Ok, first off, this is my first entry in this journal/blog. Don't expect this to be a tell all story of my life because it won't be. Instead I will be using this section for posting information and questions and, hopefully, teaching others my views of Witch Craft and Shamanism.

First off, some information about me, who I am, what I do, and for how long.

My name is Linda but my pagan name is Astrael. I am 52 years old, and have been practicing Witch Craft since the age of 12. I started learning about the Craft and the ways of my grandfather, Henry, at the age of 2. At that time the lessons taught to me were just cool stories and games my grandpa played with me. Little did I know or understand these were lessons to pass on to others seeking the same knowledge that I had obtained.

What passes for Witch Craft in today's society is not the same thing I learned as a child or as a teen or even a young adult. I call the Witch Craft of today, "neo-witch craft" similar to neo-paganism. Most people of today have no idea there is a difference in paganism, witch and wiccan but there is.

Wicca is not of the Old Religion as many call it. For one thing paganism is not really a religion and for a second, Witch Craft was never seen as a religion but a way of life. It was how people survived and what they believed in. It was part of life. Some called it superstitions. Wicca, itself, did not actually appear on the scene until about the mid 1950's when Gerald Gardner decided to start his own brand or religion which entailed nude dancing and ritual (skyclad as some call it), drugs and alcohol. And, yes, there was sex involved, but it was ritual sex according to Gardner. I'm sorry but this old Witch believes Gardner was just a randy old man getting his jollies and not serious about the Craft or his path. For one thing, he wrote the Wiccan Rede which states that whatever you put out, either positive or negative will come back to bite you on the ass three fold. Or kiss your ass depending on the energies you put forth into the universe. This is a Hindu/Buddhist belief known as Karma. Show me where in the middle ages Witches believed and understood in Karma and I'll change my opinion of the Law of Three.

Ok, Gerald Gardner was supposedly initiated into the New Forest Coven by a Dorothy Clutterbuck. But there is no mention of Dorothy after this event or before and no mention of the New Forest Coven or any other High Priest or Priestess. There is no real proof of any of this happening.

Alexander Sanders, who was a coven member with Gardner, decided some things should be changed in the coven but Gardner ignored Sanders so Sanders left the New Forest Coven to form his own. It is said that Sanders took along with him Gardner's Book of Shadows. If this is so then how did Raymond Buckland manage to bring along the Book to the U.S. when he came here to teach the word of Gardner to us lowly Americans? Also, where did the idea for a Book of Shadows come from? It's not an ancient text but a book one keeps such as a journal of magickal workings, outcomes, ideas and correlations. Not just spells, rituals, and herb lore. It's much more and is not ancient as some believe. In fact the Book of Shadows had never been heard of until Gardner. If witches during the inquisition or burning times were to have owned a Book of Shadows or similar it would surely seal their fate and brand them a witch. It was unheard of for a person who followed the Craft of the Wise to have such a book in their possession. Why do you think they called it the Craft of the Wise? All the formulas, spells, herbs and such were kept in the minds of those who practiced. These spells and such were passed on from family member to family member in a case of need. For instance, if a child was ill and needed a healing but the aunt couldn't come to the child, the mother of said child would be given the "spell" to work for the child while the aunt would work on it at her residence. Together the two workings would combine into the one spell and help heal the illness. The spell would be told to the mother of the sick child, not written down in a book. Eventually, after the repeal of the Witch Craft Law in England, Books of Shadows may have appeared but before that it would have meant death to anyone holding such a book.

Most of the books today written about Witch Craft deal with the Neo-Witch Craft of Gardner's making. And all of them seem to be the same in context. Introductions into Wicca or Witch Craft. Nothing past that save for a few books on Advanced Witch Craft. One I found particularly useful is written by Lord Foxglove. Unfortunately there are not many of these books for those wishing to further their studies. That is the reason I have decided to teach what I know of the Craft and the history I have learned through my studies.

Please understand that these are my opinions that I post here and not those of any of the other members of the coven. Also please understand that I have been studying Comparative Religion for almost 25 years on my own time as a form of entertainment and kind of a hobby. I find it very interesting.

Remember, in school, how you learned about history and the "good guys" in your history books? I do, it didn't occur to me that these lessons would be wrong since they were supposed to be history and written to give us knowledge of what happened during the time in question. As my spouse always says," History was written about what happened, but doesn't always reflect what really happened. It's written by guys who weren't there but said they were and wrote about what happened their way." So does this mean the history we all learned in school is wrong? Maybe not all of it but it does make one wonder and question what is written today claiming to be gospel or truth. And this brings one back to the story of Gerald Gardner and Wicca. Is it really a form of True Witch Craft or a Neo-Witch Craft ideal set up by a randy old man wanting to have parties and fornicate with young women and men in a time before the free love movement? Makes one wonder, yet there are people out there who would follow Gardners word to the grave. They don't see it for what it really is. A gimmick. At least this is the way I see it.

So ends this thought for this day. More to come later.

Blessings

Astrael