The Roots of the terms Wicca and Witchcraft and

Their Original and Modern Usages

By Rev. Jack Green
Imbolqtide, 34,537 S.W.C. !ebr"ary, #$%3 &.'.(
)*"r +ir,t ta,k in a--roac.in/ anot.er -eo-le, anot.er c"lt"re, anot.er reli/ion, i, to take o++ o"r
,.oe,. !or t.e -lace 0e are a--roac.in/ i, .oly. 1l,e 0e +ind o"r,elve, treadin/ on anot.er2,
dream. 3ore ,erio",ly ,till, 0e may +or/et t.at God 0a, -re,ent be+ore o"r arrival).
4 Raymond 5ammer
Sadly, many -eo-le +or/et t.e above advice, incl"din/ ,ome Wiccan, and Gardnerian,. I
0ill try to kee- Ray6, q"ote in mind a, 0e -roceed. 7.e etymolo/ical root, o+ t.e 0ord Wicca
.ave been de,cribed in many, many 0ay, 0it. 0idely varyin/ q"ality. Ian 3acIntyre +or e8am-le
told ", t.e commonly +o"nd derivation o+ 0itc. amon/ eclectic, i, +rom t.e &n/lo4Sa8on 90itan6
and .e ,ee, t.i, "ltimately a, erroneo",. 5e correctly -oint, o"t t.at t.e old &n/lo4Sa8on2, r"lin/
body 0a, t.e 9Witan6, or more com-letely t.e 9Witana/emot6, )7.e meetin/ o+ t.e 0i,emen or
elder,). 7.i, old 0ord derive, +rom t.e Indo41"ro-ean I1( :0it root o+ 90itty6 and 90it,6 in
1n/li,.(. &ll t.i, i, ea,y eno"/. to +ind in t.e 1ncyclo-edia Britannica. B"t it i, al,o clear t.e root
:0it i, related to t.e Indo41"ro-ean root :0i, +or 0i,e, 0i;ard and 0i,dom in 1n/li,. and 0i,,en
9to kno06 -ro4 <i,en, ,.ort 9i6( and Wi,,en,c.a+t 2,cience6 -ro4 <i,en4,.a.+t( in German beca",e
o+ t.e meanin/. We al,o cannot +or/et t.e lin/"i,tic -rinci-le o+ -.oneme ,.i+t. & -.oneme i,
,in/le ,o"nd "nit in a lan/"a/e, ","ally b"t not al0ay, a ,in/le con,onant or vo0el. 7.e cla,,ic
derivation o+ 'r"id i, +rom :dr" and :vid meanin/ )*ak =no0er). 'r"nemeton i, t.e old Ga"li,.
+or *ak4/rove. *ak i, t.e root :dr" and :vid i, to kno0 or ,ee. 7.e I1 :vid i, t.e root o+ o"r
2video2 and o+ 2<eda,2, t.e ancient 5ind" ,cri-t"re, mentioned above. 7o 2kno02 and to 2,ee2 are
clo,ely related conce-t"ally in t.e Indo41"ro-ean lan/"a/e, and c"lt"re,. W.en 0e kno0 or
"nder,tand a t.in/ 0e ,ay 2I ,ee2. 7.e German 20i,,en2 to kno0( i, one allied -.oneme a0ay +rom
t.e 1n/li,. 2vi,ion2. >in/"i,tic, i, relevant to bot. 'r"id, and 0itc.e, a, 0ell a, to ,ociolo/i,t,,
ant.ro-olo/i,t, and c"lt"ral evol"tion /enerally. Sadly Ian6, 0eb,ite 0.ere I +ir,t +o"nd .i, 0ork
in t.e late 9?$, i, no0 /one.
Ian 3acIntyre al,o /ave ", .i, t.eory a, to t.e etymolo/y +or 0itc. )... t.e 0ord 0itc.,
@/oe,A back to t.e 0ord 0ic/a, 0.ic. i, *ld 1n/li,. +or t.e in,ect kno0n a, t.e ear0i/, and 0.ic.
tran,literate, to )cree-y4cra0ly) Dictionary of Word Origins, Jo.n &yto, &rcade, c. %??$,
>ibrary o+ Con/re,,B ?%4#?5C(.) I /ot t.e im-re,,ion +rom t.i, t.at Ian 0a,n2t bein/ very ,incere
0.en .e ,aid )Wicca i, indeed a valid and -o0er+"l -at. +or t.o,e 0.o tr"t.+"lly 0alk it and
"nder,tand it.) at t.e be/innin/ o+ t.e vario", ver,ion, o+ .i, old article DWicca i, not CelticE on
.i, no0 de+"nct 0eb,iteF 000.clannada.or/. I .ad .o-ed it 0a, G",t a +l"ke 0.en I +ir,t read .i,
lin/"i,tic ,lam b"t, it G",t /ot 0or,e t.e more I read. Raymond 5ammer 0o"ld be di,a--ointed I
t.ink. &, a Wiccan 5i/. Hrie,t I re,-ect t.e 0i,dom o+ 'r"idi,m b"t individ"al 'r"id, and Celto4
-.ile, I take on a ca,e by ca,e ba,i, in -reci,ely t.e ,ame +a,.ion a, I take individ"al 0itc.e,,
Stre/an, Wiccan or any ot.er trad. I al,o take t.e ,ame a--roac. 0it. 5ind",, B"dd.i,t,, Iative
&merican, and C.ri,tian, +or t.at matter, b"t Ian2, and &yto6,( etymolo/ical entomolo/y certainly
doe, not im-re,,. 5i, article DWicca i, not CelticE can ,till be +o"nd online in o"t o+ t.e 0ay
corner, o+ t.e Internet6, 9-a/ano,-.ere6, G",t Goo/le t.e title.
Rat.er t.an acce-tin/ Ian2, ever ,o c.aritable inter-retation o+ Jo.n &yto "ncritically I
c.ecked "The Compact dition of the O!ford nglish Dictionary" "#$%&' *1'(. Wit. t.e
tr",ty ma/ni+yin/ /la,, ,o t.o"/.t+"lly incl"ded 0it. t.e ma,,ive, t0o vol"me dictionary, a, it,
-rintin/ i, e8tremely ,mall, 0e +ind t.e &n/lo4Sa8on root o+ Witc. i, )Wicce) +or t.e +emale and
DWiccaE +or t.e male 0it. a 0.ole .o,t o+ variant ,-ellin/,. 7.e ,-ellin/ )Wiccan) i, even +o"nd
in t.e >a0, o+ =in/ &l+red, c.C?$ &.'., -ron"nciation 0it. eit.er )c.) or )k) i, -ermi,,ible in t.e
vario", 3iddle and *ld 1n/li,. dialect, in G",t t.e ,ame 0ay a, 0e .ave )C."rc.) in t.e ,o"t. and
)=irk) in t.e Scotti,. nort.. &--arently 9Wicce6 mean, an o+ten .el-+"l +emale ma/ician all t.e
0ay back, )W.ite Witc.) i, a ,ynonym t.ro"/.o"t. 7.e *1' /ive, it an )ob,c"re ori/in) be+ore
t.e &n/lo4Sa8on ",a/e,. I tend to a/ree 0it. I,,ac Bone0it,2 re,earc., cited in 3ar/ot &dler2,
"Dra(ing Do(n the Moon" "#$)$* #$%+', t.at bot. Witc. and Wicca derive +rom t.e Indo4
1"ro-ean root :0ik or :0eikF to t0i,t, t"rn or bend. 7.e odd t.in/ i, t.en t.ey al,o ,ay Gardner
0a, 0ron/ 0.en Gardner +ir,t de,cribed 9Wica6 in Witchcraft Today "#$,&' @W7A. &ct"ally .e
didn6t ,ay 9Wica6 means 90i,e one6 in W7 and in Meaning of Witchcraft "#$,$' @3WA .e
de,cribe, t.e &n/lo4Sa8on D0icceE and D0iccaE correctly on -/ %#$.
