Neopagan witchcraft

This article is about contemporary witchcraft, including, but not limited to Wicca.

Contemporary Witchcraft or Modern Witchcraft refers to the various traditions of witchcraft practiced in the present day, most of which are religious in character (e.g. Wicca and Stregheria). Others are claimed as practices devoid religious perspective capable of being incorporated within other religious framworks.

Contemporary Witchcraft is largely a subset of greater Paganism. Although, their common boundary is one that's difficult to define. Its practice involves varying degrees of magic, shamanism, folk medicine, spiritual healing, calling on elementals and spirits, veneration of ancient deities and archetypes, and attunement with the forces of nature.

History

In the years following the witchhunts of Early modern Europe and North America, little information of Witches trickled into the public space (from Witches nor those who claimed to know of Witches). However, this began changing during the early to mid 20th century. In the 1920s, the long standing Witch-cult hypothesis gained increasing attention in occult circles. Though the hypothesis itself was largely falsifiable, it spurred renewed interest into Witchcraft - this time with new eyes and free of the panicked bias of years past.

English revival

Main article: History of Wicca

Following the the repeal of the U.K.'s Witchcraft Act of 1736, Witches were able to practice openly without fear of legal prosecution. This paved the paved the way for the revival of "the Craft". Author of Witchcraft Today (1954) and The Meaning of Witchcraft (1959) and founder of the tradition now known as Gardnerian Wicca, the figure at the forefront of Witchcraft's early revival and popularization was English occultist Gerald Gardner. Gardener was instrumental in bringing the Contemporary Paganism to public attention. After his initiation in the New Forest coven, he began supplementing their ritual with borrowings from Freemasonry, Western ceremonial magic, the Golden Dawn, and the writings of Aleister Crowley. However, he claimed his tradition was a faithful continuation of Pre-Christian religion in Europe. Gardnerian Wicca revolved around the veneration of both a Horned God and a Mother Goddess, the celebration of eight seasonally-based festivals in a Wheel of the Year, and the practice of magical rituals in groups known as covens. Gardnerian Wicca served as the ultimate ancestor, in terms of lineage, for all "British Traditional Wicca".

Gerald Gardner was not the only person claiming to be a member of a surviving remnant of old European Witchcraft. Others such as Sybil Leek, Charles Cardell, Raymond Howard, Rolla Nordic and, Robert Cochrane also claimed to have been initiated their ancestors and to be following "Hereditary" or "Traditional" forms of Witchcraft. They alleged Gardner was propagating a modern, less true form of Witchcraft. For a time, there were attempts to reconcile and unite all the emerging traditions traditions of the 1950s.

Westward expantion

Following its establishment abroad, Gardnerianism was brought to the U.S. in the early 1960s by an English initiate, Raymond Buckland (1934–), and his then-wife Rosemary, who together founded a coven in Long Island. In the U.S., numerous new variants of Wicca then developed.

Varieties

Wicca

Main article: Wicca

Wicca (English: /ˈwɪkə/) is a modern pagan religion that draws upon a diverse set of ancient pagan religious motifs for its theological structure and ritual practice. The religion usually incorporates the practice of witchcraft. Developed in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was later popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by Gerald Gardner. Gardner was a retired British civil servant, and an amateur anthropologist and historian who had a broad familiarity with pagan religions, esoteric societies and occultism in general. At the time Gardner called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft", and referred to its adherents as "the Wica". From the 1960s onward, the name of the religion was normalised to "Wicca".

Wicca is traditionally and primarily a duotheistic religion centered upon the idea of gender polarity and the worship of a Moon Goddess and a Horned God. (This core theology was originally described by Gerald Gardner, the founder of the religion; and Doreen Valiente, who wrote most of the original liturgical materials.) The Goddess and the God may be regarded as the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine. They are complementary opposites, similar to the ideas of Yin and yang in Taoism. The God and Goddess are generally seen as lovers and equals, the Divine Couple who together co-create the cosmos. (See Wiccan views of divinity.)

Wicca also involves the ritual practice of magic, ranging from the "low magic" or "folk magic" of shamanism and witchcraft to more elaborate and complex rites influenced by the ceremonial magic of Western Hermetic Tradition. Wiccans frequently subscribe to a broad code of morality known as the Wiccan Rede. Another characteristic of Wiccan religion is the ritual celebration of the lunar and solar cycles. Lunar rites, known as esbats are usually held around the time of the full moon; but they may also be held at the new moon, or the waxing or waning moon. The solar or seasonal festivals, known as sabbats take place eight times a year, in regular intervals known as the Wheel of the Year. While both the God and the Goddess are usually honored at both kinds of rituals, the Goddess is mainly associated with the Moon, and the God is mainly associated with the Sun.

