The Meaning of Witchcraft

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THE MEANING OFWITCHCRAFT

By

G. B. GARDNER

Introduction

byDr. Leo Louis Martello

MAGICAL CHILDE! INC.

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GARDNER

GRAND OLD MAN OF $ITCHCRAFT

ByDR. LEO LO)I( MARTELLO

Gerald B. Gardner*s bio+ra,'y 'as been ,ublis'ed -any ti-es! includin+ a c'a,ter on'i- in -y on $itc'cra/t0 T'e Old Reli+ion. For t'e record 'is /irst Cra/t boo1 as

Hi+' Ma+ic*s Aid ,ublis'ed in %&2&! a sel/3,ublis'ed or1. His second as $itc'cra/t

Today in % and 'is last as T'e Meanin+ o/ $itc'cra/t! %&! /i4e years be/ore 'is

deat'. 5rior to t'ese 'e 'ad ritten A Goddess Arri4es! %&26! and eris and Ot'er Malay$ea,ons! %&"7. T'e latter and Hi+' Ma+ic*s Aid ere ,ublis'ed under 'is ,en3na-e o/

(cire.

In $itc'cra/t Today t'e Biblio+ra,'y 'as no listin+ o/ C'arles God/rey Leland and in

t'is boo1 'e lists only Leland*s Gy,sy (orcery. 8et a care/ul study o/ t'e GardnerianBoo1 o/ ('ados re4eals t'at -any ,assa+es ere co,ied directly /ro- Leland*s Aradia.

T'e secret na-e o/ t'e Goddess used in Gardnerian rites is also -ost re4ealin+. His ne

con4erts s'ed lots o/ 'eat but not too -uc' li+'t! es,ecially in 4ie o/ all t'e'a+io+ra,'ical 'o+as' ritten about 'i-. T'ose con4erts 'o sa t'e li+'t ,re/erred to

1ee, ot'ers in t'e dar1. T'is is c'aracteristic o/ all ne con4erts to any /ait'. And today

none o/ t'is -atters as t'e Cra/t... T'e Old Reli+ion... 5a+anis- 'as +ron and e9,andedorldide 'ere t'e -yt's o/ t'e ,ast! t'e /actual inconsistencies! t'e clai-s and

counterclai-s /ade into insi+ni/icance. T'e stress is on s,ontaneity rat'er t'an ri+id

rituals.

Gardner as t'e a,ostle o/ -odern $itc'cra/t! 'et'er 'e as e4er +i4en a t'ird de+reeinitiation or not. And -any 'o 'a4e clai-ed to be :Traditional; or :Hereditary; as

o,,osed to :Gardnerian!; +i4e t'e-sel4es aay by bot' t'e rites and t'e


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or1s! t'ese li4e on. $it'out Gardner t'ere are -any today! re+ardless o/ 'at t'ey call

t'e-sel4es! 'o si-,ly ouldn*t e9ist... not as $itc'es or 5a+ans. For t'ose 'o belie4e

in :+i4in+ t'e de4il 'is due; t'e least t'ey can do is ,ay tribute to Gardner 'o asneit'er de4il nor saint... =ust t'e Grand Old Man o/ $itc'cra/t>

Note0 For /uller in/or-ation on Gardner see Dr. Martello*s boo1s $ITCHCRAFT0 THEOLD RELIGION and BLACMAGIC! (ATANI(M ? @OODOO.


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CONTENTS

C'a,ter 5a+e

I T'e $itc' Cult in Britain Britain 3 3 & II $ITCH*( MEMORIE( AND BELIEF( 3 3 3 2

III T (TONE AGE ORIGIN( OF $ITCHCRAFT 2

I@ (OME RELIGIO)( IDEA( OF EARL8 BRITAIN 3 #%@ DR)IDI(M AND THE AR8AN CELT( 3 %@I $ITCHCRAFT IN ROMAN AND (AON TIME( 3 6#

@II MAGIC T'INING 3 3 3 3 3 &&

@III MAGIC THING Continued %%# I $ 3 %6

C)RIO)( BELIEF( ABO)T $ITcHE( %2

I $HO $ERE THE GOD( OF BRITAIN 3 %#7 II (IGN( AND (8MIIOL( %%

III T'E MAss 3 3 3 %62

I@(OME ALLEGATION( EAMINED! 5ART % 3 %

@ (OME ALLEGATION( EAMINED! 5ART II 3 #@I(OME ALLEGATION( EAMINED! 5ART III 3 "%

@II THE F)T)RE 3 3 3 3 #

A55ENDI ITHE MAGICAL LEGEND OF THE $ITCHE( 3 3 7#A55ENDI II THE (TEDINGER( 3 3 3 3 77

APPENDIX III SIGNIFICANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF THE

WITCH CULT, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO

BRITAIN 7&

APPENDIX IV THE FORGERIES OF THE CANON EPISCOPI AND

THE MALLE)( MALEFICAR)M 3 3 3 3

ILLUSTRATIONS

I GERALD BRO((EA) GARDNER 33 Frontis,iece

Facing Page

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II MARGARET INE QUANE AND HER SON, BURNT AIVE

III AN ANCIENT ()MERIAN FIG)RE OF THE NAED

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GODDESS - - - - - -

IV A HEAD OF THE !"ING OF THE WOODS#, THE

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$ITCHE(* GOD 3 3 3

%2#

@ A $ITCH*( ALTAR 3 3 3 3 3 3 3


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C'a,ter I.

THE $ITCH C)LT IN BRITAIN.

My directors'i, o/ t'e Museu- o/ Ma+ic and $itc'cra/t at Castleton! Isle o/ Man!

brin+s -e a +reat deal o/ corres,ondence /ro- all ,arts o/ t'e orld so-e interestin+!so-e abusi4e a 4ery little! =ust enou+' to enli4en -atters! so-e /antastic! and so-e

/unny in all senses o/ t'e ord.

Hoe4er! -y -ore serious corres,ondents ant to 1no t'e ori+in o/ itc'cra/t. $'ere!

t'ey as1! did it co-e /ro- $'at is be'ind t'is t'in+ t'at obsessed t'e -inds o/ -en /orcenturies Is it an under+round cult o/ de4il3ors'i, A dar1 t'read runnin+ t'rou+'

'istory An irru,tion o/ t'e su,ernatural into nor-al li/e Or is it an enor-ous delusion

$'at is t'e -eanin+ o/ it all

T'is is a -atter 'ic' o/ late years 'as e9ercised t'e in+enuity o/ a nu-ber o/ riters.T'ese -ay be rou+'ly di4ided into t'ree sc'ools. Firstly! t'ose 'o ta1e t'e se4erely

rationalist 4ie t'at itc'cra/t as a 1ind o/ -ass 'ysteria! arisin+ /ro- ,syc'olo+icalcauses. (econdly! t'ose 'o -aintain t'at itc'cra/t is real! and t'at it is t'e ors'i, andser4ice o/ (atan! in 'o- its de4otees a,,ear to be +reat belie4ers. T'is is t'e attitude

ta1en by t'at 4ery ,roli/ic riter! t'e late Monta+ue (u--ers! and 'is -any i-itators.

T'irdly! t'at sc'ool! 'eaded by ant'ro,olo+ists li1e Dr. Mar+aret Murray! 'ic' 'as triedto loo1 at t'e sub=ect it'out eit'er su,erstitious terrors and t'eolo+ical ar+u-ent on t'e

one 'and! or -aterialistic incredulity on t'e ot'er. T'is sc'ool o/ t'ou+'t -aintains t'at

itc'cra/t is si-,ly t'e re-ains o/ t'e old ,a+an reli+ion o/ $estern Euro,e! datin+ bac1

to t'e (tone A+e! and t'at t'e reason /or t'e C'urc'*s ,ersecution o/ it as t'at it as adan+erous ri4al. I ,ersonally belon+ to t'is t'ird sc'ool! because its /indin+s accord it'

-y on e9,erience! and because it is t'e only t'eory 'ic' see-s to -e to -a1e sense

'en 4ieed in t'e li+'t o/ t'e /acts o/ 'istory.5er'a,s I 'ad better state brie/ly 'at t'at e9,erience is. I a- at ,resent t'e Director o/t'e only -useu- in t'e orld! so /ar as I 1no! 'ic' is e9clusi4ely concerned it'

-a+ic and itc'cra/t. I as a Ci4il (er4ant in t'e Far East Malaya until -y retire-ent!

and I -ade a lar+e collection o/ -a+ical instru-ents! c'ar-s! etc.! 'ic' /or-ed t'enucleus o/ t'e ,resent collection 'ere. I a- an arc'aeolo+ist and an ant'ro,olo+ist! and

t'rou+' t'ese studies I beca-e interested in t'e ,art ,lay in t'e li/e o/

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-an1ind by -a+ical belie/s! and by 'at ,eo,le did as a result o/ t'ese belie/s.

$'en I as out East! be/ore I 'ad any contact it' itc'cra/t in Britain! I in4esti+ated

-uc' nati4e -a+ic it'out /indin+ anyt'in+ 'ic' could not be e9,lained by tele,at'y!'y,notis-! su++estion or coincidence! and /ran1ly I considered -a+ic as an instance o/

t'e curious t'in+s t'at ,eo,le ill belie4e. In t'ose days I as 4ery -uc' interested in

Dr. Mar+aret Murray*s t'eory t'at itc'cra/t as t'e re-ains o/ an ancient reli+ion butas all aut'orities see-ed a+reed t'at 'ile t'ere as e4idence t'at so-e ,eo,le -ay 'a4ebeen itc'es! t'ere as not t'e sli+'test e4idence t'at itc'es 'ad e4er been or+anised

into co4ens and as C'arles God/rey Leland! 'o 'ad 1non -any itc'es in Italy and

else'ere! and rote a lot about t'e-! ne4er -entioned any co4en or any or+anisation! Idis-issed itc'cra/t as so-et'in+ 'ic' 'ad ,ossibly 'a,,ened once! but e4en i/ it 'ad

e9isted it 'ad been :burnt out; t'ree 'undred years a+o.

T'e earlier boo1s I read on t'e sub=ect all see-ed to a+ree to a certain e9tent. T'ey said

t'at itc'es e9isted e4ery'ere! and ere bot' -ale and /e-ale. T'ey ere intenselyic1ed ,eo,le. T'ey ors'i,,ed t'e De4il! o/ten in t'e /or- o/ a 'eat'en +od but t'en!

all 'eat'en +ods ere t'e De4il. T'ey 'ad a bi+ or+anisation! re+ular reli+ious

cere-onies on /i9ed dates! a ,riest'ood it' ,riests! ,riestesses and o//icers! and anor+anised /or- o/ reli+ion t'ou+' t'eir deity -i+'t be called :a +od; and :t'e De4il;

al-ost in t'e sa-e sentence. T'is as e9,lained by sayin+ t'at all non3C'ristian +ods

ere really t'e De4il in dis+uise.

Hoe4er! in t'e late %t'and t'e %6t'centuries ,ublic o,inion see-ed to c'an+e. In s,iteo/ t'e stron+ 4ies o/ Jo'n $esley and ot'er cler+y-en! ,eo,le did not belie4e in

itc'es any -ore! to t'e e9tent t'at 'en to cler+y-en induced a =ury to con4ict Jane

$en'a- o/ tal1in+ to t'e De4il in t'e /or- o/ a cat! and s'e as sentenced to deat' /or

t'is in %%! t'e =ud+es ,rotested and s'e as released. In %"7 t'e ,enal las a+ainstitc'cra/t ere re,ealed and I did not t'in1 t'at anyone! it' t'e e9ce,tion o/ t'e Re4.

Monta+ue (u--ers! dared 'int t'at t'ere -i+'t be anyt'in+ in itc'cra/t to3day it'outbein+ lau+'ed at. C'arles God/rey Leland 'ad been re+arded as a ro-ancer 'o 'adritten u, a /e Italian /ortune3tellers! and 'ile Dr. Mar+aret Murray as 1non as a

+ood ant'ro,olo+ist! it as t'ou+'t t'at s'e as ritin+ about t'in+s t'at 'a,,ened t'ree

or /our 'undred years a+o! 'en ,eo,le ere su,erstitious! and belie4ed silly t'in+s.

Hoe4er! a/ter Dr. Murray*s boo1s a,,eared! so-e ot'er ,eo,le ere bold enou+' toad-it t'at t'ere ere so-e itc'es le/t! but

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said t'at t'ey ere only 4illa+e /ortune3tellers! i-,osters 'o 1ne not'in+ about t'e

sub=ect! and t'ere ne4er 'ad been any or+anisation! and anyone 'o t'ou+'t ot'erise

as =ust bein+ i-a+inati4e. I as o/ t'ese o,inions in %&"&! 'en! 'ere in Britain! I -etso-e ,eo,le 'o co-,elled -e to alter t'e-. T'ey ere interested in curious t'in+s!

reincarnation /or one! and t'ey ere also interested in t'e /act t'at an ancestress o/ -ine!

GriKel Gairdner! 'ad been burned as a itc'. T'ey 1e,t sayin+ t'at t'ey 'ad -et -ebe/ore. $e ent t'rou+' e4ery'ere e 'ad been! and I could not e4er 'a4e -et t'e-

be/ore in t'is li/e but t'ey clai-ed to 'a4e 1non -e in ,re4ious li4es. Alt'ou+' I

belie4e in reincarnation! as -any ,eo,le do 'o 'a4e li4ed in t'e East! I do notre-e-ber -y ,ast li4es clearly I only is' I did. Hoe4er! t'ese ,eo,le told -e enou+'

to -a1e -e t'in1. T'en so-e o/ t'ese ne or old /riends said! :8ou belon+ed to us in

t'e ,ast. 8ou are o/ t'e blood. Co-e bac1 to 'ere you belon+.;

I realised t'at I 'ad stu-bled on so-et'in+ interestin+ but I as 'al/3initiated be/ore t'eord :$ica; 'ic' t'ey used 'it -e li1e a t'underbolt! and I 1ne 'ere I as! and t'at

t'e Old Reli+ion still e9isted. And so I /ound -ysel/ in t'e Circle! and t'ere too1 t'e

usual oat' o/ secrecy! 'ic' bound -e not to re4eal certain t'in+s.

