How Did Wicca's Influence In America

Though Witchcraft can be traced back several centuries for the purpose of this report, Wicca began in England with Gerald Gardener, a civil servant who had become fascinated by magical and polytheist practices and traditions as a young man in southeast Asia. Upon his return to England, he joined the Folklore Society, a Rosicrucian order, and was initiated into the New Forest Coven. He joined an order of druids and the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O) where he met Aleister Crowley. Gerald Gardner published his “High Magic’s Aid,” a novel about “The Craft” in 1949 under the pen-name, “Scire.” The pen-name was used because of the current laws of the land. However, “In 1951 the Witchcraft Act of 1736, and a section of the Vagrancy Act of 1824, were

Many historians of Wicca credit Raymond Buckland and his wife Rosemary with Wicca’s successful spread into American society. The Bucklands came to the U.S. in 1962 having been followers of Gardner. In the 1960s another brand of Wicca was built around practitioners Alex and Maxine Sanders, who, like Gardner, were British. The movement became known as "Alexandrian Wicca" (as opposed to Gardnerian Wicca). Alexandrian Wicca had a stronger focus on ritual magic, and its founders spent much time initiating in continental Europe. This new growing movement was characterized by the flamboyance of its leaders, and Gardnerian Wiccans initially met it with contempt. However, by the late 1980s the two movements reconciled, and though they are not united as a single organization, both acknowledge the other as legitimate branches of Wicca. Most initiated Wiccans can trace their initiatory lineage back to Gardner or one of the

The attempt failed to satisfy all participants. The meeting was followed in 1974 by the Council of American Witches which did finally draw-up the Principles of Wiccan Belief. Later, in 1975, thirteen covens would sanction the Covenant of the Goddess. Rosemary Guiley explains why most modern followers prefer the term Wicca to Witchcraft. “As a religion Witchcraft often is called ‘Wicca,’ an Old English term for ‘witch,’ in order to counter the negative stereotype of Witches as ugly, evil, and Devil worshipers. Because of their wish to avoid stereotypes and the autonomous nature of Wicca, several key groups have sprung into existence over the past few decades. Some of these groups are the Gardnerian (founded by Gerald Gardner), the Alexandrian (founded by Alexander Sanders), the Dianic (based on the worship of the Greek goddess Diana), the Celtic (based on worship of ancient.”In today’s Wicca, you can see influences from Eastern traditions, Native American traditions, and though we sometimes don’t like to admit it, New Age thought and