The birth of Wicca, a modern pagan religious movement, can be traced back to the mid-20th century. It was in the 1940s and 1950s that the foundations of Wicca began to take shape, with key individuals contributing to its development. One of the most significant figures in the birth of Wicca is Gerald Gardner, a British retired civil servant. Gardner is often referred to as the "Father of Wicca" and is credited with popularizing the religion. In the 1950s, Gardner published books such as "Witchcraft Today" and "The Meaning of Witchcraft" which outlined his beliefs and practices. Gardner claimed that Wicca traces its roots back to pre-Christian pagan traditions in Europe, specifically focusing on witchcraft and witch cults.
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.”
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. 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.
Gardner claimed that Wicca traces its roots back to pre-Christian pagan traditions in Europe, specifically focusing on witchcraft and witch cults. However, some researchers argue that there is little historical evidence to support this claim and that Wicca is a more recent creation influenced by various sources including ceremonial magic, occultism, and folklore. Despite the debates surrounding its origins, Wicca gradually gained followers and grew in popularity during the latter half of the 20th century.
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 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.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Wicca spread beyond Britain and gained adherents in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States. Various Wiccan traditions and offshoots emerged, adding to the diversity within the movement. Today, Wicca is recognized as a legally recognized religion in some countries and continues to attract individuals seeking spirituality, connection with nature, and a belief system that aligns with their worldview. The birth of Wicca in the mid-20th century laid the foundation for the development and growth of a modern pagan religious movement that continues to evolve and adapt to the changing times..
Reviews for "The Dawn of Wicca: When Did Modern Witchcraft Begin?"
1. John - 2 stars
The book "When was the birth of Wicca" was highly disappointing. I was expecting a comprehensive and well-researched exploration of the topic, but instead, I found it to be lacking in substance. The author seems to make sweeping generalizations without providing any concrete evidence or citations to support their claims. Additionally, I found the writing style to be quite convoluted and confusing at times, making it difficult to follow the author's arguments. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an accurate and insightful analysis of the birth of Wicca.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I was really excited to learn more about the birth of Wicca and was hoping that this book would provide me with a deeper understanding of its origins. However, "When was the birth of Wicca" fell flat on its promises. The author's research appears to be limited and lacking in depth, resulting in a superficial exploration of the subject matter. Additionally, the writing style was incredibly dry and monotonous, making it difficult to stay engaged with the book. I would not recommend wasting your time on this underwhelming read.
3. Michael - 2 stars
"When was the birth of Wicca" failed to meet my expectations. The book lacks coherence and structure, as the author jumps from one topic to another without providing sufficient background information or context. Moreover, I found the author's perspective to be biased, which undermined the credibility of their arguments. The lack of a bibliography or references also made it challenging to verify the information presented. Overall, I found the book to be disorganized and unconvincing, and I would not recommend it to those seeking a well-researched and unbiased examination of the birth of Wicca.
4. Elizabeth - 2 stars
I was hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the birth of Wicca through "When was the birth of Wicca," but unfortunately, I was left disappointed. The book lacked a clear structure and failed to provide a cohesive narrative. The author seemed to jump from one topic to another without delving into each one with enough depth. Additionally, there was a noticeable lack of references or citations, which made it difficult to trust the accuracy of the information presented. Overall, I found this book to be lacking in substance and would not recommend it to those seeking an in-depth analysis of the birth of Wicca.