mannun
Seeker
www.witchsmark.com
Posts: 12
|
Post by mannun on May 8, 2008 7:33:30 GMT -5
I have gotten my hands on this book by Margaret Murray written in 1921. To me it has a plethora of interesting information found within supposedly obtained from Witches throughout history and from many different countries. There are tons of quotes from witches being questioned by the authorities and each time a reference at the bottom of the page shows where to find this information yourself, which most everything you would have to go to a particular church/library of history in that particular country and have a translator available. Anyways, this book gives tons of confirmation of alot of the Wiccan practices of today, i.e. working in circles, a degree system, an entire chapter of The Man in Black or Summoner, The Sabbats celebrated and how, Initiations & Elevations etc etc. In the past Margaret Murray was discredited with her fidings, however I do believe that was because of the day and age she was discredited. What are some of you alls thoughts on her findings now?? For those who have never seen or heard of this old book just Google the title and you can read a PDF version of it.
|
|
|
Post by Senbecc on May 9, 2008 2:49:11 GMT -5
I have gotten my hands on this book by Margaret Murray written in 1921. To me it has a plethora of interesting information found within supposedly obtained from Witches throughout history and from many different countries. There are tons of quotes from witches being questioned by the authorities and each time a reference at the bottom of the page shows where to find this information yourself, which most everything you would have to go to a particular church/library of history in that particular country and have a translator available. Anyways, this book gives tons of confirmation of alot of the Wiccan practices of today, i.e. working in circles, a degree system, an entire chapter of The Man in Black or Summoner, The Sabbats celebrated and how, Initiations & Elevations etc etc. In the past Margaret Murray was discredited with her fidings, however I do believe that was because of the day and age she was discredited. What are some of you alls thoughts on her findings now?? For those who have never seen or heard of this old book just Google the title and you can read a PDF version of it. Hmm - well according to my own understandings of Wicca's set up, most of what she's claiming to have been the practices of "Witchcraft" seems to come more over from the ceremonial practices of Thelema, or the Golden, if not some variation of Free Mason practice. It certainly wasn't uncommon in "Wicca's" "lineage" (for want of a more appropriate term) for people like Murray, Gardner, Leland, and others to borrow from other standing traditions of the day. I don't think this proves any sort of root in the distant past however. On the subject of the Sabbats, according to most of the Initiated Gardnerians I have spoken to, it seems that the 4 Celtic (Welsh, Irish, and Manx) sabbats hang pretty closely to the traditions laid out in Celtic texts. We know Gardner set these up around the 20's or 30's as well. Personally I'd have to see the proof before I'd want to draw a conclusion either way.
|
|