A to Z Blogging Challenge word of the day - Gerald Brousseau Gardner

Can’t have a post on the Occult without talking about or at least mentioning the most important figure among the modern Wica. Mr. Gerald Gardner, became close friends with one of the Folklore Society most controversial members, the former Egyptologist Margaret Murray, whose The Witch-Cult in Western Europe proposed that medieval witchcraft was the survival of an ancient Pagan religious tradition. According toe Garner, the Crotona Fellowship did indeed had an inner circled consisting of people practicing this same original witch-cult Pagan religion. This religion had been passed down in secret through the years, even centuries.

In 1946, Mr. Gardner joined one of Aleister Crowley’s magical orders the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO). After Crowley’s death, Mr. Gardner tried to restart up the OTO, but failed to do so. In 1954 Mr. Gardner became active in other origins of Wica. Liked being a nudist (or Naturist), going back to nature movement, and even joined the Ancient Druid Order.

In 1951 after witchcraft laws were abolished in England, Mr. Gardner formed his own coven and moved to Castletown, on the Isle of Man. There he took up the position as a resident witch at the Museum of Magic and Witchcraft. He eventually bought this museum from the original owner. 

First non-fiction book on witchcraft was published in 1954 by Gardner. Witchcraft Today presents witchcraft as a healthy, life-affirming Pagan religious tradition . This title was followed up by, The Meaning of Witchcraft, in 1959. Mr. Gardner died from failing health in 1963 while returning by ship from Lebanon.

Hope today’s words gave you guys a nice little insight into one of the most influential men among modern Wica. I strongly suggest if you are at all interested in Wica to take a deeper look into this man as well as the works he’s published.

Have a great day and remember:

 Let Imagination Soar

Write and Read With Creativity

Julia Matthews

(If you liked this little piece of information there is more to find about related topics on all things Occult related in the book that I got this information from.)

* * * This word and information came from, The New Encyclopedia of the Occult by John Michael Greer. This particular word can be found on page 188-189. * * *