By: Josh BensonBy: Josh Benson Jimmy RowlandJimmy Rowland Jeremy MatozzoJeremy Matozzo

Derek DubbsDerek Dubbs

Quick Facts PageQuick Facts Page• Name of founder: Gerald Brosseau GardnerName of founder: Gerald Brosseau Gardner

• Nationality of founder: EnglishNationality of founder: English

• Date & Location group was founded: 1950’s in Great BritainDate & Location group was founded: 1950’s in Great Britain

• Number of Adherents: Approximately 300,000 serious Number of Adherents: Approximately 300,000 serious adherents. Covens consist of around 3 to 20 members.adherents. Covens consist of around 3 to 20 members.

• The group’s ultimate concern: Eight words the Wican Rede The group’s ultimate concern: Eight words the Wican Rede fulfill: “fulfill: “An ye harm none, do what ye willAn ye harm none, do what ye will.” - In other words – .” - In other words – Do what you like as long as you harm no one.Do what you like as long as you harm no one.

Wicca FactsWicca Facts• Approximately 36 religious denominations can be found Approximately 36 religious denominations can be found

throughout 192 countries around the worldthroughout 192 countries around the world - Wicca is one of the fastest growing- Wicca is one of the fastest growing

• Wicca is spiritual and ritualistic in nature, emphasizing “the Wicca is spiritual and ritualistic in nature, emphasizing “the unity of nature and divinity of human beings”unity of nature and divinity of human beings”

• Founded by the earliest forms of witchcraft and NeopaganismFounded by the earliest forms of witchcraft and Neopaganism

• Worship the mother Goddess, or “the birth-giver or one who Worship the mother Goddess, or “the birth-giver or one who brings into existence all life”brings into existence all life”

…….Wicca Facts Continued.Wicca Facts Continued

• Reported as the most successful and influential religion of Reported as the most successful and influential religion of the 20the 20thth century Neopagan Movement century Neopagan Movement

• Neopaganism is a term used to describe polytheistic Neopaganism is a term used to describe polytheistic religous traditions of Europe and the Mediterranean religous traditions of Europe and the Mediterranean

• Very controversial because of it’s numerous different Very controversial because of it’s numerous different traditions and branchestraditions and branches

• Misconstrued by the popular culture as being evil and Misconstrued by the popular culture as being evil and satanicsatanic

History of History of thethe Founder Founder• Gerald Brosseau GardnerGerald Brosseau Gardner

– – “The best-known figure of “The best-known figure of modern witchcraft.”modern witchcraft.”

1884 - Born in Great Crosby on 1884 - Born in Great Crosby on Merseyside in northwest EnglandMerseyside in northwest England

Did not attend collegeDid not attend college Worked for the commerical Worked for the commerical

branch of the British Civil Servicebranch of the British Civil Service 1927 – At age 43, marries Donna 1927 – At age 43, marries Donna

Rosedale, a clergyman’s Rosedale, a clergyman’s daughterdaughter

Served as an overseer of a Served as an overseer of a rubber plantation in Malaysiarubber plantation in Malaysia

Settled in the South of England Settled in the South of England known as New Forest known as New Forest

1939 – Meets Margaret Murray in 1939 – Meets Margaret Murray in the Folklore Societythe Folklore Society

Gardner Part 2Gardner Part 2• Looked to re-create the “witch cult of Western Europe”Looked to re-create the “witch cult of Western Europe”

• The New Forest Coven was descended from one of “Nine Covens” The New Forest Coven was descended from one of “Nine Covens” founded by George Pickingill 40 years earlierfounded by George Pickingill 40 years earlier

• Upon his discovery of this Coven, Gardner became highly motivated Upon his discovery of this Coven, Gardner became highly motivated to teach and practice Wiccato teach and practice Wicca

• 1947 – Him and his wife move to America to live with his brother, 1947 – Him and his wife move to America to live with his brother, DouglasDouglas

• 1949 – published 1949 – published High Magic’s AidHigh Magic’s Aid, a fiction book that points out what , a fiction book that points out what Gardner is trying to get across about the new religion of WiccaGardner is trying to get across about the new religion of Wicca

• 1954 – Resigns from membership in the Folklore Society after his 1954 – Resigns from membership in the Folklore Society after his publication of publication of Witchcraft TodayWitchcraft Today

Gardner Part 3Gardner Part 3• Gardnerian Witchcraft became highly recognized in AmericaGardnerian Witchcraft became highly recognized in America

• 1963 – Met Raymond Buckland who later became his 1963 – Met Raymond Buckland who later became his spokesperson in the United Statesspokesperson in the United States

