratives are incapable of embracing the intricacies of pluralist ancestral practices. Instead, let yourself be an empty vessel with a clean slate and open heart, ready to learn.

It does not matter whether you are a native of Britain, a progeny of diaspora, or simply drawn to this path without any sense of heritage or explanation. Your soul knows where you belong. Often it just requires a shift in perception to reveal the path.