In t'is ay I -ade t'e disco4ery t'at t'e itc' cult! t'at ,eo,le t'ou+'t to 'a4e been,ersecuted out o/ e9istence! still li4ed. I /ound! too! 'at it as t'at -ade so -any o/ our

ancestors dare i-,rison-ent! torture and deat' rat'er t'an +i4e u, t'e ors'i, o/ t'e Old

Gods and t'e lo4e o/ t'e old ays. I disco4ered t'e inner -eanin+ o/ t'at sayin+ in one

o/ Fiona MacLeod*s boo1s0 :T'e Old Gods are not dead. T'ey t'in1 e are.;

I a- a -e-ber o/ t'e (ociety /or 5syc'ical Researc'! and on t'e Co--ittee o/ t'e

Fol1lore (ociety so I anted to tell o/ -y disco4ery. But I as -et it' a deter-ined

re/usal. :T'e A+e o/ 5ersecution is not o4er!; t'ey told -e :+i4e anyone 'al/ a c'ance

and t'e /ires ill blaKe u, a+ain.; $'en I said to one o/ t'e-! :$'y do you 1ee, allt'ese t'in+s so secret still T'ere*s no ,ersecution noadays>; I as told! :O'! isn*t

t'ere I/ ,eo,le 1ne 'at I as! e4ery ti-e a c'ild in t'e 4illa+e as ill! or so-ebody*sc'ic1ens died! I s'ould +et t'e bla-e /or it. $itc'cra/t doesn*t ,ay /or bro1en indos.;

I can re-e-ber as a boy readin+ in t'e ,a,ers o/ a o-an bein+ burned ali4e in (out'ernIreland as a itc' but I could not belie4e t'at t'ere could be any ,ersecution noadays

in En+land. (o! a+ainst t'eir better =ud+-ent! t'ey a+reed to let -e rite

a little about t'e cult in t'e /or- o/ /ictions! an 'istorical no4el

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'ere a itc' says a little o/ 'at t'ey belie4e and o/ 'o t'ey ere ,ersecuted. T'is

as ,ublis'ed in %&2& under t'e title o/ Hi+' Ma+ic*s Aid.

In %% a 4ery i-,ortant e4ent occurred. T'e Go4ern-ent o/ t'e day ,assed t'eFraudulent Mediu-s Act! 'ic' re,ealed and re,laced t'e last re-ainin+ $itc'cra/t Act!

under 'ic' s,iritualists used to be ,rosecuted in -odern ti-es. T'is Act is! I belie4e!

uniue in le+ally reco+nisin+ t'e e9istence o/ +enuine -ediu-s'i, and ,syc'ic ,oers.I t'ou+'t t'at at last co--on3sense and reli+ious /reedo- 'ad ,re4ailed but e4en

so! t'e ,assa+e o/ t'is Act as 'i+'ly obno9ious to certain reli+ious bodies 'ic' 'ad

been ,reac'in+ a+ainst (,iritualis- /or years and tryin+ to outla it as :t'e or1 o/(atan!; to+et'er it' any ot'er societies to 'ic' t'ey ob=ected! includin+ Free-asonry

and! o/ course! itc'cra/t.

About a year ,re4iously! t'is Museu- 'ad been o,ened! and I 'ad /lattered -ysel/ t'at

s'oin+ 'at itc'cra/t really is! an ancient reli+ion! ould arouse no 'ostility in anyuarter. I as to /ind out in due course 'o ron+ I as>

Any atte-,t to s'o itc'cra/t in anyt'in+ e4en re-otely rese-blin+ a /a4ourable li+'t!

or to c'allen+e t'e old re,resentation o/ it as so-et'in+ uni/or-ly e4il and de4ilis'! or

e4en to ,resent it as a le+iti-ate ob=ect o/ study! can still arouse t'e -ost sur,risin+reactions. T'e 4irtues o/ 'u-anis-! 'ic' C'arles (alt-an de/ined as :sensiti4ity!

intelli+ence and erudition! to+et'er it' inte+rity! curiosity and tolerance!; 'a4e still

uite a lon+ ay to +o in t'eir stru++le a+ainst t'e -entality 'ic' ,roduced t'e Malleus

Male/icaru-.

In % 5ennet'orne Hu+'es rote a boo1! $itc'cra/t! 'ic' +a4e a 4ery +ood 'istorical

account o/ itc'cra/t! but stated t'at 'ile in -ediae4al ti-es itc'es 'ad a /ully

or1ed3out ritual o/ t'eir on 'ic' t'ey ,er/or-ed! -odern itc'es ere si-,ly

,er4erts 'o celebrated :Blac1 Masses!; 'ic' 'e described as bein+ blas,'e-ousi-itations o/ t'e C'ristian Mass. T'is -ade so-e o/ -y /riends 4ery an+ry! and I

-ana+ed to ,ersuade t'e- t'at it -i+'t do +ood to rite a /actual boo1 about itc'cra/t!and so I rote $itc'cra/t Today. In ritin+ t'is latter boo1! I soon /ound -ysel/beteen (cylla and C'arybdis. I/ I said too -uc'! I ran t'e ris1 o/ o//endin+ ,eo,le

'o- I 'ad co-e to re+ard 'i+'ly as /riends. I/ I said too little! t'e ,ublis'ers ould not

be interested. In t'is situation I did t'e best I could. In ,articular! I denied t'at itc'escelebrated t'e Blac1 Mass! or t'at t'ey 1illed ani-alsor e4en unba,tised babiesas

blood sacri/ices.

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One o/ t'e /irst uestions I 'ad as1ed itc'es as soon as I 'ad +ot :inside; as! :$'at

about t'e Blac1 Mass; T'ey all said! :$e don*t 1no 'o to ,er/or- it! and i/ e did!

'at ould be t'e ,oint o/ doin+ so; T'ey also said! :8ou 1no 'at 'a,,ens at our-eetin+s. T'ere is t'e little reli+ious cere-ony! t'e +reetin+ o/ t'e Old Gods! t'en any

business 'ic' 'as to be tal1ed o4er! or ,er'a,s so-eone ants to do a rite /or so-e

,ur,ose ne9t t'ere is a little /east and a dance t'en you 'a4e to 'urry /or t'e last bus'o-e> T'ere is no ti-e or ,lace /or any nonsense o/ :Blac1 Masses!; and any'o 'y

s'ould e ant to do one;

I t'in1 t'is is =ust co--on sense. To a Ro-an Cat'olic 'o belie4es in

Transubstantiation! t'at is! t'at t'e bread and ine o/ t'e Mass are literally c'an+ed intot'e /les' and blood o/ C'rist! a cere-onial insult to t'e Host ould be t'e -ost a/ul

blas,'e-y but itc'es do not belie4e t'is! so it ould si-,ly be absurd to t'e- to try to

insult a ,iece o/ bread.

I a- not t'e /irst to 'a4e ,ointed t'is out Eli,'as Le4i! t'e celebrated Frenc' occultist!'o as also a de4ote Cat'olic! stated in 'is boo1! Do+-e et Rituel de la Haute Ma+ie!

t'at t'e /irst condition o/ success in t'e ,ractice o/ blac1 -a+ic as to be ,re,ared to

,ro/ane t'e cultus in 'ic' e belie4ed.

(o-e -ay 'old t'at anyone 'o does not belie4e in Transubstantiation is lac1in+ in t'eTrue Fait' and doo-ed to Hell. I a- told t'at certain Noncon/or-ist -inisters ,reac'in+

a+ainst Transubstantiation obtained consecrated Hosts and 'eld t'e- u, to -oc1ery in

t'e ,ul,it but I 'a4e ne4er 'eard t'at t'is -ade t'e- itc'es.

$'at about t'e C'ristian ,eo,le 'o carry suc' consecrated Hosts about in loc1ets as,ersonal c'ar-s Are t'ey bein+ re4erent or not And are t'ey itc'es $e 'a4e so-e

o/ t'ese c'ar-s in t'is Museu-. I 1no 4ery ell t'at so-e ,eo,le ould be s'oc1ed at

t'is ,ractice! but t'is does not alter t'e /act t'at it is done.

T'e ,oint 'ic' t'ose riters 'o ,ersistently lin1 t'e itc' cult it' t'e Blac1 Mass/ail to a,,reciate is t'at t'ey can eit'er -aintain t'at itc'es are ,a+ans! or t'at t'ey

celebrate Blac1 Masses but t'at in t'e na-e o/ lo+ic and co--on sense t'ey cannot

'a4e it bot' ays.

)nli1e a nu-ber o/ sensational riters! I do not is' to con4ey t'e i-,ression t'at t'ereare itc'es at or1 in e4ery corner o/ t'e land. On t'e contrary! t'ere are 4ery /e real

itc'es le/t! and t'ose 1ee, t'e-sel4es 4ery -uc' to t'e-sel4es. T'ey are +enerally t'e

descendants o/ itc' /a-ilies! and 'a4e in'erited a

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Tradition 'ic' 'as been ,reser4ed /or +enerations. T'is is! indeed! t'e traditional ay in

'ic' itc'cra/t as s,read and ,reser4ed t'e c'ildren o/ itc' /a-ilies ere tau+'t by

t'eir ,arents! and initiated at an early a+e. In /act! t'is is 4ery ,robably t'e ori+in o/ allt'ose /ri+'t/ul stories o/ t'e itc'es brin+in+ babies to t'e sabbat to eat t'e- 'at really

'a,,ened as t'at itc' ,arents dared not o-it to 'a4e t'eir babies ba,tised! /or /ear o/

instantly arousin+ sus,icion! so t'ey used to brin+ t'e babies to t'e sabbat /irst! and,resent t'e- in dedication to t'e old +ods. T'en! t'ey /elt! it ouldn*t -atter i/ a

cere-ony o/ C'ristian ba,tis- as later +one t'rou+' :/or s'o.; :$'en I bo -y

'ead in t'e 'ouse o/ Ri--on! t'e Lord ,ardon T'y ser4ant in t'is t'in+.;. Hoe4er! ast'e ,ersecution o/ t'e old reli+ion +re -ore /ierce! it beca-e dan+erous to ad-it

c'ildren. Innocent c'ildren ,rattled a-on+ t'e-sel4es about 'ere t'eir ,arents ent

and 'at t'ey did! and one unluc1y ord o4er'eard by t'e ron+ ,erson -i+'t 'a4e

-eant deat' to t'e 'ole /a-ily. T'ere are terrible records o/ c'ildren bein+ 'an+ed orburned it' t'eir ,arents! -erely because t'ey ere o/ t'e itc' blood. Mar+aret Ine

uane! /or instance! 'o as burned as a itc' 'ere in Castleton in %7%! 'ad 'er

youn+ son burned it' 'er! si-,ly because 'e as 'er son. Hence t'e custo- o/

initiatin+ t'e c'ildren as less and less obser4ed! and t'is! cou,led it' t'e 'olesalee9ter-ination ,olicy carried on at t'e c'urc'*s insti+ation! soon +reatly reduced t'e

nu-bers o/ t'e cult.Hoe4er! t'ere is one /actor in t'e continuity o/ t'e tradition 'ic' t'e o,,onents

o/ t'e cult 'ad not rec1oned it'. T'e itc'es are /ir- belie4ers in reincarnation! and

t'ey say t'at :Once a itc'! alays a itc'.; T'ey belie4e t'at ,eo,le 'o 'a4e beeninitiated into t'e cult! and 'a4e really acce,ted t'e old reli+ion and t'e old +ods in t'eir

'earts! ill return to it or 'a4e an ur+e toards it in li/e a/ter li/e! e4en t'ou+' t'ey -ay

'a4e no conscious 1noled+e o/ t'eir ,re4ious associations it' it. T'ere -ay be

so-et'in+ in t'is because I 1no ,ersonally o/ t'ree ,eo,le in one co4en 'odisco4ered t'at! subseuent to t'eir co-in+ into t'e cult in t'is li/e! t'eir ancestors 'ad

'ad lin1s it' it! and I 'a4e already -entioned t'e itc'es 'o :reco--ended; -e.

O/ course! itc' rites to3day are so-e'at di//erent /ro- 'at t'ey used to. Be-any centuries a+o. T'en t'e +reat -eetin+s! called sabbats! used to be attended by lar+e

nu-bers o/ t'e ,o,ulation! 'o arri4ed ,ro4ided it' t'e 'ereit'al to coo1 a -eal /or

t'e-sel4es 'ence t'e :'ellis' sabbat /ires; e 'a4e 'eard so -uc' about! and ,re,aredto s,end a ni+'t on t'e 'eat'


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in -erry-a1in+! once t'e -ore serious rites ere o4er. In /act! -ost traditional country

-erry-a1in+s 'a4e so-e connection it' t'e old reli+ion t'e 5uritan (tubbes! in 'is

Anatomie of Abuses, /iercely denounces t'e ,eo,le 'o stayed out all ni+'t in t'e oods:Mayin+; on t'e old sabbat date o/ May E4e and C'ristina Hole! in 'erEnglish

Folklore, notes 'o t'e Nort'a-,tons'ire :+uisers : 33 /ol13dancers dressed in /antastic

costu-es3are called :itc'3-en; to t'is day. (uc' instances -i+'t be +reatly -ulti,lied.T'e En+lis' cli-ate! o/ course! did not alays ,er-it t'ese +at'erin+s to be 'eld

on t'e 'eat' and I t'in1 t'at in t'is e4ent t'ey ,robably too1 ,lace in so-eone*s barn! or

in t'e 'all o/ a +reat 'ouse 'ose oner as /riendly to t'e cult. In t'e Basue countryo/ 5ays de Labourd in %7& t'e o//icial in4esti+ator /ro- t'e 5arle-ent o/ Bordeau9!