• Buckland and his wife did intensive studying in Scotland and by Buckland and his wife did intensive studying in Scotland and by doing so were initiated into Gardner’s covendoing so were initiated into Gardner’s coven

• The Buckland’s brought Gardner’s famous The Buckland’s brought Gardner’s famous Book of ShadowsBook of Shadows back back to New York where it was founded by the New York Coven in Bay to New York where it was founded by the New York Coven in Bay Shore, Long IslandShore, Long Island

• The New York Coven then became the center of the Gardnerian The New York Coven then became the center of the Gardnerian and Neopagan movements in America for the next 20 yearsand Neopagan movements in America for the next 20 years

• 1964 – Dies on the 1964 – Dies on the SS Scottish PrinceSS Scottish Prince off the coast of North Africa off the coast of North Africa

History of WiccaHistory of Wicca• Rooted in the period before 500 BC, the start of the Iron AgeRooted in the period before 500 BC, the start of the Iron Age

• Wicca was illegal in Britain for nearly 1000 years up until Wicca was illegal in Britain for nearly 1000 years up until 1951. Since it’s legalization a large amount has been 1951. Since it’s legalization a large amount has been published and it is now accessible to allpublished and it is now accessible to all

• Origins can be traced back to Paleolithic peoples who Origins can be traced back to Paleolithic peoples who worshipped a Hunter God and a Fertility Goddessworshipped a Hunter God and a Fertility Goddess

• Perhaps the oldest religion in the worldPerhaps the oldest religion in the world

• Cave paintings were found in France nearly 30,000 years ago Cave paintings were found in France nearly 30,000 years ago depicting a man with the head of a stag, and a woman with a depicting a man with the head of a stag, and a woman with a swollen, pregnant belly. The two stood in a circle with eleven swollen, pregnant belly. The two stood in a circle with eleven mortals to equal lucky number 13. The archetypes of the mortals to equal lucky number 13. The archetypes of the divine are worshipped by Wiccans to this very day.divine are worshipped by Wiccans to this very day.

History of WiccaHistory of Wicca• After 1951, when the witchcraft laws were repealed, Gardner was After 1951, when the witchcraft laws were repealed, Gardner was

the first to come to public eye and was sought to be the founder of the first to come to public eye and was sought to be the founder of Gardnerian WiccaGardnerian Wicca

• He was the first to describe what modern witches were practicing, He was the first to describe what modern witches were practicing, thus becoming the father of his own original Wiccathus becoming the father of his own original Wicca

• His information was spread through the traditions of a coven or a His information was spread through the traditions of a coven or a small group consisting of 3 to 20 members, but usually are made up small group consisting of 3 to 20 members, but usually are made up of 13 peopleof 13 people

- New Forrest Coven- New Forrest Coven - Margaret Murray- Margaret Murray

• Aleister CrowleyAleister Crowley - Introduced the notion that if people knew their true will and - Introduced the notion that if people knew their true will and

followed them, they would attune themselves to harmony with the followed them, they would attune themselves to harmony with the universeuniverse

- Many of Crowley’s practices and beliefs can be seen in Gardner’s - Many of Crowley’s practices and beliefs can be seen in Gardner’s Book of ShadowsBook of Shadows

……History ContinuedHistory Continued• Wicca can be dated back as far as the 1300s, when the first witch Wicca can be dated back as far as the 1300s, when the first witch

trials were being held in Europetrials were being held in Europe

• 1692 – 19 people were tried and hung as witches in Massachusetts1692 – 19 people were tried and hung as witches in Massachusetts

• Not hard to argue that Wicca was pieced together by ONLY Not hard to argue that Wicca was pieced together by ONLY Gardner in 1939 but also from Margaret Murray, Charles Leland, Gardner in 1939 but also from Margaret Murray, Charles Leland, Aleister Crowley and many more helped define Wicca to what it is Aleister Crowley and many more helped define Wicca to what it is todaytoday

Doctrine of the GroupDoctrine of the Group• Deep belief that nature controls the quality and circle of lifeDeep belief that nature controls the quality and circle of life

• Believe in the old saying – “What goes around, comes around.”Believe in the old saying – “What goes around, comes around.”

