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Eleanor "Rae" Bone
(http://www.witchvox.com/passages/eleanorbone.html) Rae Bone is sometimes referred to as the Matriarch of British Witchcraft due to her contributions in representing Wicca in the public eye. She was an initiate of Gardner and her covens were responsible for much of the growth of Wicca in the South of Britain. Through Gardner she spent a great deal of time with the mysterious “Dafo” and gained many insights to the New Forest Coven and its origins, some of which she shared. She herself claimed to have a hereditary witchcraft lineage prior to Wicca. Lois Bourne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Bourne) A member of the Bricket Wood coven, along with many other founding Wiccans, Bourne has recounted her experiences and insights of The Craft in several books, all of which stand as significant milestones in the history of Wicca, especially for those who wish to gain insight into the early years of the priesthood. Jack Bracelin en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_L._Bracelin en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bricket_Wood_coven Bracelin was another founder amongst the Wicca and was also known for his occasional flirtations with publicity. He is known as the writer of Gardner’s biography “Gerald Gardner: Witch”, however in reality this book was written by Idries Shah. Jack Bracelin came to run the Five Acres Sun Club, where Gardner’s “Witches’ Cottage” was located. Raymond Buckland www.raybuckland.com/ Ray Buckland is regarded as the man that brought Wicca to the United States. He is a Gardnerian initiate, who was initiated into one of Gerald Gardner’s later covens. Through his efforts, Wicca has become popularised in America and Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft (otherwise known as “Uncle Bucky’s Big Blue Book”) has become a staple addition to many Craft libraries, and remains popular among seekers. Buckland no longer practices as part of the Wicca, but has started his own Tradition, known as Seax Wica. Vivianne Crowley en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivianne_Crowley A Wiccan of great repute, Vivianne Crowley has released many books, all of which have received a position of renown. She is perhaps best known for starting a London based witchcraft course in the late eighties, which explained the basics of Wicca. This course is still running today and has taken on a great many teachers and students along the way, usually being so popular that student numbers have had to be limited and places reserved for each run of the course. Vivianne Crowley has been very influential in recent developments in Wicca, as well. She has more of less captained the bringing together of the Gardnerian and Alexandrian Traditions through the process of cross-initiation, where a person is initiated into both Traditions. Patricia Crowther (Thelema) www.controverscial.com/Patricia%20Crowther.htm The long time High Priestess of a Sheffield based coven in England, which has brought about the hiving of a great many other covens. Patricia Crowther was initiated into Wicca by Gerald Gardner and ever since she has been highly influential in promoting the Old Religion through talks and television appearances worldwide, often appearing among the ranks of many other highly regarded occultists Dayonis Thelma Capel, otherwise known as Dayonis, is the pretty young witch that came to replace Doreen Valiente as High Priestess of Gardner’s coven. She became the attractive face of witchcraft for many years until she eventually emigrated to Canada. Janet Farrar A prolific author of the Alexandrian Tradition, she made her impact alongside her husband, Stewart Farrar, by producing several significant early works, many of which became compiled as their prolific work “The Witches Bible”. Their Witches Bible is still a core volume on Wiccan practices and beliefs. This success was followed by the completion of other notable works, such as their books “The Witches Goddess” and “The Witches God”. After the death of her husband she has continued to produced many significant titles, many of which have been co-written with her second husband, Gavin Bone. Stewart Farrar An Alexandrian Wiccan who established a reputation through his written work, co-authored with his wife, Janet Farrar, who has continued to write following Stewart’s death. The most notable book in Stewart Farrar’s publications is “The Witches Bible”, which to this day stands as one of the most complete and detailed books on outer court Wicca. In addition, he also wrote many several works of fiction, often dealing with occult themes. Both Janet and Stewart Farrar were initiated into Alexandrian Wicca by Alex Sanders and Maxine Sanders. Stewart’s initiation followed as a result of a developing interest in witchcraft that began as a journalist charged with writing about the subject. Judy