Wiccan Witchcraft History

There is a common belies that modern witchcraft is the result of an unbroken tradition of passing secret magical knowledge down through the generations, either by blood or by initiation, and often by both. This belief, while appealing for obvious reasons, is, to put it politely, poppycock.

Were there self-professed Witches in the Western world prior to the Gardnerian coming out party in the middle of the century? Absolutely. Folklore was enjoying a boom, Frazer's The Golden Bough (three editions of various sizes from 1890 to 1915) was being widely devoured, and Theosophy, Spiritualism, the Society for Psychical Research, and dozens of esoteric societies and orders were thriving.

It's hard to imagine that in such a climate no one was embracing a form of Witchcraft. On top of that, the tradition of cunning men and women (often old-school Witches by any other name) was still hanging in there. There may well have been numerous examples of what would today be called Family Traditions (or Famtrads, if you go to far too many SF conventions), though there's regrettably little evidence for these.

What has not been established, though, is whether there was a Witchcraft movement, a network of Witches bound by a reasonably uniform collection of traditional practices and beliefs. Some authors, Gardner among them, have been deeply attached to the idea of such a network, but proportionately ineffectual at establishing its reality.

Advocates of this Murray-ish take on the Craft (such as those who credit the rather ill-reputed cunning man George Pickingill with everything from the rulership of nine Covens to being where Crowley nicked his best magical moves) still fly the flag, but since all attempts to substantiate such claims invariably lead to (a) impenetrable oaths of secrecy and (b) severe migraines, they have trouble getting anyone much to salute. Of course, a lack of proof is often accompanied by a lack of refutation, but all we have then are matters of faith.

The good news for the status of Witchcraft and Wicca, however, is that this couldn't really matter less. Darwin might have called the Biblical account of our origins into question, but he certainly didn't make a little girl's Bat Mitzvah any less meaningful or Salisbury Cathedral any less inspiring. Magic is not reliant on history but on the state of the spirit.

Witchcraft motive behind ECape murders - Times LIVE

Times LIVE

Witchcraft motive behind ECape murders Times LIVE The motive behind the brutal killing of an Eastern Cape woman and her four grandchildren was witchcraft, the Dispatch Online reported. ... and more »

Granny and teen wounded for witchcraft - Independent Online

Granny and teen wounded for witchcraft Independent Online ... her 13-year-old granddaughter have been wounded by gunmen seeking revenge for a killing they believe was caused by witchcraft, police said on Friday. ... and more »

Witchcraft was motive for killings - report - Independent Online

Witchcraft was motive for killings - report Independent Online East London - The motive behind the brutal killing of an Eastern Cape woman and her four grandchildren was witchcraft, the Dispatch Online reported on ... Witchcraft said to be motive for T'kei murdersWeekend Post 'Witch' claim in granny slaying caseDaily Dispatch Online all 6 news articles »

Old tribal woman and daughter killed in a witchcraft case - IBNLive.com

Old tribal woman and daughter killed in a witchcraft case IBNLive.com ... (PTI) An old tribal woman and her minor daughter were butchered for allegedly practicing witchcraft here in West Singhbhum district, police said today. ... Tribal woman,minor daughter killed for practicing ''witchcraft''MSN India all 2 news articles »

How to Avoid Witchcraft or X-rated Films for Your Kids - California Catholic Daily

How to Avoid Witchcraft or X-rated Films for Your Kids California Catholic Daily Many of the things that the bishops are concerned about that misinform or mislead students are also being introduced at Catholic schools in religion classes ... and more »