I wonder how much of this relates to the issues of historical and
cultural specific vs broad conceptions of the Paganism of antiquity. eg
I think very clearly when you look a Wicca as in terms of gnosticism and
the hermetic traditions developed through the European appropriation of
Greek and Egyptian thought (influenced by Arabic and Jewish mysticism
etc etc) it very clearly has aspects which are derived from very ancient
origins. I don't think this is in dispute by anyone seriously. This
is why the OTO and Wicca are often seen as very close cousins. I would
however doubt that Wicca has the kinds of rural English Saxon and
Germano-Celtic origins its usually presented as having (or for that
matter the whole Murray Witch Cult idea) and this tends to be the
problematic aspect of its publically presented history at least in the
mainstream. It just doesn't gel with either history or the
archaeological record with the Celtic and Saxon origins it is usually
linked with let alone the rural tribal associations given to it in
public discourse.
Cheers
David
mandrake wrote:
> Dear All
>
> Just a thought on the ancient roots of neo-pagan and modern wiccan
> ritual -
> Professor Geof Samuel presented a paper on the parallels between
> "Tantra" and Wicca at a JSM conference in MK.
> Wiccans often do acknowledge a connection to "Tantra".
> If "Tantra" - or more accurately "Kaula" is a late classical, magical
> tradition - with links to the Mediteranean -
> then maybe modern Wiccan ritual is not so different to ancient modes
> afterall?
> Theories come and go - and this is an area where data has often been
> suppressed and ignored by academics -
> so hold onto your paradigms : )
>
> "Love and do what you will"
>
> Mogg
>
> PS: My own slim volume "Tantra Sadhana: a practical introduction to
> Kaula magick" is just published by Mandrake
> and I will be discussing and updating some of possible Hermetic
> elements in Kaula magick at the "Albion OTO Conference" -
> then on Youtube etc.
>
>
>>
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>
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