Shop by Culture
Call us (toll free!) 1-844-490-9546
Payments are secured. You can use PayPal (no PayPal account needed) or you can pay directly with any international credit/debit cards.
Ancient Egypt Jewelry
Ancient Egypt Artwork
Ancient Egypt Clothing
Ancient Egypt Home Decor
Ancient Egypt Accessories
Ancient Egypt Jigsaw Puzzle
Ancient Greece Jewelry
Ancient Greece Home Decor
Ancient Greece Artwork
Ancient Greece Accessories
Ancient Greece Clothing
Ancient Greece Jigsaw Puzzle
Celtic Home Decor
Celtic Artwork
Celtic Jigsaw Puzzle
Ancient Rome Jewelry
Ancient Rome Home Decor
Ancient Rome Artwork
Ancient Rome Accessories
Ancient Rome Clothing
Ancient Rome Jigsaw Puzzle
Vikings Chains
Vikings Jewelry
Vikings Home Decor
Vikings Artwork
Vikings Accessories
Vikings Clothing
Vikings Jigsaw Puzzle
Native American Home Decor
Native American Artwork
Native American Accessories
Native American Clothing
Native American Jigsaw Puzzle
Templar Jewelry
Templar Home Decor
Templar Artwork
Templar Accessories
Templar Jigsaw Puzzle
Wiccan Clothing
Wiccan Home Decor
Wiccan Artwork
Wiccan Accessories
Wiccan Jigsaw Puzzle
Feudal Japan
Feudal Japan Jewelry
Feudal Japan Artwork
Feudal Japan Accessories
Feudal Japan Clothing
Feudal Japan Home Decor
Feudal Japan Jigsaw Puzzle
Face Bandanas
Clothing - Other
Canvases and Posters
Artwork - Other
Jewelry - Other
Accessories - Other
Home Decor - Other
037 The Old Religion of Wicca
Home / Ancient Treasures
Witchcraft is as old as religion itself. Even the Bible refers to a necromancer sought by Saul to summon Samuel the Witch of Endor. There has been the Greek Oracle, the Vates of the Celts and other seers. Then there are the ancient medicine men and women, who performed healing (sometimes way beyond their time). But what about Wicca, the most popular pagan movement of modern times. What are the origins of Wicca and can it claim ancient roots?
Wicca is an Old English word, which referred to male sorcerers in Anglo-Saxon England. Wicce is the female counterpart. The equivalent word in Modern English is witch. Today, there are 2 strands of Wiccans, those who practice witchcraft and those who identify with modern day Wicca as a religion. Gerald Gardner is generally credited with the establishment of the Wiccan movement but did not himself refer to the practice as Wicca, but as "the Craft of the Wise", "witchcraft", and "the Witch-cult". Although he did use the term Wica, which he always spelled with a single c, this did not refer to the religion itself, but the religions practitioners individually. The New Forest coven group claimed to have known Gardner from a past life, and in September 1939, revealed to him that they were members of a Witches' coven. They initiated him in a ritual which took place in one of the homes owned by Dorothy Clutterbuck. He first heard the term Wica on initiation and said the word "hit me like a thunderbolt, and I knew where I was, and that the Old Religion still existed."
Although there are many sceptics, Gerald Gardner said he believed that the New Forest coven was a survival of the Witch-Cult, a pre-Christian pagan religion that worshipped a Horned God and a Triple Goddess. He stated the ancestors of the Witch-cult were persecuted during the witch trials of the 1600's. Nineteenth century writers Jules Michelet and Charles Leland wrote about the existence of the Witch-Cult. However, it was Egyptologist Dr Margaret Murray who brought it to prominence in the early twentieth century. More recently, however, scholars like Professor Ronald Hutton feel that the existence of the Witch-Cult has been disproved. However, researcher Vikki Bramshaw suggests that Gardner may well have had a few brief meetings with local traditions. Whilst several members of the New Forest coven were from masonic and academic backgrounds, others included blacksmiths, manual labourers and others with gypsy backgrounds. Many of these could certainly have knowledge that had been passed down from generation to generation of the Old Religion.
Get 15% OFF on your first order!
Enter your Email address and receive a 15% Welcoming Discount Code immediately!
Customer Service and Legal
Shopping With Satisfaction
We will make sure you are a happy customer! If you have any questions you can checkout our Contact us.
Any additional requests or suggestions? You can reach us at support@ancientreasures.com
Easy & Safe Checkout
SSL Secure Checkout - We are using SSL technology so you can have your peace of mind while shopping.
Easy Payments - You can pay with your Paypal account, or with your credit card (through the Paypal checkout).
Worldwide Shipping - We offer worldwide shipping from our international warehouses!
© 2021 Ancient Treasures.