Years ago, at the Spring Mysteries Festival at Fort Flagler State Park, put on by the local Aquarian Tabernacle Church, a British Traditional Wiccan group sponsored one of the shines. Not knowing that traditionalists were even present, some other local Pagans made fun of the oath-keeping mystery religion Priesthood, saying that they were elitist and never had any fun. The traditionalists, having plenty of fun keeping silent during such rumors, did not step forward to share the not-so-secret reason that oaths are kept.
There are many reasons why a local Wiccan tradition may keep some of its practices secret. For example: It is tradition, it helps teach loyalty and the discipline to keep silent, some things simply can't be spoken, to not spoil the surprise for any future initiates, because words without context wouldn't make sense anyway, because it is personally private and intimate, because we don't have to share and don't owe information to outsiders, to keep it special in our own little brains and not dilute the meaning and associations for ourselves, and because Wicca isn't right for everybody.
Those who feel frustrated that secrets are being kept from the community have several courses of action. If truly called to traditional Wicca, initiation and training can be undertaken to greater understand the nature of the mysteries. If traditional Wicca is not a calling, then secrets can be dismissed as a part of somebody else's way of worship. Diversity is not always easy, especially when it is forced by not allowing information to blend and travel. However, diversity in the Pacific Northwest is here to stay, and secrets will keep it that way.
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