5ierre de Lancre! as 'orri/ied to /ind t'at t'e sabbat as so-eti-es 'eld in t'e local

c'urc'! a,,arently it' t'e ,riest*s consent. He as ,articularly scandalised to /ind 'o

-any Basue ,riests sy-,at'ised it' t'e Old Reli+ion. $e are o/ten told 'orrid tales o/ itc' -eetin+s in c'urc'yards! and o/ itc'es

'o! in t'e ords o/ Robert Burns! :in 1ir1yards rene t'eir lea+ues ore 'o1it dead.;

But in t'e old ti-es t'e c'urc'yard as t'e re+ular ,lace /or 4illa+e -erry-a1in+s. In

t'ose days a c'urc'yard as not! as it is to3day! a ,lace o/ +ra4estones! but si-,ly a+reen sard. Fro- M. C. Anderson*sLooking For History In British ChurchesPe -ay

see t'at dancin+ in t'e c'urc'yard as uite /easible in t'e old days as t'e aut'or sayst'at it as not t'e ,ractice to erect +ra4estones to t'ose 'o ere buried t'ere. :T'e

+reat /ol1s ere buried beneat' scul,tured to-bs it'in t'e c'urc'. . . . T'e little ,eo,le

re-ained anony-ous in deat' be/ore t'e %t'century.;Eileen ,oer! in 'er boo1!Mediaeval eo!leQsays! s,ea1in+ o/ t'e ,easants0

T'eyused to s,end t'eir 'olidays in dancin+ and sin+in+ and bu//oonery! as country /ol1 'a4e alays

done until our on -ore +loo-ier! -ore sel/3conscious a+e. T'ey ere 4ery -erry and not at all

re/ined! and t'e ,lace t'ey alays c'ose /or t'eir dances as t'e c'urc'yard and unluc1ily t'e son+s

t'ey san+ as t'ey danced in a rin+ ere old ,a+an son+s o/ t'eir /ore/at'ers! le/t o4er /ro- old Mayday

/esti4ities! 'ic' t'ey could not /or+et! or ribald lo4e3son+s 'ic' t'e C'urc' disli1ed. O4er and o4era+ain e /ind t'e C'urc' councils co-,lainin+ t'at t'e ,easants and so-eti-es t'e ,riests! too ere

sin+in+ ic1ed son+s it' a c'orus o/ dancin+ o-en*! or 'oldin+ ballads and dancin+s and e4il and

anton son+s and

De Lancre, Tableau de L*Inconstance des Mau4ais! 5aris! %7%.

P Jo'n Murray! %%.

Q 5en+uin Boo1s! %%.%#


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suc'3li1e lures o/ t'e de4ilS o4er and o4er a+ain t'e bis'o,s /orbade t'ese son+s and dances but in

4ain. In e4ery country in Euro,e! ri+'t t'rou+' t'e Middle A+es to t'e ti-e o/ t'e Re/or-ation! and

a/ter it! country /ol1 continued to sin+ and dance in t'e c'urc'yard.

('e continues0

Anot'er later story still is told about a ,riest in $orcesters'ire! 'o as 1e,t aa1e all ni+'t by t'e

,eo,le dancin+ in 'is c'urc'yard! and sin+in+ a son+ it' t'e re/rain S(eet'eart 'a4e ,ityS! so t'at 'ecould not +et it out o/ 'is 'ead! and t'e ne9t -ornin+ at Mass! instead o/ sayin+ SDo-inus 4obiscurnS. 'e

said! S(eet'eart 'a4e ,ityS! and t'ere as a dread/ul scandal 'ic' +ot into a c'ronicle.

Hoe4er! I 'a4e ne4er 'eard o/ a ,resent3day itc' -eetin+ bein+ 'eld in a

c'urc'yard I t'in1 t'ose sensation3-on+ers 'o 'a4e described ,resent3day itc'es as

/or+at'erin+ in +ra4eyards are +uessin+! and t'eir +uess is a /e centuries out.Actually! itc' -eetin+s to3day -ay ta1e ,lace any'ere t'at is con4enient! and only

,eo,le 'o 'a4e been initiated into t'e cult are alloed to be ,resent. T'e actual

,roceedin+s ould ,robably +reatly disa,,oint t'ose 'o 'a4e been nurtured on tales o/blood sacri/ices! drun1en or+ies! obscene rites! etc.! etc. $itc'es do not use blood

sacri/ices and only t'e ty,e o/ -ind 'ic' considers all reco+nition o/ t'e Elder Gods

and t'eir sy-bols to be


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e9,ression

in its e9istence is ,ro4ed by so-e o/ t'e researc'es o/ -odern science. T'e radiest'esia=ournal! #he endulum, /or Marc'! %! carried an article called by T'o-as Colson! /ro- t'e Electronic Medical $igest% T'is told 'o 5ro/essor Otto

Ra'n o/ Cornell )ni4ersity 'ad described to a -eetin+ o/ t'e A-erican Association /ort'e Ad4ance-ent o/ (cience! at (yracuse! Ne 8or1! 'o yeast cells can be 1illed by a

,erson loo1in+ intently at t'e- /or a /e -inutes. T'e yeast cells ere ,laced on a +lass

,late and 'eld close to t'e ,ersonSs eyes. T'e 5ro/essor e9,lained t'is by sayin+ t'at

certain rays ere e-itted /ro- t'e 'u-an eye 'ic' ere ca,able o/ ,roducin+ t'isresult. For se4eral years! 'e said! scientists 'ad been re,ortin+ disco4eries t'at li4in+

t'in+s ,roduce ultra34iolet rays. In t'e 'u-an body t'ey 'ad been /ound co-in+ /ro-

or1in+ -uscles! and in t'e blood.T'e /in+er3ti, rays o/ se4eral ,ersons at Cornell 1illed yeast readily T'e ti, o/ t'e nose as

disco4ered to be a /ine ultra34iolet StubeS. T'en ca-e t'e eye. Hu-an rays are not alays 'ar-/ul. Fro-

so-e ,ersons t'ey are bene/icial to tiny ,lants. T'ere see-s to be no

%


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di//erence in t'e 1ind! but t'e 4olu-e di//ers. $'en lar+e! it is let'al to yeast. T'e sa-e ,erson e-its it

at di//erent rates. He -ay be S1illin+S at one ti-e and Sbeni+nS at anot'er. T'e ri+'t 'and a,,ears to

radiate -ore t'an t'e le/t! e4en in le/t3'anders.

T'ese body rays see- to be +i4en o// -ost stron+ly by t'e ,arts o/ t'e body 'ic' are re,laced -ost

ra,idly! suc' as t'e ,al-s o/ t'e 'ands and t'e soles o/ t'e /eet. . . . T'e to,s o/ t'e /in+ers are 4ery stron+e-itters o/ t'is ener+y. . . T'e bac1 +i4es o// t'e least ener+y and t'e abdo-en and c'est sli+'tly -ore.

T'e se9 or+ans in bot' se9es and breasts in o-en e-it t'ese rays uite stron+ly.T'e /irst scienti/ic ,roo/ t'at t'ere is a ,ersonal electric /ield! a sort o/ electrical aura! it'in and in t'e

air around a li4in+ body! as announced to t'e T'ird International Cancer Con+ress. T'e re,ort as

-ade by Dr. Harold (. Burr! o/ 8ale )ni4ersity.

Hu-an eyes are ,oer/ul electric batteries. T'is disco4ery! s'oin+ t'at eac' eyeball is an

inde,endent battery! as announced to t'e National Acade-y o/ (ciences in %&"6 by Dr. $alter H.

Miles! 8ale )ni4ersity ,at'olo+ist. . . . T'e /act t'at eyes ,roduce electricity 'as been 1non to sciencesince %67! 'en it as disco4ered in /ro+s! but t'e source o/ t'is electric ,oer! its 4ariations and

es,ecially its 'i+' ,oer in 'u-an bein+s! is little 1non.

T'e abo4e e9tract +i4es t'e reason /or t'e itc'esS traditional ritual nudity. To t'eir

C'ristian o,,onents t'is as -ere s'a-elessness but students o/ co-,arati4e reli+ion1no t'at! a,art /ro- t'e ,ractical -a+ical reason +i4en abo4e! nudity in reli+ious

cere-onies is a 4ery old and orld3ide ,ractice. T'is is! in /act! yet anot'er indicationo/ t'e itc' cultSs deri4ation /ro- re-otest antiuity.

It -ay see- stran+e t'at t'e belie/s o/ t'e itc' and t'e disco4eries o/ t'e -an o/

science s'ould e4er /ind a real- in 'ic' t'ey could -eet and touc' yet t'is is not t'e

/irst ti-e suc' a t'in+ 'as 'a,,ened. T'e doctor 'o introduced t'e use o/ di+italis into

-edical ,ractice bou+'t t'e secret /ro- a ('ro,s'ire itc'! a/ter ta1in+ an interest in 'er'erbal cures.

T'e itc'esS belie/ t'at

clair4oyance -ay see suc' s,irits.

A ,o,ular belie/ about itc'cra/t! 'ic' is ne4ert'eless erroneous! is t'e idea t'at a

itc'esS co4en -ust consist o/ t'irteen ,eo,le. Actually! it -ay consist o/ -ore or lesst'an t'irteen ,eo,le but t'irteen is considered to be t'e ideal nu-ber. T'is -ay be

because it is t'e best nu-ber o/ ,eo,le to or1 in t'e itc'esS traditional nine3/oot circle

si9 cou,les and a leader.

%6


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Or it -ay be because itc'cra/t is a -oon cult! and t'ere are t'irteen -oons in a year and

t'irteen ee1s in e4ery uarter! eac' uarter o/ t'e year 'a4in+ its (abbat. T'e /our +reat

(abbats are Candle-ass! May E4e! La--as! and Halloeen t'e euino9es and solsticesare celebrated also! t'us -a1in+ t'e Ei+'t Ritual Occasions! as t'e itc'es call t'e-. On

t'e +reat (abbats all t'e co4ens t'at could /or+at'er to+et'er ould do so but a,art /ro-

t'ese +reat (abbats! -inor -eetin+s called Esbats are 'eld. T'e ord

o/ su//icient ran1 in t'e cult to be 'er Hi+' 5riest. In France t'e Maiden as so-eti-es

called La &eine du "abbat' in (cotland s'e see-s to 'a4e been called t'e ueen o/El,'a-e i.e. Faery! and one old itc'3trial 'as it t'at

God and Goddess 'o ere t'e rulers o/ t'e A/ter3$orld beca-e t'e deities o/ t'e

itc'es! 'o 'eld to t'e Old Reli+ion! and also ere considered as t'e in+ and ueeno/ Faery. Hence t'e Hi+' 5riestess o/ a itc' co4en! 'o is considered as t'e GoddessSs

li4in+ re,resentati4e! ould naturally be called

and contains a /ine descri,tion o/

%&


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-il1e ere 'er ee1s< and so bri+'tly s'inin+ t'at Or/eo could scarcely be'old t'e-.

A. E. $aite! in 'is introduction toElfin Music, an Anthology of English Fairy oetry)

says0 constantly bein+ accused o/ e4er sto,,ed to onder 'y t'is ,icture s'ould auto-atically co-e into your -ind in t'isay #here is not one single te*t in the Bible +hich describes the $evil- or "atan in

this manner% T'e only ,lace in 'ic' you ill /ind suc' a ,ersona+e described is!

curiously enou+'! a-on+ t'e +ods o/ t'e ancient ,eo,les. Here you ill /ind uite anu-ber o/ Horned Gods! and so-eti-es Horned Goddesses too! 'o ere not! 'oe4er!

bein+s o/ e4il! but deities bene/icent to -an. T'e reason 'y ,eo,le ,icture


18/285

'ic' concealed 'is /eatures. T'is custo- see-s to 'a4e been -ore ,articularly /olloed

at t'e bi+ (abbats! 'en -any ,eo,le +at'ered outside t'e circle 'o ere not actual

initiates o/ t'e itc'esS -ysteries! but ca-e

beteen reli+ion and -a+ic -ay be indi+nantly re,udiated by so-e ort'odo9 belie4ersne4ert'eless! bot' s,rin+ /ro- t'e sa-e root.

As I e9,lained in -y ,re4ious boo1! t'ere are certain secrets o/ t'e itc' cult t'at I

cannot by reason o/ -y ,led+ed ord re4eal but -any ,eo,le rite to -e sayin+!


19/285

and 'at -a1es t'in+s or1 is t'e itc'esS secret. I t'in1 t'at t'is as ,robably t'e

,ractical secret o/ t'e ancient Mysteries also.

Hoe4er! I a- not +oin+ to be dran in t'is ay to brea1 -y ord a state-ent 'ic'ill! I 'o,e! result in a sa4in+ o/ note,a,er and sta-,s on t'e ,art o/ so-e o/ -y -ore

a++ressi4e corres,ondents. Certain o/ t'e ,resent3day enuiries o/ ,syc'ical researc'!

arc'aeolo+y! ant'ro,olo+y! and ,syc'olo+y are be+innin+ to con4er+e in a -anner t'at is+radually re4ealin+ /acts about ancient belie/s and t'eir e//ect u,on 'u-an e4olution

'ic' 'a4e not been realised be/ore. It is -y 'o,e t'at t'is boo1 ill be a use/ul

contribution to t'ese lines o/ enuiry! and ,er'a,s assist in t'eir con4er+ence.),on t'e %st Marc'! %! Ma=or Lloyd3Geor+e! t'en Ho-e (ecretary! as a result o/ a

uestion as1ed in t'e House o/ Co--ons! said t'at blac1 -a+ic as an o//ence in

co--on la. $'en ,ressed by M.5.s to de/ine blac1 -a+ic! 'e said! (atanis-

+oin+ sce,ticis- toards t'ese t'in+s! and t'at e4en i/ t'ey do e9ist I do not consider

t'e-


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21/285

C'a,ter II.

$ITCHE(S MEMORIE( AND BELIEF(.