Wicca is primarily an initiatory mystery religion, with only initiates of legitimate Wiccan covens being able to fully practice. Whilst there are numerous traditions (denominations) within Wicca, this is the norm throughout Traditional Wicca-such as with the Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions. Within the general Pagan community, people who practice Wicca without being formally and traditionally initiated are called "Neo-Wiccans", with the religion being called "Neo-Wicca", and can include movements such as feminism (in the case of Dianic Wicca), and Anglo-Saxon mythology (in the case of Seax-Wicca).

Wicca dose not have an equivalent concept to the Christian Devil or moral sin. Individuals are believed to be responsible for their actions, with no external force truly capable of violating their free will.

Stregheria

Main article: Stregheria

Stregheria is an Italian based form of Witchcraft, claimed to be rooted in Etruscan religion. Just as the the term "Wicca" is rooted in the Old English for "Witch", the word stregheria is an archaic Italian word for "witchcraft", the modern Italian word being stregoneria. Stregheria is also referred to as La Vecchia Religione ("the Old Religion"), however its most frequent contemporary usage indicates a form of ethnic Italian Italian Witchcraft originating in the United States as popularized by Raven Grimassi since the 1980s. Grimassi formerly taught what he called the Aridian tradition. In this tradition he openly incorporated elements of Gardnerian Wicca with elements of Italian Witchcraft and lore.

Stregheria honors a pantheon centered around the Roman Diana, her twin brother Apollo, and their daughter Aradia. Other practitioners worship the God aspect as Lucifer/Hesperus, a benevolent God of the sun and moon, and in no way connected to the Christian Satan. Stregheria also celebrates a series of eight festivals in the Wheel of the Year, though most commonly with Roman leanings and practises.

Traditional Witchcraft

Non-Wiccan Witchcraft traditions often identify themselves as "Traditional (or Traditionalist) Witchcraft" to indicate that they pre-date or otherwise differ from Wicca. Traditionalists often use the witch trial documents of the Renaissance as inspiration, combined with their knowledge of folklore and Paganism. Sometimes the term Traditional Witchcraft is used specifically for practices in Britain, as the word "witch" derives from Old English, it refers to Old English or Anglo-Saxon paganism. Otherwise the term is used to refer to practices in any of the countries in which the witch hunts of the Renaissance were conducted. Some Traditionalists believe it is important for their Tradition to be passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth. Others believe that there is no way for a Tradition to survive unbroken from the Middle Ages to the present day, and therefore practices are based more on historical studies of pre-Christian beliefs than a body of lore passed from one witch to another.

TraditionalWitchcraft.net explains, "Traditional Witchcraft is a term that was introduced to refer to the aboriginal spiritual traditions of Europe. There really is no collective historical term that could be used to refer to these traditions, so the use of the term Traditional Witchcraft fits quite nicely. Those who follow these traditional ways are often referred to as Traditionalists. However, there are other terms that are used by specific traditions and cultures that are even more appropriate, but these are left to those who follow those traditions and will not be mentioned here."

Sometimes the name "Witch" is seen as an insult by Traditionalists, and more specific terms are preferred. Generally Traditional Witchcraft (or "Trad Craft") is seen as any shamanic Pagan priesthood which pre-dates Christianity, and which may have survived into the modern era. The traditional witch can also be called a Hedgewitch as the "hedge" signifies the boundary between this world and the Otherworld, which the witch may journey to and from. Such shamanic practitioners may have survived Christianity by converting or becoming syncretic Christopagans known as "cunning folk". The cunning folk were practitioners of Christian magic, invoking the powers of saints, angels, and other powers. They may have incorporated many pagan beliefs, however it seems they did not continue shamanic trance work. The cunning folk were known as "Pellars" in Cornwall.

Ros An Bucca describes it thus, "A modest number of practitioners exist in Cornwall and the West Country and even fewer private circles and lodges of predominantly solitary practitioners continue unobserved, and the ordinary people still seek their help to get over life’s hurdles and the farmer still employs the charmer for protections over their land, its buildings, machinery and livestock".