• Although there are different forms, the usually worship two Although there are different forms, the usually worship two separate deitiesseparate deities

- The Goddess- The Goddess - The God or Horn God- The God or Horn God

• Some forms only worship the Goddess, that is why many Some forms only worship the Goddess, that is why many feminists practice Wiccafeminists practice Wicca

• Gardnerian Wiccans practice polytheism or the worshipping of Gardnerian Wiccans practice polytheism or the worshipping of more then one deitiesmore then one deities

……Doctrine ContinuedDoctrine Continued• Wicca CreedWicca Creed - Cornerstone for the rest of their beliefs and teachings- Cornerstone for the rest of their beliefs and teachings - “If it harm none, then do what you will”- “If it harm none, then do what you will”

• Belief that reincarnation serves as an orderly system of Belief that reincarnation serves as an orderly system of learninglearning

• Law of AttractionLaw of Attraction - “What I do to other living creature, I will draw to myself”- “What I do to other living creature, I will draw to myself”

Membership & InitiationMembership & Initiation• First levelFirst level - The priest – male- The priest – male - Great Goddess – female- Great Goddess – female - Must be stroked 40 times with a scourge and take an oath of secrecy- Must be stroked 40 times with a scourge and take an oath of secrecy - Also introduced to “working took of the Art” including a broom, cauldron, - Also introduced to “working took of the Art” including a broom, cauldron,

Chalice, wand, Chalice, wand, Book of ShadowsBook of Shadows, Altar cloth, athame (personal knife) alters , Altar cloth, athame (personal knife) alters knife, candles, and incense.knife, candles, and incense.

• Second levelSecond level - Magus – male- Magus – male - Queen – female- Queen – female - Scourged 40 times again, then the candidate must scourge their initiator - Scourged 40 times again, then the candidate must scourge their initiator

120 times120 times - A play of the legend of Goddess is then acted out and the candidate is - A play of the legend of Goddess is then acted out and the candidate is

introduced to the powers of the four elements.introduced to the powers of the four elements.

• Last & Most Powerful levelLast & Most Powerful level - High Priest – male- High Priest – male - High Priestess – female- High Priestess – female - Candidate must perform ritual lovemaking with the person that is initiating - Candidate must perform ritual lovemaking with the person that is initiating

him or herhim or her - Many do not engage in intercourse but rather perform ritualistic dances - Many do not engage in intercourse but rather perform ritualistic dances

with each other around the consecrated circlewith each other around the consecrated circle

Wicca & The Four ElementsWicca & The Four Elements• The four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, represent The four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, represent

the four points on the pentagram star, which is a symbol of the four points on the pentagram star, which is a symbol of their faith.their faith.

• The four elements are assigned a direction and a color.The four elements are assigned a direction and a color. - Air : East - Yellow- Air : East - Yellow - Fire : South - Red- Fire : South - Red - Water : West - Blue- Water : West - Blue - Earth : North - Green- Earth : North - Green

HolidaysHolidays• Celebrate 8 main holidays or what they refer to as SabbatsCelebrate 8 main holidays or what they refer to as Sabbats

• Top Four SabbatsTop Four Sabbats - Candlemas – February 2- Candlemas – February 2 - May Eve or Beltane – April 30- May Eve or Beltane – April 30 - Lammas – August 1- Lammas – August 1 - Samhain – October 31 or Halloween- Samhain – October 31 or Halloween

• Two less important Sabbats Two less important Sabbats - Solstices- Solstices - Equinoxes- Equinoxes

• Covens also come together every full and new moon to Covens also come together every full and new moon to perform rituals and ceremoniesperform rituals and ceremonies

AnalysisAnalysis• Many people see Satanism and Witchcraft as the same thingMany people see Satanism and Witchcraft as the same thing - Not true- Not true

• They do have a few things in commonThey do have a few things in common - Both use and believe in magic and spiritual forces- Both use and believe in magic and spiritual forces - Wicca believes all natural forces of this world should be used for - Wicca believes all natural forces of this world should be used for

goodgood - Accept images that are found to be dangerous and evil to - Accept images that are found to be dangerous and evil to

contemporary societycontemporary society - Both use images such as demons and satanic symbols- Both use images such as demons and satanic symbols

• Wicca does not have a very high potential for violence and dos not Wicca does not have a very high potential for violence and dos not have an apocalyptic beliefhave an apocalyptic belief

- Controversy during the 80s when police intercepted documents - Controversy during the 80s when police intercepted documents detailing a Wiccan outline to take over the worldetailing a Wiccan outline to take over the worl

- The documents were later known as “Wicca Letters”- The documents were later known as “Wicca Letters”

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts• Wicca is practiced in a wide range of places and there is Wicca is practiced in a wide range of places and there is

many branches of Wicca, therefore there is not one many branches of Wicca, therefore there is not one dominating Charismatic leaderdominating Charismatic leader

• There is usually a leader within the covens but they do not There is usually a leader within the covens but they do not have the same manipulating skills as a leader from cults we have the same manipulating skills as a leader from cults we have learned about such as Jim Jones or David Koreshhave learned about such as Jim Jones or David Koresh

• The truth is that people that follow Wicca have a deep The truth is that people that follow Wicca have a deep respect for nature, the supernatural, and are also peacefulrespect for nature, the supernatural, and are also peaceful