Georgian Wicca

Georgian Wicca is a Wiccan tradition that is often seen as a branch-off from British Traditional Wicca as it cannot trace its initiatory line to one of the old English covens. However, in its organisation it is very similar to the BTW groups such as Gardnerian Wicca as it follows initiatory lines. The name "Georgian" refers to its founder, George Patterson.

History

The Georgian Tradition was founded in 1970 by George (Pat) Patterson, ZanoniSilverknife and Tanith. It began as a small coven in Pat’s home, in Bakersfield,CA.

Pat received early teachings from members of a Celtic Coven in Boston. When
World War II began, Pat enlisted in the Armed Forces and served for four years.On his return to Boston, he found that family members had destroyed his Book andritual items. He could not find the family he had studied with. He did not findany other Witches for a long time, but he never gave up hope of finding hisbrothers and sisters of the Craft. In 1970, at 52 years of age, Pat began amagical calling that resulted in Zanoni and Tanith finding him and helping tofound the Georgian Tradition. Their first student, Bobbie Kennedy, came alongshortly thereafter.

Soon after forming the group, Pat applied to the State of California forlegal status as an incorporated church and through the Universal Life Church hada charter (1971) and Ministerial credentials for himself and Zanoni.

Pat gathered information, lessons and lore from many helpful sources. Theseincluded Doris and Sylvester Stuart of England, Lady Gwen of the New EnglandCovens of Traditionalist Witches (N.E.C.T.W.), Ed Fitch of the Gardnerian Wiccatradition and others. The Georgian Tradition is based on Gardnerian and
Alexandrian Wicca practices, and Etruscan lore, using those rites and rituals sharedby the Sylvestrians and N.E.C.T.W. as well as material from New York Covens ofTraditionalist Witches (N.Y.C.T.W) Lord Hermes, Ed Buczynski and Lady Siobhan(Order of the Silver Wheel) were most helpful.

Georgian Wicca is similar to Alexandrian and Gardnerian practice, in that it is an initiatory line and oath-bound. Many of the rituals are similar to those published in various books on what is sometimes called "British Traditional Wicca" (BTW), such as Janet and Stewart Farrar's "Eight Sabbats for Witches" and "The Witches' Way", as well as the privately distributed version of what was later published as Ed Fitch's "Grimoire of the Shadows". Georgian Wicca, however, is not a recognized member of the BTW, as itlacks an important requirement - initiatory lineage back to one of the BTWcovens in England. Therefore, it is considered BTW-derived.

Newsletter Days

Beginning in 1976, Pat edited the "Georgian Newsletter", a chatty, informal correspondence that helped to build the community of Georgians and link them with one another. Following his death in 1984, the newsletter continued for a few years, and subsequently ceased publication. The newsletter contained bits of gossip, "Helpful Hints", book reviews, and the ever popular feature "Being a Witch is ... "

Present Day

Georgians are now worldwide and growing; many are in the Armed Forces, carrying the Tradition with them. Recently, there has been an upsurge in those interested in reconnecting with or learning about the Georgian Tradition.

At present, there are known Georgian Covens in British Columbia, California, Florida, Oregon, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Washington and Oklahoma. There is also a current effort being made to reconnect members of the Tradition. This website is one such effort.

External links

* [http://www.georgianwicca.com/ Official site]