)7.ey t.e 0itc.e,( are t.e -eo-le 0.o call t.em,elve, t.e Wica, t.e 20i,e -eo-le2...). 7.i,
,-are ,tatement on -. %$# in Gardner2, W7 a--ear, to be t.e root o+ ,o many acc",atory attem-t,
and conver,ely le,, t.o"/.t+"l ,"//e,tion, t.at ,ay Gardner derive, 0icca and 0itc. +rom :0it or
:0i, rat.er t.an :0ik. In my o-inion .e ",ed Dt.e 90i,e -eo-le6E a, an alternate name, a ,ynonym,
not a lin/"i,tic root o+ meanin/. Witc.e, 0ere o+ten al,o called 90ite/e 0ymon6 &n/lo4Sa8on( or
0i,e 0omen in 0.atever dialect 0a, t.en c"rrent. 7.i, error i, ,till -ro-a/atin/ t.ro"/. t.e
-o-"lar 0ritin/, on t.e Cra+t. 5an, 5ol;er +or e8am-le re-eat, t.e 9Wicca mean, 0i,e one,6 error
in .i, ma,,ive #$$# ma/n"m o-", Witches- Tr.e nco.nters (ith Wicca* Wi/ards* Co0ens*
C.lts and Magic on -. 4C. I t.ink Gardner 0a, G",t /ivin/ a common, alternate name, an 9aka6
al,o kno0n a,(. 7.at i, all .e -robably meant by t.at -art o+ t.e ,tatement. In /eneral o+ co"r,e
mo,t Wiccan, t.ink t.e -o-"lar di,tinction bet0een 0.ite c"rin/ 0itc.e, and black c"r,in/ 0itc.e,
i, almo,t a, inadeq"ate a, t.e *rt.odo8 C."rc.2, 9only evil6 vie0 certainly i,.
7.", DWicceJaE, t.ro"/. :0ik i, related to or more +ormallyF a co/nate o+( 0ickerF bent
reed, to +a,.ion ba,ket, or +"rnit"re, and 0ickF a t0i,ted ,trin/ ,"rro"nded by 0a8 to /ive li/.t in a
candle 0.en b"rnt, and 0eekF a t"rn o+ ,even day, and even 0ickedF a bent or t0i,ted ,o"l. So, a
0icked 0itc. Wicked Wiccan WeekK L4(( i, a 0oman 0.o -ractice, black and bale+"l ma/ic a,
o--o,ed to t.e *1'2, )0.ite 0itc.) villa/er .erbali,tJmid0i+e. >ike :0i, 0e ,ee German
derivative, +rom :0ik .ere al,o in t.e 0ord Weic.e -ro M <aik.e, 0.ere t.e k. i, -rono"nced like
t.e German 9ic.6, not t.e Scotti,. 9loc.6(, a railroad ,0itc. or t"rn and 0eic.en to yield or t"rn
a0ay. 7.e modern ,ke-tical ,c.ool 0riter and -ro+e,,or o+ .i,tory, Je++rey B. R",,ell6, te8t 1
2istory of Witchcraft* 3orcerers* 2eretics 4 5agans "#$%6' .a, a ,imilar etymolo/y and .e
/et, q"ite detailed abo"t ot.er I1 co/nate, b"t, .e doe,n6t /o into t.e ,ame detail I ,.all .ere. 5e
/oe, 0ider, .ere I /o con,iliently dee-er. I al,o collect material 0itc.y knick knack, 0itc. kit,c.
a, my +ir,t 5i/. Hrie,te,, call, it(, t.i, incl"de, ,everal 0itc. ,.a-ed candle, and t.eir central
0ick,.
!rom t.e above 0e can no0 ,ee &yto and Ian2, 20ic/a2 i, t.e &n/lo4Sa8on dimin"tive
derivative o+ t0i,ter or 0i//ler. In +act t.e 0ord 0i//le to bend and t0i,t vi/oro",ly( i, -robably
a derivative o+ :0ic or :0ik it,el+ t.ro"/. -.oneme ,.i+t. Ian 3acIntyre al,o made a bi/ -oint o+
tellin/ ", t.ere i, no initial W in t.e Celtic lan/"a/e,. 7.i, i, q"ite tr"e, b"t no one ever ,aid t.e
0ord 20itc.2 0a, Celtic. 18ce-t +or ,ome con+",ed eclectic Celtic Wiccan, I ,"--o,e. Ian6, old
0eb,ite 0a, act"ally q"ite /ood on it, detailed -a/an Iri,. 0ork .o0ever o"r 'r"id Iain 3ac an
tSoair a, .e Gaelici;ed .i, name, ,eemed to be ,tirrin/ "- a tem-e,t in a tea-ot +or no a--arent
rea,on in .i, earlier ver,ion,. In v.3.$ o+ .i, article I +inally 0a, able to +ind o"t 0.at 0a, eatin/ at
Ian2, innard,. 1dain 3cCoy2, "Witta- 1n 7rish 5agan Tradition" "#$$8' and ot.er related book,,
0.ic. are more o+ t.e ty-ical >le0ellyn 2Wicca4>ite2 book,. 3cCoy .a, been ,ava/ed by many
0riter, be,ide 3cIntyre and Joanna 5a"tin43eyer in .er online article DW.en i, a Celt Iot a
CeltKE +or e8am-le. Introd"ctory, ea,y to read, 2.o0 to2 man"al, like Witta t.at are o+ten a, not
laced 0it. mi,take, o+ +act and ty-o, o+ all ,ort, are >le0ellyn6, bread and b"tter. 1dain 3cCoy
even claim, -otatoe, im-orted into Ireland +rom t.e &merica, in t.e %Nt. cent"ry( 0ere an ancient
-a/an +ertility ,ymbolO 3aybe in Her"O I2m ,"r-ri,ed Ian didn2t -oint o"t t.i, bit o+ ,illine,, on .i,
no0 de+"nct 0eb,ite. I6m ,"re t.e con+",ed 1clectic Celtic Wiccan 1dain 3cCoy meant 0ell b"t it
i, clear ,.e didn6t ,t"dy very .ard. S"c. are t.e ","al >le0ellyn -rod"ct and t.ey are o+ten
mocked +or it. I can a,,"re yo" Carl We,c.cke i, cryin/ all t.e 0ay to t.e bank. 7.ey are /enerally
not noted +or academic ri/or, b"t a, t.eir -ayc.eck, -"t +ood on t.e table, o+ -a/an 0riter, and
arti,t, and t.eir +amilie, I ,im-ly G",t can2t be too .ar,.. 3y e840i+e +or e8am-le, al,o did t.e
cover +or 1dain 3cCoy2, "The 3a99ats" "#$$&', t.e year +ollo0in/ t.e -"blication o+ "Witta". I
al,o .ave to -oint o"t t.at occa,ionally >le0ellyn -"t, o"t a /ood, ,c.olarly te8t and 0a, vital in
t.e +ormation o+ Ha/ani,tan locally and 1clectic Wicca /lobally. 7.at i, not.in/ to ,nee;e at. It
,eem, a, i+ Ian i, /alled t.at 1dain 3cCoy i, tryin/ to create an Iri,. 20itc. tradition2 on t.e ,-ot.
