Wicca is a modern pagan, witchcraft religion that was founded in the early 20th century. The origins of Wicca can be traced back to a man named Gerald Gardner, who is often referred to as the "father of modern witchcraft." Gardner was born in 1884 in England and had a deep interest in esoteric and occult practices. He was introduced to witchcraft and paganism in the 1930s, when he became a member of an occult group called the Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship. Gardner believed that witchcraft was a remnant of an ancient, pre-Christian religion and set out to revive it. Gardner claimed to have been initiated into a coven of witches in the New Forest area of England in 1939.
Those are big high heels to fill. (Not “big” like Melinda had big feet, just “big” like significant).
Scarlett was known as The Princess of Magic when she performed a family-friendly afternoon show that ran six days a week in Planet Hollywood s V Theater. Apart from her staff or wand, she was placed with horses, a carriage and Arabic bronze jugs, together with a small piece of silver jewellery shaped like a woman with a large necklace.
Gardner claimed to have been initiated into a coven of witches in the New Forest area of England in 1939. He later wrote several books on witchcraft, including "Witchcraft Today" and "The Meaning of Witchcraft," in which he outlined his beliefs and practices. Gardner's teachings included the veneration of a dual deity, the "Great Goddess" and the "Horned God," as well as the celebration of holidays and rituals based on the seasonal cycles of the year.
The magic wands of Viking seeresses?
Two seeress’s magic staffs. The shorter one is from the Gävle area of Sweden and the longer from a grave at Fuldby, near Ringsted in Denmark.
Völva probably means staff or wand carrier. The staff or wand was also an important accessory in the carrying out of seid or magic.
There are several examples of mysterious iron staffs from Viking Age graves. They have most often been found in the graves of wealthy women. This emphasises the fact that völur belonged to the upper strata of society. An example of this type of female grave is the woman from Fyrkat, which is comparable to other richly-furnished völur women’s graves from Scandinavia.
The völva burial from Köpingsvik, on the Swedish island of Öland, contained an 82 cm long iron staff, with bronze ornamentation and a house represented on top. Accompanying this was a jug from Central Asia and a bronze cauldron from Western Europe. The woman was dressed in bear fur and was buried within a ship setting, or stone ship, which also contained sacrificed animals and humans.
Another völva burial is the Oseberg burial from Norway. This contained the bodies of two women. One was a woman of high status, whilst the other was a slave. Several of the objects in the burial are associated with seid and seeresses, for example a wooden staff or wand, and cannabis seeds in a purse.
At Hagebyhöga in Östergötland, Sweden, another seeress was buried. Apart from her staff or wand, she was placed with horses, a carriage and Arabic bronze jugs, together with a small piece of silver jewellery shaped like a woman with a large necklace. This figure can be interpreted as Freyja – the goddess of the Viking seeresses – who is wearing the necklace “Brísinga men”.
Gardner's writings and teachings attracted a following, and the witchcraft movement he inspired became known as Wicca. Wicca gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly in the United States, where it spread through books, workshops, and the formation of covens and pagan organizations. It is important to note that while Gardner is considered the founder of Wicca, he drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including folklore, ceremonial magic, and Freemasonry. He also incorporated elements from various pagan traditions, such as the Celtic and Norse pantheons. In recent years, the popularity of Wicca has continued to grow, with practitioners coming from diverse backgrounds and incorporating their own interpretations and practices into the religion. Today, Wicca is recognized as a legitimate religion in many countries and has its own traditions, rituals, and beliefs. Just as Gerald Gardner sought to revive an ancient religion, modern Wiccans continue to explore and evolve their spiritual path..
Reviews for "Who Were the Influential Figures in Wicca's Development?"
- Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to learn more about the origins of Wicca, but this book was a disappointment. The author didn't provide enough evidence to support their claims and I found myself questioning a lot of the information presented. It felt more like a personal opinion piece rather than a well-researched book. I don't recommend it to anyone looking for accurate information on the origins of Wicca.
- Michael - 1/5 stars - This book was a complete waste of my time. The author seemed to be more interested in promoting their own beliefs rather than providing an objective and factual account of the origins of Wicca. The information provided was vague and lacked any real substance. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is serious about learning the true history of Wicca.
- Jessica - 2/5 stars - As someone who is new to Wicca, I was hoping this book would give me a solid foundation of knowledge about its origins. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The author seemed to make a lot of generalizations without providing enough evidence to back them up. This left me feeling unsure about the accuracy of the information presented. I would look for other resources if you're looking to learn about the origins of Wicca.