MAN8,eo,le 'a4e ritten to -e sayin+ t'ey en=oyed -y 'oo1! (itchcraft #oday,andas1in+ -e to rite -ore about t'e cult. T'e di//iculty is! as I e9,lained int'e /or-er

boo1! t'at itc'cra/t 'as beco-e one o/ t'e secret reli+ions! 'erein ,eo,le can e9,ress

t'eir +reatest lon+in+s and as,irations it'out bein+ -oc1ed at t'ose arc'ety,al

re4erences 'ic'! arisin+ /ro- dee, le4els o/ t'e unconscious! so stran+ely stir t'e soul.T'ese t'in+s I t'in1 are a true /or- o/ reli+ion because t'ey are natural t'ou+' constant

blud+eonin+ and conditionin+ o/ t'e -ind -ay blunt ,erce,tion! and cause ,eo,le to s'ut

t'eir intuitions aay in t'e in-ost recesses o/ t'eir bein+.$it' t'is Old Reli+ion co-es t'e 1noled+e o/ a ty,e o/ -a+ic! di//icult at all ti-es to

learn! and -ore so in t'ese days! 'en e4eryt'in+ is a+ainst you in t'is res,ect but

'ic' e9ists all t'e sa-e as a closely +uarded secret. Ma+ic is in itsel/ neit'er blac1 nor'ite! bad nor +ood it is 'o it is used! t'e intent or t'e 1noled+e be'ind it! t'at

-atters.

Ot'er ,eo,le rite as1in+ -e to e9,ound -ore /ully -y ideas o/ t'e ori+ins o/itc'cra/t! and t'e only true anser I can +i4e is!


22/285

It beca-e luc1y to do certain rites to induce +ood 'untin+ and +ain ,oer o4er t'e +a-e.

T'en sloly certain ,eo,le too1 to doin+ t'e rites! and so-et'in+ li1e a ,riest'ood as

/or-ed t'at is! t'ey /ound 'o ere t'e -ost -a+ically ,oer/ul ,eo,le and used t'e-.T'e dance as t'e c'ie/ -et'od ,er/or-ed! -i-ic1in+ t'e stal1in+ and slayin+ o/ +a-e.

Later it too1 t'e /or- o/ a /ertility dance! 'en t'ey beca-e cattle breeders and not so

de,endent on 'untin+. T'en ca-e ani-is-! and ,er'a,s t'e ors'i, o/ natural,'eno-ena! -oon! stars and sun.

Ma+ic 'as been classed as a tric1 closely +uarded by t'e ,ri-iti4e -a+ician.

5er'a,s so it is t'e tric1 o/ doin+ so-et'in+ so t'at so-et'in+ else ill occur. T'eair-en 'o dro, a bo-b could not -a1e t'e bo-b itsel/ t'ey -a1e intelli+ent use o/ a

certain /orce 'ic' t'ey do not 'olly understand and t'at is 'at -a+ic is. I/ t'ey

-isuse t'at /orce! and detonate t'e bo-b in t'eir ,lane! t'ey -ay destroy t'e-sel4es.

T'is also occurs in -a+ic you -ust 1no 'o to 1ee, t'e e//ects aay /ro- yoursel/. T'e itc'esS on traditions si-,ly tell t'e- t'at t'ey e9isted /ro- all ti-e but

t'at t'ey ca-e to 'ere t'ey are no /ro- t'e (u--er Land in t'e distant ,ast. $'en

you as1 t'e- 'ere t'e (u--er Land is t'ey do not 1no but it see-s to 'a4e been a

,lace o/ ar-t' and 'a,,iness! t'e Eart'ly 5aradise o/ 'ic' all races o/ -an1ind 'a4eso-e tradition! and 'ic' so -any ad4enturers 'a4e ris1ed t'eir li4es see1in+. It -ay be

noted in t'is connection t'at in $els' le+end!

you! and t'at you ould re-e-ber! 1no! and lo4e t'e- a+ain. T'ey t'in1 t'at in t'e+ood old days all t'is as ob4ious to t'e 'ole tribe. $itc'es ere su,,orted by t'e

co--unity! and t'ey +a4e t'eir ser4ices /reely to all 'o as1ed t'eir 'el,. A ,ri-iti4e

National Healt' (er4ice It is ,artly because o/ t'is t'at t'ere is a stron+ itc'

#


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tradition t'at t'ey -ay ne4er ta1e -oney /or ,ractisin+ t'eir art t'at is! t'ey -ay not

or1 /or 'ire.

As t'ey or1ed /or t'e +ood o/ t'e tribe! t'ey ere inclined to /a4our a stron+c'ie/ or 1in+! so-eone 'o ould see t'at t'e las ere obser4ed! t'at e4eryone 'ad

t'eir /air s'are! and t'at e4eryone did t'eir or1 ,ro,erly. For t'is reason! too! t'ey ere

inclined to disli1e ,olitics anyt'in+ t'at -ade t'e tribe /i+'t a-on+ t'e-sel4es t'eyconsidered bad.

T'ey t'in1 t'at t'ey ere not Druids! but re,resentati4es o/ an older /ait' t'at t'e

Druids ere a +ood and stron+ -ale ,riest'ood 'o ors'i,,ed t'e sun in t'e dayti-e!and ere inclined to -i9 in ,olitics! 'ile t'e itc'es ors'i,,ed t'e -oon by ni+'t. It

is al-ost as i/ t'e Druids ere t'e bis'o,s! etc.! 'o attended t'e House o/ Lords and

-ade t'e las! and 'ad a -a+ical reli+ion! 'ile t'e itc'es ere t'e ,aris' ,riests! 'o

1e,t out o/ ,olitics! and ,ossessed a /or- o/ reli+ion and -a+ic o/ t'eir on. It -ust be understood clearly t'at itc'cra/t is a reli+ion. Its ,atron +od is t'e

Horned God o/ 'untin+! deat' and -a+ic! 'o! rat'er li1e Osiris o/ E+y,t! rules o4er t'e

A/ter3$orld! 'is on 5aradise! situated in a 'ollo 'ill! or at least in a ,lace 'ic' is

only a,,roac'ed t'rou+' a ca4e! 'ere 'e elco-es t'e dead and assi+ns t'e- t'eir,laces 'ere t'ey are ,re,ared! accordin+ to t'eir -erits and isdo-! /or rebirt' into a

ne body on t'is eart'! /or 'ic' t'ey ill be -ade ready by t'e lo4e and ,oer o/ t'eGoddess! t'e Great Mot'er! 'o is also t'e Eternal @ir+in and t'e 5ri-ordial

Enc'antress! 'o +i4es rebirt' and trans-utation! and lo4e on t'is eart'! and in 'ose

'onour and by -eans o/ ritual t'e necessary ,oer is raised to enable t'is to be done.T'ey t'in1 t'at t'e God and t'e Goddess assist t'e- in -a1in+ t'eir -a+ic! as t'ey assist

t'e God and t'e Goddess in t'eir turn by raisin+ ,oer /or t'e- by t'eir dances and by

ot'er -et'ods. In /act! t'ey see- to consider t'e +ods as bein+ -ore li1e ,oer/ul

/riends t'an deities to be ors'i,,ed. To t'e- t'e conce,t o/ an All35oer/ul God! one 'o could si-,ly say! ould cease! and 'o /or 'is on reasons ill not say t'at ord! and 1ee,s -en in /earand -isery and ant! is not /it to recei4e ors'i,. T'ey uite realise t'at t'ere -ust be

so-e +reat -eans o/ 1noin+ It! it is because It does not ant to be 1non also! ,ossibly! at our,resent sta+e o/ e4olution e are inca,able o/ understandin+ It. (o It 'as a,,ointed 'at

-i+'t be called 4arious


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)nder3Gods! 'o -ani/est as t'e tribal +ods o/ di//erent ,eo,les as t'e Elo'i- o/ t'e

Jes! /or instance! 'o -ade t'e- in T'eir on i-a+e

Fat'er and (on


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t'e -ain ,o,ulation re-ained in t'eir 4illa+es. T'e (a9ons! at /irst 'eat'en! ere

con4erted to C'ristianity by -issionaries /ro- Ro-e! and so-e las a+ainst itc'cra/t

ere -ade. A/ter t'e Nor-an Conuest t'e (a9ons beca-e a race o/ ser/s under Nor-an

-asters. Later t'e to races tended to a-al+a-ate and inter-arry! beco-in+ En+lis'

instead o/ Britis' and (a9on. As t'ere is no trace o/ (a9on custo-s in t'e cult! it does notsee- t'at suc' (a9on itc'es as t'ere ere e4er ca-e into it but 'en t'e Nor-ans

arri4ed t'ey 'ad a tradition o/ so-et'in+ li1e itc'cra/t. $'et'er t'is ca-e /ro-

Noray or /ro- Gaul I a- not sure! but it certainly e9isted. At any rate! t'e Britis' 'adalays t'ou+'t o/ t'e (a9ons as o,,ressors 'o 'ad robbed t'e- o/ all t'e best in t'eir

country! and t'e itc'es disli1ed t'e- because t'ey -ade las a+ainst itc'cra/t! so

bot' ere ryly a-used to see t'e (a9ons bein+ bullied in t'eir turn.

T'e (a9ons ere 'ard3or1in+! t'ic13'eaded! stolid ,eo,le! 'o stayed 'eret'ey ere and ,aid 'ea4y ta9es! 'ile t'ose


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in it dar1. T'is! to t'e youn+er -en at least! as easy and ro-antic. 8ou si-,ly ent out

'untin+ it' a /e /ait'/ul retainers! and lost yoursel/ in t'e oods /or a 'ile.

Doubtless all t'e Castle 1ne 'ere you 'ad really been! but t'ey didnSt tell t'e (to1et'e (a9on 4illa+e! or t'e ,riest unless! as as o/ten t'e case in t'e early days 'e 'ad

been t'ere 'i-sel/ ta1in+ ,art in t'e rites.

T'ere ere se4eral ars 'ic' troubled t'e countryside in ,laces! but ot'eriset'in+s re-ained -uc' t'e sa-e until about t'e ti-e o/ Edard I! 'o e9,elled t'e Jes.

)ntil t'en t'e Jes 'ad been a race a,art! 'o ere -erc'ants! -oney3lenders! ta93

collectors and doctors! li4in+ c'ie/ly in t'e tons! -arryin+ usually a-on+ t'e-sel4es!'ated but tolerated by t'e C'urc'! t'eir nu-bers 1e,t don by occasional -assacres.

$'en in+ Edard banis'ed t'e- /ro- En+land lar+e nu-bers /ro- t'e bi+ tons le/t

t'e country t'ou+' nu-bers ent to +round! into t'e outland districts beyond t'e la

t'at is! into t'e Britis' settle-ents! t'e itc' districts. T'ese ,robably 'ad so-econnections t'ere already. At least! it is a itc' tradition t'at durin+ t'e Jeis' -assacres

t'ey 'ad alays +i4en t'e- s'elter 'en t'ey could! and it is /ro- t'ese Jes t'at t'e

itc'es +ot to 1no o/ t'e abala'! and obtained -any o/ t'eir ideas o/ t'e Jeis'

-ystical and -a+ical traditions! u,on 'ic' -ost -ediae4al -a+ic as /ounded. Neit'er t'e itc'es nor -ysel/ is' to ar+ue as to t'e ri+'ts or ron+s o/ 'at

t'e Jeis' abalists tau+'t. All I can say is t'at t'ere is a itc' tradition t'at t'isteac'in+ a-on+ ot'ers as +i4en and belie4ed! na-ely t'at t'e ancient reli+ion o/ Israel

as t'e ors'i, o/ t'e Elo'i-! t'e (u,ernal Fat'er and t'e (u,ernal Mot'er! $'o 'ad

-ade -an in T'eir i-a+e! -ale and /e-ale Genesis! C'a,. I! 4.7360 t'is -ystery assy-bolised by t'e sacred Tin 5illars! Jac'in and BoaK! o/ (olo-onSs Te-,le but a/ter

(olo-onSs ti-e ic1ed ,riests arose 'o ,er4erted t'e true /ait'! and instead o/ t'e Gods

o/ Lo4e! ,reac'ed a solitary God o/ 'ate and 4en+eance. To +ain ,oer and ealt'! t'ese

,riests 'ad co--itted -any ,ious /or+eries o/ Holy $rit! and so led -en /ro- t'e trut'. In t'is connection! I -ay uote /ro- t'e Introduction to (. L. MacGre+or

Mat'ersS boo1! #he .abbalah /nveiled% (,ea1in+ o/ t'e sy-bolis- o/ t'e (e,'irot'! t'e

Ten E-anations o/ Deity! 'e says0

A-on+ t'ese (e,'irot'! =ointly and se4erally! e /ind t'e de4elo,-ent o/ t'e ,ersons and attributes o/

God. O/ t'ese some are male and somefemale%No! /or so-e reason or ot'er best 1non to t'e-sel4es!t'e translators o/ t'e Bible 'a4e care/ully croded out o/ e9istence and s-ot'ered u, e4ery re/erence to t'e

/act t'at t'e Deity

&


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is bot' -asculine and /e-inine. T'ey 'a4e translated afemininepluralby a masculine singular in t'e

case o/ t'e ord Elo'i-. T'ey 'a4e! 'oe4er! le/t an inad4ertent ad-ission o/ t'eir 1noled+e t'at it

as ,lural in Gen. %. 4.7!

t'e ,arts o/ t'e 'u-an body as an i-,ortant branc' o/ -ediae4al -edicine. T'e +reataut'ority /or early astrolo+ers as Claudius 5tole-y nd century A.D.. Cyril Fa+an! in

'is3odiacs 4ld and

"


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De4il! so as not to +et so-eone else! a 'u-an leader o/ a co4en! into trouble.

T'e -ention o/ so ,o,ular a /i+ure o/ le+end as Robin Hood in t'is conte9t -ay

see- stran+e. Hoe4er! 'e is one o/ t'e /or-s o/ t'e old +od o/ t'e oods 'o ,residedo4er t'e May +a-es. His na-e eui4alent in France as called

hormagium fecerat, et eum fuerit osculatus in tergo% Chartier iii.,.2#. (o t'e,ersecution ould /lare u, in one district! and so-e itc'es ould be cau+'t! 'ile

ot'ers esca,ed! across a ri4er ,er'a,s! or into anot'er lordSs lands.

(ir Matt'e Hale %7&3%77! in 'is History of the leas of the Cro+n, says!


