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.

DiManno: The cruel life of 'child witches' in Africa - Toronto Star

DiManno: The cruel life of 'child witches' in Africa Toronto Star They could at least try to defend themselves from these stories. There was never a culture in Africa of children being accused of witchcraft. ... and more »

Cases of children accused of 'witchcraft' rising in parts of West and Central ... - UNICEF (press release)

UNICEF (press release)

Cases of children accused of 'witchcraft' rising in parts of West and Central ... UNICEF (press release) While such stories often attract media attention, this difficult and complex topic is little understood. 'Children Accused of Witchcraft,' a new report from ... Africa: Rising Number of Children Accused of 'Crime of Witchcraft'AllAfrica.com all 7 news articles »

Why Anne Rice Has Never Been More of a Christian - Huffington Post (blog)

Why Anne Rice Has Never Been More of a Christian Huffington Post (blog) If some fans of her vampire, witchcraft, and erotic fiction rolled their eyes at her announcement that she would consecrate her writing talents to the glory ... and more »

New London native stages his first cabaret show in New York City - TheDay.com

New London native stages his first cabaret show in New York City TheDay.com And so it starts with "Steppin' Out With My Baby," goes through the likes of "Witchcraft," and heads towards its big finish with "Glory of Love. ...

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 ...