Wicca is a modern pagan witchcraft practice that emerged in the mid-20th century. Although it draws inspiration from ancient pagan rituals and belief systems, it was not directly descended from any ancient form of witchcraft. Instead, Wicca was created and developed by a man named Gerald Gardner in the 1940s. **Gerald Gardner is commonly believed to be the founder of Wicca.** Gardner was a British civil servant and amateur anthropologist who became interested in witchcraft and magic. He claimed to have been initiated into a secret coven of witches in the New Forest region of England, and he used this alleged initiation as the foundation for the rituals and practices of Wicca.
Although contemporary witches are connected by a belief in magic, what this magic looks like can vary hugely. While their craft typically draws upon folk traditions, mythology and pre-Christian beliefs from around the world, 21st-century witches span a variety of genders, cultures and religions. Some might adopt complex rules and rituals, while for others, simple acts of cooking and creating are powerful enough to be considered magic. Witches can be found in druid groves, heathen temples, Wiccan covens and even on TikTok, as young witches use modern technology to connect with other members of the global community.
Later scholars who have studied the New Forest Coven have concluded that the connection to Margaret Murray was much closer than Gardner had thought The Coven probably originated in the mid-1930s, just a few years before Gardner encountered it, and was built around folk magic traditions and Murray s theories. He spent time in Nice, the Canary Islands, and Ghana before spending nine years in the Madeira Islands where he developed an intellectual interest in Spiritualism.
He claimed to have been initiated into a secret coven of witches in the New Forest region of England, and he used this alleged initiation as the foundation for the rituals and practices of Wicca. Gardner wrote several books on the subject and actively promoted the religion, making it known to the wider public. He also founded the first Wiccan coven, known as the Bricket Wood coven, and initiated others into the practice.
Pittchcraft: The true history of Wicca and Witchcraft
Witches walk among us — seriously. Pittchcraft is a blog written by staff writer Emily Pinigis about her life as a college student and practicing Witch.
By Emily Pinigis, Staff Writer | March 2, 2020
In modern times Witchcraft is often portrayed as an evil and mythical practice. As a young Witch, I often find myself hesitating to identify publicly as such due to the inevitable comments that Witches don’t exist. In fact, before I started this blog, there was only one person in my life who knew I was a Witch — the Witch who introduced me to the practice. It seems that even today, people only think of Witches as the villains in Disney movies. While there are many secrets surrounding the practice, it is far more rooted in established religion than many people think.
A Google search of the term Witchcraft leads to various different definitions. Many of them relate to sorcery or exaggerated supernatural powers, while only a couple actually talk about the Wiccan religion. Even Merriam Webster defines Witchcraft as “the use of sorcery or magic” or “communication with the devil or with a familiar.” The definition is not entirely incorrect, though it leaves out all mention of Witchcraft as a real religious practice. The mentions of sorcery and devil worship are rooted in fiction as Satanism is a different religion from Wicca.
As with most religions, it’s fairly difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of the practice — and the timeline is further confused in Witchcraft, where the practice may also involve worship of deities of other religions like Christianity or Buddhism. Some definitions of the practice even go so far as to claim that Witchcraft originated with civilization itself. Overall, the religion that is most commonly associated with Witchcraft is Wicca.
Wicca centers on pre-Christian beliefs that Magick exists within the universe and is practiced in such a way that honors nature and the elements. Wicca is also a Neo-Pagan religion, and most of the beliefs of Wicca are the same as Pagan beliefs, except without the same deities as Paganism. There are only two deities within Wicca — the God and the Goddess. They are also sometimes referred to as the Horned God and the Moon Goddess.
On a very basic level, these two deities represent the masculine and feminine forces of nature and the universe. The relatively simple nature of the Wiccan deities is what allows for the practice to overlap with deities of other religions. When it comes down to it, Wicca is different from Paganism in that it allows for more religious freedom depending on the preferences of the practitioner. Paganism has strict deities that one must worship to be a Pagan. In Wicca, however, the deities need not be worshipped in such a way — they simply exist as the opposing forces of nature. No matter the deities, the practicing Witch must always follow the Wiccan Rede, “As it harms none, do as thou wilt.”
