Greetings!
>BTW on the issue of the "witch" - which does indeed seems to be a
>perjorative term - signifying a victim -
Speaking of the British experience, until Gardner was not the term
"witchcraft" used to mean hostile acts of malevolent magic practised by
one's enemies against oneself and those on one's side? "Witches" were
those which practised these acts.
Various magical spells intended to harm, torture and kill could be
employed against the supposed witch with no thought that one was
engaging in witchcraft oneself.
Am I right in thinking that autonomic witchcraft commenced with Gardner?
He certainly called himself a witch as well as Wiccan.
As an aside I would suggest that there has been a great influence upon
the development of Wicca that is often overlooked - the popular press.
Gardner started the relationship but it has been continued by Doreen
Valiente, Elanor Bone, Alex and Maxine Sanders, Janet and Stewart Farrar
(who started out a journalist) etc.
My best wishes
Ben
--
Ben Fernee
Caduceus Books
28 Darley Road
Burbage
Hinckley
Leicestershire
LE10 2RL
U.K.
Telephone 01455 250542 (+44 1455 250542 from abroad)
Fax 0870 0552982 (+44 870 0552982 from abroad)
Skype ben.fernee.caduceus
Web page:- http://www.caduceusbooks.com
|