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.

Family faces eviction for witchcraft practices - Times of Swaziland

Family faces eviction for witchcraft practices Times of Swaziland They also want the court to issue an order calling upon the Ministry of Works and Public Transport to authorise the release of machinery and man power to ...

Witchcraft Accusations Hurt Vulnerable Children in West, Central Africa - Voice of America

Witchcraft Accusations Hurt Vulnerable Children in West, Central Africa Voice of America Foxcroft adds that vulnerable children are often pressured to admit to practicing witchcraft. "Lots of the children that we work with will have been set on ... and more »

There is no evidence homeopathy works beyond a placebo effect - NHS Choices

NHS Choices

There is no evidence homeopathy works beyond a placebo effect NHS Choices The British Medical Association agreed, with a leading member recently describing homeopathy as “witchcraft”. The Department of Health based its decision to ... and more »

The crisis of middle-class America - Financial Times

Financial Times

The crisis of middle-class America Financial Times One says: “I am sorry I missed Church, I was busy practicing witchcraft and becoming a lesbian.” Another says: “I would tell you to go to Hell but I work ...

Fleeing Prejudice, Nigerian Family Quietly Raises Disabled Daughter in Texas - ABC News

Fleeing Prejudice, Nigerian Family Quietly Raises Disabled Daughter in Texas ABC News "In large parts of Africa, the stigmas tie what we would call disabilities to ideas around occult power and witchcraft," said Clifton Crais, ... and more »