Cochrane's Craft

Main article: Cochrane's Craft

Main article: Roy Bowers

Roy Bowers, a.k.a. Robert Cochrane (1931–1966), founded "Cochrane's Craft" in opposition to Gardnerian Wicca. Cochrane's Clan of Tubal Cain worshipped a Horned God and a Triple Goddess, much akin to Gerald Gardner's Bricket Wood Coven. Cochrane himself disliked Gardner and his take on Wicca, and often ridiculed him and his Craft. Whilst the Cochran Tradition uses ritual tools, they differ somewhat from those used by Gardnerians, some being the ritual knife (known as an athame), a staff (known as a stang), a cup (or commonly a chalice), a stone (used as a whetstone to sharpen the athame), and a ritual cord worn by coven members..

In 1963, Cochrane anonymously published an article in the spiritualist newspaper Psychic News (9 November issue) entitled "Genuine Witchcraft is Defended". In it, he stated that:

I am a witch descended from a family of witches. Genuine witchcraft is not paganism, though it retains the memory of ancient faiths... [Witchcraft is] the last real mystery cult to survive, with a very complex and evolved philosophy that has strong affinities with many Christian beliefs. The concept of a sacrificial god was not new to the ancient world; it is not new to a witch.

At a gathering at Glastonbury Tor held by the Brotherhood of the Essenes in 1964, Cochrane met Doreen Valiente, who had formerly been a High Priestess of Gardner's Bricket Wood Coven. The two became friends, and Valiente joined the Clan of Tubal Cain. Cochrane often insulted and mocked Gardnerian witches, which annoyed Valiente. This reached an extreme in that even at one point in 1966 he called for "a Night of the Long Knives of the Gardnerians", at which point Doreen "rose up and challenged him in the presence of the rest of the coven." Shortly after Valiente's departure, Cochrane's wife Jean also left, and the Coven soon ceased to function.

Cochrane is often credited with originating the term "Gardnerian" as a derogatory description of Gardner's Wicca; however, his published letter terms it as "Gardnerism".

Some were inspired by Cochrane's work and from the many letters he wrote to fellow occultists, to form Traditions such as Roebuck, Tubal Cain, and 1734. Some practitioners of Hedgecraft also follow a Cochrane based practice.

Sabbatic Craft

Andrew Chumbley coined the term "Sabbatic Craft" (Michael Howard; Children of Cain 2011) and described the Sabbatic Current as "an initiatory line of spirit–power that can inform all who are receptive to its impetus, and which — when engaged with beyond names — may be understood as a Key unto the Hidden Design of Arte" and he sometimes referred to a Nameless Faith, and The Crooked Path (or Via Tortuosa), "the sorcerous ethos present in many forms of Traditional Witchcraft". Chumbley, himself, reserved "Sabbatic Craft" as a unifying term meant to refer exclusively to the "convergent lineages" of the Cultus Sabbati, a body of Traditional Witchcraft initiates, although both "Sabbatic Craft" and "Sabbatic Witchcraft" may be found on the Internet in contexts which don't necessarily observe that distinction. Thus one finds references to such works as Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson, The Call of the Horned Piper by Nigel Jackson, The Pillars of Tubal Cain by Nigel Jackson and Michael Howard, and other titles from Capall Bann Publishing and Fulgur Limited referred to as books of and about Sabbatic Craft. However, Chumbley's works and those of Daniel Schulke from Xoanon Publications on the Cultus Sabbati's "ongoing tradition of sorcerous wisdom" continue to serve as the prototypical reference works. Explaining the origins of the name "Sabbatic Craft", Chumbley said:

‘Sabbatic Craft’ describes a corpus of magical practices which self–consciously utilise the imagery and mythos of the "Witches' Sabbath" as a cipher of ritual, teaching and gnosis. This is not the same as saying that one practises the self–same rituals in the self–same manner as the purported early modern "witches" or historically attested cunning folk, rather it points toward the fact that the very mythos which had been generated about both "witches" and their "ritual gatherings" has been appropriated and re–orientated by contemporary successors of cunning–craft observance, and then knowingly applied for their own purposes.

Chumbley's Traditional British Witchcraft grimoire, Azoëtia, incorporated diverse iconography from Sumerian, Egyptian, Yezidi, and Aztec cultures, but he spoke of a patchwork of ancestral and tutelary spirit lore which he perceived amid the diverse "Old Craft" traditions in Britain as "a gnostic faith in the Divine Serpent of Light, in the Host of the Gregori, in the Children of Earth sired by the Watchers, in the lineage of descent via Lilith, Mahazael, Cain, Tubal-cain, Naamah, and the Clans of the Wanderers"… Schulke explains that, in Britain, folk magic and cunning–craft absorbed many international elements from "Freemasonry, Bible–divination, Romany charms, and other diverse streams" and notes that what Chumbley called "dual–faith observance", refers to a "co–mingling of ‘native’ forms of British magic and Christianity". Regarding the diversity in Britain, he continues: "[a]rguably a partial consequence of both trade–routes and Empire, such influences are far from alien impositions, but rather sympathetic and synchronous spirit–streams" and cautions that the "mere presence of syncretism within the Old Craft, however, does not legitimise the blending of sign with symbol, charm with conjuration, and tradition with tradition... Truth in word, honour in deed, and a flame well–tended must inform all, elsewise the appeal to nativism is revealed as unenlightened bigotry".

