The Differences
By: Robin Artisson
Of: House Faringdoun Trod
HISTORY
Neo-pagan witchcraft, or "Wicca", had its inception in the 1940's and
50's, with the writings of Gerald B. Gardner. Gardner seems to have
discovered a traditional coven that met in the south of England, and
became inducted into their ranks. His own oaths of secrecy to them,
however, prevented him from revealing their practises. When he went
public, he was forced to write, embellish, and import occult
information, to make up for what he could not reveal, and this is
what became "Gardnerian" Wicca. There is no doubt that Old Gerald was
associated with the likes of the famous Aleister Crowley, and was
influenced by ceremonial magic, through the OTO, the Golden Dawn, and
Masonry.
We know for certain that Gardner was also associated with a group of
Occultists called the Fellowship of Crotona, and by his own
description of them, they seem to have been a loosely-confederated
group of Masons, Hermetics, Rosicrucians, and occultists, not
actual "traditional" witches. The record of their activities and
beliefs/practices bears witness to this. It is rumored that this
organization had tendencies towards, and ambitions of "reviving" the
Old Craft, but this places them in the category of "Reconstructionist
Pagans" and not "Traditional Witches".
Wicca, in its modern creed and ritual structure, very strongly
resembles a de-christianized version of the Order of the Golden Dawn,
with many Thelemic and Theosophical imports, as well as obvious loan-
material from Aleister Crowley and the OTO. All of these sources, and
the personalities involved, flourished in the occult revival of the
first half of the twentieth century, and it is to the middle of the
twentieth century that Wicca directly dates from. Wicca makes claims
to be "spiritually descended" from the Old Pagan religions, but the
fact is, their ritual structure and theology does not have a strong
historical resemblance to any Traditional European pagan culture.
Traditional Witchcraft, on the other hand, refers to the beliefs and
practices of Crafter families, individuals, and underground
organizations that pre-date the twentieth century. Normally, although
the lore and practices of Traditional witchcraft may have root in
very early times, the farthest back in time that most Traditional
organizations can date themselves with any accuracy is the 17th
century. However, Folklore and History from the 11th century and
onward bear witness to practices similar to those carried out by
Traditional Witches today.
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