5avin/ looked at 1dain2, book I +o"nd not.in/ indicatin/ it i, anyt.in/ more t.an t.e 9+l"++y
b"nny6 >le0ellyn neo4Wiccan ","al.
&ccordin/ to Ray B"ckland2, re,earc. in "5ictish Witchcraft" "#$$#' 2Witta2 i, a term ",ed
by Scot, Gaelic ,-eaker, Hecti4Witta +or Hicti,. Witc.cra+t, -ro. -ekti40eeda(, it2, one o+ many
1n/li,. loan 0ord, in Scot, Gaelic. It i, not inconceivable t.at )Witta) co"ld al,o be an 1n/li,.
loan 0ord +ir,t ",ed in Ireland 0.en t.ey invaded t.e 5i/.land,. *r it co"ld .ave come +rom t.e
later invadin/ Iort."mbrian, takin/ t.e >o0land,. I don2t kno0, b"t I al,o don2t believe eit.er
1dain 3cCoy or Ian 3acIntyre .a, yet been to Ireland to con+irm or deny it, "nlike Ray B"ckland
0.o .a, been to Scotland. >in/"i,tic, i, not an e8act ,cience like -.y,ic,, b"t it i, a ,cience.
7.ere are a n"mber o+ Celtic >in/"i,tic, 0eb,ite, and ,c.ool, available onlineF
.tt-FJJceltic.+a,..arvard.ed"J i, G",t one o+ t.e more +amo", one,.
7.e Celtic 0ord, are q"ite di++erent +rom t.e Germanic t.o"/. al,o revealin/. 7.e Celtic
!amily Wel,., Iri,., 3an8, Corni,., Breton, etc.( o+ lan/"a/e, i, a ,e-arate /ro"- +rom t.e
Germanic !amily 1n/li,., German, '"tc., Ior0e/ian, etc.( b"t bot. +amilie, are ,till Indo4
1"ro-ean. 7.e Wel,. Cymrae/( +or 0itc. i, 9/0rac.6 -ro. /oo4Rac., 0it. c. like t.e Scotti,.
2loc.2(, 0.ic. ,im-ly mean, old 0oman, .a/ or more a--ro-riatelyF crone. Ian /et, it 0ron/ a,
2/r"/ac.2 in ver,ion, %.$ and %.5, in v.#.$, v.3.$ and v.3.# .e make, no mention o+ t.e Wel,. at all.
In t.e Scotti,. branc. o+ Gaelic Iri,.( 9/r"/ac.6 mean, 2bro0nie2 or ,mall, mi,c.ievo", +airy,
-er.a-, Ian G",t /ot con+",ed. 7.e Cymrae/ dimin"tive, 9/0rac.en6 mean, cockroac., evidently
Wel,. C.ri,tian, t.o"/.t alon/ Jo.n &yto2, line, too. 70o im-ortant related 0ord, are 9/0rai/6F
0i+e or 0oman and 9/0ra6F to ,earc. +or a .",band, 0.ic. mean,, I ,"--o,e, t.at +or *rt.odo8
C.ri,tian Wel,.men, t.e 2little 0oman2 at .ome tended to b"/ .im L4( I like .er alreadyO(. 7.e
Iri,. Gaelic i, 9cailleac.6, 0.ic. al,o mean, old 0oman, .a/ or crone t.at i,F -o,,ibly a 0i,e
0oman. It may be related to t.e *ld Iri,. 2caille2 +or cloak or .ood. 7.i, may be a tie to t.e
cloaked deitie, +rom Roman and -re4Roman time, in t.e Celtic co"ntrie,. 7.ey are al,o kno0n in
t.e 50icce Co"ntry di,c",,ed belo0. In t.e,e Wel,. and Iri,. dictionarie, I al,o +o"nd 0itc. and
0itc.cra+t i, ,ynonymo", in ",a/e 0it. dr"ide,, and dr"idic ma/icF 9draPodQir mnR6 dr"ide,,(,
9draPoc.t6 dr"idry(, 9an ealaP d."b.6 t.e black art,( in Gaelic. Ian2, la,t ver,ion o+ .i, 0eb,ite did
.ave an adeq"ate Gaelic Ha/e +or ba,ic lan/"a/e introd"ction b"t it didn6t /o into t.e level o+ detail
0e do .ere.
In Cymrae/ 20itc.2 can al,o be 9de0ine,6 +emale diviner, likely borro0ed +rom >atin(,
9cromlin6 al,o meanin/ a c"rve, c.ord or ,ectionL o+ a c"rvy yo"n/ 0itc. t.at 0i//le, niceK related
to cromlec. ,ome.o0K( or 9der0ydde,6 dr"ide,,(. Witc.cra+t bein/ 9/0rac.yddiaet.6 .a/cra+t or
0itc.cra+t(, 9de0iniaet.6 divination or 0itc.cra+t(, 9de0indabaet.6 divination, ma/ic or -ro-.ecy(
or 9der0yddiaet.6 dr"idry( and o+ co"r,e, a, in C.ri,tian IrelandF 9y cel+yddyd d"6, t.e black art,(.
7.ere ,eem, to no one to blame +or t.i, con+",ion bet0een dr"idry and 0itc.cra+t b"t C.ri,tian
Celt,. Ian 0ill .ave to take t.e i,,"e o+ con+",in/ Witc.cra+t and 'r"idry to t.em b"t, I t.ink .e
better learn t.e lan/"a/e +ir,t. So" can +ind a /ood Cymrae/ lan/"a/e 0eb -a/e .ereF
.tt-FJJ000./eiriad"r.netJ. S-ellin/ at ot.er ,ite, and in ot.er book, may vary. 7.ere are Ha/an
Wel,. Wiccan ,ite, too, b"t t.ey didn2t ,eem to bot.er Ian any0.ere near a, m"c. a, t.e Iri,. one,.
