I'm very much a traditional witch. The path of a hedge witch is a traditional one after all. However, times are always changing and with it new modern versions of the paths of witchcraft. Even Wicca is really modern in comparison to old school witchcraft from hundreds of years ago. By spirituality beliefs, I am Wiccan....therefore, I understand how modern is good as well.
But are there times when one is better than the other? In my opinion, yes. When one is learning I believe they should study all the traditional pieces first to build their basis from, as not all that is modern information is reliable. Today, there is so much fiction mixed in that it can make it hard to see the true world of metaphysics and magick. This is especially true for the younger generations who don't have access to creditable sources due to funds, being a minor, or lack of guidance from an experienced elder.
I can remember being a newbie myself all those 15 years ago. I was new to divination, spell craft, the astral realms, and etc. It was overwhelming. Once I thought I had one thing figured out, I then thought I knew it all. Of course, I quickly learned I wasn't as smart as I thought. Experience and knowledge really are everything....and I lacked on all of that. After a short bit, I learned to admit my ignorance. After all, I lacked good sources. The internet back in those days had very little information and books had to be approved by my mother before purchase.
Today the internet has many new sources, but sadly little are creditable. It is much easier to find more modern fluff than anything traditional unless you actually know what to be searching for. This makes it so much harder for anyone to get a good grip of what is realistic in practices such as astral traveling, shape shifting, familiar/fetch work, energy work/healing, elements....the list goes on. Almost everything I see being posted on forums by the younger generations is filled with fictional stories and role play game information (D&D, Whitewolf, etc). Therefore, when it comes to studying, I'd say traditional is best.
Now, once one has learned all the traditional information....do they have to practice that way? No, of course not! I don't myself, but it is the foundation to everything, including all the modern versions of practices, beliefs and theories. Nothing today doesn't stem from the ways of old. They are traditional for a reason: They known to work or be true. Hundreds of years of knowledge can't be all incorrect even for modern times, can it? Okay, sure sacrificing a goat might not bring rain....but the idea behind it is still valid as offerings of some kind do seem to have an effect. The same is even applied to mythical beings like the elementals, fae folk or even dragons. To work with them, one must know their history to truly know the creatures. Fairies aren't all like Tinker Bell, that is for sure, and it would be unfortunate to make that mistake as it could become a dangerous situation quite quickly.
When it comes to spirituality, not just magickal practices, I really enjoy the modern (non-fluffy) changes. Like simple quarter callings vs full on summoning of the watchtowers....nice change and easier to cast circle. Setting up an altar as you desire instead of using all the older set up standards of what goes where...much better as it creates a better spiritual connection for me. Being able to use my smart phone to do black mirror scrying on the go? Looks much less strange to have. Having a drumming cd to journey versus actually having someone drum next to me? I love my drumming mp3's and my bionary beats app. Using a deck of cards to tell animal totems instead of complicated meditation/astral methods makes things much easier there too.
Where do I cross the lines for modern?
When it starts to go beyond common sense or within the realms of the possible. Now, I know that general witchcraft and energy workings seem like they should go beyond science, but it simply isn't true. We just don't know all the rules yet to our universe but I do know that a lot of quantum physics beliefs and theories do seem to explain a lot of what we call magick. Even shape shifting is possible under quantum physics and is taught as so by modern shamans but according to it you still can't say...grow wings to be like an angel due to the lack of the extra atoms you would need to make that feasible. Or the popular term of Otherkin being used for those claiming to have souls of mythical beings or animals. While I do believe one lives many lives with reincarnation, a soul is a blank slate.....it doesn't have any one true form that if carries from one life to the next. This is where I say traditional teachings need to be shown back into light. Even if they choose to ignore it....it still must be understood before making a final judgement. Otherwise one's sources could all be based on fantasy novels and role play games without ever knowing it. Fluffies no longer know they are fluffy due to corrupted information claiming to be "modern" techniques and legit information online.
That bothers me more than anything for I have seen so many with real potential give up from lack of results due to all this "modern" twists. Those who fight for these topics of misinformation and keep it going, have never cracked open a true book on metaphysics or witchcraft....some even insisting traditional is old and outdated in order to defend their fantasy beliefs. However, the traditional gave way to those beliefs. Traditional practices are what lay behind your modern techniques and even were used in research of popular role play game systems. Traditional information is only becoming dead because some refuse to go beyond being ignorant and commit themselves to actual study.
....so yes, I'm a traditional lover. But that doesn't make it better than modern. Things always change with time. Some people would prefer not to work with graveyard dirt, having a wand exactly the length of their elbow to their fingertips, having all the traditional tools, going skyclad or in a robe, be able to read theban script, using crazy herb mixtures to induce shape shifting....etc. I can't blame them. But common sense is key and in this world of magic and myth....tradition is still important. It might always be used....but we can't let it die out from that which is modern.
