Seax-Wicca was the inspiration of Wiccan author Raymond Buckland. In 1973 fed-up with the egotism and power trips exhibited by others within the craft, he decided to leave the Gardnerian tradition feeling it no longer met his religious needs.
He developed and founded Seax-Wicca as a new tradition at Samhain that same year. While he claimed no direct descent from Saxon times, he chose a Saxon background as a foundation for the new tradition with "Woden and Freya" as its main deities.
After his experiences in other traditions, Buckland determined to make Seax-Wicca more open and democratic. There are no degree structures and no oaths of secrecy, and to alleviate any possibility of the abuse of power, the priesthood is chosen democratically by the coven members.
Priests and Priestesses are elected annually to serve for a year and a day only, after which new leaders may be elected.
It is possible however for leaders to continue for more than one term, if acknowledged by the coven as being good leaders. The coven can be lead by either a priest or priestess, or by both acting together, in which case neither is regarded superior to the other.
Buckland wrote a book called 'The Tree' as its definitive work. It was published in 1974 by Samuel Weiser Inc. There are also online Books of Shadows for the tradition on assorted websites.
As stated the tradition honours Woden and Freya, and uses a minimal set of the usual ceremonial tools and a spear. Runes are significant and regularly used. Persons fond of the Germanic pantheon would probably be quite comfortable in this tradition. Note however that the genders are quite equal here, unlike some Odinist movements.
There are also many covens. A coven is autonomous, and ruled by the vote of its members, who elect or un-elect the 'officers'. There are four officers, High Priest and High Priestess are elected by the members of a coven to serve for 13 moons; also there is the 'Thegn', a sort of sergeant at arms/guard/watchman, who may also be responsible for the covenstead or guarding the ceremony, and a Scribe, keeper of the coven's records.
Raymond Buckland is not the leader of the tradition, but is respected as its founder, and continues to practice it and contribute to it. He is currently working on the new edition of The Tree (and other works not directly related to the tradition).