So, a Witc., Wytc., Wycce, or Wicce in early in &n/lo4Sa8on time, 0a, a native 0oman
,killed in ma/ic and .ealin/, ,.e co"ld bend and t0i,t +ate and circ"m,tance to .er 0ill. In
addition, in -o-"lar conce-tion a, o--o,ed to t.e Iordic r"lin/ Tlite( ,.e 0a, ","ally a .el-+"l
.ealer 0.ite 0itc.( b"t co"ld be a dan/ero", enemy i+ cro,,ed. &mon/ t.e cleric, and t.e ri,in/
C.ri,tian reli/io", Tlite, ,.e 0a, almo,t al0ay, a tool o+ Satan, or Ibli, amon/ t.e 3",lim m"lla.,,
or S.aitan amon/ t.e Je0,. 7.e,e di,tinction, bet0een t.e vie0, o+ -o-"lar c"lt"re and t.e
dominant Tlite, 0ill be critical in any scientific .i,torical and lin/"i,tic analy,i, a, Jo,e-. =lait,
-ointed o"t in .i, 3er0ants of 3atan- The 1ge of the Witch 2.nts "#$%,'. S.e co"ld be +o"nd
in villa/e, all over Britain, b"t in t.e ,o"t. 0a, mo,t likely to be +o"nd in t.e ,mall -rovince called
t.e 50icce Co"ntry on t.e 0e,tern border, o+ t.e &n/lo4Sa8on 5e-tarc.y, t.e ,even &n/lo4Sa8on
-etty kin/dom, at t.at time, a divided land t.at 0o"ld one day be called 1n/land. Geo/ra-.ically
t.e 50icce Co"ntry 0a, at t.e 1a,tern .ead o+ t.e Bri,tol C.annel and ,and0ic.ed bet0een t.e
5e-tarc.y in t.e ea,t and t.e ten or ,o nominally C.ri,tian Celtic =in/dom, in t.e 0e,t ,"c. a,
'y+ed and R.e/.ed. 7.e ba,ic +act, o+ t.e .i,tory o+ t.at ob,c"re little -rovince )t.e Co"ntry o+
t.e 50icce) 0ill al,o -rove q"ite im-ortant in o"r ,t"dy .ere.
7.e,e native 0i,e 0omen and men( 0ere not &n/lo4Sa8on, nor 0ere t.ey a--arently
Celtic. Gardner at +ir,t t.o"/.t t.ey 0ere -er.a-, Celtic in W7 b"t c.an/ed .i, mind to 0.at I call
.i, 93e/alit.ic *ri/in 7.eory6 in 3W. 7.at i,, t.e,e native .ealer, and t.eir reli/io", leader, 0ere
et.nically -re4Celtic and 0ere t.e de,cendant, o+ t.e Stone Rin/ b"ildin/ +armin/ tribe, t.at t.e
Celt, conq"ered abo"t a millenni"m earlier. & va,t amo"nt o+ ne0 evidence ,"--ortin/ t.i, notion
.a, been collected ,ince Gardner6, day b"t /oin/ t.ro"/. all t.at i, +ar too bi/ a -roGect +or t.i,
little e,,ay. S"++ice it to ,ay t.e ,c.olar Ste-.en Seate, doe,n6t /o very dee-ly into t.at +ield eit.er
.o0ever, .i, t0o recent te8t, do brin/ a lot o+ additional clarity to o"r lin/"i,tic to-ic .ere and
cover, not only t.at millenni"m +rom t.e Celtic Conq"e,t t.e Red 'ra/on in t.e 9<i,ion o+ So"n/
3erlin6( to t.e &n/lo4Sa8on Conq"e,t t.e W.ite 'ra/on in t.e 9<i,ion o+ So"n/ 3erlin6( b"t al,o
beyond to o"r ,ide o+ t.e Iorman Conq"e,t.
Ste-.en Seate, .a, ,t"died t.e 50icce Co"ntry in +a,cinatin/ detail and -"bli,.ed t0o back
to back book,. The Tri9e of Witches- The Religion of the Do9.nni and 2(icce" ":66%'
de,cribe, in detail .o0 t.e -o-"lar reli/ion o+ t.e -re4Roman Celtic tribe kno0n a, t.e 'ob"nni
,"rvived t.ro"/. t.e Roman *cc"-ation and contin"ed on in t.e 50icce Co"ntry t.ro"/. t.e 'ark
&/e, and on into t.e early C.ri,tian 1ra. In .i, ,econd book 1 Dreaming for the Witches- The
Recreation of the Do9.nni 5rimal Myth" ":66$' Ste-.en Seate, -"r,"e, t.e idea t.at t.i,
-o-"lar -a/an reli/ion i, -er,ec"ted by t.e C."rc. and t.e 50iccean, Wiccan,O( -racticin/ it are
labeled 9Witc.e,6 and are t.en ."nted relentle,,ly. 5e al,o /oe, a lon/ 0ay to recon,tr"ct t.e
-o-"lar myt.olo/y o+ t.e 'ob"nni a, +ar a, .e i, able and to connect it to t.e Grail >e/end,. 7.e
ori/inal a/ric"lt"ral tribe,, t.e b"lk o+ t.e -o-"lation are dominated by t.e cattle .erdin/, 0arrin/,
.or,e ridin/, c.ariot +i/.tin/ Celt, and t.ey become t.e 9client6 clan, o+ t.eir ari,tocratic Celtic
'ob"nni ma,ter, and t.eir 'r"id -rie,t, ,ome #5$$ year, a/o. It 0a, t.e ance,tor, o+ t.o,e
abori/inal +armin/ tribe, t.at b"ilt Stone.en/e, &veb"ry and t.e ."ndred, o+ ot.er rin/, ,cattered
abo"t t.e Briti,. I,le,. 7.e 'r"id, al,o came to revere t.e old ,tone rin/, a, t.e native, did. 7o
contin"e t.e moti+ o+ t.e 9<i,ion o+ So"n/ 3erlin6 and ,tay tr"e to 3edieval and 'ark &/e
,ymboli,m t.e -re4Indo41"ro-ean rin/ b"ilder +armer tribe, are t.e Black 'ra/on, t.e b"lk o+ t.e
+armer, and -ea,antry.
Io0 Ste-.en Seate,6 etymolo/y o+ 50icce 0e +ind .e -lace, /reat ,tore in t.e +act t.at
50icce al,o mean, a ,mall, medi"m or lar/e ,i;ed c.e,t, co++er or ark O(. Io0 t.i, 50icce co"ld
.ave been a 0icker c.e,t or 0ooden lidded bo8, b"t t.i, -retty clearly ,.o0, .o0 ti/.t t.e 0icca M
0icker connection i,. 7.e 3iddle 1n/li,. +or t.i, obGect 0a, 90.itc.6 and t.at event"ally became
t.e modern 0ord 9."tc.6 ,o no0 I can .ave a 0itc. kit,c. ."tc.O It a--ear, to me t.at t.i, -rod"ct
name became ,o -o-"lar amon/ t.e &n/lo4Sa8on, t.at in t.e ,ame 0ay +acial ti,,"e became
=leeni8 and -.otoco-ie, became Uero8e, in t.e #$
t.
Cent"ry t.e,e 0icker and 0ood c.e,t, became
950icce,6 in t.e 7
t.
Cent"ry 0.en t.e national brand 9Hrod"ct o+ t.e 50icce Co"ntryE became t.e
acme o+ t.at -rod"ct acro,, 9&n/le4land6. B"t t.e connection can /o even dee-er t.an t.at. Iote
t.e de+inition 0a, c.e,t, co++er, or ark, arkO In 3y,tery 7radition, aro"nd t.e 0orld 0.et.er tribal
or "rban 0e +ind t.e -rie,t, and -rie,te,,e, kee-in/ t.eir ,acred obGect, in a Cista Mystica, lit.