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c'urc'. Gree1 hairesis, c'oice.< It is a curious sideli+'t u,on t'e e4olution o/ 'u-an

society t'at t'at 'ic' as a ca,ital cri-e in t'e Middle A+es s'ould 'a4e beco-e one

o/ t'e -ost c'eris'ed and /unda-ental ri+'ts o/ -odern de-ocracy.In En+land t'e 'ole ,oer o/ t'e (tate as not at /irst be'ind t'ese

,ersecutions. It as a -atter /or indi4idual Bis'o,s and nobles. It too1 lon+er! but as

none t'e less t'orou+'! because e4eryone 1ne 'o /olloed t'e Old Reli+ion. T'eyere -ar1ed don and


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rat'er curious /or a Bis'o,0

es,ecially as one o/ t'e c'ar-s s'e is said to 'a4e used t'at o/ s'a++y do+

May one onder! not too seriously! i/ our Man9 Mo++y D'oo is t'e ori+inator o/ t'e

re,airs to t'e Cat'edral c'oir.Da-e Alice ent to En+land 'ere s'e as sa/e. T'e Bis'o, t'en attac1ed Ro+er

Outla /or disloyalty! 'o a,,ealed to t'e in+Ss Council. T'ey de,uted a nu-ber o/

'i+' ecclesiastics to enuire into t'e case! 'o unani-ously /ound 'i- to be


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sur4i4ed t'e dissolution o/ t'e -onasteries.

T'e itc'es 'a4e 4a+ue stories o/ t'e

in t'e ,ublic -ind t'at itc'es 'ad co--erce it' t'e de4il! t'at t'ey raised stor-s at

sea! caused abortions! and in /act ere t'e aut'ors o/ ,ractically e4ery e4il t'at a//lictst'e 'u-an race. E4en a -odern aut'or! 5ennet'orne Hu+'es! declared recently in 'is

boo1 (itchcraft2

$itc'es cast s,ells t'ey raised 'a4oc t'ey ,oisoned t'ey aborted cattle and in'ibited 'u-an

bein+s t'ey ser4ed t'e De4il! ,arodied C'ristian ,ractices! allied t'e-sel4es it' t'e in+Ss ene-ies. T'ey

co,ulated it' ot'er itc'es in -ale or /e-ale /or-! 'o- t'ey too1 to be incubi or succubi t'eyco--itted abuses it' do-estic ani-als. More! t'ey did t'ese t'in+s consciously! in t'e belie/ t'at t'ey

ser4ed a diabolic -aster and c'allen+ed Hea4en. T'eir -oti4es ere con/used! t'eir i-,ulses ere

be-used! and t'eir ,roceedin+s ere -ore and -ore re-ote /ro- any co--on ori+inal ,ractice. 8et t'ey

did t'e-! and t'e reasons /or 'at t'ey did lie in t'e earliest reli+ions and belie/s Beside t'ese itc'es!

t'ousands o/ tec'nically innocent ,eo,le died as t'e result o/ -ass 'ysteria and ,ious /ear.

$illia- Te-,le! t'e t'en Arc'bis'o, o/ Canterbury! rote in %&"#!


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-a+ic and itc'cra/t a+ain t'ou+' t'e only ,enalty as t'e ,illory. Her Cat'olic cousin!

Mary ueen o/ (cots! -ade t'e (cottis' la o/ burnin+ /or all itc'es and t'ose 'o

consulted t'e-. Her son! Ja-es @I o/ (cotland! a/terards Ja-es I o/ En+land! burneditc'es it' Kest! and brou+'t in t'e deat' ,enalty in En+land but 'e could not +et t'e

En+lis' to allo burnin+. Torture! too! as le+al in (cotland! but not in En+land.

T'e 5uritans in En+land too1 u, t'e ,ersecutions and 'an+in+s it' 4i+our.Matt'e Ho,1ins! t'e notorious

-ade lar+e a-ounts o/ -oney out o/ it. For instance! it is on record t'at 'e recei4ed 6

Os. "d. /ro- (to-ar1et! 'ere t'e ,eo,le! ba-booKled into t'in1in+ t'at 'e ,ossesseda co--ission /ro- 5arlia-ent! actually le4ied a rate to ,ay t'is c'arlatan and 'is retinue.

T'is re,resents! at ,resent3day 4alues! a considerable su-. Anot'er o/ 'is -oney3-a1in+

sc'e-es is s'on by Matt'e Ho,1insS

t'e ri+'t 'and to t'e le/t /oot! and 4ice 4ersa t'e idea bein+ t'at i/ t'e ,erson san1! 'e

as innocent! but i/ 'e /loated 'e as a itc'! and conseuently 'an+ed. One story +oest'at Ho,1ins /loated! so ,ro4in+ 'i-sel/ a itc'! and +ot a se4ere c'ill /ro- 'ic' 'e

soon died. Certain it is t'at 'is career as so-e'o cut s'ort. Not! 'oe4er! be/ore 'e

'ad created a -inor rei+n o/ terror in East An+lia! and 'ad been t'e instru-ent o/ 4ery-any deat's.

Not be/ore %"# ere t'e ,enal las a+ainst itc'cra/t re,ealed and not until

%% as t'e last $itc'cra/t Act se,t /ro- t'e (tatute Boo1. $it' all t'is 'istory o/,ersecution! can anyone onder t'at -e-bers o/ t'e itc' cult are not ,articularly /ond

"7


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o/ t'e ort'odo9 C'urc'! or t'at t'ey distrust a /ait' 'ic' can ta1e t'e teac'in+ o/ its

Master! 'o ne4er ,ersecuted anyone! and turn t'e- into a /renKy o/ torture and 'orror

Ho -any ,eris'ed in t'e itc'3-ania t'rou+'out $estern Euro,e! in t'e 'ole o/ itslon+ course! ill ,robably ne4er be 1non t'ey are esti-ated to nu-ber nine -illions.

E4en t'ou+' all las on t'e sub=ect 'a4e no been re,ealed! t'is re,eal 'as been

recei4ed in so-e uarters it' re+ret and t'ere are still atte-,ts to 'i, u, ,ersecutionby +ettin+ sensational scare3stories ,rinted! endorsed by c'urc'-en 'o issue sole-n

arnin+s about S blac1 -a+ic< and

$'at does a itc' +et out o/ itc'cra/t For one t'in+! s'e 'as t'e satis/action o/

1noin+ t'at s'e is ser4in+ an ancient creed 'ic' s'e belie4es to be true. Noadays!-any ,eo,le 'a4e only t'e si-,le ,leasure o/ bein+ t'e-sel4es and /olloin+ t'ose

t'in+s in 'ic' t'ey are interested! a-on+ /riends 'o understand t'e-. To so-e t'ere is

t'e /un o/ belon+in+ to a sort o/ secret society. T'is is a 'ar-less ty,e o/ a-use-ent!

realised by -any or+anisations! suc' as t'at o/ Free-asonry. But in itc'cra/t t'ere -aybe -ore. i/ you 'a4e any ,oer! you are a-on+ ,eo,le 'o ill teac' you 'o to use it.

As one itc' said to a re,orter!


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e4il! but t'at s,irits are =ust li1e 'u-an bein+s in t'is res,ect so-e are desirable

co-,anions and so-e are not. I 1no no 'o to deal it' t'e SundesirablesS! so I no

lon+er dread t'e-. T'is is one o/ t'e t'in+s t'at itc'cra/t 'as done /or -e.

T'ose interested -ay /ind /urt'er details in a little boo1 called$eadly Magic2 including

the Australian ointing "tick,by Colonel F. J. Hayter. I 'a4e read t'at -any ,eo,le describe -a+ic! or by i-itatin+ t'e result reuired! i.e.

-a1in+ t'e -odel o/ t'e t'in+! etc.! are si-,ly use/ul -eans o/ /ocusin+ t'e -ind. T'is isrein/orced and dri4en into t'e unconscious -ind by a re,etition o/ ords t'e (,ell. T'is

need not be in t'e /or- o/ a r'y-e at all! but r'yt'- or alliteration are an aid to -e-ory

t'at is! you cannot dri4e a t'in+ into your unconscious and /i9 your -ind ,in,ointed on

your ob=ect i/ you 'a4e to sto, and t'in1 'at t'e ne9t ord is! and t'e act o/ readin+distracts your attention! 'oe4er sli+'tly. In /act! you ant so-et'in+ 'ic' al-ost says

itsel/. I cannot /or t'e -o-ent t'in1 o/ a s,ell in li-eric1 /or-! t'ou+' doubtless t'ey

e9ist but t'ey al-ost say t'e-sel4es! and t'e i-,act o/ t'e /inal r'y-e s'ould be 4erye//ecti4e Also! I t'in1 t'at t'e


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Aleister Croley! or a strin+ o/ ords o/ un1non -eanin+!

itsel/ .< A -a+ical ,ractitioner 'o disco4ered t'is endin+ said to -e sadly!

%%


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o/ ,arents 'o ere narro and e9clusi4e 5ly-out' Bret'ren. As a boy! 'e re4olted

a+ainst t'e strictness o/ 'is u,brin+in+ until! as 'e says!

li1e t'e stars in t'e 'ea4ens! eac' 'ad a ,ro,er course a,,ointed to t'e-. T'is course 'ecalled t'e True $ill and 'e -aintained t'at i/ e4eryone did t'eir True $ill t'ere ould

be no trouble in t'e orld. :T'e sun -o4es in s,ace it'out inter/erence. T'e order o/Nature ,ro4ides an orbit /or eac' star. A clas' ,ro4es t'at one or t'e ot'er 'as strayed

/ro- its course.< T'ere/ore! 'e said! t'e ,ro,er tas1 o/ -an is to disco4er 'is True $ill

and do it and 'e reco--ended 'is Ma+ic1 as a -eans 'ereby one could disco4er oneSsTrue $ill. He said /urt'er t'at t'e +reat ai- o/ Ma+ic1 s'ould be to obtain t'e

noled+e and Con4ersation o/ oneSs Holy Guardian An+el! 'o ould s'o t'e ay.

All ot'er ai-s o/ Ma+ic1 ere side3issues! 4aluable only as t'ey conduced to t'e +reat

ai-! t'e Great $or1 and i/ t'ey ere ,ursued as ends in t'e-sel4es! t'ey beca-e Blac1Ma+ic. He too1 t'e title o/


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and t'e A+e o/ Auarius! and t'at t'is brea1in+3u, o/ old /or-s o/ ci4ilisation to -a1e

ay /or ne ones is t'e reason /or t'e orld3ide stri/e and u,'ea4al e9,erienced in t'is

century.It ill be seen t'at t'ese -atters bear no relation or rese-blance 'atsoe4er to t'e

,o,ular conce,tion o/

'ic' ,roduced -ysterious results i/ said it' t'e correct intonation! 'ic' :tuned in;to t'e 4ibration 'ey sou+'t 8ou -ay say! < E9actly but understand -a+ic is 1noin+ t'at certain

t'in+s 'a4e certain e//ects! and 'o to -a1e use o/ t'ese e//ects to render ,eo,le -oresensiti4e to certain ot'er in/luences. Co-binin+ 'al/ a doKen or -ore o/ suc' in/luences

33 say dancin+! c'antin+! incense! etc. 33 'as e//ects 'ic' so-e ,eo,le ould say :or1

li1e -a+ic;. One o/ t'ese stories 'ic' is ,o,ular it' riters o/ /iction is t'at o/ t'e ,erson 'o

/inds a s,ell in so-e old boo1 or -anuscri,t and says it /or /un! and a de-on or s,irit

a,,ears! or

%"


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102/285

be caused to /all by -a+ic. But it -ust be re-e-bered t'at I 1no one ty,e o/ -a+ic

ell! and a- t'ere/ore inclined to belie4e t'at all ty,es or1 in -uc' t'e sa-e ay I

-ay be -ista1en on t'is ,oint. T'ose s,irits 'ic' -a+icians and abalists atte-,t toin4o1e or e4o1e -ay e9ist! and i/ t'ey do I su,,ose t'ey could a//ect t'e eat'er. One

class o/ suc' s,irits are t'ose called

course e couldnSt but i/ e said so our in/luence as +one. $ell! e ere usuallyeat'er3ise! and e could so-eti-es +et clair4oyantly 'at as +oin+ to 'a,,en. (o it

as a case o/ ,uttin+ t'e- o// until e 1ne 'at as anted ould 'a,,en naturally.

T'en it ould be sa/e to do so-e rite.< It as no lau+'in+ -atter! because in A/rica t'e

itc'3doctor is so-eti-es 1illed to encoura+e t'e ot'ers i/ rain does not co-e. T'eA/rican ,ractice is to say!

T'ere ere no eat'er bureau records 1e,t in t'ose days! so! as noadays! ,eo,le erealays sayin+ t'at t'e eat'er as so -uc' orse t'an it as 'en t'ey ere youn+!

and t'ere as -uc' -ore sine /e4er about! and t'at t'ey +ot -ore toot'ac'e and

bellyac'e and r'eu-atics t'an t'ey 'ad done t'irty years a+o! and it as all t'e -alice o/

t'ose ic1ed itc'es. It is a ,ity t'at no one e4er t'ou+'t to as1! be/ore t'ey +ot out t'et'u-bscres and t'e /a++ots!

celebrated C'inese states-an! Li Hun+ C'an+! as in En+land on a di,lo-atic -ission!

and t'e eat'er as e9ce,tionally dry. He as a-aKed to /ind t'at e ere ,rayin+

%#


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/or rain in t'e c'urc'es! 'a4in+ t'ou+'t t'at e belie4ed in not'in+ but trade and bi+

+uns! and 'e as1ed a Bis'o,!


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e9ecuted. It as sold in bottles -ar1ed

-iraculous oil 'ic' as su,,osed to /lo /ro- t'e to-b o/ t'at saint. It as t'e day o/

t'e


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de,osed all t'ree 5o,es and elected a ne one! Cardinal Colonna! as 5o,e Martin @! and

-ade arran+e-ents not to 'a4e -ore t'an one 5o,e at a ti-e in /uture. (uc' as t'e ty,e

o/ Council 'ose decisions encoura+ed ,eo,le to belie4e in blac1 -a+ic and itc'cra/tand all 1inds o/ su,erstition.