Hedge Witchery

Hedge Witchery, also called "Hedge Riding" or "Hedgecraft", is the form of witchcraft that focuses on the Art & Science of witchcraft instead of a religious aspect; hence Hedge Witches are not necessarily associated with the religion of Wicca, though they can be. Many Hedge Witches use the shamanic art of crossing the "hedge" or boundary between this world and the Otherworld, and interpret the information they gather according to whatever religion they themselves practice. Hedge Witchery also focuses on the Art & Science of using herbs, colors, and astrological associations for healing, divination and spell crafting or casting, and other tools, just as any other witch does. Hedge Witchery is another category of Witchcraft inside Traditional Witchcraft. The Hedgewitch is usually a solitary practitioner, but may be attended by assistants. A Hedge Witch may function is a mediator between the spirits and people in the same way a priest or minister does in any religion. There is no specific religion a Hedge Witch is required to follow, hence hedge witches are affiliated with one form of witchcraft that permits practitioners to select any religion of their choice, while practicing the Art & Science of the Craft by energy manipulation. Usually Hedge Witches do not view energy as any particular spirit, but instead as inanimate forces that they can creatively manipulate in the same way an artist manipulates paint on canvas. For this reason, Hedge Witches may be from any of the five major world religions such as Judaism, Christiaity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism, or any number of smaller, formal religions, as well as any form of Neo-Pagan religious affiliation. Instead of focusing on religion, Hedge Witches focus on unconscious natural energies and how to use them according to the Art & Science aspect of manipulating these energies. Hedge Witches may also work as an herbal healer or midwife. Some claim it to be the continuation of the practices of the cunning folk and wise-women, while others say that it is a modern tradition. This belief is tied back to the Witch Trial era and the associted court documents which allude to such things. As stated under the above heading of Traditional Witchcraft:

"Sometimes the name "Witch" is seen as an insult by Traditionalists, and more specific terms are preferred. Generally Traditional Witchcraft (or "Trad Craft") is seen as any shamanic Pagan priesthood which pre-dates Christianity, and which may have survived into the modern era. The traditional witch can also be called a Hedgewitch as the "hedge" signifies the boundary between this world and the Otherworld, which the witch may journey to and from. Such shamanic practitioners may have survived Christianity by converting or becoming syncretic Christopagans known as "cunning folk". The cunning folk were practitioners of Christian magic, invoking the powers of saints, angels, and other powers. They may have incorporated many pagan beliefs, however it seems they did not continue shamanic trance work. The cunning folk were known as "Pellars" in Cornwall.

Ros An Bucca describes it thus, "A modest number of practitioners exist in Cornwall and the West Country and even fewer private circles and lodges of predominantly solitary practitioners continue unobserved, and the ordinary people still seek their help to get over life’s hurdles and the farmer still employs the charmer for protections over their land, its buildings, machinery and livestock"[2]."

Author Rae Beth popularised a more Wiccan version of Hedgecraft in her 1992 book Hedge Witch - A Guide To Solitary Witchcraft, where she promotes the idea that Hedge Witches worship the Triple Goddess and the Horned God. However because Hedge Witchery focuses on the Art & Science of unconscious, natural energy manipulation, a Hedge Witch may be a practitioner of any religion, and that affiliation or belief system will not interfere with her ability to perform Witchcraft as effectively as any other witch. As an Art or Science, Hedge Witchcraft's goal is the outcome of casting spells, which can be equal to those witches who practice other forms of the Craft; the successful results depend only on the Hedge Witches dedication to her Craft. Most Hedge Witches, no matter their religious affliation, honor and celebrate the eight sabbats of the Wheel of the Year. This ties a Hedge Witch into the Celtic Culture from which much of Western Witchcraft originates, and from which it itself descends. The version of Hedgecraft that is related to Wiccan Deities has been criticized for having to many similarities with Wicca to truely differentiate it from Wicca. However, because Wicca also descends from Celtic Culture, it makes sense that both versions would have Celtic Cultural underpinings. The main difference between Hedge Witchcraft and Wicca Witchcraft is that Hedge Witchcraft focuses on the Art & Science of the Craft, while Wicca focuses on speccific Wiccan religious beliefs combined wit the practice of the Craft. Both use the same tools to craft and cast spells, divine the future, heal, and so forth, and both often report the same outcomes in regard to results. Hedge Witchcraft appeals to the many people who want to add supernatural elements to their lives but who do not wish to embrace a religion other than their own, already established religious faith.