3y,tic C.e,t, G=.(, a .oly ."tc. i+ yo" 0ill. In nomadic tribal c"lt"re, t.ey ,im-ly 0ra- t.e
,acred obGect, ,"c. a, t.e Hlain, Indian Heace Hi-e( in a ,kin and it become, a 9,acred b"ndle6. In
"rban 3y,tery 7radition, t.ey o+ten carry elaborately carved ca,e, inlaid 0it. Ge0el, and /old in
reli/io", -roce,,ion,. 7.e 1le",inian 3y,terie, are a ca,e in -ointF Cista Mystica i, t.eir term +or
t.e lar/e covered ba,ket or c.e,t t.at t.e rit"al im-lement, and any ,acred ,croll, o+ t.e 3y,tery
7radition are carried in d"rin/ t.e -"blic -roce,,ion +rom t.e 1le",inion in &t.en, to 1le",i, and
t.e 7ele,terion. 7.e,e are t.e ta heira lit. Sacred 7.in/,, G=.( o+ t.e 3y,terie, t.at only initiate,
may ,ee and ",e.
Io0 0e can ,ee t.at t.e,e 50icce c.e,t,( o+ t.e 50icce Co"ntry 0ere likely +ir,t ,een by
vi,itin/ &n/lo4Sa8on trader, in Roman time, d"rin/ -"blic -roce,,ion, to t.e tem-le,. 7.e Sa8on,
.ad been raidin/ t.e ea,tern coa,t, ,ince t.e #$$, and a ,trin/ o+ Iaval Ba,e, 0a, b"ilt on t.e
ea,tern coa,t, by t.e Roman, 0.o called it t.e 9Sa8on S.ore6 beca",e o+ it. 7.e 50iccae Witc.
Hrie,t, and Hrie,te,,e,( ke-t all t.eir tool, and 0ritin/, i+ any ,a+ely locked a0ay +rom -ryin/ eye,
in t.eir 50iccae ,acred bo8e,( and only dre0 t.em o"t o+ t.eir .o",e, and tem-le, +or rit"al
-roce,,ion, 0.en t.e 3y,terie, o+ t.e vario", God, 0ere -er+ormed and kno0in/ t.e Celtic and
3e/alit.ic calendar, arc.eoa,tronomy .a, come alon/ 0ayO( t.i, 0a, mo,t likely at 0.at 0e call
t.e Sabbat, today. 7.e Roman, im-orted 43 &.'. to 4%$ &.'.( into Britain t.e 3y,terie, o+
1le",i,, Cybele, I,i,, 'iony,",, *r-.e",, 3it.ra,, and t.at ne0e,t reli/ion o+ 9Je," C.ri,to,6
d"rin/ t.e Roman -eriod and t.ey 0o"ld .ave all done ,omet.in/ ,imilar. I+ ,ome ant.ro-olo/i,t,
are correct t.en rat.er t.an t.e Sacred Rite, o+ t.e 50icce Co"ntry bein/ a Greco4Roman im-ort
0it. a Celtic /lo,, a, ,ome ,"//e,t, it i, entirely -o,,ible it i, a native -arallel develo-ment o+
eq"al antiq"ity G",t not .i,torically veri+ied t.e 0ay t.e Greco4Roman 3y,terie, are. We do ,ee an
arc.eolo/ical contin"ity over time. Seate, ,eem, to ,"--ort t.i, a, a 950icce6 i, not G",t a rit"al
c.e,t or ark b"t i, it,el+ al,o linked to t.e Grail and t.e Ca"ldron o+ Cerrid0en and ,o .a, more
com-le8 myt.olo/ical and rit"al im-lication, t.an even t.e 9avera/e6 3editerranean Cista
Mystica. Since o"r 0ork .ere i, lin/"i,tic and not -rimarily .i,torical and myt.olo/ical t.e ne8t
q"e,tion i, 0.at mi/.t .ave been t.e 1lder 7on/"e o+ t.e,e -rie,t, and -rie,te,,e, o+ t.e 50icce
Co"ntryK
7.e an,0er maybe ,omet.in/ related to Ba,q"e. Gardner only ,",-ected t.e -o,,ibility and
/ive, t.e Ba,q"e brie+ mention, on --,. %5, %$4, %45, V %C3 o+ 3W. By %?73 3ic.ael 5arri,on in
.i, book The Roots of Witchcraft make, it a maGor t.eme t.o"/. it i, ,till .y-ot.etical. 7oday
it i, +"lly t.eoretically ,"--orted by t.e ama;in/ re,"lt, o+ t.e 5"man Genome HroGect t.o"/. no
,c.olar .a, made t.e +ormal ,t"dy a, o+ yet. Italian ,c.olar >"i/i Calli4S+or;a6, +a,cinatin/ te8t
;enes* 5eoples and <ang.ages ":666' i, a /ood ,tartin/ -oint. 7.e Ba,q"e +or 0itc. i,
9Sor/in6 and t.ey can be male and +emale. 7.e Witc. ."nter Hierre de>ancre called t.e Ba,q"e
Co"ntry 1",kal 5erria( D&--le4landE Sa/ar 5erria, BW( 0.en .e ,0e-t in b"rnin/ ."ndred, o+
0omen. 9Witc.e,6 are 9Sor/inak6 and t.e ,t"dy o+ Ba,q"e Witc.cra+t 1",kal Sor/inkeria( i,
c"lt"rally very ric. and very relevant to t.e Cra+t b"t take, ", a0ay +rom o"r immediate lin/"i,tic
to-ic. W.ile a relative o+ Ba,q"e mi/.t .ave been t.e ancient 1lder 7on/"e o+ t.e reli/io", leader,
t.e daily lan/"a/e o+ t.e citi;en, o+ t.e 50icce Co"ntry a+ter Rome le+t in 4%$ &.'. 0o"ld be bot.
Celtic and >atinL >atin 0o"ld .ave +aded q"ickly i+ not.in/ inter+ered b"t o+ co"r,e -lenty did.
It 0a, not "ntil 577 &.'. 0.en learnin/ &n/lo4Sa8on 0o"ld be req"ired, ,-eci+ically t.e
3ercian dialect b"t t.e very +e0 *rt.odo8 C.ri,tian C."rc.e, 0o"ld .ave .eld ti/.tly to >atin,
mo,t 0ere Celtic C.ri,tian. 'o yo" remember t.e old le/end, o+ be,ie/ed =in/, bein/ t.e
C.am-ion and +acin/ t.e be,t o--o,in/ 0arrior in t.e one on one battle to t.e deat. to -re,erve t.e
kin/domK Well it a--ear, t.e 3ercian 9conq"e,t6 o+ t.e 50icce Co"ntry i, a ,o"rce o+ t.at. 7.",
everyt.in/ i, -re,erved, no ma,,acre,, no b"rnin/, no ,ackin/ only a c.an/e o+ >ord, and -ayment
o+ trib"te. I can certainly ,ee .o0 t.e &n/lo4Sa8on 0arrior cla,, 0o"ld con,ider t.i, 90eak6
anot.er co/nate o+ :0ik by t.e 0ay( and co0ardly e,-ecially ,ince t.ey 0ere t.0arted in t.eir
lootin/ -lan,. 7.ey 0anted t.e ,t"++ in all t.o,e 50iccae in all t.o,e .o",e, in 50icce Co"ntry.
7.i, brie+ -eriod +rom 4%$ to 577, t.e Golden &/e o+ t.e 50icce Co"ntry i, al,o 0.at
arc.eolo/i,t, call t.e 9&rt."rian !act6. 7.i, i, no coincidence, +or %5$ year, ,omeone or/ani;ed
t.e maintenance o+ t.e road,, brid/e,, aq"ed"ct,, bat., and ba,ically t.e entire Roman
in+ra,tr"ct"re, tec.nolo/y, economy and e,-ecially t.e Sa8on S.ore and t.at militarily .eld o++ t.e
Sa8on .oard, t.ro"/. a combination o+ Iaval action and Cavalry o-eration, +or t.at time -eriod.
