McFarland Dianic Tradition: A Different Branch Explained
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Two Dianics: Understanding the Distinction
When people speak of Dianic Wicca, they almost always mean the tradition founded by Z. Budapest — the women-only, Goddess-alone path that emerged from the feminist movement of the early 1970s. But there is another Dianic tradition, less well known but equally legitimate: the McFarland Dianic tradition, founded in Texas in the early 1970s by Morgan McFarland and Mark Roberts.
The McFarland Dianic tradition shares the Budapest tradition's emphasis on the Goddess's primacy, but differs in significant ways: it includes men, it honors both the Goddess and the God (with the Goddess as primary), and it has a different initiatory structure. Understanding the McFarland tradition is essential for anyone who wants a complete picture of Dianic Wicca — and for anyone trying to understand the diversity within modern Paganism.
Founders: Morgan McFarland and Mark Roberts
Morgan McFarland was a Texas-based witch and Pagan activist who developed her own Goddess-centered practice in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She was deeply influenced by the emerging feminist movement and by the growing interest in goddess spirituality that characterized the era. Her partner, Mark Roberts, was a male witch who shared her commitment to Goddess-centered practice.
Together, McFarland and Roberts founded what became known as the McFarland Dianic tradition — a path that honored the Goddess as primary while maintaining a place for the God and including both women and men in its practice. The tradition developed independently of Z. Budapest's work, though both emerged from the same cultural moment of feminist awakening and Pagan revival.
Morgan McFarland was a significant figure in the early Texas Pagan community and contributed to the development of Pagan networking and community-building in the United States. She was less publicly prominent than Z. Budapest, and the McFarland tradition has remained smaller and less widely known than the Budapest tradition.
Core Theology: Goddess Primary, Not Goddess Alone
The most fundamental theological difference between the McFarland and Budapest traditions is their understanding of the divine:
Budapest Dianic Theology
In the Budapest tradition, the Goddess is the totality of the divine. The God is not an independent divine principle but an aspect of the Goddess — her son, born of her and returning to her. Ritual honors the Goddess alone; the God is not invoked as a separate divine being.
McFarland Dianic Theology
In the McFarland tradition, the Goddess is primary — the source and sustainer of all life, the supreme divine principle. But the God is also honored as a genuine divine presence, not merely an aspect of the Goddess. The relationship between Goddess and God is understood as one of primacy rather than exclusivity: the Goddess comes first, but the God has his own divine reality.
This theological position is sometimes described as "Goddess-primary" rather than "Goddess-alone" — a distinction that has significant practical implications for ritual and community structure.
Gender Inclusion: A Mixed-Gender Tradition
The most immediately visible difference between the two Dianic traditions is their approach to gender:
- Budapest Dianic: Women-only. Men do not participate in Dianic circles in the Budapest tradition.
- McFarland Dianic: Mixed-gender. Both women and men participate in McFarland Dianic practice, though the tradition's emphasis on the Goddess means that women's leadership and women's experience are particularly honored.
This difference reflects different understandings of what it means to honor the Goddess. For Budapest, honoring the Goddess requires creating a women-only sacred space free from male presence. For McFarland, honoring the Goddess means placing her at the center of a practice that includes all genders — teaching men as well as women to honor the divine feminine as primary.
Initiatory Structure
The McFarland Dianic tradition has an initiatory structure, though it differs from both the Budapest tradition (which is generally non-initiatory) and the British Traditional Wicca model (which uses the three-degree system).
McFarland Dianic initiation emphasizes the seeker's personal relationship with the Goddess and their commitment to Goddess-centered practice. The specific details of the initiatory process vary, as the tradition has developed through multiple lineages since its founding.
Relationship to Other Traditions
The McFarland Dianic tradition occupies an interesting position in the landscape of modern Paganism:
- It shares the Budapest tradition's emphasis on the Goddess's primacy and its roots in the feminist spirituality movement
- It shares mainstream Wicca's inclusion of both genders and its acknowledgment of the God as a divine presence
- It differs from both in its specific theological framework and community structure
Some practitioners describe the McFarland tradition as a bridge between Dianic and mainstream Wicca — a path that honors the Goddess's primacy without the exclusivity of the Budapest tradition. Others see it as a distinct tradition in its own right, not a compromise between other positions.
The Dianic Name: Shared and Contested
The use of the name "Dianic" by both traditions has sometimes caused confusion and occasional tension. Both traditions honor Diana as a central goddess figure; both emphasize the divine feminine. But their theological and structural differences are significant enough that practitioners of each tradition sometimes resist being grouped together under a single label.
In practice, when people speak of "Dianic Wicca" without qualification, they usually mean the Budapest tradition. When referring to the McFarland tradition specifically, it is helpful to use the full name to avoid confusion.
Legacy and Current Practice
The McFarland Dianic tradition has a smaller public profile than the Budapest tradition, but it continues to be practiced. Its influence can be seen in the broader development of Goddess-centered Paganism that includes both women and men — a significant strand of modern Pagan practice that honors the divine feminine without the gender exclusivity of the Budapest tradition.
Morgan McFarland's contribution to the development of Goddess-centered Paganism in the United States deserves greater recognition than it has typically received. Her work, alongside Z. Budapest's, helped establish the divine feminine as a central concern of modern Paganism — a contribution whose effects continue to shape the tradition today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the McFarland Dianic tradition still active?
Yes, though it is smaller and less publicly visible than the Budapest tradition. Practitioners continue to work within the McFarland lineage.
Can men be initiated into the McFarland Dianic tradition?
Yes. Unlike the Budapest tradition, the McFarland tradition includes both women and men.
How do I find a McFarland Dianic coven?
The McFarland tradition is less widely distributed than the Budapest tradition. Connecting with the broader Pagan community, particularly in Texas and the American South where the tradition has its roots, is the most likely path to finding practitioners.
Which Dianic tradition is more common?
The Budapest tradition is significantly more widely practiced and better known. The McFarland tradition is a smaller but legitimate branch of the Dianic family.
Do the two Dianic traditions interact?
There is some awareness of each other within the broader Pagan community, but the two traditions have developed largely independently and have different communities of practice.
As you continue exploring the diverse paths within the Dianic tradition, consider how your own spiritual practice might be enriched by rituals that honor the divine feminine, such as the 40 manifestation rituals intention to reality or the 13 new moon rituals lunar beginnings to align with lunar cycles. For deeper self-discovery and reflection, the tarot journaling prompts 100 questions for self discovery and the 30 day tarot practice workbook offer gentle guidance, while the the 52 week tarot journey a year of weekly spreads daily pulls deep reflection can help weave a consistent thread of insight throughout your year. May your journey be blessed with clarity and sacred connection.
