A Brief History
There are many versions of the history of Witchcraft. Some idealists believe it can be traced through an unbroken lineage - handed down from mother to daughter, grandmother to granddaughter, generation after generation, existing in various levels of exposure and secrecy since the dawn of humankind. Witches who believe this consider Wicca to be the original religion of humankind, rooted in an ancient utopian time when women held the deciding vote, and the ability to give life was worshipped more than the ability to kill, as is honoured now in the patriarchal dominance.
Witchcraft is a word that frightens many people and confuses many others. In the popular imagination, Witches are ugly, old hags riding broomsticks, or evil Satanists performing obscene rites! Modern Witches are thought to be members of a kooky cult lacking the depth, the dignity, and seriousness of purpose of a true religion.
Witchcraft is a religion, perhaps the oldest religion in the West. Its origins go back before Christianity, Judaism, Islam - before Buddhism and Hinduism, as well and is very different from all the so called great religions.
The Old Religion, as we call it, is closer in spirit to Native American traditions or shamanism of the Arctic. It is not based on dogma or a set of beliefs, nor on scriptures or a sacred book revealed by a great man. Witchcraft takes its teaching from nature and reads inspiration in the movements of the sun, moon and stars, the flight of birds, the slow growth of trees, and the cycles of the seasons.
Different groups held different beliefs and worshipped different Gods and Goddesses, without conflict as far as we know. Roman Gods and Goddesses had shrines or temples alongside those of the native population. At first Christianity was just another belief system and its churches co-existed peacefully. However as it became linked with the Crown and the Government it became more powerful and in order to maintain control sought to eradicate those earlier beliefs.
The Gods of the nature religions now came to be called devils or demons and their followers accused of laying curses and practising foul Magic that ruined crops, sickened cattle and caused children to fall ill or to die. 'Agents' were appointed to hunt out the 'evil doers'. Special laws were introduced and incentives, in the terms of land and money of those convicted, were provided to encourage people to report those that might be involved in 'demonic' activities! As a result of the Churches actions many innocent people were arrested, many were tortured and many executed.
Between the 1400's and 1700's some nine million witches worldwide were hunted and executed by drowning, burning or hanging. So, witches were forced underground and met in secret. As time passed witches ceased to be hunted but they still kept very much to themselves and never talked about what they did. It wasn't until the 1950's that Witchcraft started to re-emerge and people began to practise the Craft without fear of death. Interestingly enough the last laws against Witchcraft were only repealed in 1951!
The Craft today is really built on the sense of our culture having lost, buried or corrupted the old traditions and Witches are attempting to rediscover them and make them relevant to this brave new world.