Harrow A High Priestess initiated into the Gardnerian Tradition, Judy Harrow has gained repute among Wiccan circles as an author and essayist. Harrow is also the founder of the Protean Tradition of Wicca. Judy Harrow also founded the Pagan Pastoral Counseling Network in 1982 and works in the counseling field. Philip Heselton Philip Heselton is a noted and accomplished Wiccan historian who has produced several of the most influential books regarding Wiccan history and Gerald Gardner in particular. He is highly regarded in this field and he is often insightful, resourceful and has repeatedly been pivotal in bringing new information to these subjects, or otherwise providing unique interpretation of the existing data. Frederic Lamond Lamond is a Gardnerian initiate and one of the few surviving member of Gerald Gardner’s first coven, having been initiated just prior to the departure of Doreen Valiente. As such Fred Lamond is arguably the closest living connection to the founding of Wicca. He is a vital and active member of the Pagan community, regularly giving talks at large functions, such as Witchfest in England. Further to this, he has produced several books discussing religion and spirituality. His book “50 Years of Wicca” provides a personal, yet in depth, analysis of Wicca and how it has developed over the years, as well as his memories of particular people of influence within the religion. Julia Phillips Julia Phillips is a Wiccan High Priestess whose experience includes running both Covens and magical lodges in London, Sydney, and Melbourne. She has attained particularly high regard in Australia, where she founded the Australian Pagan Alliance, which is Australia’s oldest and largest Pagan organisation. Phillips is also an accomplished Pagan author, having written and contributed to several books, though her most well known written work is probably her “History of Wicca” which is also featured on Wicca Explained. Alex Sanders Sanders is the founder of Alexandrian Wicca, which is one of the two central Traditions of Wicca (the other being Gardnerian, into which he himself was initiated). Regarded as a showman by many, Sander’s love of the limelight is quite undeniable and as such he very often placed Wicca and witchcraft into the public eye, especially in the tabloid press. His influence was also quite undeniable, as his variety of Wicca spawned a great many covens and introduced a higher level of Hermetic stylings to the Craft. Alex Sanders has been regarded as a gifted magician and eventually was awarded the title “King of the Witches” by his peers from his Tradition. However, Sanders has always drawn a good deal of controversy and though revered by some, he is often criticised by others who regard him in a less favourable light. Maxine Sanders Maxine Sanders is a long time initiate of the Mysteries, having been initiated into an Egyptian spiritual tradition at a young age. In her late teens she switched from these Mysteries to those of witchcraft and was initiated into the coven of Alex Sanders, who she would later marry. Maxine had a natural aptitude for the Craft and was quickly elevated to third degree and given the title “Witch Queen” by her coven mates. She has been a very influential individual in the development of Wicca and a long time proponent of the Mysteries. Maxine has been one of the female public faces of the Craft, both in the arenas of the Pagan community and in the press. Doreen Valiente The First Lady of Wicca. Doreen Valiente is possibly the most influential woman that Wicca has seen, as she rewrote the majority of Gardner’s early rituals, transforming them into the poetical works of ritual that they are today. In effect, we can say that although Gardner created the Book of Shadows, it was Doreen Valiente that gaze it life. Barbara Vickers. This lady is significant to the history of Wicca in that she is one of the earliest known members of the Wicca – possibly even Gerald Gardner’s first initiate. She was involved in the Craft well before Doreen Valiente was initiated and was obviously a third degree High Priestess, however at this time very little is known about her. It appears that she and her husband may have both been initiates and possibly met through a nudist camp in Cheshire and that later she came to leave the Craft following personal problems. Monique Wilson Gardner’s final High Priestess, Monique Wilson, is notable not only for her craft position as a Gardnerian ancestress, but also for her infamy. She has received great animosity from many in Wiccan circles, as she was the inheritor of Gardner’s occult collection after his death, but unexpectedly sold most of it. Gardner’s Book of Shadows itself spent some time with Ripley’s, but has since been rescued back into Wiccan hands once more. |
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Tuesday 12 March 2013
witches
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