The very first and perhaps most famous Wiccan was Gerald Gardner, a British occultist born in 1884. In 1934, he joined the New Forest Coven, a group of Witches who practiced their own Magick in a way diverged slightly from Paganism. Gardner went on to work with the teachings of Aleister Crowley — another British occultist who dabbled in Witchcraft — to found the modern religion Wicca. His practice began to spread from Britain into Australia and the United States in the 1950s and 1960s.
Gardner’s development of Wicca began shifting society’s perception of Witchcraft into a more positive light. Throughout history before him, Witchcraft was seen as barbarous and often associated with devil-worshipping.
Gardner also began an era in which men could be seen as Witches. Prior to the official creation of Wicca, those being accused of Witchcraft as a blasphemous practice were almost solely women. A woman that stood out for being too promiscuous, intelligent or independent could be accused of being a Witch because she deviated from the expectations for women at the time. Men were rarely accused of being Witches, and, if they were, it was usually only if they were homosexual or flamboyant.
Witchcraft may have existed since the dawn of civilization, but it has grown and changed over the centuries. The creation of Wicca as recently as 1950 makes the entire practice very new and unknown to many people. As the definition of a Witch grows, and the societal views surrounding the practice become more positive, it is important that even those who do not practice Witchcraft understand what it means to be a Witch.
The media plays up the dark and mysterious history of Witchcraft, leaning into the supernatural elements, but it is important to remind society of practicing Witches and the very natural practice of Witchcraft. For many living Witches, it feels like an innate need to speak proudly of who we are and to educate those around us in the hopes that one day, Wicca will be normalized like every other socially accepted religion. That is precisely what I hope to achieve through these writings, if only to a small degree. I hope to normalize the practice of Witchcraft and bring more public awareness to Wicca as a legitimate practicing religion.
The media plays up the dark and mysterious history of Witchcraft, leaning into the supernatural elements, but it is important to remind society of practicing Witches and the very natural practice of Witchcraft. For many living Witches, it feels like an innate need to speak proudly of who we are and to educate those around us in the hopes that one day, Wicca will be normalized like every other socially accepted religion. That is precisely what I hope to achieve through these writings, if only to a small degree. I hope to normalize the practice of Witchcraft and bring more public awareness to Wicca as a legitimate practicing religion.
**With his writings and teachings, Gerald Gardner laid the groundwork for the modern Wiccan movement.** Since Gardner's time, Wicca has evolved and developed through the work of many practitioners and authors who have added their own interpretations and contributions to the practice. As a result, there are now various traditions and branches of Wicca, each with its unique rituals, beliefs, and practices. But, at its core, Wicca still traces its origins back to the work of Gerald Gardner, who is widely regarded as the founder of the contemporary Wiccan movement..
Reviews for "In Search of the Wiccan Founder: Piecing Together the Puzzle"
1. John - 2 stars - "I was disappointed with 'Who started wicca'. The book lacked depth and seemed more like a Wikipedia article than a comprehensive study. The author didn't provide enough evidence or historical context to support their claims. I was hoping for a more in-depth analysis of the origins of Wicca, but this book fell short. I would not recommend it to those looking for a thorough understanding of the subject."
2. Emily - 1 star - "I found 'Who started wicca' to be an extremely biased and poorly researched book. The author seemed more interested in pushing their own agenda than providing accurate information. The lack of objectivity made it difficult to take any of the claims seriously. Additionally, the writing style was dry and unengaging, making it a chore to get through. There are much better resources available for those interested in learning about the origins of Wicca."
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "While the topic of 'Who started wicca' is fascinating, this book failed to deliver a satisfying exploration. The author's writing style was convoluted, making it hard to follow their arguments. I also found some of the information to be questionable, lacking proper references or citations. It felt more like a personal opinion rather than a well-researched analysis. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and uninformed after reading this book."
4. Peter - 2 stars - "I was excited to delve into the origins of Wicca with 'Who started wicca'. However, the author's biased perspective was evident throughout the book. They seemed more concerned with discrediting certain individuals and groups rather than providing an objective account of the history. The lack of balance and thorough research made it difficult to trust the information presented. I would recommend looking for alternative sources to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Wicca's beginnings."