Post by Emerald Jade Dagger on Feb 8, 2010 14:45:48 GMT -5
We are now in the 1950's. The last of the Witchcraft laws are repealed in England and Witchcraft speaks out. Dr. Gerald Gardner publicly states he is a Witch!! During this period of time there are a lot of unknowns. There are people who say Gardner created Wicca. Others say he just opened up the craft to the general public. Does it really matter? We know today many of the rituals we do have basis with earlier pagan religion, and others would be more at home with the Masons or Golden Dawn. But the things we do work.
If not for Gardner there would be a lot less people knowing they were Witches. I know many of you have had the delight of finding out about Wicca and the fact that it's beliefs mirrored your own. Think what it would have been like if you never found Wicca!... Always searching for something you couldn't find.
Gardner, although he opened Witchcraft knowledge to the general public, not anyone could join his Covens. Others who did join, felt that certain things were being done wrong. Because of this other Trads were formed and to this day are still being formed.
Gardner also though the Coven he was in was one of the last in Europe and stated so. He was surprised when other Covens started growing out of the wood work. Some like the Strega predates Gardner by hundreds of years. Leland wrote about them in the late 1800's and in his writing stated they had been around for hundreds of years.
Raymond Buckland when he brough Wicca to the USA claimed to bring Witchcraft to America. This upset a lot of American Witches.
So yes people like Gardner and Buckland have popularized Witchcraft, but they were not the first of the modern Witches, they were just first out of the broom closet.
In Europe the Trads control Witchcraft, while in the USA eclectic Witchcraft seem to be more popular. With Witches like Z. Budepest and Starhawk things change and trads can't fulfill the needs of the Witches.
Both are feminist . Z. Budepest formed the Diantic Trad of Witchcraft in which the Goddess is the major deity and the God is only her consort. Most of their Covens are all female. They believe in using HEXES. (They also believe in the Rede, so they are not easy spells to do). Starhawk's form of Wicca is not the same as Z. Budepest, but it is one in which you MUST DO... If something is wrong you must do something to right it. She feels it is all right to be in more than one Coven as long as they do not conflict with one another. So she is in both an all female Coven and one mixed Coven.
The use of the name Wicca and Wiccan came into use in the early 60's when Witches wanted a name to use that didn't shout out "I AM A WITCH". Today many people claim Wicca and Witchcraft are not the same - they are wrong! This comes from not being taught by an elder. They have no way of knowing what has gone on or about things that are not recorded because they depend on books and the Internet. (And the Internet is both a wondrous tool and a grand source of misinformation. )
There are many Modern Witches who are writers. Some are very good, others not so good, and a few really bad. When you pick up a book, try to find something out about the author. And find out when the book was first printed. All this will reflect upon the book. If the writer is a Solitary that has never been part of a Coven - his writings may not contain "main line" information.
It seems in the last five or six years we are getting more and more Witches coming out of the broom closet. This is a good sign. Witchcraft is a recognized religion and has been for close to fifteen years. And it needs its members to be recognized and counted. As more and more people see us for what we really are, the sooner we will be accepted by the general population. (Their will be some that will never accept us).
If not for Gardner there would be a lot less people knowing they were Witches. I know many of you have had the delight of finding out about Wicca and the fact that it's beliefs mirrored your own. Think what it would have been like if you never found Wicca!... Always searching for something you couldn't find.
Gardner, although he opened Witchcraft knowledge to the general public, not anyone could join his Covens. Others who did join, felt that certain things were being done wrong. Because of this other Trads were formed and to this day are still being formed.
Gardner also though the Coven he was in was one of the last in Europe and stated so. He was surprised when other Covens started growing out of the wood work. Some like the Strega predates Gardner by hundreds of years. Leland wrote about them in the late 1800's and in his writing stated they had been around for hundreds of years.
Raymond Buckland when he brough Wicca to the USA claimed to bring Witchcraft to America. This upset a lot of American Witches.
So yes people like Gardner and Buckland have popularized Witchcraft, but they were not the first of the modern Witches, they were just first out of the broom closet.
In Europe the Trads control Witchcraft, while in the USA eclectic Witchcraft seem to be more popular. With Witches like Z. Budepest and Starhawk things change and trads can't fulfill the needs of the Witches.
Both are feminist . Z. Budepest formed the Diantic Trad of Witchcraft in which the Goddess is the major deity and the God is only her consort. Most of their Covens are all female. They believe in using HEXES. (They also believe in the Rede, so they are not easy spells to do). Starhawk's form of Wicca is not the same as Z. Budepest, but it is one in which you MUST DO... If something is wrong you must do something to right it. She feels it is all right to be in more than one Coven as long as they do not conflict with one another. So she is in both an all female Coven and one mixed Coven.
The use of the name Wicca and Wiccan came into use in the early 60's when Witches wanted a name to use that didn't shout out "I AM A WITCH". Today many people claim Wicca and Witchcraft are not the same - they are wrong! This comes from not being taught by an elder. They have no way of knowing what has gone on or about things that are not recorded because they depend on books and the Internet. (And the Internet is both a wondrous tool and a grand source of misinformation. )
There are many Modern Witches who are writers. Some are very good, others not so good, and a few really bad. When you pick up a book, try to find something out about the author. And find out when the book was first printed. All this will reflect upon the book. If the writer is a Solitary that has never been part of a Coven - his writings may not contain "main line" information.
It seems in the last five or six years we are getting more and more Witches coming out of the broom closet. This is a good sign. Witchcraft is a recognized religion and has been for close to fifteen years. And it needs its members to be recognized and counted. As more and more people see us for what we really are, the sooner we will be accepted by the general population. (Their will be some that will never accept us).