Spirit Online: Wicca & Magick: Beginning Wicca:History
of Wicca
The history as documented by Kevin Baker.
The history of Wicca is under much debate in the Wiccan
community. Some people say that it dates back to as
early as the stone age. Others say that it's origins are
much more recent. The problem with the history of
Wicca is that there has been much perse cution
throughout the years, making it very hard to keep
accurate records. The more recent history can be
confirmed, but the problem lies in the ancient history.
Archaeologist have found drawings in caves from the
stone age that would suggest that Wicca, or witchcraft,
dates back that far, but it's hard to be certain. In the
earliest age of man writing was nonexistent and the
drawings found are hard to interpret. It's believed that
even in the stone age there was some concept of a higher
being and there were various forms of worship. Some
scholars say that the drawings found were the beginnings
of what is know as Wicca today. Others feel that the
connection is too weak to make a judgment like that.
Evidence has been found to support that there was some
form of Wicca in early C.E.
Artifacts have been found from the first few centuries
that suggest there were witches back then. Some of
these things include decorated knives, mixing bowls and
jewelry. The Christian church was also more tolerant of
witchcraft in early C.E.. People who were found to be
practitioners only had to repent with no real threat of
harm. Then in the late 13th century the view of magic
began to change.
The belief that magic was a form of evil that came from
the devil himself grew in the late 13th century. People
who practiced witchcraft were viewed as being bonded
with Satan and evil. This began what most Wiccans refer
to as "The Burning Times" . The In quisition was founded
and many witches were put to death. The numbers vary
depending on what source they come from, but the lowest
estimates are well into the thousands. The witch-hunts
ended by the 18th century, the last outbreak being the
Salem witch tr ials. In Salem, Massachusetts twenty
people, supposedly witches, were put to death after an
outbreak of hysteria cause by several young girls we said
they were bewitched.
Wicca had a low following in the time that followed, up
until the mid 20th century. In the mid 20th century
there was a rebirth of witchcraft, referred to today as
the Neo-Pagan movement. Several writers drew great
attention to Wicca and its beliefs. The most famous of
these writers was Gerald Gardner who wrote
"Witchcraft Today" in 1954 and began to revitalize the
Wiccan movement. Today Wicca thrives and has a large
following.
of Wicca
The history as documented by Kevin Baker.
The history of Wicca is under much debate in the Wiccan
community. Some people say that it dates back to as
early as the stone age. Others say that it's origins are
much more recent. The problem with the history of
Wicca is that there has been much perse cution
throughout the years, making it very hard to keep
accurate records. The more recent history can be
confirmed, but the problem lies in the ancient history.
Archaeologist have found drawings in caves from the
stone age that would suggest that Wicca, or witchcraft,
dates back that far, but it's hard to be certain. In the
earliest age of man writing was nonexistent and the
drawings found are hard to interpret. It's believed that
even in the stone age there was some concept of a higher
being and there were various forms of worship. Some
scholars say that the drawings found were the beginnings
of what is know as Wicca today. Others feel that the
connection is too weak to make a judgment like that.
Evidence has been found to support that there was some
form of Wicca in early C.E.
Artifacts have been found from the first few centuries
that suggest there were witches back then. Some of
these things include decorated knives, mixing bowls and
jewelry. The Christian church was also more tolerant of
witchcraft in early C.E.. People who were found to be
practitioners only had to repent with no real threat of
harm. Then in the late 13th century the view of magic
began to change.
The belief that magic was a form of evil that came from
the devil himself grew in the late 13th century. People
who practiced witchcraft were viewed as being bonded
with Satan and evil. This began what most Wiccans refer
to as "The Burning Times" . The In quisition was founded
and many witches were put to death. The numbers vary
depending on what source they come from, but the lowest
estimates are well into the thousands. The witch-hunts
ended by the 18th century, the last outbreak being the
Salem witch tr ials. In Salem, Massachusetts twenty
people, supposedly witches, were put to death after an
outbreak of hysteria cause by several young girls we said
they were bewitched.
Wicca had a low following in the time that followed, up
until the mid 20th century. In the mid 20th century
there was a rebirth of witchcraft, referred to today as
the Neo-Pagan movement. Several writers drew great
attention to Wicca and its beliefs. The most famous of
these writers was Gerald Gardner who wrote
"Witchcraft Today" in 1954 and began to revitalize the
Wiccan movement. Today Wicca thrives and has a large
following.
