Author: A Solitary Pagan
Gardner, Gerald B(rousseau) (1884–1964) Part 1
Gerald Gardner (1884–1964) English Witch and founder of contemporary Witchcraft as a religion. Hereditary Witches and practitioners of family tradition witchcraft object to Gardner being credited as the “founder” of the religion of Witchcraft, pointing out that family traditions have existed for centuries. Nonetheless, there is no evidence that the organized religion of Witchcraft and not simply t...
Gardner, Gerald B(rousseau) (1884–1964) Part 2
The Gardners resided in the New Forest area, where Gardner became active with the Fellowship of Crotona, an occult group linked to Co-Masons, a Masonic order founded by Mrs. Besant Scott, daughter of Theosophist Annie Besant. This group had established “The First Rosicrucian Theater in England,” which showcased plays with occult themes. One member revealed to Gardner that they had shared a past li...
Gerald Brousseau Gardner, (1884–1964) Part 3
Crowley appointed Gardner as an honorary member of the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO), a Tantric sex magic order once led by Crowley, and gave Gardner permission to run an OTO lodge. Gardner had to keep his Witchcraft activities discreet because it was still illegal in England. He camouflaged his book of shadows within a novel, High Magic’s Aid, which he published in 1949 under the pen name Scire. The...
Gardner, Gerald B(rousseau) (1884–1964) Part 4
In 1960, he was honored with an invitation to a garden party at Buckingham Palace, recognizing his exceptional civil service in the Far East. That same year, his wife, who had never been involved in the Craft, passed away, and he began to struggle with asthma once more. In 1963, just before his winter trip to Lebanon, he encountered Raymond Buckland, an Englishman who had relocated to America and ...
What is Death Witchcraft: Is death witchcraft religious?
Yes and no. Considering how much work death witches do with the spirits of a dead, a general belief in the afterlife is necessary. However, I do know some death witches who engage in past life work as an aspect of their craft instead of working with ghosts. Death witchcraft has the flexibility of neatly fitting into most religious beliefs. Is death witchcraft a “dark” path?: If you mea...
What is Death Witchcraft: Are there any rules in death witchcraft?
No rules can ever be enforced onto anyone’s path, though it goes without saying there are those people around who feel that they have the right to enforce their rules onto others. Having said this, with death witchcraft, it may be encouraged to respect both the dead and the living. The dead are not your slaves; they’re just as valuable as we are. Respect them, and they’ll respect...
What is Death Witchcraft: Why Do We Perform Death Witchcraft?
As with any magical path, everyone practices for difference reasons. Some people have an intense fear and fascination with death, and they aim to find peace through this path. Others have experienced the deaths of loved ones, and they want to heal and aid the deceased. Some worship a death deity or work as a mortician, while others are in it for the power. Regardless of their reasoning, death witc...
What is Death Witchcraft: How Does it Differentiate from Necromancy?
How Does it Differentiate from Necromancy? Necromancy comes from the Greek words nekrs (“dead body”) and mantea (“divination by means of”). Literally, it means speaking to the dead through divination. Most necromancers receive insights about the past, present, or future through the dead. Necromancy is part of death witchcraft, but it isn’t all of that path. Death witc...
What is Death Witchcraft:
Death witchcraft can be defined as working with and honoring spirits of the dead (ghosts, ancestors) as well as the power of death itself (endings, resurrections). Death witches reflect upon the concept of death, come to terms with their own death, and work through spiritual deaths in our lives. We also communicate with the dead regularly. Many of us heal and help the dead, and in return, th...
Unlocking the Magic: A Solitary Pagan Witch’s Guide to Spell Work
So, you’re curious about casting spells solo as a pagan witch? Let me tell you, solitary spellwork is one of the most magical ways to connect with your own energy and the world around you—no coven required. First up, I like to set the mood. This could mean lighting a candle, burning a little incense, or playing soft music. Creating that sacred space is totally personal—do what feels magical for yo...
The Enigmatic Life of a Solitary Witch
Deep in the heart of an ancient forest, whispers of magic entwine with the wind. She is a solitary witch, a weaver of spells and secrets, living in harmony with the whispers of the wild. Her home, a quaint cottage cloaked in ivy, breathes with the pulse of the earth. Inside, shelves overflow with jars of herbs, each one holding a story, each one a piece of her soul. With the dawn, ...
Poppies the Magick of
Poppies, with their vibrant blooms and fleeting beauty, have captivated humankind for centuries. Native to the Old World, these members of the Papaveraceae family are instantly recognizable by their papery petals and distinctive seed pods. From delicate pastels to fiery reds, poppies paint fields and meadows with splashes of color, their presence signifying the arrival of warmer days. Beyond their...