Janet Thompson - Of Witches: Celebrating the Goddess as a Solitary Pagan

First published in 1993 by

Samuel Weiser, Inc.

P.O. Box 612

York Beach, Maine 03910-0612

www.weiserbooks.com

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Copyright 1993 Janet Thompson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including phorocopy, without permission in writing from Samuel Weiser, Inc. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Thompson, Janet.

Of witches: celebrating the Goddess as a solitary pagan / by Janet Thompson.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

1. Witchcraft. 2. Goddess religion. 3. Paganism. I. Title.

BF1566.T456 1993

299dc20

92-45542

CIP

ISBN 0-87728-762-7

CCP

Cover painting is Astarte Syriaca by Dante Gabriel Rosetti from the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum. Used by kind permission of the Bridgeman Art Library, London.

Printed in the United States of America

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48-1992(R1997).

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This book is for my daughter Kelly,
who loves as the Goddess intended.

I wish to thank Dr. Amore for his critique of the origional thesis. His open-minded approach to the work encouraged me to continue.

Many thanks to those friends whose support and good wishes made me realize that I could do it. Special love to Gary, Krystal, Dina, Ian, Judy, Andrea, Connie, Veronique, Jamie, Greg, and Paddy.

Thanks to those witches who have written about the Craft for the benefit of all.

And special love to Marian and Scheff who taught me to question.

May the love of the Goddess be with them all.

J.S.T.

A halo of silver 'rounds a brilliant Moon,

while the dry leaves blow.

The Moon is pale and full of power,

an essence beyond comprehension,

an incredible force of magic.

Times like these

leave the very center,

that shelters the spirit,

the temple of center, the temple of energy.

On and on we travel to find the fork

in the paths that divide.

One direction and you will find fate

having passed aside lessons richly taught.

The other roadfate will find you,

and in turn you will discover your destiny.

Your rewards will be great

and the path, your salvation.

Experience your destiny and the windows will open.

Stretch out your arms and embrace the reality

of knowing,

for the only reality is learning.

Hold it close to your heart,

and draw the energy

to seek more.

Look upon the horizon and

recognize the promise of tomorrow.

I chose to write this book for two very different reasons. This work (the thirty original pages) started out as a thesis. I enjoyed writing and the only aspect that I found tedious was searching out sources for all of the things I had written from memory. It reminded me of the idea of asking a Christian to source and footnote the Lord's Prayer. And so, to once again state the Wiccan intent of goodness and to remind the reader that there is a religion of Wicca was my first intent. The second reason is simple. When someone has interests or beliefs that are out of the norm, then one seeks out as many viewpoints on the subject as one can. This is true of most Wiccans I have ever met. Most are voracious readers who gobble up as much information as they can. This way a working base is established and the learned witch is then equipped to write his or her own rituals, spells, and celebrations. But there must be a grounding of knowledge from which to work. And for a solitary witch or coven who has not had the opportunity to meet other witches, books are a must.

I wish to bring Craftsmen and Craftswomen closer together so that we may share with and enlighten each other. Only through the passing of knowledge can we hope to achieve the unity that is required to fix this planet. Too much is negative in the world. We must see life as an interaction with the Mother. Pagans, whatever tradition they follow, are the ones to show by example. We have our essence in the Earth and Moon. We thrill with the dawn of each new season. Our souls are irrevocably linked with the Mother. And what's more, we are aware of this.

We must work together as never before. We must learn as much as we can, and continue to do the good works that need to be done. If we can pass love and joy from the inner place that is inside every pagan, we can enrich other lives as ours have been.

The experience of witchcraft as a healing and gentle religion, is very clear to those who practice it. There are, in all religions, rituals or traditions that perhaps only practitioners see the value of clearly. The power raised in a Witch's Circle can be felt by those who are consciously receptive to it. The release of that power to the healing purposes for which it is meant can be seen by witches and non-witches alike. It spirals from sight leaving its aura for us to witness. These are the experiences of Wicca. As a Wiccan, I have witnessed many such releases and have participated in rituals too numerous to count, as well as actively researching the Craft for many years.

Each person must choose his or her own path to the Light. Some choose very organized and well-documented religious paths, while others find joy and peace in the lesser-known faiths that may be misunderstood. Wicca provides a legitimate and positive path for those who feel drawn to it.

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill,
and it harm none, do what ye will.

The Lady has three and she shows them to you,

Youthful Maiden, Mother and Crone.

Remember Her in all that you do,

And you never will be alone.

The Maiden is huntress at the time of Beltane,

fires burn on hilltops ablaze,

She chases the King Stag, a babe to obtain,

a child for the Goddess, the Mother to raise.

The Mother, she waits for her children to grow,

teaching each to care for the Earth,

She brings them the knowledge that they all must know,

'till She is the Crone and awaits Her rebirth.

The Crone she is aged and bent o'er her cane,

wisdom is her duty to leave,

She must impart all that she's obtained,

The Lady awaits her and Peace she'll receive.

[To be sung to the tune
of Scarborough Fair]

The way by which Wiccans come to the Craft and the incredibly varied opinions of authors in the field sparked this chapter. There are those who feel that you must be one of two types of initiate. If you have been initiated by an Alexandrian or Gardinerian witch, then you are welcomed. If you claim hereditary lines from your family line, then it is assumed you are a true witch. The very idea of someone being in the Craft by other roads is abhorrent to many Wiccan authors.

Many witches, however, have reached the path by other means and can be very powerful, indeed. All who stay on the Wiccan Way must be assumed sincere, otherwise they would have chosen a more fulfilling one. Being an active and practicing witch takes time and effort. There really is no such thing as a Sunday witch. You must work to increase your potential powers and you must take time to learn. Wicca is a life system as well as a practical religion. It must be used to be strong.