7.o"/. only le/end, remain o+ t.e Hendra/on 1m-ire it, act"al c.aracter i, vitally im-ortant in t.e
di,coverin/ t.e tr"e .i,tory o+ t.e 50icce Co"ntry.
*nce t.e &n/lo4Sa8on, t"rn C.ri,tian in t.e later N$$, t.e C."rc. ,tart, 0orkin/ t.e
50icce Co"ntry .ard. J",t a, Ban/or in Wale, 0a, t.e .eart o+ t.e remnant, o+ 'r"idi,m and t.e
reli/ion o+ t.e Celtic Gentry ,o t.e 50icce Co"ntry 0a, t.e .eart o+ t.e *ld Reli/ion o+ t.e -re4
Celtic -ea,antry. Io0 0e .ave a +airly /ood idea o+ .o0 t.e,e 0ord, ",ed to be ",ed. 7.e a/enda
o+ t.e C."rc. to make t.e eq"ation 9Wytc.e6 X Satani,t i, 0ell kno0n. Ima/ine it, t.ey .ave been
a//re,,ively -",.in/ t.e a/enda o+ 9t.ere i, no ,"c. t.in/ a, a /ood Witc.6 +or over %5$$ year, yet
0e ,till .ave t0o /ood Witc.e, and t0o bad Witc.e, in t.e Wi/ard of O/ "#$8$'. In modern
-arlanceF !ail. So yo"r later 50iccaen Citi;en "nder t.e 3ercian >ord and t.e Episcopium
Hwicceorum co"ld be C.ri,tian or q"ietly -a/an, or occa,ionally o-enly -a/an 0it. +ir,t, t.e
<ikin/ raid, and later t.e 'ani,. inva,ion CCN &'( o+ 1n/land. 7.i, i, abo"t 0.en Hictland, t.e
only ot.er -re4Celtic Iation le+t in Britain +ell to t.e Iort."brian,, t.e Scot, .ad already taken t.e
5i/.land,. 7.ey +o"/.t over t.e carca,, like .yena,. 7.en in %$NN &' at 5a,tin/, William 0a,
victorio", and t.e Iorman Conq"e,t c.an/ed everyt.in/ a/ain. & le,, 0ell kno0n ",e i, t.e
0ood, aro"nd t.e road, bet0een *8+ord and t.e 50icce Co"ntry became 9Wytc.e Woode6 and
90ytc.e6 a, a -lace name ,"rvive, at ot.er ,ite, a, 0ell. 7.e 3abino/eon c. %#$$( tell, ", .o0,
lon/ a/o t.e C.ri,tian Hrince Hered"r Hercival( ,le0 t.e Iine Witc.e, o+ Glo"ce,ter.
>ater ."ndred, t.en t.o",and, o+ -eo-le 0ere e8ec"ted +or 0itc.cra+t 0.en t.e ne0
reli/ion /ained -o0er in 0.at 0e call t.e B"rnin/ 7ime, and .i,torian, call t.e 1"ro-ean
Witc.cra;e. 7.e '"c.e,, o+ Glo"ce,ter @Glev"mA one o+ t.e t.ree -rinci-al citie, o+ t.e old
50icce Co"ntryL Bat. @&q"ae S"li,A and Cirence,ter @Corini"mA are t.e ot.er t0o(, >ady 1leanor
Cob.am 0a, convicted o+ Witc.cra+t in %44# and died in -ri,on in %45# on t.e I,le o+ 3ann. 5er
accom-lice, 0ere e8ec"ted, 3ar/ery 97.e Witc. o+ 1ye6 Jo"rdemayne 0a, one o+ relatively +e0
0itc.e, to be b"rnt at t.e ,take in 1n/land, mo,t 0ere .an/ed. 9Waer loe/an6 liar, oat. breaker(
0a, t.e root 0.en 9Warlock6 0a, +ir,t coined aro"nd %4N$ and a--lied to bot. men and 0omen in
t.e War, o+ t.e Ro,e, and later 0.en 90.itc.6 0a, becomin/ 9."tc.6. Wi;ard Wi,4aerd( 0a, al,o
coined abo"t t.i, time accordin/ to t.e *1'. 50icce Co"ntry 0a, ,till ",ed a, a -rovincial name
in t.e Domesday =oo> "#6%+' o+ William t.e Conq"eror b"t 0a, on t.e +ade and only ,"rvived
a, 9Wytc.e6 by t.e B"rnin/ 7ime,. It i, entirely -o,,ible b"t a, yet .i,torically "ndoc"mented t.at
9Wicca6 or a, GBG ,-elled it 9Wica6 ,"rvived in ,ecret amon/ a +iercely -er,ec"ted minority
,cattered aro"nd Britain b"t o+ten +o"nd in t.e old 50icce Co"ntry b"t le,, and le,, over time. 7.e
-rovince 0a, broken "- into t.ree co"ntie, over time and ,im-ly di,,olve, e8ce-t a, +ootnote, in
d",ty .i,tory book,. 7.e ,.attered ,.ard, o+ t.e *ld Reli/ion o+ t.e -a/an Celtic Gentry and t.e
*ld Reli/ion o+ t.e -ea,antry +",ed in t.e +ire, o+ t.e B"rnin/ 7ime, into t.e !airy !ait. t.at
-atc.ily ,"rvived amon/ t.e -ea,antry into t.e %?
t.
Cent"ry 0.en -ea,ant, became -roletariat in
t.e +actorie, o+ t.e Ie0 Ind",trial Revol"tion.
7oday6, ",a/e o+ 9Wicca6 ,eem, to ,tem +rom -eo-le 0ritin/ abo"t 0.at Gardner did or
Witc.cra+t in /eneral 0.o ,-elled it t.at 0ay and ,o t.at ",a/e revived in t.e late 5$, and early N$,
*cc"lt ,cene b"t t.e 0ider -"blic kne0 not.in/ o+ it. C.arle, Cardell a--ear, to be t.e +ir,t in
%?5C to ",e 9Wicca6 not a, a male 0itc., b"t a, t.e reli/ion ,"c. a 0itc. -racticed. !or Cardell
t.o,e 0.o +ollo0ed it 0ere 9Wiccen,6. Gardner ",ed .i, 9Wica6 more like t.e 3",lim 9Ymma6 or
9body o+ t.e +ait.+"l6 or t.e 9cor-", o+ ad.erent,6 rat.er t.an a, t.e term +or t.e reli/ion it,el+. 7o
be -reci,e in Gardner6, a--arent ",a/e t.e 9Wica6 0ere t.e 9body o+ initiate,6 and non4initiate,
0ere ,im-ly -a/an celebrant, 0.o attended t.e ,abbat,. In +act t.e 0ay .e talk, abo"t t.e many
0.o are initiate, and +e0 0.o are t.e .i/.er de/ree, i, G",t like t.e Cla,,ical 3y,tery 7radition,
0.ic. .e di,c",,e, in detail. D3any are t.e t.yr,", bearer, and +e0 are t.e Bacc.oiE.
