His-hertory

Witchcraft is here for centuries and still growing. We all know by now that Modern Wicca draws it's roots from the Old Stone Age Paleolithicum and Neolithic times. And adds along the way from more modern sources. As humans we grow and so does the witchcraft.

The first examples we find are from the Indigenous peoples who were nomads, and cave-dwellers, and lived throughout the world. The Mother Goddess and her consort the Horned God. There are many clay figurines from these times, and you can find them in museums around the world. The Moon in three phases, waxing, full and waning, like the life of a woman, Maid, Mother and Crone. The Celtic tribes, scholars are still debating were exactly they came from, who inhabit after. We know from archaeology and drawings about the Hallstat cultutre, Dreamers and Druids.
Roman scriptures and revolts, freedom fighters and Saxons. The Earth as Mother Nature , the seeds and plant life as the Horned One,
resembles the stag as being the most powerful and majestic animal in these regions. The antlers for strength.
Now you probably see the connection of witchcraft as a fertility religion completely based on Nature. The invading tribes brought a God of Light, the Sun.

In Western-Europe all tribes together were called the Celts. Lots of ideas in Modern witchcraft comes from the Celtic people. They also believed in reincarnation, more likely as a family together and had no fear, not even in death. No evil justice, no sins nor punishments. After death they went to the Summerlands for refreshment until they choose to return with their loved ones again.
The four Great Sabbats celebrations in the open air, in a circle, women were equal as Priestesses, Warriors and Queens.
Around 450 the Celtic people were mixed, intermarried into the new era. With this the Anglo-Saxons and Romans took over many customs and incorporated them into their own lives.

To take a step to the Medieval periods the women and men celebrated the seasonal festivals as a village. The Old ways, herbalism, spells, in conflict with the new, still the Romans. The Old Ways were blamed for being against the state and we all know what happened to them: The Inquisition. Witches refer to this as the Burning Times.
Although not only witches were blamed, but also the Kathars, gypsies, lone parents, even rich, and basically all who were different and didn't fit in the society as then stated. The people who died were among the 50.000. Most of them were women. In 1830 was the latest woman persecuted as a witch. The Horned Hunter of the night became the devil and the Triple Goddess, survived in the Virgin. Obviously the followers of the Old Ways went underground.

In 1866 Charles Leland met an Italian witch and wrote the book Gospel of the Witches. The well known writer and translator W.Y Evens Wentz publishes books about fairies in Celtic Countries and other cultures. Around the 1920ties Margareth Murray comes out withThe Witch Cult in Western Europe, and The God of the Witches. And the books keep on going on since then.
Esotheric groups like The Theosopical Philosopy east combined with the west from Madame Blavatsky and the Freemasons stem all from that period. As the notorious Golden Dawn, and the (in)famous Aleister Crowley.

Gerald Garner (1884-1964 ) was initiated by Dorothy Clutterbuck into witchcraft, publishes his book High magic Aid, and meets Crowley. Gardner becomes a member of "The Ordo Templi Orientis".
Robert Graves writes The White Goddess, more of a poetic ifluencial book.

In 1951 Britain repealed the Witchcraft laws. By this the craft of the Wise becomes legal, and more witches come out of the broom-closet. Doreen Valiente ( who died in 2002) comes in contact with Gardner, is initiated and becomes his High Priestess. She re-wrote a lot for theModern witchcraft like the beautiful poem "The Charge of the Goddess". Their Initiates are known as Gardnerians.
After his death, Alex Sanders takes over with his then wife Maxine.Whatever can be said about Alex, he made the Witchraft more open to the public. Appeared in interviews and on t.v. He was a powerful witch. He went to the summerlands on Baeltaine 1988. Maxine lives in Wales and practise as a solitary witch. They are known as Alexandrians, named after the biggest library in Alexandrie in Egypt.
The famous writers Janet and Stewart Farrar (who died in 2000),were initiated by them.

From the 1960ties and onwards the interest for modern Wicca blossomed. Covens, Groups and Groves are growing,
and with it more different views about paganism too.

Alex Sanders * Gerald Gardner

Gerald Gardner Alex Sanders

Small biography of Alex Sanders;

Alex was initiated in 1963 by Medea of the Derbyshire coven. Pat Kopinski, Alex and Sylvia started their own Coven, when Pat left, Sylvia became HPs, and she went to New Zealand. Alex went on with Paul and Maxine the year after. He and Maxine later hand fasted accordingly to the craft and wed .Lived and worked in London for many years. Alex is also claimed to be initiated in the Ordine Della Nova in Constantinople. He was a powerful witch, magician and influenced the Modern Wicca scene tremendously. Their lineage that became know as Alexandrians is not derived from his name, but comes from the library of Alexandria. The books of knowledge from the world. The Covens that hived off from them or their initiates still flourish and hold an initiatory degree system. It may start with a dedication-rite, then neophyte, and more commonly works to your 1^st degree, 2^nd degree and third. He also included a secret 4^th degree, the Adepts Minor Ritual of the Golden dawn. (Gardner’s 4^th degree was that of the OTO) Alex died in Sussex, England at Beltane 1988. Maxine lives her life as a solitary witch and priestess dedicated to the God and Goddess in Wales. They both helped and developed many into finding their own paths.

Their hived off Covens are many throughout the world. Way too many to include them here. In the Netherlands the Alexandrian-craft started around the 1960ties with Catherine and her husband, Kobus became a part, and got his further training thru Alex in Sussex. Kobus, Elsy and Yet began their own Coven the Great Bear, in the beginning of the 80ties.And I got my trainings via them. We still celebrated the Festivals together those years with European Covens including Norway, Germany and France. In 1987 was the last biggest Mabon Rite in the surroundings of Glastonbury. Nimue and Melkor, and Arguicha and Hera hived of. I became part of the Laguz coven from Nimue, and hived off with Aetelraedh. Arguicha and Hera started the Green craft.

I went to Glastonbury and continued with my new Coven the Wylde Hunt, also became a member of Victa Corvos Romany Coven, and Temple of Sekhmet, got initiated at Avebury by Bobcat. Recently left to Sussex, and still practising the craft a trainings-coven thru open rituals, helping out a group in Czech, and guide teens in question panels.

Becoming a part of a Coven is like family, a close circle of friends. If you do search and want to be accepted in one, please understand that it takes awhile.

In the Olden days the pace of life was slower, came and went with the seasons and intuition. We grow up in a time where the pace is quicker so everything is fast and there is not a lot of patience to learn.

If you walk the path of a witch, put your feet firmly on mother Earth, and discover bit by bit your own potential and don’t rush. It takes awhile for a seed to grow in a mature tree.

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