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.

A Look at the Salem Witch Hunts - OhmyNews International

OhmyNews International

A Look at the Salem Witch Hunts OhmyNews International, South Korea - Oct 30, 2008 I went in to the Salem Witch Museum in the hopes of gaining a better understanding of the witchcraft hysteria. A narrative played while a spotlight scanned ...

On the dark side - Boston Globe (registration)

Boston Globe (registration)

On the dark side Boston Globe (registration), United States - Oct 25, 2008 If the Halloween spirit has you in the mood to explore landmarks associated with the witch hysteria of 1692, leave the ghouls and goblins of Salem behind ... Researcher unearths Andover's role in witchcraft trials Eagle Tribune all 2 news articles

What are two examples of each theme in Act 1? (Explained Quotes) - eNotes

What are two examples of each theme in Act 1? (Explained Quotes) eNotes, WA - Oct 27, 2008 Proctor has a singular wisdom regarding the whole witchcraft hysteria, he thinks that people will see the truth, but ignorance and fear win out. ...

Last Night's Television: Saving Africa's Witch Children, Channel 4 - Independent

Last Night's Television: Saving Africa's Witch Children, Channel 4 Independent, UK - Nov 12, 2008 Mags Gavan and Joost van der Valk's film for Dispatches reported on an outbreak of witch hysteria in the Nigerian state of Akwa Ibom, an area that gets all ...

Witch trial re-enactment leaves eerie reminder - Allentown Morning Call

Witch trial re-enactment leaves eerie reminder Allentown Morning Call, PA - Oct 27, 2008 In all, about 150 people, men and women, were caught in the witchcraft hysteria. Nineteen women and men were hanged. Dozens more died in prison before their ...