For instance! in %#% a tra4ellin+ con=urer e9'ibited se4eral uite si-,le card tric1s in

5aris. He as tortured until 'e con/essed t'at 'e 'ad attended a itc'esS (abbat. He ast'en burned and as t'e result o/ 'at 'e said a nu-ber o/ ,eo,le ere burned on t'e

sa-e c'ar+e. Actually! it see-s li1ely t'at 'at 'e said as dictated under torture! and

,ossibly a nu-ber o/ innocent ,ersons ere burned in conseuence. Beteen %#6 and%#o4er nine 'undred ,eo,le ere burned ali4e in Lorraine alone! and a 4ast nu-ber

/led t'e country! because o/ a itc'cra/t scare.

At t'e sa-e ti-e! an interest in occultis- as a,art /ro- t'e old ,a+an tradition o/

itc'cra/t as -ore or less secretly /olloed by -any o/ t'e nobility and e4en by5rinces o/ t'e C'urc'. For instance! in s,ite o/ t'e /act t'at in %2" (t. Bernardino o/

(iena 'ad ,reac'ed a+ainst Tarot cards at Bolo+na! callin+ t'e- an in4ention o/ t'e

De4il! in %262 t'e /a-ous -iniaturist Antonio Cico+nara as co--issioned to ,aint a

-ost beauti/ul ,ac1 o/ t'ese cards /or ,resentation as a +i/t to Cardinal Ascanio (/orKa.(o-e cards /ro- t'is -a+ni/icent ,ac1 ere ,ut on s'o in A-erica in %. It is true

t'at t'e Tarot cards could be used -erely /or +a-in+! but t'eir +reatest use! as occultstudents 1no! is /or di4ination.

T'e sinister ueen Cat'erine de Medici s'e 'o 'ad t'e 5rotestants -assacred

on (t. Bart'olo-eSs E4e as noted /or 'er interest in t'e occult arts. It as 'is,eredt'at 'er /a4ourite son! in+ Henri III o/ France! as de4oted to blac1 -a+ic. T'is -ay! o/

course! 'a4e been -erely a ,olitical ru-our s,read to discredit 'i-! as 'e as 'i+'ly

un,o,ular but it see-s uite li1ely t'at ueen Cat'erine did in /act instruct 'i- in 'er

occult ,ractices! and a/ter 'is deat' 'is curious -a+ical instru-ents ere ,ubliclye9'ibited.

He as e4entually assassinated! and su,,lanted by Henri I@! a ,rince 'o too1 li/e and

reli+ion -uc' -ore li+'t3'eartedly t'an ueen Cat'erine or 'er son. He as ori+inally a5rotestant! but on bein+ ad4ised t'at 'e ould be -ore acce,table as 1in+ i/ 'e c'an+ed

'is reli+ion! e9clai-ed!

died at t'e 'ands o/ an assassin! lea4in+ 'is son! Louis III! still a -inor! and 'is ueen!Marie de Medici! 'o ruled as Re+ent. Once a+ain t'e s'ado o/ sorcery /ell across t'e

Frenc' Royal House. T'e ueen Re+ent!

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to t'e des,air and c'a+rin o/ t'e nobles ca-e utterly under t'e do-ination o/ to base3

born Italian ad4enturers! Leonora Gali+ai and 'er 'usband Concini! /or 'o- Leonora!

t'e stron+er ,ersonality o/ t'e to! lost no ti-e in obtainin+ t'e title o/ MarWc'alDSAncre. Leonora! 'ile no-inally t'e ueenSs Lady3in3$aitin+! actually e9ercised suc'

in/luence o4er t'e ueen t'at s'e and 'er 'usband ,ractically ruled France! and a-assed

an enor-ous /ortune. ('e see-s to 'a4e been one o/ t'ose stran+e ,ersonalities 'o! li1eRas,utin! ,ossessed t'e ,oer o/ castin+ a 1ind o/ 'y,notic +la-our o4er ot'ers. (oon

'er 'usband Concini as loaded it' 'onours! 'ile t'e si9teen3yearold in+ as 1e,t

4irtually a ,risoner. A+ain! li1e Ras,utin! it as ru-oured t'at t'e ser,ent3eyed Leonora,ractised blac1 -a+ic! and t'at it as t'is 'ic' +a4e 'er e9traordinary ascendancy o4er

t'e ueen.

T'e youn+ 1in+! beco-in+ des,erate! cons,ired it' so-e o/ 'is nobles to assassinate

Concini! and one o/ t'e- s'ot t'e MarWc'al dead. He as 'astily interred! but t'e 5aris-ob! by 'o- 'e as 'ated /or 'is o,,ressions! dra++ed t'e body /ro- its +ra4e and

'un+ it on t'e +ibbet 'ic' Concini 'ad erected on t'e 5ont Neu/! to inti-idate all 'o

4entured to o,,ose 'i- and so bitter as t'e ra+e a+ainst t'e Marec'al t'at a/ter t'e

sy-bolic 'an+in+ 'is body as cut in ,ieces and actually sold to anyone 'o is'ed tobuy. T'at! at least! is one e9,lanation /or t'is scene o/ -acabre 'orror but anot'er is! it is

said! Concini bein+ estee-ed as a ,oer/ul sorcerer! suc' +ri- relics ere belie4ed int'e-sel4es to ,ossess so-e -a+ical 4irtue.

T'e in+! 'a4in+ re+ained 'is liberty! sent a co-,any o/ arc'ers to arrest Leonora

Gali+ai and ta1e 'er to t'e Bastile. ('e as brou+'t to trial! accused o/ sorcery. It asde,osed t'at so-e boo1s in Hebre 'ad been /ound in 'er a,art-ents 'ic' -ay

,ossibly 'a4e been +ri-oires! and one o/ 'er ser4ants said t'at 'e 'ad acco-,anied 'er

to a c'urc' in order to -a1e a sacri/ice o/ a coc1erel t'ere at -idni+'t. E4ery -anSs 'and

as! o/ course! a+ainst t'e /allen /a4ourite but it does see- t'at t'e MarWc'ale associatedit' an Italian Jeis' doctor na-ed Montalo! 'o as a re,uted sorcerer! and t'at s'e

consulted a /ortune3teller and carried c'ar-s u,on 'er ,erson. ('e as! o/ course! /ound

+uilty! and conde-ned to be be'eaded and burned on t'e 5lace de Gre4e! on t'e 6t' July!%7%.

Her re,ly to t'e c'ar+e o/ sorcery is -e-orable.

(eein+ 'er ,ortrait and s'e as certainly not re-ar1able

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eit'er /or beauty or ,leasantness o/ e9,ression! and recollectin+ t'ese ords! one /eels a

little sorry /or ueen Marie de Medici.

Leland says

circle! and t'e s,irit is constrained to a,,ear it'in t'e trian+le. One o/ten sees /anci/ulre,resentations in art o/ a scene o/ cere-onial -a+ic 'ic' s'o t'e robed -a+ician

standin+ outside t'e circle! and t'e de-on or s,irit a,,earin+ +ithin it% T'is is! accordin+

to t'e ,ractice laid don in t'e +ri-oires! uite absurd. O,. Cit. ,. %66.

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T'ose /a-iliar it' t'e le+ends o/ Ancient E+y,t ill re-e-ber t'e belie/ o/ t'e

E+y,tians in t'e t'e actual docu-ent 'ic' in+ (olo-on le/t as a le+acy to 'is son. T'ere are a nu-ber

o/ di//erent editions o/ t'is or1. Its co-,anion3,iece is a or1 called

so-e'at di//erent /ro- t'at laid don in t'e +ri-oire t'ou+' accordin+ to AleisterCroley! 'o also ,ractised t'e e4ocation o/ t'ese s,irits! t'is is not unusual. T'e

interest! I t'in1! lies in 'at t'e s,irit is alle+ed to 'a4e said. It +a4e its na-e in 'at

later ,ro4ed to be t'e correct Hebre s,ellin+! and told t'e o,erator t'at creatures o/ its1ind ere not necessarily eit'er


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and 'u-ans as not alays 'ealt'y. T'e s,irit did not see- to be ,articularly -ali+nant.

Its a,,earance as t'at o/ a bein+ t'e 'ei+'t and build o/ a tall! stron+ -an! but co4ered

it' 'at loo1ed li1e s'inin+ scales! and 'a4in+ a 'ead it' 'at see-ed to be eit'ers-all! /aun3li1e 'orns or 'i+'! ,ointed ears.

T'e to +ri-oires -entioned abo4e are t'e source3boo1s /or -ost o/ t'e ot'er -a+ical

boo1s o/ t'is and later ,eriods! 'ic' eit'er co,y and ada,t t'e-! or at any rate closelyrese-ble t'e-. (o-e li+'t u,on 'o suc' boo1s ca-e into C'ristian 'ands is t'ron by

t'e ,re/ace to a -anuscri,t co,y o/ t'e


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'ic' durin+ all t'e t'ree 'undred years t'e Te-,le 'ad been built! no one 'ad e4er

'eard o/

$'ile it as ,er/ectly ,ossible /or interested ,arties at ti-es to add a /e lines to t'eend o/ an e9istin+ Roll! it is ,er/ectly i-,ossible t'at t'ere could be any un1non roll in

t'e arc'i4es at a ,eriod 'en interested ,riests o/ bot' sides ere continually +oin+

t'rou+' t'e Rolls! see1in+ to /ind so-e ,assa+e 'ic' ould bac1 u, t'eir o,inions. But t'e Hi+' 5riest -ana+ed to /ri+'ten t'e in+ in order to /orce 'i- to dis+race 'is

,artySs o,,onents.

As is told in II. in+s! II. II. t'e in+ as terri/ied and rent 'is +ar-ents! and said!:Go ye! enuire o/ t'e Lord... concernin+ t'is boo1 t'at is /ound0 /or +reat is t'e rat' o/

t'e Lord t'at is 1indled a+ainst us! because our /at'ers 'a4e not 'ear1ened unto t'e ords

o/ t'is boo1.< (o it is ob4ious t'at t'is Roll consisted o/ t'reats o/ t'e 4en+eance o/ t'e

Lord a+ainst t'ose 'o ors'i,,ed in t'e old -anner! Astrot' in t'e Te-,le! 'ere(olo-on ,laced 'er! t'e ay 'ic' Hil1ia' and 'is ,arty is'ed to su,,ress.

Bein+ t'us /ri+'tened! in+ Josia' did as t'e Ne Roll co--anded! +i4in+ /ull ,oer

to t'e 5uritanical /action! and 'e ,er/or-ed all t'e destruction as told in %%. in+s!

III. And li1e into 'i- as t'ere no in+ be/ore 'i-! t'at turned to t'e Lord it' all'is 'eart! and it' all 'is -i+'t! accordin+ to all t'e la o/ Moses neit'er a/ter 'i-

arose t'ere any li1e 'i-. No t'e abalists 4ery ,lausible say! :T'e Bible is /ull o/ stories o/ ,eo,le 'o did t'e

ill o/ t'e Lord and ,ros,ered. And t'e country ,ros,ered also. And o/ t'ose 'o

or1ed a+ainst t'e ill o/ t'e Lord! and -et sudden deat' in conseuence! and t'e landalso su//ered /ro- t'e $rat' o/ God.

No! t'at is not uite t'e itc' ideal. ('e s'ould be stead/ast! trusty and easyot'erise s'e is not /it to 'a4e t'e Goddess descend u,on 'er. I/ s'e is cross and sel/is'

and un+enerous! it is certain s'e ill ne4er recei4e t'at di4ine blessin+. Our Lady o/$itc'cra/t 'as a 'i+' ideal set be/ore 'er s'e -ust be /res' and 1indly and alays t'esa-e to you. In any case! s'e ill alays recei4e t'e 'onour and res,ect 'ic' itc'es

+i4e to e4ery o-an! but to recei4e t'e 'i+' 'onours s'e -ust be ort'y o/ t'e-.

A-on+ t'e 4irtues s'e -ust 'a4e is t'e realisation t'at yout' is a-on+ t'e reuisitesnecessary /or t'e re,resentati4e o/ t'e Goddess! and t'at s'e -ust be ready to retire

+race/ully in /a4our o/ a youn+er o-an in ti-e ('e ill t'en beco-e one o/ t'e Elders!

'ose decisions are ,oer/ul in council.But as t'e Old God told t'e Goddess!


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co-e to -e I +i4e t'e- rest and ,eace so t'at t'ey -ay return


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clot'es. Ot'er reli+ions! bein+ less ,oer/ul! atte-,t to ,re4ent beauti/ul clot'es. $'at

-onstrosities o-en 'a4e been ,ersuaded to clot'e t'e-sel4es in! in t'e na-e o/

unconscious -ind.T'ere as no roo- /or t'is sort o/ s,irit in t'e itc' cult! nor in t'e -ystery reli+ions

'ic' ere its ,redecessors in t'e days o/ BronKe A+e -atriarc'y! so lon+ as t'ey

re-ained true to t'eir traditions. T'e ,ur,ose o/ initiation as to +i4e t'e neo,'ytesesoteric instruction 'ic' ould rid t'e- o/ t'eir /ear o/ t'e un1non and 'el, t'e- to

/ind a ,'iloso,'y 'ic' -ade sense o/ t'e )ni4erse! notably t'e doctrines o/

reincarnation! 1ar-a! and

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t'e i--ortality o/ t'e 'u-an soul and in t'e sacred or+ies t'ey lost t'eir re,ressions and

/ound ecstasy and t'e Blessin+ o/ 5an.

Just 'ere t'e ,uritanical! ,atriarc'al reli+ion ori+inated e do not 1no. RobertGra4es! in #he (hite 7oddess, 'as su++ested t'at t'ey ca-e /ro- t'e East. But certain it

is t'at in ,re'istoric ti-es t'ey be+an to in/iltrate! under-ine! and so-eti-es attac1 t'e

older /or-s o/ reli+ion. (hy t'is 'a,,ened is an e4en -ore di//icult uestion. T'e anser-ay lie in t'e ancient esoteric teac'in+ t'at 'u-an a//airs /ollo a certain cos-ic cycle.

