~*History of Gardnerian Witchcraft*~
History of the Gardnerian Witch
The history of Gardnerian Witchcraft is somewhat of a mystery to many. Gardnerians tend to be secretive at times, revealing little or nothing about their path. A misconception, however, is that Gardnerians are always secretive and rigid in their practices. This is not true, as we are given the freedom to improve on our teachings and adjust our ways according to modern times and current situations. Gardnerians do have structured rituals and do use specific tools in their Craft, as well as an Altar for practice. I have decided to enlighten those interested in this sect of Witchcraft, as the wishes of the founder of Gardnerian Witchcraft, Gerald Brosseau Gardner, were to recruit young members back to the ways of the Old Religion.
Gerald B. Gardner, founder Gardnerian Witchcraft
Gardnerian is an initiatory tradition, which began in the late 1940's in England. It was developed further by Doreen Valiente. Emphasis is placed on the Female-Male polarity, and its balance, fertility, the cycles of life and a firm belief in reincarnation. The coven practices include bindings, scourging, and the importance of the trance state. Some Gardnerians also practice scrying using the traditional black mirror and/or water scrying. Most, but not all, work skyclad. The basic principal of our beliefs is "If it harm none, do what you will". As this religion is only sixty years old, many Gardnerians are Hereditary Witches, Eclectic Witches, as well as from other paths.(Please see Paths & Traditions page for further information).
Gerald Brosseau Gardner was born in Great Crosby near Blundell Sands, Lancashire, England on June 13th, 1884. He was a self educated man, who received honary degrees from the University of Singapore, and it is of great debate that he earned degrees of Literature and Philosophy from any accredited institution, as Doreen Valientes' research on his degrees did not confirm them. It is thought that much of his credibility was wronged by those who attempted to undermine his views.
He suffered from severe asthma and began travelling with his family's nurse, "Com" McCombie, early in his childhood during the winter months to help alleviate his condition. It was during these travels to the Far East that he became interested in daggers, knives, the Malaysian kris (a dagger with a wavy blade), the local religious practices and beliefs of the natives about magic.
Gardner had various occupations throughout his lifetime, including tea planting, a rubber plantation inspector, an opium plantation inspector and as a Customs official for the British government. He retired from latter in 1936. Gardner was interested in archeology and took various trips throughout Asia Minor and Europe. It was during these archeological expeditions that he found places that he had only dreamed about previously, and felt that he had lived there, upon their discovery, in a previous lifetime.
In England, he became involved with an occult group of Co-Masons, a Masonic order, called the Fellowship of Crotona. It was through this friendship that he met another secretive group of hereditary witches. Gardner was initiated into their coven in 1939 by "Old Dorothy Clutterback". Through his initiation and his increasing interest in the occult, mysticism, magical procedures and tools of the Witch, he began collecting material and through these collections, wrote an unpublished manuscript, Ye Bok of ye Art Magical.
He met Cecil Williamson, founder of the Witchcraft Research Centre and Museum of Witchcraft in 1946. It was she who introduced Gardner to Arnold Crother, who later introduced him to Aliester Crowley. Gardner was able to obtain some material from Crowley prior to his death, which was only a few short months after their meeting. Crowley made Gardner an honorary member of OTO, the Ordo Templi Orientis, which was a Tantric sex magic order and was under Crowelys' leadership at the time. Gardner believed that although some of the teachings of Crowley were beneficial to his beliefs, they were merely fragments of the whole.
Through his own coven, New Forest, and the material obtained through Crowley, Gardner compiled his own Book of Shadows. He is responsible, and this is a cause for much debate, for the terminology Book of Shadows. Gardner believed that this book of rituals and spells was to be kept intact at all times, but the owner was free to add and improvise to the original works. The BOS was to be handed down, matrilineally, as is the Gardnerian tradition itself. Most Gardnerian Witches can trace their ancestory back matrilineally, as well, to a High Priestess who worked with Gerald B. Gardner himself.
Some of the basic principals of this religion focus on the coven, which is lead by the High Priestess and her partner, the High Priest. The High Priest is always thought of to be secondary to the High Priestess, and although some of Gardners' writings are viewed as sexist, the fact that a woman leads these covens contradicts these views, as he was one of the first to promote the idea that the High Priestess is in the primary role. The High Priestess and High Priest are commonly refered to by the terms "Lady" and "Lord", followed by their given Craft name.
There are three degrees of initiation in the Gardnerian path, although some covens use two in Europe. Please see page on initiations for detailed explanations on rituals themselves, as well as for self initiation. (will follow shortly)
Tools must be consecrated prior to use. The tools used by Gardnerians are the Athame, the Sword, the Cup/Chalise, the Pentacle, the Cords, the Censer/Thurible, the Scourge, and the White-hilted Knife. The Athame and Sword have their own consecration, while the other tools have one which is used for all.
The Altar is consecrated as well and needs to be set up properly for practice. The table itself tends to be quite large, as it needs to have a Working Pentacle, Left Altar Candle, Statue or figure of the Horned God, Statue or figure of the Horned Goddess, Right Altar Candle, Elemental Candle, Thurible, Water Bowl, Salt Bowl, Book of Shadows, Athame and Wand.
Gardner was unable to be too public about his views on Witchcraft, as in England, it was against the law. When the anti-witchcraft law was repealed in 1951 Gardner broke away from the New Forest Coven and began a coven of his own. He became actively involved as "resident witch" for the Museum of Witchcraft in Castletown. His views soon became more public.
A nudist himself, Gardner is often accredited for much of the use of nudity in many wiccan rituals, especially in Ceremonial Rituals. Hereditary Witches had previously always been robed. Many in the Craft note his views on the necessity of nudity to be his own personal preference, not necessarily a direct reflection on the need of all witches, especially in areas of inclimate weather.
In 1953 Gardner initiated Doreen Valiente into his coven. She began reworking Gardners' Book of Shadows, removing the contributions taken from Crowley, due to his horrible reputation. More emphasis was placed on the Goddess and the rebirth of Gardnerian is due in large part to her contributions in this area.
The following are the published works of G.B.G.:
Keris and Other Malay Weapons, 1936
A Goddess Arrives, 1948
High Magick's Aid, 1949 ~ published under the psydonym, Scire: a novel about witches, but said to be his original Book of Shadows disguised due to the anti-witchcraft law.
Witchcraft Today, 1954
The Meaning of Witchcraft, 1959
Gardner became a spokesperson for the entire pagan community, and was invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace in 1960, which was a huge step for paganism, as he was one of the first to be accepted by British Royalty despite his beliefs.
In 1963 Gardner met Raymond Buckland. Gardners High Priestess, Lady Olwen, initiated Buckland into the Craft. Buckland, an Englishman who lived in America, is the person responsible for introducing Gardnerian Witchcraft to the United States. Shortly after their meeting, on a return trip from Lebanon, Gardner suffered heart failure aboard ship. He died on February 12, 1964.
His contributions to paganism through his written works and attempts to increase public awareness shall never be forgotten. Witchcraft has taken on a Goddess-centered focus since the 1960's and much can be attributed to Gardner for his reawakening the ancient ways and many other paths have been inspired by his works, creating new traditions on his beliefs.
Credits:
An ABC of Witchcraft, Doreen Valiente
The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft, Rosemary Ellen Guiley
http://www.tradwitchcraft.org/trads/gardener.html
http://www.interlog.com/~bcholmes/gardner.html
©2001NyWitch