Intere,tin/ly, t.o"/. Cardell 0a, no +an o+ Gardner, .e ",ed 9Wicca6 a, a /eneral term +or
t.e reli/ion and not a, a ,-eci+ic re+erence to Gardner and .i, -eo-le. <irt"ally every 0riter
t.erea+ter ",ed t.e term, more or le,, t.at 0ay "ntil t.e %?C$, and t.ey al,o q"ickly re/"lari;ed t.e
-l"ral c. %?N5( to matc. t.e reli/ion nameL ,o no0 0e .ave 9Wicca6 and 9Wiccan,6 in a nearly
modern ",a/e and no one re+errin/ to t.e ancient connection 0it. t.e tradition, o+ t.e 50icce
Co"ntry. Cardell and Coc.raneL Sander,, >eek and <aliente all ",ed it in t.i, do"ble 9cc6, and
,ometime, in t.e Bacc.oi 0ay. See .tt-FJJen.0iki-edia.or/J0ikiJ5i,toryZo+ZWicca. 9Wica6 did
make a come back brie+ly in t.e early 7$, a, t.e name o+ 'r. >eo 3artello6, ne0,letter in Ie0
Sork City at t.at time. 7.o,e +olk, today 0.o ,ay 9Wicca6 0a, a dead 0ord +or a t.o",and year,
be+ore Gardner revived it are e8a//eratin/. It 0a, ,till in relative common ",a/e c. %#$$ b"t 0a,
+adin/ +a,t be+ore 90icc.e6 by c. %#5$. See t.e *1'. Witc.cra+t in a 0ide ran/e o+ ,-ellin/, i,
al,o a 0ell atte,ted term t.ro"/.o"t t.i, -eriod. &+ter t.at t.e 950icce6 +orm remain, only in
.i,tory book, and c.ronolo/ie, a, t.e -rovince name "- "ntil no0. 7.e *1' tell, ", t.at 9.06, 906
and 90.6 are -.onetically identical and in ,-ellin/ +"lly interc.an/eable and ,o t.o,e +olk, 0.o
ar/"e t.at t.ey are com-letely ,e-arate 0ord, in ",a/e and develo-ment are ,im-ly 0ron/. 7.e
territory o+ t.e old 50icce Co"ntry i, today dominated by t.e 1n/li,. city o+ Bri,tol and i, ,till
ro"/.ly t.ree 1n/li,. co"ntie, and many modern 1n/li,. and Wel,. Wiccan, and 'r"id, live t.ere
today.
Warlock on t.e ot.er .and ,eem, to be +ir,t a,,ociated to t.e male 0itc. by t.e 5olly0ood
+ilm 7 Married a Witch "#$&:' b"t it co"ld be earlier and I G",t .aven6t ,een t.e ,o"rce yet. Ian
3acIntyre aka Iain 3ac an tSaoir aka Jo.n Wri/.t today i, r"mored to .ave converted back to
C.ri,tianity a+ter .e took do0n .i, 0eb,ite or allo0ed it to e8-ire, b"t I cannot con+irm t.i,. Wica
or more o+ten Wicca a, body o+ initiate, remained t.e ",a/e o+ t.e +ollo0er, o+ Briti,. 7raditional
Witc.cra+t 0ell into t.e N$,. 5o0ever t.e cat 0a, no0 o"t o+ t.e ba/ or a, &ndre0 1d0ard 3a8on
-"t it t.e toot.-a,te i, o"t o+ t.e t"be 0it. t.e active e++ort, o+ t.e old Witc.cra+t Re,earc.
&,,ociation amon/ many ot.er, 0.o already 0ell o"t n"mbered t.e Gardnerian, by Gardner6,
'eat. in %?N4. 7.e 0ord 9Wicca6 ,-read +a,t in t.e -re,, in article, t.at .eadlined 0it. 9Witc.cra+t
in BritainO6 and o+ten incl"ded a revealin/ -.oto ,-read 0it. &le8 Sander, and t.e lovely 3a8ine.
&t t.i, -oint I am ",in/ Wicca a, t.e /eneral term +or ,ome ,el+ ,elected Briti,. derived
Witc.cra+t 7radition, eclectic and ot.er0i,e and Witc.cra+t it,el+ a, a m"c. broader term t.at
cover, ma/ical +ertility reli/ion, derived +rom a/ric"lt"ral tribe, 0orld 0ide. I kno0 o+ no ca,e
0.ere a +e0 -eo-le 0ere able to ,to- t.e ",a/e o+ a -o-"lar 0ord. *n t.e ot.er .and t.ere are lot,
o+ individ"al -eo-le or ,mall /ro"-, 0.o .ave introd"ced a 0ord and it .a, taken o++ and become
-art o+ -o-"lar c"lt"re. Gardner and .i, 9Wica6 i, the ca,e in -oint. I no0 al,o ",e 50icca and
50iccacra+te a, a ,.ort +orm o+ t.e ,-eci+ic recon,tr"ction, o+ t.e *ld Reli/ion o+ t.e 50icce
Co"ntryF I -ractice o"r be,t recon,tr"ction o+ t.e &ncient 3y,tery 7radition o+ t.e 50icce Co"ntry
0it. my 0i+e and 0e vi,it t.e local Gardnerian ,cene a, o+ten a, 0e can. I am al,o ,t"dyin/
Ba,q"e to ,ee .o0 0ell it re,onate, a, an 1lder 7on/"e and ,o +ar I6m q"ite im-re,,ed. &, a
/eneral reminder a member o+ t.e !aceBook DGardnerian WiccaE -a/e live, in t.e Ba,q"e
Co"ntryF 'aniel 1,-Q,ito Romero.
Io0 a, +or t.e modern and ancient ",a/e, +olk, talk abo"t on t.i, DGardnerian WiccaE !ace
Book ,ite M 0o0, t.ere i, a lot to ,i+t t.ro"/. b"t a, member 1laine =enny t.o"/.t+"lly -ointed o"t
G",t .it t.e ma/ni+yin/ /la,, in t.e "--er ri/.t corner at t.e to- o+ t.e -a/e and -"t in yo"r ,earc.