5er'a,s it as necessary /or t'e 'u-an race to descend into t'e A+e! as t'e Easterns call it! or t'e :A+e o/ 5isces

to 'a4e started t'e idea! :Beauty is E4il


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di4ine

No ot'er la but lo4e I 1no!

By nau+'t but lo4e -ay I be 1non!

And all t'at li4et' is -y on!

Fro- -e t'ey co-e! to -e t'ey +o.

('e is t'e Great Mot'er o/ All! t'e +i4er o/ /ertility and t'e ,oer o/ re,roduction. All

li/e co-es /ro- 'er all li/e3+i4in+ cro,s itnd /ruits! ani-als and ,eo,le are 'er c'ildren.

('e is t'e Brin+er and t'e Ta1er Aay! t'e Goddess o/ Li/e! Deat' and Rebirt' but all ina seetly lo4in+ ay. Lau+'in+ly s'e 'as been described as


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or Adonis /ro-

T'e bull does not s,rin+ u,on t'e co!

T'e ass does not bo o4er t'e =ennet!

No -ore -an bos o4er o-an!

T'e -an slee,s in 'is c'a-ber!

T'e o-an slee,s alone.

$e -ay t'in1 di//erently! but to t'e ancients t'e ,oer and desire /or /ertility ere

+i/ts o/ t'e Gods. $'en t'e Goddess as absent /ro- t'e eart' in t'e Land o/ No Return!all natural desire as li1eise absent /ro- t'e eart'. (o all -an1ind -ourned! 'ile t'e

Goddess ent to t'e Ot'er $orld to rescue 'er lo4e! and at eac' o/ t'e si9 +ates s'e 'ad

to ,ass t'e +uardians de,ri4ed 'er o/ so-e clot'in+! sy-bolised by t'e 4eils. $'en s'e

as na1ed at t'e se4ent' +ate s'e as de,ri4ed o/ 'er =eels. T'us ritually na1ed! s'es'one /ort' in -a+ical ,oer as ueen o/ t'e )nderorld! and rescued Ta--uK and

brou+'t 'i- bac1 a+ain to t'e orld o/ -en.

(o-e t'in1 t'at t'e loss o/ 'er clot'in+ and =eels re,resents t'e anin+ o/ t'e -oon!until s'e rises a+ain in 'er beauty and ,oer.

Ma+ic and ins,iration are 'er +i/ts. ('e is t'e Goddess o/ Ma+ic and Ma+icians.

A,'rodite tau+'t 'er son Jason


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Au+ust! is set aside /or ,rayers to t'e @ir+in Mary! ueen o/ Hea4en! to turn aside stor-s

till t'e 'ar4est is +at'ered in.

$o-en o/ all $estern Asia and -any o/ (out'ern Euro,e ear a crescent as an a-uletto secure t'e Moon Mot'erSs aid in ti-e o/ c'ildbirt'0 To3day t'ese o-en -ay tell you

t'e Moon Mot'er is t'e @ir+in Mary as t'ey say t'is t'ey ill bo to t'e -oon in t'e

s1y. And to -ost o/ us it is considered luc1y to see t'e ne -oon i/ it is not t'rou+'+lass! because t'e latter i-,lies t'at you are in a 'ouse and not! as you s'ould be! outside

to ,ay re4erence to t'e ne -oon. Old accounts o/ ,ri-iti4e ,eo,le describe t'e- as

crodin+ out o/ t'eir 'ouses to elco-e t'e ne -oon.T'ere is a curious su,erstition t'at t'e -oon sends c'ildren! not directly! but by a +iant

-oon3bird! to t'e di//erent o-en. 5ossibly t'is is t'e ori+in o/ our idea o/ stor1s

brin+in+ babies. I re-e-ber a lar+e /li+'t o/ stor1s o4er Jerusale- 'en I as t'ere

t'eir in+s -a1e an e9traordinary noise! and ,eo,le sayin+!


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all t'e +irls o/ t'e 4illa+e ould +o na1ed t'rou+' t'e 4illa+e sin+in+! e4eryone

s,rin1lin+ t'e- it' ater.

T'e /ertilisin+ ,oer o/ t'e -oon as t'ou+'t to lie in 'er li+'t! so t'is as rein/orcedat ti-es by torc'es! candles and /ires burned in 'er 'onour! 'ic' ere used as /ertilisin+

-a+ic! bein+ carried round nely3,lanted /ields in -odern ti-es! as torc'es ere carried

in HecateSs 'onour in ancient ti-es.Diana t'e Huntress as also t'e -ot'er o/ all ani-als and 'u-ans! and as de,icted

it' -any breasts! li1e Diana o/ E,'esus. ('e is s'on it' a crescent 'ead3dress! and

o/ten it' a li+'ted torc'. T'e torc' as 4ery ,ro-inent in 'er ors'i,.It is noteort'y t'at t'e nd o/ February is celebrated as Candle-ass in 'onour o/ t'e

@ir+in Mary! Moon o/ our C'urc' but be/ore it as celebrated on t'at day it' torc'es

in 'onour o/ t'e triune Moon Goddess o/ t'e Celts! Bri+it! Bride or Bri+entis! and on t'is

day 'er ne /ire as 1indled and blessed. It is traditionally one o/ t'e itc'esS (abbats!and is celebrated it' /ires by ,resent3day itc'es.

No! t'e -oon +oddesses o/ t'e East! as a-on+ t'e Celts and in Ro-e! ere ser4ed by

,riestesses 'o tended t'e sacred /ire! e-ble-atic o/ t'e ,oer o/ t'e sun and t'e -oon.

(o-eti-es t'ese ,riestesses ere called

t'ere ere usually ,'allic sy-bols to re,resent 'er di4ine /ertility. In Ro-e t'ese ere

1non as t'e /a-ous

t'e Te-,le o/ Jerusale-! t'e 'ic' as si-,ly


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last to t'ousand years! enor-ous nu-bers o/ o-en 'a4e been :,led+ed to t'e ser4ice

o/ t'e God.< T'ey are e9,ressly called t'e :Brides o/ C'rist

Goddess3consort! so t'at He could no lon+er ,rotect t'e ,eo,le. (ee Jere-ia'! C'a,. 22!

4. %#3%&! re/errin+ to


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/ort' out o/ our on -out'! to burn incense unto t'e ueen o/ 'ea4en! and to ,our out

drin1 o//erin+s unto 'er! as e 'a4e done! e and our /at'ers! our 1in+s! and our ,rinces!

in t'e cities o/ Juda'! and in t'e streets o/ Jerusale-0 /or t'en 'ad e ,lenty o/ 4ictuals!and ere ell! and sa no e4il. But since e le/t o// to burn incense to t'e ueen o/

'ea4en! and to ,our out drin1 o//erin+s unto 'er! e 'a4e anted all t'in+s! and 'a4e

been consu-ed by t'e sord and by t'e /a-ine. And 'en e burned incense to t'eueen o/ 'ea4en! and ,oured out drin1 o//erin+s unto 'er! did e -a1e 'er ca1es to

ors'i, 'er! and ,our out drin1 o//erin+s unto 'er! it'out our -enS

Four -ont's a+o! it is stated! nes 'ad been recei4ed /ro- t'e Midlands t'at < For t'e

/irst ti-e a ,erson 'o 'ad been 4itally in4ol4ed in a t'ri4in+ blac1 -a+ic circle as,re,ared to -a1e a /ull state-ent :. T'ey 'ad /ound a coloured o-an 'o clai-ed to

'a4e been a Hi+' 5riestess o/ a local itc' co4en. . . . ('e told o/ 'er trainin+! 'er

initiation! o/ secret -eetin+s at ni+'t. ('e told o/ 4isits to +ra4eyards at -idni+'t to Get 'old o/ your ,ro/essional

collea+ue so-e ti-e! and tal1 so-e sense about ,rudery! ,ri++ery and 'y,ocrisy to 'i->

5eo,le are no lon+er tau+'t to loo1 u,on t'e trans-ission o/ t'e /la-e o/ 'u-an li/et'rou+' se9ual union as so-et'in+ :dirty; and s'a-e/ul. A ne conce,tion o/ t'e

sacredness o/ 'u-an liberty 'as co-e into t'e orld and I ant to e-,'asise t'at t'is

conce,tion o/ indi4idual liberty is ne+% $'en $ilber/orce tried to sto, t'e sla4e trade!not so 4ery -any years a+o! 'e as ,reac'ed a+ainst by ,arsons u, and don t'e

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country. T'e Tol,uddle Martyrs 'o dared to /or- t'e /irst trade union ere denounced

/ro- -any a ,ul,it. $'en Au+ustine sa t'e En+lis' c'ildren in t'e Ro-an

sla4e3-ar1et 'e as +reatly troubled at t'e /act t'at t'ey 'ad ne4er been ba,tised! and,re,ared 'is -ission to En+land ri+'t aay. It ne4er occurred to 'i- to start a -ission on

t'e s,ot! and ,reac' a+ainst t'e /act t'at 'ere ere 'u-an bein+s ,ublicly e9,osed /or

sale. T'e ,ious 5uritans o/ (ale- in A-erica! 'o started t'e itc'3,ersecution o4ert'ere! t'ou+'t t'at it as ic1ed to on /ine clot'es and =eels yet t'ey ne4er t'ou+'t

t'at it as ic1ed to on sla4es! /or it as one o/ t'eir sla4e3o-en 'o as t'e /irst to

be arrested and interro+ated by torture. T'is conce,t o/ indi4idual liberty is so-et'in+t'at belon+s to t'e Ne A+e! not t'e Old. It 'as been sloly e4ol4in+ since about t'e

latter 'al/ o/ t'e ei+'teent' century! 'en t'e Auarian s,irit /irst be+an to breat'e

t'rou+' 'u-an a//airs. But it 'as 'ad its 'eralds and /orerunners! and so-e o/ t'ese ere

a-on+ t'e itc'3co4ens and not a /e o/ t'e- are a-on+ t'e itc'3co4ens still.One o/ t'e ays in 'ic' t'e Cra/t o/ t'e $ica 'as ser4ed t'e Auarian A+e 'as

been in t'e ay in 'ic' it 'as 1e,t ali4e t'e teac'in+ o/ reincarnation and ar-a. T'is

as idely belie4ed in t'e ancient orld. not only by ,a+ans but by -any o/ t'e early

C'ristians but 'en t'e C'urc' anted to brin+ in t'e ideas o/ Ori+inal (in! @icariousAtone-ent! and (al4ation by Fait'! it realised t'at t'is old teac'in+ o/ t'e Mysteries

contradicted t'e-! and -ust t'ere/ore be discredited. (o in ##" A.D. t'e C'urc' Councilo/ Constantino,le -ade t'e /olloin+ o//icial ,ronounce-ent! :$'oe4er s'all su,,ort

t'e -yt'ical doctrine o/ t'e ,re3e9istence o/ t'e soul and t'e conseuent onder/ul

o,inion o/ its return! let 'i- be anat'e-a.; (o all 'ad to +i4e it u, e9ce,t t'e :iseones;> And t'at! o/ course! -eant t'e itc'es.

Hoe4er! a recent sur4ey o/ reli+ious belie/s in Britain sur,rised t'ose 'o carried it

out by t'e nu-ber o/ ,eo,le it /ound 'o belie4ed in so-e /or- o/ reincarnation. I

onder i/ t'is is entirely due to t'e teac'in+ o/ t'e T'eoso,'ical (ociety and si-ilarbodies since %6# Or did t'ese teac'in+s /all u,on -ore rece,ti4e soil t'an t'ey ould

ot'erise 'a4e /ound! because t'e $ica 'ad 1e,t t'e old Mysteries ali4e! and so

in/luenced t'e Grou,3soul o/ t'is countryBut all t'is belon+s to t'e ,ast! t'e reader -ay say. $'at o/ t'e /uture

T'e Auarian A+e is a'ead o/ us! but it is not yet /ully arri4ed. $e are in t'e

transition ,eriod beteen to +reat A+es. Hence t'e orld3ide tur-oil o/ recent years.And t'ere are t'ose /orces

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'ic' ould see1 to or1 a+ainst t'e co-in+ o/ t'e Ne A+e!and delay it all t'ey can

/or t'eir on sel/is' ends. (tron+ t'ou+' t'ese /orces are! t'ey cannot ,re4ent its co-in+!

t'ou+' t'ey can cause ,rolon+ed su//erin+ and destruction. T'e Ne A+e is bound toco-e but t'e c'oice o/ 'et'er it co-es in ,eace or in destruction rests it' -an1ind. I/

-an c'ooses to or1 in 'ar-ony it' Cos-ic La! it can co-e in ,eace i/ not! t'en 'is

ci4ilisation can +o t'e ay o/ Atlantis.T'at 'ic' 'as in/luenced t'e Grou,3soul o/ t'is country once can do so a+ain. I

'a4e already told o/ t'e belie/ o/ t'e $ica in t'e Ancient Gods o/ t'ese islands. T'is is

not -ere su,erstition or a /i+ure o/ s,eec'. Initiates ill understand -e 'en I say t'att'e Gods are real! not as ,ersons! but as 4e'icles o/ ,oer. Muc' /ood /or t'ou+'t u,on

t'is ,oint ill be /ound in suc' boo1s as #he Mystical 6abalah,by Dion Fortune! and

#he Art of Creation,by Edard Car,enter by t'ose 'o care to see1. Brie/ly! it -ay be

e9,lained t'at t'e ,ersoni/ication o/ a ,articular ty,e o/ cos-ic ,oer in t'e /or- o/ aGod or Goddess! carried out by belie4ers and ors'i,,ers o4er -any centuries! builds

t'at God3/or- or Ma+ical I-a+e into a ,otent reality on t'e Inner 5lanes! and -a1es it a

-eans by 'ic' t'at ty,e o/ cos-ic ,oer -ay be contacted. Nor is t'e ors'i,,ersS

belie/ 4ain0 /or t'ou+' t'ey -ay t'e-sel4es 'a4e built t'e Ma+ical I-a+e! t'e 5oer'ic' ensouls it is real and ob=ecti4e! i/ t'e buildin+ 'as been done in t'e ri+'t ay.

