The first documented public movement involving Witchcraft and Wicca was the Witchcraft Act of 1542 in England.
This act criminalised the practice of Witchcraft, calling it “a craft and art of sorcerie”.
The law remained in place for centuries, and anyone caught practising Witchcraft was subject to the death penalty.
It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that the practice of Witchcraft and Wicca became more closely associated with religious freedom and feminism. In the 1950s and 1960s, a new wave of religious enthusiasts began practising what was known as the Wiccan path.
This new type of witchcraft focused more on the spiritual and philosophical aspects of the practice and less on the superstition and fear attached to it in the past.
There is often a very romanticised picture of these early witches. For the most part, they were not practising what we now know as witchcraft. They are best thought of as women and men versed in natural healing and creating simple, traditional charms.
It is more than likely that these "cunning folk" or "wise women" were part of the Christian faith - or, in a broader context, the broader religious movements of their time and place.
Their healing and charming practices would not have been recorded. Many of those we would consider to be witches would have been illiterate and not have had the money to spend on books. Thus, the traditions were oral and passed on from generation to generation. Books, spells, and grimoires popularised as Witches' journals or Books of Shadows are primarily inventions of later writers; of course, as literacy improved, some practitioners would have kept recipe books and journals, but these would be exceptions rather than the rule.
In the Middle Ages, the clergy created and had access to the works we now refer to as grimoires. Some of the ideas in these texts will have filtered into the more mundane vocabulary. By the mid-1800s, it is clear that some cunning folk were utilising some of these ideas.
The Cornish witch Tamsin Blight (1798 - 1856), some of whose artefacts can be seen in the Cornwall Museum of Witchcraft, was known to be using the SATOR and ABRACADABRA word puzzles (spells).
Tamsin was born at Gwennap, near Redruth. We don’t know much about her early life, but as an adult, she became famous for being a ‘pellar’, the word used in Cornwall for a witch or wise woman. I can imagine that she, like others of her time, would have appropriated such magical-looking artefacts without understanding their historical significance. Go to any "New Age" fair, and you will see readers whose stands are adorned with magical symbols they may not fully understand regarding their history. The point is that they will have meaning to them!
Wicca.
The Wicca religion began to develop in England in the early 20th century, with several key figures playing a part in its growth.
The most important figure was Gerald Gardner, who wrote the book Witchcraft Today in 1954 and is often called the father of modern Wicca.
Gardner was heavily influenced by the writings of Aleister Crowley and the New Forest Coven. According to Gardner, this group of occultists and neo-pagans had been practising for many years. He adapted their beliefs and rituals for a new, broader audience and wrote extensively about how individuals could practise this religion.
Doreen Valiente was a crucial figure in the development of Wicca.
In the late 1950s, she began working with Gardner and was an essential contributor in crafting the rituals, beliefs and structure of the religion.
She was an avid believer in the Goddess and the importance of her role in Wicca.
Valiente edited and refined Gardner's work and helped make Wicca more palatable to a mainstream audience. To all intents and purposes, Valiente was the creator of the initial canon of Wiccan rituals and practices.
Alex Sanders, often referred to as the “King of the Witches”, was a charismatic leader and practitioner of Wicca in the 1960s who helped to popularise the religion.
Sanders was heavily influenced by Gardner and Valiente and worked to spread the word of Wicca further. He was also known for being progressive in his beliefs, such as advocating for gender equality within the religion.
Alex worked closely with his partner and wife, Maxine, who continues to talk about what is now known as The Craft.
The work of these key figures helped cement Wicca as a 20th-century religion.
Today, Wicca is practised by millions worldwide and continues to grow in popularity.
The Crowley Factor
The writings of Aleister Crowley had a strong influence on the development of Wicca.
Crowley was a British occultist who published a variety of books and articles on witchcraft and esoteric topics. Gerald Gardner admired his work and would later write Witchcraft Today, the foundational text of modern Wicca.
Gardner drew upon many of Crowley's themes and ideas and adapted them for the religion.
Crowley's writings on ritual magic, the Goddess's mystical power, and the witch's importance were all influential for Gardner's work. In addition, Crowley was an advocate for free love and gender equality, which Gardner embraced and incorporated into Wicca. This further evolved the religion from its traditional roots, making it accessible to a broader range of people.
Alex Sanders likewise was influenced by Crowley, and within the system of rituals he taught, the influence of the teachings of the Golden Dawn is apparent.
Wiccan Beliefs
At its core, Wicca is a nature-based spiritual practice that honours the Earth and all living beings.
Wiccans believe in the interconnectedness of all things and see the divine manifested in the natural world. This belief is often expressed through rituals and ceremonies that celebrate the changing seasons, the cycles of the moon, and the elements of nature.