-.ra,e and a0ay yo" /o. *ne o+ t.e lon/e,t t.read, i, Jo.nny Hrice6, %%4%$4%# *ri/inal Ho,t *H(
at #C$[ -o,t,O It may in +act be t.e lon/e,t t.read on t.e 0.ole -a/e ,o +ar. 5ere .e a,k, abo"t
Wicca and 0.et.er >inea/e i, t.e de+inin/ limit o+ 0.et.er yo" are Wiccan a, ,ome claim or not
and t.e conver,ation i, very, very lon/ a, 0ell a, 0anderin/. 5i, ,li/.tly later *H on %%4%54%# i,
abo"t t.e Gardnerian 7radition and t.e &le8andrian 7radition and 0.at i, a /ood 0ay to ,tart
,t"dyin/ t.em al,o to"c.e, on t.e de+inition, and root, o+ Witc.cra+t and Wicca. 7.e +ir,t one
0.ere de+inition, 0ere di,c",,ed 0a, Carol Stiteler6, earlier *H o+ %%4$44%# abo"t t.e 50icce
Co"ntry ,.e .ad .eard abo"t on anot.er ,ite. W.en I told Carol abo"t t.e Seate, book, I .ad
already read t.em bot. cover to cover b"t didn6t q"ite /et t.e 50icce a, c.e,t, co++er or ark t.in/
b"t +ort"nately I 0a, G",t ,tartin/ to read le.sis- 1rchetypal 7mage of Mother and Da.ghter
"#$$#' by =arl =erTnyi and The 1ncient Mysteries- 1 3o.rce =oo> of 3acred Te!ts "#$%)'
edited by 3arvin W. 3ayer recommended by o"r m"t"al +riend 3ary =ay >"ndmark. W.en I
+ini,.ed t.em, bam I +inally /ot it a, I -oint o"t above. 7.ank, ever ,o m"c. 3ary =ayO
I .ave no0 to"c.ed on mo,t i,,"e, above t.at 0ere bro"/.t "- in t.e vario", di,c",,ion
t.read, b"t t.ere a +e0 le+t. & n"mber o+ +olk, 0ere talkin/ abo"t t.e old idea o+ t.e Wicca a, t.e
-rie,t.ood o+ t.e *ld Reli/ion. 7.i, nat"rally lead, to t.e q"e,tion 90.o t.en are t.e
con/re/ation,K6 !rom abo"t 4$$ &' to abo"t %$$$ &' it 0a, t.e 50iccaen -eo-le in t.e Co"ntry
o+ t.e 50icce 0.ere yo" .ad Ha/an 50iccaen, t.at 0ere 'r"idic and Greco4Roman b"t mo,tly t.e
ancient -ea,ant tradition o+ t.e Good !olk 0.o b"ilt *ld Stone Rin/, and C.ri,tian 50iccaen,
mo,tly Celtic C.ri,tian b"t more and more Roman *rt.odo8 over time, a, 0eird a, t.at ,o"nd,, it
,eem, likely to be tr"e. 7.en later it 0a, t.e -a/an +olk 0.o ,ecretly attended t.e ,abbat, led by
t.e Wicca o"t in t.e 0ood, and even ,ome Iorman >ord, ,.o0ed "- in ma,k, ,ometime,. >i;
Hyt.ian ,aid t.at ,.e t.o"/.t t.at t.ey, modern Ha/an, didn6t .ave t.e Ri/.t to t.e 0ord. I can
only re,-ond 0it. 0.at doe, !reedom o+ S-eec. and Reli/ion meanK W.at doe, .i,tory meanK
1ven in a 7yranny t.e lan/"a/e c.an/e, over time 0.et.er Cleric, 0ant it to or not. W.o i, to ,ay
t.at ,ome o+ t.em may be ta--in/ racial memorie, or -er.a-, -a,t live,K >"i, &. &lvare; -ointed
o"t t.at Gardneriani,m i, ort.o-ra8ic and not ort.odo8ic and I .ave .eard many Gardnerian, ec.o
t.i,. W.y ,.o"ld 0e 0orry too m"c. abo"t -eo-le 0.o believe t.ey are Wiccan 0.en 0e all kno0
+"ll 0ell 0.at yo" .ave to do to be Gardnerian, t.e elde,t o+ all t.e kno0n Wiccan 7radition,K
&not.er -er,on -ointed o"t t.at ,ome 1clectic Wiccan, ,ay t.ey are not even Witc.e, and a, I
-ointed o"t a, 0eird a, it ,o"nd, t.at +or a lon/ time t.e 0ere ,"c. t.in/, a, 9C.ri,tian 50iccaen,6.
I6m not ,ayin/ 0e ,.o"ld not obGect to t.e mi,",e o+ t.e 0ord 9Wicca6 or teac. -ro-er ",a/e and
-ractice b"t, 0e al,o .ave to re,-ond intelli/ently to c.an/in/ .i,torical condition,. Rat.er t.an
,ee t.i, a, a b"rden I ,"//e,t 0e ,.o"ld ,ee t.i, a, an o--ort"nity.
Biblio/ra-.y
&dler, 3ar/otL "Dra(ing Do(n the Moon" "#$)$* #$%+', Beacon Hre,,, Bo,ton
&yto, Jo.nL Dictionary of Word Origins "c? #$$6', &rcade
B"ckland, RayL "3cottish Witchcraft- The 2istory and Magic> of the 5icts", %??%(, >le0ellyn
H"bli,.in/ Inc., St.Ha"l, 3I.
Calli4S+or;a, >"i/iL ;enes* 5eoples and <ang.ages ":666', Yniver,ity o+ Cali+ornia Hre,,
Gardner, GeraldL Witchcraft Today "#$,&* #$%:'* 3a/ickal C.ilde Inc., Ie0 Sork, Ie0 Sork
Gardner, GeraldL Meaning of Witchcraft "#$,$* #$%:', 3a/ickal C.ilde Inc., Ie0 Sork, Ie0
Sork
5arri,on, 3ic.aelL The Roots of Witchcraft "#$)8', !redrick 3"ller, >td.
5ol;er, 5an,L Witches- Tr.e nco.nters (ith Wicca* Wi/ards* Co0ens* C.lts and Magic
":66:', Black 'o/ V >event.al H"bli,.er,, I.S.
=erTnyi, =arlL le.sis- 1rchetypal 7mage of Mother and Da.ghter "#$$#', Hrinceton
Yniver,ity Hre,,, 3a,,.
=lait,, Jo,e-.L "3er0ants of 3atan- The 1ge of the Witch 2.nts" "#$%,', Indiana Yniver,ity
Hre,,, Bloomin/ton, Indiana
3ayer, 3arvin W.L The 1ncient Mysteries- 1 3o.rce =oo> of 3acred Te!ts "#$%)', Yniver,ity
o+ Henn,ylvania Hre,,.
3cCoy, 1dainL "Witta- 1n 7rish 5agan Tradition" "#$$8', >le0ellyn H"bli,.in/ Inc., St.Ha"l,
3I.
3cCoy, 1dainL "The 3a99ats" "#$$&', >le0ellyn H"bli,.in/ Inc., St.Ha"l, 3I.
R",,ell, Je++rey B.L 1 2istory of Witchcraft* 3orcerers* 2eretics 4 5agans "#$%6', 7.ame,
and 5"d,on, >ondon, Y=
Seate,, Ste-.enL The Tri9e of Witches- The Religion of the Do9.nni and 2(icce" ":66%',
*8bo0
Seate,, Ste-.enL 1 Dreaming for the Witches- The Recreation of the Do9.nni 5rimal Myth"
":66$', *8bo0
Re+erence
"The Compact dition of the O!ford nglish Dictionary" "#$%&'
Domesday =oo> "#6%+'
Webo/ra-.y
000.clannada.or/ do0n
.tt-FJJceltic.+a,..arvard.ed"J 5arvard6, Celtic St"die, 'e-artment
.tt-FJJ000./eiriad"r.netJ 7.e Yniver,ity o+ Wale, 7rinity St. 'avid online dictionary
.tt-FJJen.0iki-edia.or/J0ikiJ5i,toryZo+ZWicca 7.e 5i,tory o+ t.e Wiccan Revival
.tt-,FJJ000.+acebook.comJ/ro"-,J#35C%7CN%%J !acebook6, Gardnerian Wicca Gro"-
!ilmo/ra-.y
Wi/ard of O/ "#$8$'
7 Married a Witch "#$&:'
Bad 0itc. GokeF W.y 0a, t.e be,om late +or t.e ,abbatK 5e over,0e-t. Sorry.
So it t"rn, o"t I6m not 9+l"++y4b"nny6, I6m 'ob"nniO Sorry a/ain. 'o.O