O/ course! t'e Cra/t o/ t'e $ica is not t'e only +rou, 'ic' see1s to contact t'eGods. T'ere are ot'er occult +rou,s 'ic' use a si-ilar tec'niue! and t'eir ai-s are t'e

sa-e! na-ely to brin+ t'rou+' t'e Di4ine ,oer to 'el,! +uide and u,li/t -an1ind at t'is

dan+erous and e9citin+ turnin+3,oint in 'u-an 'istory. But! so /ar as I 1no! t'ese+rou,s +enerally or1 it' t'e E+y,tian and Gree1 Gods and Goddesses! and I cannot

t'in1 t'at t'ese contacts are as ,oer/ul 'ere as t'ey ould be u,on t'eir nati4e soil!

'ereas t'e di4inities o/ t'e Cra/t o/ t'e $ica are t'e Ancient Ones o/ Britain! ,art o/ t'e

land itsel/. For a country e9ists not -erely u,on t'e ,'ysical ,lane! and -an does notli4e by bread alone.

Nor is t'e 4eneration o/ t'e $ica /or t'e old sacred ,laces suc' as (tone'en+e and

Glastonbury -ere senti-ent. T'ose 'o are sensiti4e to at-os,'ere ill 1no t'at t'ese,laces ,ossess a li/e o/ t'eir on! and! /ro- 'at e 'a4e been told by seers! t'ese too

e9ist not only u,on t'e -aterial ,lane. T'ey are /ocusin+ ,oints /or in/luence and t'e

,oer /ro- t'e Inner 5lanes! ,laces 'ere t'e @eil is t'inner t'an else'ere and t'e:su,erstition;

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t'at it is dan+erous to re-o4e or in=ure t'e Old (tones is /ounded on /act.

I a- uite aare t'at -uc' o/ 'at I 'a4e ritten abo4e! about :Ma+ical I-a+es;!

:Inner 5lanes;! :t'e Grou,3soul o/ a nation;! etc.! etc.! ill sound li1e rabid nonsense to-any. T'is consideration troubles -e not at all! as in t'is c'a,ter I 'a4e not ritten /or

t'e -any but /or t'e /e 'o ill understand. For re-e-ber! t'ere are still -any 'o

belie4e in! ,ractise and lo4e t'e :Cra/t o/ t'e $ica;.As t'is boo1 +oes to ,ress! a curious t'in+ 'as 'a,,ened! 'ic' I t'in1 is ort'

recordin+. T'e a+ent o/ a (unday ,a,er 'a,,ened to +et into touc' it' itc'es in t'e

Midlands! and ,ut t'is ,ro,osition to t'e-0 :E4eryt'in+ 'ic' is ritten about itc'esis by t'eir ,ersecutors. No! i/ you ill tell -e your side o/ t'e case! it ill be ,rinted

/airly and truly and let t'e ,ublic =ud+e.; Furt'er tal1 brou+'t out t'at 'at 'e anted

as a beauti/ul youn+ itc' o/ 'i+' ran1 to tell t'e story! illustrated by nude

,'oto+ra,'s0 t'at 'er /ull na-e and address ould be +i4en! so t'at! as 'e ,ut it! t'e,ublic could 4eri/y t'e /acts. T'is ,ro,osal naturally as re=ected as i-,ossible! /or it

ould result in t'e ,oor +irl bein+ ,ersecuted /or t'e rest o/ 'er li/e. Also! a o-an is

usually -iddle3a+ed at least! be/ore s'e attains 'i+' ran1. But a/ter so-e discussion it

as arran+ed t'at 'e s'ould -eet se4eral itc'es! includin+ a +irl o/ tenty3/i4e years o/a+e! 'o as o/ 'i+' ran1! t'at 'e ould obtain all in/or-ation to establis' t'eir +ood

/ait'! and ould be alloed to ta1e ,art in an i-,ortant rite! 'ic' ould be 'eld in t'eoods0 and 'e! in return! ,ro-ised to set out /ully t'e itc'esS articles o/ /ait'. I a-

inclined to t'in1 t'at 'e as +enuine in 'is belie/. T'ey ere 4ery e9cited about it! and

'ad arran+ed to /eature t'e rite in /uture nu-bers o/ t'e ,a,er.But 'en t'e article as ,ublis'ed it 'ad a,,arently been /irst sub-itted to 4arious

C'urc'-en. It started it' a state-ent by t'e Bis'o, o/ E9eter sayin+! :T'ese are

entirely e4il t'in+s. To lin1 suc' ,ractices it' C'ristianity is absolutely ron+.; Ho 'e

t'ou+'t t'at anyone could lin1 an ancient 5a+an Cult! 'ic' as old 'undreds o/ yearsbe/ore t'e ad4ent o/ C'rist! it' C'ristianity! I lea4e it to t'e Bis'o, to e9,lain. T'e

article as o/ t'e usual :dirty s-ear; ty,e. It said t'e ,ro,rietors o/ t'e ,a,er 'ad

acce,ted t'e itc'esS o//er in order to let t'e ,eo,le o/ Britain 1no 'at as +oin+ onin t'eir -idst. )n/ortunately t'e ni+'t o/ t'e itc'3-eetin+ as et! so an abrid+ed rite

as 'eld in a 'ouse. But a doKen 4ery +ood ,'oto+ra,'s ere ta1en. Only one o/ t'e-

as

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re,roduced. T'e actual re,ort o/ t'e rite as described uite ell /or so-eone 'o did

not understand 'at 'e sa. To say t'at itc'es drin1 ru- as ,robably a -ista1e! as it

is a 4ery strict itc' la t'at no s,irits -ay be drun1 by t'e-! and only to +lasses o/ine in t'e e4enin+. T'en ,art o/ t'e inter4ie it' a doctor as uoted! one ,ractisin+

in t'e Midlands! 'o /ir-ly belie4es in t'e +oodness and beauty o/ t'e itc'3reli+ion. He

said +i4en t'e o,,ortunity! 'e t'ou+'t itc'cra/t could a+ain beco-e a ,racticable andnoble reli+ion. T'e ,a,er co--ented on t'is! sayin+ :Conde-ned by t'e C'urc' as a

-onstrous e4il! 'o could any res,onsible 'u-an bein+ belie4e in it as a reli+ion; $ell!

t'ere are -any t'in+s 'ic' t'e C'urc' 'as conde-ned as -onstrous e4ils!5rotestantis-! Noncon/or-ity! Di4orce! @accination and -any ot'er t'in+s 'ic' are

no acce,ted as a -atter o/ course. A/ter all t'is! e ere ,ro-ised re-ar1able

re4elations t'e /olloin+ ee1. But t'e story as t'en ,us'ed into t'e bac1 s'eets. $e

ere told t'e 'orri/yin+ /act t'at a tenty3/i4e3year3old Hi+' 5riestess! A-anda! asinitiated by 'er /a-ily into itc'cra/t 'en s'e as ei+'t years old! and brou+'t u, in

t'e belie/ t'at t'ere as a Goddess 'o ,roduced t'e suns'ine and caused e4eryt'in+ to

+ro. ('e ors'i,,ed t'e God and Goddess o/ Fertility! belie4in+ t'ey 'ad ,oer to 'eal

t'e sic1! and to brin+ curses on t'e 'eads o/ t'ose 'o do 'ar-. $e ere told! /urt'er!t'at itc'es do not belie4e in t'e sacra-ent o/ -arria+e. As it is only so-e o/ t'e

C'ristian sects 'ic' do belie4e in t'e sacra-ent o/ -arria+e! t'ere is not'in+ stran+e initc'es disbelie4in+ in it! 'oldin+ t'e sa-e 4ie. ('e as -ade Hi+' 5riestess t'ree

years a+o! because t'e Elders decided t'at s'e 'ad :inborn 5oer.; ('e as +i4en a

+arter to ear abo4e 'er 1nee as a sy-bol o/ 'er o//ice. T'is! a nec1lace o/ la,is3laKuliand a sil4er bracelet! are all s'e ears at -eetin+s o/ t'e Co4en. T'is is all broadly

correct! e9ce,t t'at s'e as not +i4en a +arter 'en -ade a Hi+' 5riestess. T'is is only

,resented to a o-an 'en s'e is -ade a 5riestess in c'ar+e o/ -ore t'an one Co4en

and t'is is true in A-andaSs case! to -y 1noled+e. I as ,resent 'en s'e recei4ed 'er+arter.

But t'en t'e e9traordinary state-ent as -ade t'at A-anda told t'e re,resentati4e

o/ t'e ,a,er t'at :I/ t'ey did not in4o1e t'e assistance o/ t'e God and Goddess! t'e (unould not return eac' -ornin+.; Eit'er t'is as a -isunderstandin+! a le+3,ull0 or o/

course! it -ay 'a4e been ritten in by t'e Editor. For no itc'! and certainly not

A-anda! e4er belie4ed in suc' a t'in+. But t'ere is an ancient rite! 'ic' is still,er/or-ed about t'e end o/ Dece-ber! :t'e s'ortest day!; 'en itc'es dance round

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cler+y-en 'a4e to sear to belie4e and to teac'! says it is not a sacra-ent.

It is an old +a-e to s,read stories about a /ait' you disli1e! so as to /ri+'ten ,eo,le

/ro- =oinin+ it. I onder 'o -any Ro-ans ere scared o// by t'e story t'at t'eC'ristians ere cannibals! 'o ate 'u-an /les' and dran1 'u-an blood at t'eir

co--union ser4ices

T'ere as an old ideal! :T'e trut' s'all ,re4ail.; But t'e -odern ideal see-s to be!:(ee t'at t'e trut' s'all be un1non! so t'at it -ay not,re4ail.;

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A,,endi9 I.

THE MAGICAL LEGEND OF THE $ITCHE(.

NO$! G. t'e $itc' Goddess 'ad ne4er lo4ed! but s'e ould sol4e all t'e Mysteries!

e4en t'e Mystery o/ Deat'! and so s'e =ourneyed to t'e Net'er Lands.T'e Guardians o/ t'e 5ortals c'allen+ed 'er! :(tri, o// t'y +ar-ents! lay aside t'y

=eels /or nau+'t -ay ye brin+ it' ye into t'is our land.;

(o s'e laid don 'er +ar-ents and 'er =eels! and as bound! as are all 'o entert'e Real-s o/ Deat' t'e Mi+'ty One. Note0 t'ere as a Celtic custo- o/ bindin+

cor,ses. T'e cord 'ic' 'ad bound a cor,se as use/ul in learnin+ t'e :second si+'t.;

(uc' as 'er beauty t'at Deat' 'i-sel/ 1nelt and 1issed 'er /eet! sayin+! :Blessed

be t'y /eet t'at 'a4e brou+'t t'ee in t'ese ays. Abide it' -e! let -e but ,lace -y cold'and on t'y 'eart.;

('e re,lied! :I lo4e t'ee not. $'y dost t'ou cause all t'in+s t'at I lo4e and ta1e

deli+'t in to /ade and die;

:Lady;! re,lied Deat'! :*tis A+e and Fate! a+ainst 'ic' I a- 'el,less. A+e causesall t'in+s to it'er! but 'en -en die at t'e end o/ ti-e I +i4e t'e- rest and ,eace! and

stren+t' so t'at t'ey -ay return. But t'ou! t'ou art lo4ely. Return not abide it' -e.;But s'e ansered. :I lo4e t'ee not.;

T'en said Deat'! :An t'ou recei4ed not -y 'and on t'y 'eart! t'ou -ust recei4e

Deat'Ss scour+e.;:It is Fate better so;! s'e said. and s'e 1nelt and Deat' scour+ed 'er! and s'e cried!

:I /eel t'e ,an+s o/ lo4e.;

And Deat' said! :Blessed be;! and +a4e 'er t'e Fi4e/old iss! sayin+. :T'us only

-ay ye attain to =oy and 1noled+e.;And 'e tau+'t 'er all t'e Mysteries. And t'ey lo4ed and ere one! and 'e tau+'t 'er

all t'e Ma+ics.

For t'ere are t'ree +reat e4ents in t'e li/e o/ -an! Lo4e! Deat'! and Resurrection in ane body and Ma+ic controls t'e- all. For to /ul/il lo4e you -ust return a+ain at t'e

sa-e ti-e and ,lace as t'e lo4ed one! and you -ust re-e-ber and lo4e t'e- a+ain. But

to be reborn you -ust die! and be ready /or a ne body and to die you -ust be born andit'out lo4e you -ay not be born. And t'ese be all t'e Ma+ics.

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A,,endi9 II.

THE (TEDINGER( .

THE/olloin+ account! ta1en /ro-Memoirs of E*traordinary o!ular $elusions,by

C'arles Macay! LL.D. London! %6#. ill ser4e as an e9a-,le o/ t'e ay in 'ic'not -erely 'ole /a-ilies! but 'ole co--unities o/ ,eo,le! ere e9ter-inated in t'e

course o/ t'e C'urc'Ss ca-,ai+n a+ainst t'e itc' cult. Macay states t'at 'is aut'ority

/or t'is narrati4e isEntstehungsgeschichte der FreistUdlischen BVnde im Mittelalter,byDr. F. ortil- %6.

:T'e Frieslanders! in'abitin+ t'e district /ro- t'e $eser to t'e Uuydersee! 'ad lon+

been celebrated /or t'eir attac'-ent to /reedo-! and t'eir success/ul stru++les in its

de/ence. As early as t'e ele4ent' century t'ey 'ad /or-ed a +eneral con/ederacy a+ainstt'e encroac'-ents o/ t'e Nor-ans and t'e (a9ons! 'ic' as di4ided into se4en

seelands, 'oldin+ annually a diet under a lar+e oa1 tree at Auric'! near t'e ),stalboo-.

Here t'ey -ana+ed t'eir on a//airs! it'out t'e control o/ t'e cler+y and a-bitious

nobles 'o surrounded t'e-! to t'e +reat scandal o/ t'e latter. T'ey already 'ad truenotions o/ a re,resentati4e +o4ern-ent. T'e de,uties o/ t'e ,eo,le le4ied t'e necessary

t

Documents

The Meaning of Witchcraft