Traditional Witchcraft of England and other Northern European countries have been hard at work in the last 60 years preserving what little pre-Christian traditions that were left, Witchcraft practices, and supporting them with other magical systems that became popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Many people try to say that Gerald Gardner made it all up. That’s simply not true according the most recent research. There is new evidence that has been found that shows the existence of the New Forest Coven that Gardner was initiated into, and we now know that his High Priestess was “Dafo“, Edith Woodford Grimmes, not Dorothy Clutterbuck, as many had previously thought. Although the New Forest Coven did indeed use Dorothy’s house to meet in.
A British historian named Philip Hesselton has done the field research, and his findings are in the two books: Wiccan Roots and Cauldron of Inspiration. This shows that there has been a survival of European Witchcraft, although it has undergone many changes due to the effects of the dominant religion of Christianity (sound similar in any way to any other native religions we know of?). Anyway, the Gods of the Wica (yes, originally spelled with one ‘c’) are the same as the Lwa or the Orisha for European peoples as they are elevated Ancestors, and they are getting stronger as time goes by and more people are brought into their mysteries. Within Traditional Witchcraft the Gods names’ are secret as well as their inner services. Those who simply read books about it are not aware of these aspects, just as in African-derived traditions there are initiatory secrets.
As far as skyclad practice not being authentic…it is indeed documented in many countries, even Scandinavia, which is much colder than England. Skyclad was and is not done outside in winter, of course, but indoors. Just because you’re without clothing doesn’t make it perverted. Are you perverted when you take a shower or have sex just because you have no clothes on? No. The same goes for skyclad practice: if it’s done for a specific reason within the tradition, overseen by the Gods of that tradition, it cannot be perverted.
Eclectic Wicca, however, is up for grabs, whatever works is what is done. This is what is found in the books on the market, even the ones that claim to be traditional. Silver Ravenwolf is an example of Eclectic Wicca. I’m not saying it’s bad or that it doesn’t work, just that it is not to be confused with the Initiatory, Oath-bound traditions of the British and American Traditional Witchcraft.
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By a Member of Mysanteria.com: Wiccan Forum of Mysanteria.com
da best. Keep it going! Thank you