Post by darkglobe on Sept 7, 2006 20:35:58 GMT -5
I've always thought that there was never any proof to the idea that Gerald Gardner was initiated into a real traditional coven, as per the history of modern witchcraft. But maybe I'm wrong - there has been some talk of the possible real nature of Old George and his 9 Covens, and their existance may put them squarely into the world of Nightbreed creatures.
www.controverscial.com/Old%20George%20Pickingill.htm
What's more, George is part of an old tradition of Cunning Folk, as explained at this web site:
www.karisgarden.com/cunningfolk/home.htm
www.controverscial.com/Old%20George%20Pickingill.htm
George Pickingill was a legend in his own time, a feared “Cunning Man” by local residents, a sought after Witch and Magician by those in occult circles. George was born in 1816, the oldest of nine children by Charles and Susannah Pickingill. They lived in a small Essex village called Hockley in East Anglia. Later he moved to the nearby village of Canewdon where he died in 1909.
“Old George” as he became known was a hereditary witch and claimed he could trace his ancestry back for centuries, to the time of “Julia – The Witch of Brandon”, who had lived in a village north of Thetford in Norfolk. Julia as legend would have it, was hired to make magical chants for the troops of “Harewood the Wake”, inspiring them into battle against the Normans. The Normans in retaliation set fire to her village and burned her at the stake in 1071. Since that time each generation of the Pickingill family has served as priests in the Old Religion.
George like his father was a humble farm worker, yet all who knew him held him in awe. Many of the local village folk were afraid of him and his mysterious magical abilities. This was probably due to the simple ignorance, fear and superstition that still pervaded Witchcraft in those times. In occult circles he was highly regarded, being consulted by people from all over the country, Europe and the United States.
Over the course of his lifetime, George established a total of nine hereditary covens. These were situated in Norfolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Sussex, and Hampshire. George in many ways was a zealot, for when he started a new coven; he would insist that its leaders produce evidence indicating he or she came from hereditary witch lineage. Each coven that he formed worshiped the “Horned God” and used a basic set of rites, though George was constantly changing, embellishing and introducing new concepts as they developed. All rituals were conducted by women and involved ritual nudity and sexual inductions.
Aleister Crowley is reported to have been a member of one of his covens sometime around 1899. He is thought to have obtained his Second Degree before being dismissed due to his contemptuous attitude toward women and his deplorable behavior. Other pupils of note were two Master Masons by the names of “Hargrave Jennings” and “W.J. Hughan”. Both would later become founder members of the “Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia”; from which the “Order of the Golden Dawn” would eventually emerge. Doreen Valiente in her book “Witchcraft for Tomorrow” alleges that Jennings consulted with Old George and conspired with him to concoct a cipher manuscript (Cipher MS), which led to the founding of the Golden Dawn. However my own further research into the Golden Dawn indicates that this is not true.
Aside from his famous “Nine Covens”, there was a more sinister side to “Old George” for which he became notorious. George had an intense dislike for Christianity and Local Authority. He openly campaigned for the overthrow of the Christian Religion and the establishment in generally. He even conspired with Satanic Cults to expedite his would be intentions. This brought him into conflict with other Craft Elders who objected to his activities.
Contrary to popular belief for many misinformed articles abounded and were sensationalized in the Press during those times. Witches do not believe in “devil-worship”, nor do they invoke Satan during ritual to carry out evil deeds. Satan and the Devil are by-products of Christianity and have nothing to do with the Old Religion. The Old Religion was being practiced well before Christianity came along. This in mind, the other Craft Elders had good cause for objecting to what “Old George” kept advocating, preferring secrecy and discretion to the unwanted attention he was arousing.
After Old George’s death in 1909 and some 30 years on, Gerald B. Gardner was initiated into one of his descendent covens in Hampshire. He and others began writing openly about Wicca and Witchcraft. Gardner met with Aleister Crowley shortly before his death and Crowley “allegedly” passed on what he could remember of the old Pickingill rituals, these Gardner “allegedly” incorporated into his Book of Shadows. When in 1951 the old antiquated witchcraft laws were repealed, causing a resurgence of interest in the Old Religion. Many of the Craft Elders became concerned fearing that exposure of Old George’s satanic activities would distort and damage the newly evolving image of Wicca and Witchcraft.
To protect against this, the Elders of the Hereditary Tradition in East Anglia conspired to discredit any claims made by Gardner and others concerning the survival of Hereditary Witches. This in part involved the eradication of many traces of “Old George” and his “Nine Covens” as was possible. Today as a result, the real importance of Old George’s contributions to the revival of present day witchcraft may never be determined.
“Old George” as he became known was a hereditary witch and claimed he could trace his ancestry back for centuries, to the time of “Julia – The Witch of Brandon”, who had lived in a village north of Thetford in Norfolk. Julia as legend would have it, was hired to make magical chants for the troops of “Harewood the Wake”, inspiring them into battle against the Normans. The Normans in retaliation set fire to her village and burned her at the stake in 1071. Since that time each generation of the Pickingill family has served as priests in the Old Religion.