One of the fundamental beliefs in Wicca is dualism, which sees the divine as both masculine and feminine. This duality is represented by the god and goddess, who are seen as equal and complementary forces in the universe. Wiccans often draw on the imagery of the sun and the moon, the sky and the earth, or the hunter and the nurturer to symbolise this balance.
Wiccans also believe in karma, or the idea that the energy you put into the world will come back to you. This belief is often expressed through the Wiccan Rede, which states, "An it harm none, do what ye will." In other words, Wiccans strive to live in harmony with the world around them and to avoid causing harm to others.
Another important belief in Wicca is the idea of personal responsibility. Wiccans believe that each individual is responsible for their actions and spiritual growth. This belief is reflected in the practice of magic, which is seen as a way to align oneself with the universe's natural forces and bring about positive change in one's life.
Overall, the core beliefs of Wicca revolve around the worship of nature, the celebration of the divine in all things, and the practice of personal responsibility. By understanding these foundational beliefs, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the rich spiritual tradition of Wicca and overcome some of the misconceptions that surround it.
Of course, Wicca has many flavours or denominations, all of which borrow and adapt from the same sources. One of the things about Wicca is that it does not insist on any particular orthodoxy. True, the various 'traditions" have internal structures, but they essentially follow a similar set of ethical guidelines.
Misconceptions about Witches
Witchcraft has been a topic of fascination and fear throughout history. From the Salem Witch Trials in the 17th century to modern-day interpretations in popular culture, the concept of witches and witchcraft has been shrouded in misconceptions and myths.
One of the most significant historical misconceptions about witchcraft is the belief that all witches were women. While women were the primary targets during the witch hunts of the Middle Ages and Early Modern period, men were also accused of practising witchcraft.
It is improbable that these unfortunate people were not practising any formal system of witchcraft. They were, instead, "wise folk" who were entirely in tune and practitioners of various folk traditions. These would have included herbalism, folk medicine, fortune-telling, knowledge of animals and plants,
Another misconception is that witches were individuals who worshipped the devil and practised dark magic.
As mentioned above, witches were often healers, midwives, and wise women who used herbal remedies and charms to help their communities. Many of them were persecuted not because they were practising evil magic but because their unorthodox beliefs and practices threatened the established religious and social order - the Church. This also made them scapegoats for any local mishap or disaster.
The idea that witches could fly on broomsticks and hold sabbaths with the devil also stems from historical misconceptions or propaganda. These beliefs were largely propagated by religious authorities seeking to demonise witchcraft and justify the persecution of those accused of practising it.
In reality, witches did not fly on broomsticks or engage in rituals with the devil; these were fantastical tales used to incite fear and hysteria.
The Witches pointed hat.
The conical back hat is the most instantly recognisable part of a witch costume.
Like every other piece of standard witch attire, the hat likely has roots in multiple cultures and eras.
Some trace the witch hat to a style associated with Quaker women.
Throughout most of the 17th century, women of all social classes wore tall, black, wool-felt hats, considered typical fashion at the time. These wide-brimmed, black, conical hats peaked in popularity in the mid-1600s, which also happened to be when a new Christian denomination known as the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, was founded in England.
The Quakers’ beliefs were considered radical at the time, especially the idea that women and men were spiritual equals and that women were permitted to be preachers. Because they were seen as outsiders, and their views and practices were considered a threat to the British monarchy and the Church of England,
Quakers were persecuted, and Quaker women, in particular, were accused of witchcraft.
The conical hat is traditionally a symbol of ritual or spiritual power.
The first known people to wear big, cone-shaped hats are from a lost city in China. Mummified remains from the "witches of Subeshi" sisters, accused of practising magic in Turfan between the 4th and 2nd centuries BCE. They were found with a pointed hat on their heads.
During the Middle Ages, pointed hats were associated with the Jewish religion — and, unfortunately, Satan.
Participation in Kabbalah rituals had people believing that Jews held magical powers from making a deal with the devil. In the 1200s, Jews in Hungary were required to wear this specific hat style to signify their religion. The Judenhat ("Jewish hat" or "horned skullcap") unsurprisingly became a target of Anti-Semitism, and soon after, during the European Witch Hunts, the powers at be in Hungary made all those accused of preaching magic wear them as punishment.
Although the Quakers of the mid-1600s to 1800s didn't wear pointed hats, the style is still strongly associated with the group. Puritans in America believed the Quakers were magic practitioners who danced with the devil during the nighttime hours, and their hats, which were black and included wide brims, were part of the controversy.
So is the pointy hat a symbol of persecution, a way of labelling and dividing communities?
It is important to challenge these historical misconceptions about witchcraft and recognise the complex and varied beliefs and practices associated with witchcraft throughout history.
By understanding the true nature of witchcraft and the persecution faced by those accused of practising it, we can better appreciate the role of witches in shaping our understanding of magic, nature, and spirituality.
Alan /|\
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