1974 Council of American Witches history?

Question

I've written to Mr. Carl Llewellyn Weschcke about this council and the 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief.. here is his response:
"I drafted the “13 Principles of Wiccan Belief” the evening before the famous WitchMeet. As host, I chaired the Meet, and offered the group my draft. As I remember if – and no minutes were taken – the only debate was on the organization’s name: Council of American Witches versus American Council of Witches.

I maintained the position that American Witches were distinctive from British Witches in that we were more eclectic than traditional, and didn’t want some other group to claim that we were only a ‘chapter’ in some larger, as far as anyone knew, not yet existence group located in Europe.
(more)

I drafted the Principles to give substance to the Meet, and to establish as basis by which Gavin [Frost] and Hermann [Slater] could easily resolve their differences about homosexuals in the movement. It worked, and I asked the two of them to publically shake hands to acknowledge that they buried their differences.

I did maintain a record of participants but disposed of it under the duress of cleaning house for our move from one home to another. I’ve regretted that several times since. …[T]here were about seventy participants, total...

I recall that everyone did identify themselves, and named any group of which they were representative. Many of them were regular participants in the annual Gnosticons [the first Pagan festivals in the U.S. that were sponsored by Llewellyn] – a substantial presence from Madison, Chicago, and Milwaukee, and lesser from New York, California, and elsewhere. It was at the Meet that Morning Glory and Oberon [Ravenheart-Zell] were married with Isaac [Bonewitz] officiating, and another event was an absent healing of Lady Sheba who was then living in Florida with a diagnosed tumor which was scheduled for surgical removal. Following our healing, the surgery was no longer necessary.

It was never officially disbanded. I just did not have time to continue with it along with a growing Llewellyn and the birth of my son, and the following year we discontinued the Gnosticons which had always been a cash drain for Llewellyn. [My wife] Sandra and I had incorporated the First Wiccan Church of Minnesota, but later let it lapse as unnecessary for our small coven.

That’s all I can recall."

Do you find this helpful?

Answer 1

Very helpful.

One of the things that interests me is that I have known some folks to act as if this specific group of Witches laid down the law for every Witch in the world.

And it ain't so. It ain't even so for all the Witches in America. Some American Witches are *very* traditional, in that they follow British Traditional Witchcraft in it's various forms, or family traditions, or follow ethnically-based traditions, like Strega or Santaria, and so on.

And there are certainly Witches in America who don't agree with all of the "13 Principles".


AND it appears that even in 1974 there was a conflation of the specific Traditions of "Wicca" with other forms of Witchcraft. As you and I both know, those terms are NOT synonymous. And yet, the council is of "Witches", who put together principles of Wiccan belief??? How many of those involved were initiates of any Wiccan Tradition?

This was a group that agreed to some things for *itself* and the attendees, (and perhaps those who decided to join later) only.


I'd sure be interested to know which specific Wiccan Tradition Mr. Llewellyn was initiated into, for him to call his coven a "Wiccan" church (i.e. what his lineage was/is). I don't suppose you could inquire for the edification and enlightenment of the rest of us?

Answer 2

Council Of American Witches

Answer 3

It is my understanding, and I will check further into it, that most of the folks at the Council were Witches and Pagans with a few being BTW, Wiccan

I have always wondered why a council made up primarily of Non-Wiccans would draft something called "13 Principles of Wiccan Belief" if they are not all Wiccan, so I'll guess I'll need to do a bit more digging.

If as was stated the American Witches wanted a position that was distinctive from BTW, calling themselves Wiccan was not the wisest course, in my opinion.

Answer 4

Wow. Thank you.

I've never read this...and I've been a Pagan for 7 years!!

"and another event was an absent healing of Lady Sheba who was then living in Florida with a diagnosed tumor which was scheduled for surgical removal. Following our healing, the surgery was no longer necessary."

That was my favorite part.

Answer 5

thank you kallan
as a brother for across the pond i found this interesting
we dont have the luxury of the american people to have a religion accepted as you have and we have no formal unifying force behind this,
in u.k wicca is still seen as a child religion by traditionalists having been created by g gardiner and a crowley in the 1950's
but maybe you need look even further back to buckland who i believe brought it to usa.
as to forming 13 principles they certainly have not been adopted over here.
but thanks for the info
nemesys

Answer 6

Margot Adler wrote about the conference (among many other things) in "Drawing Down the Moon."

She also wrote about some fundie moves to discredit Wicca, also dating back to the early 70s.

Answer 7

You are a Priest of what? Witchcraft or "Wicca",they look to "spirits in the 4 winds"! Those spirits dont exist,and i suspect you know it! It can lead to pure SATANISM! You should try to get as many out of this nonsence as you can,if you are a christian1

Answer 8

Isn't the Internet...and "Answers"...a wonderful resource for sharing unique, but enlightening information? Thanks [[[Kallan]]] for adding this about a perfectly-valid spiritual tradition which is all that more apropos as 'Halloween' and All Saint's Day are approaching!

Answer 9

This is very interesting since it was only briefly touched on in my studies. Thank you!

Answer 10

Thank you for bringing this here.....

Hopefully this will be something that you can also use to EDUCATE people about Wiccan history