George like his father was a humble farm worker, yet all who knew him held him in awe. Many of the local village folk were afraid of him and his mysterious magical abilities. This was probably due to the simple ignorance, fear and superstition that still pervaded Witchcraft in those times. In occult circles he was highly regarded, being consulted by people from all over the country, Europe and the United States.
Over the course of his lifetime, George established a total of nine hereditary covens. These were situated in Norfolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Sussex, and Hampshire. George in many ways was a zealot, for when he started a new coven; he would insist that its leaders produce evidence indicating he or she came from hereditary witch lineage. Each coven that he formed worshiped the “Horned God” and used a basic set of rites, though George was constantly changing, embellishing and introducing new concepts as they developed. All rituals were conducted by women and involved ritual nudity and sexual inductions.
Aleister Crowley is reported to have been a member of one of his covens sometime around 1899. He is thought to have obtained his Second Degree before being dismissed due to his contemptuous attitude toward women and his deplorable behavior. Other pupils of note were two Master Masons by the names of “Hargrave Jennings” and “W.J. Hughan”. Both would later become founder members of the “Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia”; from which the “Order of the Golden Dawn” would eventually emerge. Doreen Valiente in her book “Witchcraft for Tomorrow” alleges that Jennings consulted with Old George and conspired with him to concoct a cipher manuscript (Cipher MS), which led to the founding of the Golden Dawn. However my own further research into the Golden Dawn indicates that this is not true.
Aside from his famous “Nine Covens”, there was a more sinister side to “Old George” for which he became notorious. George had an intense dislike for Christianity and Local Authority. He openly campaigned for the overthrow of the Christian Religion and the establishment in generally. He even conspired with Satanic Cults to expedite his would be intentions. This brought him into conflict with other Craft Elders who objected to his activities.
Contrary to popular belief for many misinformed articles abounded and were sensationalized in the Press during those times. Witches do not believe in “devil-worship”, nor do they invoke Satan during ritual to carry out evil deeds. Satan and the Devil are by-products of Christianity and have nothing to do with the Old Religion. The Old Religion was being practiced well before Christianity came along. This in mind, the other Craft Elders had good cause for objecting to what “Old George” kept advocating, preferring secrecy and discretion to the unwanted attention he was arousing.
After Old George’s death in 1909 and some 30 years on, Gerald B. Gardner was initiated into one of his descendent covens in Hampshire. He and others began writing openly about Wicca and Witchcraft. Gardner met with Aleister Crowley shortly before his death and Crowley “allegedly” passed on what he could remember of the old Pickingill rituals, these Gardner “allegedly” incorporated into his Book of Shadows. When in 1951 the old antiquated witchcraft laws were repealed, causing a resurgence of interest in the Old Religion. Many of the Craft Elders became concerned fearing that exposure of Old George’s satanic activities would distort and damage the newly evolving image of Wicca and Witchcraft.
To protect against this, the Elders of the Hereditary Tradition in East Anglia conspired to discredit any claims made by Gardner and others concerning the survival of Hereditary Witches. This in part involved the eradication of many traces of “Old George” and his “Nine Covens” as was possible. Today as a result, the real importance of Old George’s contributions to the revival of present day witchcraft may never be determined.
What's more, George is part of an old tradition of Cunning Folk, as explained at this web site:
www.karisgarden.com/cunningfolk/home.htm
This website is dedicated to those fascinating but little-known magical practitioners called cunning-folk. Having recently written a book on the subject which explores their role in English history over the last five hundred years, it seemed like a good idea to set up a web companion to provide a brief introduction to their world.
Cunning-folk, who were also known as wise-women, wise-men, conjurors and wizards, were an integral part of English society right up until the early twentieth century. Over the centuries hundreds of thousands of people must have consulted them regarding a wide range of problems, but particularly those concerning affairs of the heart, theft, sickness and most important of all witchcraft. They were multi-skilled, or at least professed to be so. They practised herbalism, treasure-seeking and love magic. They revealed the identity of thieves and divined the whereabouts of lost and stolen property. The more learned cunning-folk also practised astrology, while the less learned pretended to be masters of the art. The most lucrative aspect of their business was the curing of those people and animals who were thought to be bewitched, and also the trade in charms to ward off witches and evil spirits.
Cunning-folk, who were also known as wise-women, wise-men, conjurors and wizards, were an integral part of English society right up until the early twentieth century. Over the centuries hundreds of thousands of people must have consulted them regarding a wide range of problems, but particularly those concerning affairs of the heart, theft, sickness and most important of all witchcraft. They were multi-skilled, or at least professed to be so. They practised herbalism, treasure-seeking and love magic. They revealed the identity of thieves and divined the whereabouts of lost and stolen property. The more learned cunning-folk also practised astrology, while the less learned pretended to be masters of the art. The most lucrative aspect of their business was the curing of those people and animals who were thought to be bewitched, and also the trade in charms to ward off witches and evil spirits.