One famous woman who might be considered a Hedge Witch is Lauri Cabbot of Salem, MA. [[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Cabot]]. Because she focuses on the Art and Science of Witchcraft and not the modern religion of Wicca she falls into the category of Hedge Witch.

Hearth Witchery

Often also called "Kitchen Witchery" or "Cottage Witchery," Hearth Witchery is both domestic and nature based, popularised by Anna Franklin in her 2004 book "Hearth Witch" (Lear Books). The household hearth is a focal point for practising magic within Hearth Witchcraft.

Feri Tradition

Main article: Feri Tradition

The Feri Tradition is a mystery initiatory contemporary Witchcraft tradition brought out into the open in the 1920s by Victor Anderson and Harpy Coven that emphasizes spiritual ecstasy, often sexual ecstasy, and has a basis in the traditional Hawaiian witchcraft of Huna/Ho'Oomana. It is an American tradition in that it has been influenced by many indigenous and immigrant communities on that continent including Appalachian folk magic, Brujeria, Huna/Ho'Oomana, and Voudou; as well as Traditional and Celtic witchcraft influences.

Practitioners are polytheists who have, among other Gods: the Star Goddess, the Divine Twins, and the Blue God. Practitioners believe that there are three parts to the human soul, a belief shared with Huna/Ho'Oomana and mystic Judaism.

Reclaiming

Main article: Reclaiming (Neopaganism)

Reclaiming (formerly known as Reclaiming Collective) is an offshoot of the Feri Tradition, with an international community with the aim of combining "earth-based spirituality" and political activism. The author Starhawk (Miriam Simos) is its most prominent spokesperson, and her book "The Spiral Dance" inspired many new covens practicing along similar lines. Reclaiming was founded amid the peace and anti-nuclear movements of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Reclaiming's spiritual approach is based in the religion and magic of Goddess, who is understood as the immanent life force, not as a transcendent deity. The Reclaiming tradition of witchcraft also honors the Horned God, as does Wicca; but in general, Reclaiming is somewhat more focused on the Goddess than on the God.

The Reclaiming Tradition of contemporary American witchcraft arose from a working collective around the 1980s in the San Francisco Bay Area, blending the influences of Victor and Cora Anderson's Feri Tradition of witchcraft, Dianic witchcraft as taught by Z. Budapest, and the feminist, Anarchist, peace, and environmental movements.

While some members of Reclaiming describe themselves as "Wiccan", others prefer the term "witch".

See also

• Witchcraft
• European witchcraft
• Contemporary Paganism

Sources

• Cunningham, Scott & Harrington, David. "The Magical Household", Llewellyn, 1996
• Beth, Rae. Hedge Witch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft, Robert Hale, 1992.
• Moura, Ann, "Grimoire For The Green Witch: A Complete Book of Shadows", 2003.
• Telesco, Patricia, "The Kitchen Witch Companion: Simple and Sublime Culinary Magic", 2005.
• Duerr, Hans Peter. Dreamtime: Concerning the Boundary between Wilderness and Civilization, pages 46, 47, 65, 97, 132. Translated by Felicitas Goodman. Blackwell, 1985.
• Jackson, Nigel A. Call of the Horned Piper, pages 4–5, 13, 14-15, 19-21. Capall Bann, 1994.
• Howard, Michael. "Children of Cain", Three Hands Press, 2011.
• Dugan, Hellen. Seasons of Witchery: Celebrating the Sabbats with the Garden Witch, Llewellyn, 2012.
• Dugan, Hellen. Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week, Llewellyn, 2009.
• Oak, Lily. Witchery, Hedge Witchery Books, 2010.

External links

• Cornish Witchcraft
• Traditional Witchcraft by Echowitch (website)
• Rae Beth's Hedge Witch Home Page
• Traditional Witchcraft Forum
• Walking the Hedge
• "Survey of Scottish Witchcraft", Scottish History, School of History and Classics, The University of Edinburgh, Scottland