Wicca & Crowley

#wicca #crowley #thelema

Does Wicca come from Thelema? What was the relationship between Aleister Crowley and Gerald Gardner and how did that influence the Wiccan tradition?

REFERENCES
Hutton, R. (2012) Crowley and Wicca. In: H. Bogdan & M. P. Starr eds. Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism. 285-306, Oxford University Press.

00:00 Introduction: Did Crowley play a part in the birth of Wicca?
00:36 Ronald Hutton
01:00 Gardner & Crowley meetings
02:56 Crowley’s death
05:01 Gardner leaves the OTO
06:01 Crowley’s reason for not becoming a witch
07:33 The Minimalist Position
08:21 The Maximalist Position
08:46 Summary
09:29 Support Angela’s Symposium

⚠️ Copyright of Dr Angela Puca, in all of its parts ⚠️

Music by Erose MusicBand. Check them out!

[KarlKarsnark]

Another great vid. The best part is always the Star-splash transition in the intro. Dr. Angela is a Techno-Mage: Confirmed! Cheers.

[stevebb]

whether people want to acknowledge it or not, the shadow of crowley overhangs every system that has followed.

[yochanan]

Thanks for shedding light (cakes) on this subject. I know several practicing Wiccans that firmly believe that Wicca came to what it is today whole from the European Witchcraft tradition without alternative influences.

[andythedishwasher]

This has always been an interesting topic for me, but I've never really found any sources I could consider trustworthy given the web of complex motivating factors involved in the telling of this particular tale. I appreciate how you broke down those motivating factors and effectively represented the differing accounts. That really seems to be the approach that is needed for the kind of work your field is currently engaged in.

[Grap_Sda]

Okay I am glad I waited and held my tongue on this subject until I got to see your video. As a Wiccan of a more traditional pedigree I have some very definite opinions about this. My view is largely based on conversations I have had with elders and from the book Doreen Valiente Witch by P. Heselton. Doreen relates that she had a manuscript of the Golden Dawn grade rituals prior to joining Gardner's Coven. She also seems to have been very familiar with Crowley's writings. At one point she confronted Gerald about the fact that a lot of the material in the book of shadows was drawn from the Golden Dawn / Crowley. This would presumably be an earlier version of Book of Shadows than we have now. Gardner according to Doreen admitted to her that many of the Witch rituals were sparse and there wasn't enough to make a full tradition out of. So according to Doreen's account he used the Golden Dawn material and Crowley material to flesh a lot of it out. He then basically called on Doreen to do some significant rewrites to the rituals and other portions of the BOS.

My opinion is basically on the minimalistic spectrum. I think without Leland, Murray, the Golden Dawn and whatever folk magic Gardner came into contact with Wicca would be very different. I think without Crowley Wicca would be largely similar to what it is but I do think Wicca was definitely influenced by Crowley. I still say the single biggest influence to Gardner was his folk magic contacts and the excitement he had for the idea of a Witch Cult.

I am definitely a non expert in this subject and I am coming at it from a practitioners perspective so I am likely highly biased. I still think that Gerald's story is largely in the realm of truthful yet exaggerated. My beliefs in reincarnation lead me to think that Gerald may have been initiated into a Coven of Witches who were Witches in a previous life and reincarnated with a mission to revive the craft. This is just my personal view but I have heard others express it as well. Also if you research this topic there are some very strange confluences that are hard to explain where just really unlikely circumstances appear to align at just the right time. So it would appear whatever the case the Gods had very definite plans that seemed to work out the right way.

[kevanhubbard]

Effectively I'd say that the Golden Dawn rather than individual ex members probably had a major influence on most western magic.Wicca tends to be more nature based than the GD but the influence is still there to various degrees.I wonder if Gardener encountered the ghost of Elvis in Memphis? Obviously unrestricted by space/time as Elvis only merged with the Force in 1977 the year Star Wars came out!

[silvermoon]

I think I remember Doreen Valiente writing about the influence of Crowley being very palpable in the material she inherited as Gardner's high priestess that she then mostly edited out when she rewrote a huge portion of the book of shadows. I can't remember which of her books she mentions this in though. It may also be part of an interview she did with the Farrars in The Witches' Bible. I know I read it somewhere...

[dexocube]

Brilliant video Dr Puca! I like Ronald Hutton, he's cool.

[M-CH_]

It is worth pointing that Gardner and W.B. Crow were at the time of their cooperation with Crowley members of the same milieu of occultists with eclesiastical leanings, which was centered about Hugh George de Willmott Newman (Mar Gregorius) and his Catholicate of the West. W.B. Crow was de Willmott Newman's consecrator, and the later has in turn given a conditional consecration to Frederick Dorian Herbert, who at one time has ordained Gardner as a priest in his church.

[cirella]

Angela your English is getting incredibly better. Wow! Im very impressed and so glad to have found your channel. Amazing research done as always.

[demonravinson]

There she is!!😍 I like that shirt Angela! Have a great day😁🥂🌹

[rrrosecarbinela]

Grazie, dottoressa... It's good to know the history. I don't know which end of the spectrum the truth lies in, but at minimum, Crowley was a spark... for which I am thankful.

[usadues]

By studying under Crowley, Gardner had a solid structure of occult philosophy. I believe he mixed it with ancient Pagan rites and practices and in time his hybrid contribution was hybridized and adjusted by his successors . It's what happens when you write things down.

[HUNarutofan]

Lol 6:30 I could see Crowley saying that even if he meant it as a joke. Either way that was hilarious X'D awesome video and I hope you keep up the great work. I love the occult and getting to get as much info as I can so channels like yours help me on my exploration.

[dazknight]

Yes Aleister Crowley and Gerald Gardner where into the Craft. Although Gerald had re defined the use of Magic in ways that people could explore the ways
of contacting the Divine Gods and Goddesses and working with their powers along side you through their guidance and teaching called WICCA. Although
WICCA progressed to different types. I myself work with many Gods and Goddesses in the spiritual and know of around 200 or so. But lately working with
a few. Learning to call them to circle and getting to know them makes them have more confidence in you as a practitioner. If you are dedicated they know.
I myself would teach classes, but I have no where in my area to do so. Good luck on your journeys. Blessed Be sweetie. I have been busy lately with all going
on, but my Angels, Guides, Dragons, Fae, I work with can always assist you. Protection for you always. Basically Aleister Crowley was darker in practice in what
he did. I also work with Celtic for power as well.
Love, Archangel Michael

[duantorruellas]

About 10 Years ago people were bashing wicca on line and I said then, " It's not right to talk about wicca like it's a weaker version of witchcraft, or ceremonial magick". I told them we have more in common than you think. I remember saying "we are all brothers and sisters in the craft." And now Angela you have provided an actual link between, ceremonial and wicca .

[ArielRyanBautista]

I feel as if Crowleys students of note (the ones that history has remembered at least, and ones that founded their own traditions) all either made complimentary philosophies and religions or expounded on his traditions. Being a student of wicca in my youth and of a few of Crowley's students (i.e. a.o. spare, Kenneth grant, Israel regardie, Jack Parsons, Alan Moore, etc.) I can see the need for the various cults to combine and continue together for their own goods as they all seem to be parts of the same philosophy.

[dannypresson]

I've wondered if the New Forest Coven or other connected covens were in some way influenced by Crowley prior to Gardner's return to England in '38.

[juanjoseescanellas]

Very interesting and clear overview of that difficult issue. I enjoy your excellent work very much.

[kylepotwin]

Awesome video I love the information and keep making good videos.