Witchcraft has an ancient, rich, and suppressed history. With my military assignments I discovered many significant historic facts of interest to Wiccans that my Christian ministers and American educators failed to instruct me on. Such historic information is hard to find because it is generally suppressed. But this small list is a start. Now for some history.

The sacred myths of the Celts have no creation story. A creation story is unnecessary. Other myths describe a God creating something from nothing, but they overlook one important fact - there is no such thing as nothing! The universe has always existed in one form or the other and always will exist.

The Book of Invasions (an ancient Celtic myth) describe wars between several stone age people named Formorians, Partholan, Nemed and Firbogs.

From 30,000 B.C. Willendorf, Austria, a limestone sculpture of the Great Mother was discovered. This is the oldest known statue of a Deity.

Further south in Granada, Spain, the oldest known coven of 13 was buried. They had various magickal tools and like all stone-age people wore animal skins for clothes.

Near 4,000 B.C. the first megaliths erected, the first known example of stone magick.

Near 2,800 B.C. Pre-Celtic people begin construction on Stonehenge. The magick circle makes its appearance.

About 2,000 B.C. Avenbury stone circle was built by the Beaker people.

Near 2,000 B.C. the Book of Invasions, record the arrival of the Tuatha De Danann in Ireland. Later the Celts settled in the British Isles.

The Celts never united into an empire. They never had a single king or queen ruling all Celtica. Each tribe was independent and ruled itself. They were democracies! As are many covens today. This practice of independence may explain why Wiccan covens today are not a nationally organized religion with a central leader.1 Wiccans are too independent to subject themselves to one leader. This is not a weakness as the new religions claim, but a strength. This separation and independence of covens prevent mass corruption and the loss of individualism. For Wicca is not a religion of followers, but leaders.

About 2,000 B.C. several North American Indians stencil hand prints on rock art. The ancient pentagram is displayed again.

About 1500 B.C. the Celts reach North America. They write ogham on stones and build several stone structures.6

About 1200 B.C. in Britain, people worshiped Bel at Stonehenge.

About 992 B.C. King Solomon of Israel (1 Kings 11) began to worship the Goddess (Ashtoreth) and built many temples called high places for many Gods and Goddesses. King Solomon is said to have invented the Kabbalah system of magick.

About 900 B.C. the Druids are established.

About 874 B.C. the Historia Regum Britanniae, records that King Bladud of Britain encouraged the study and development of magick throughout England. Caesar may have been correct in saying that magick came from Britain instead of Persia.

About 714 B.C. Jewish prophet Isaiah likely mentions the Tuatha De Danaans in Isaiah 21:13. He calls them Dedanim.

About 713 B.C. in 2 Kings, chapter 21, Manasseh, King of Israel placed a may pole (Asherah pole) in Jehovah's temple. Near both courts of the temple he built altars to all the starry hosts (the Zodiac).

About 713 B.C. the bible mentions several magickal beings: the satyr (earth spirit) and the "screech owl" (a wind spirit) in Isaiah 34:14. Dragons (a fire spirit) in Isaiah 13:22 and unicorns (a water spirit) in Isaiah 34:7.

About 700 B.C. Zoroaster, the Median prophet taught about an all good God and all evil God. Much of the new religions beliefs were taken from this religion. Christians claim they get the belief in a Satan from the Jews.1 This is incorrect, the Jews, contrary to Christian claims never adopted a Satan. Just ask any Rabbi. Neither did Wicca! Just ask any Wizard.

About 600 B.C. the bible in Jeremiah 7:18 and 44:19, describe Pagans (Celts from Turkey) making cakes for the Goddess, building a bonfire, burning incense, and pouring out of drink offerings. These rituals are still practiced by Witches today!

About 600 B.C. the bible in Jeremiah 10, describes some Celt (Wiccan) practices. In verse 2 it says "they used signs of Heaven." Many Wiccans use astrology today. In verse 5 it says, "they speak not." Today's Wiccans just don't tell everyone about the Craft, we are not evangelists! Verse 5 also says, "for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good." This again is a Wiccan belief today, Wiccans don't see things as absolute good or evil.

About 562 B.C. the bible in I Kings 14:23 stated Pagans used sacred stones and Asherah poles. These sacred stones were placed in a circle around the worship site. The Asherah pole is a maypole. These Pagans believed that all trees were inhabited by Goddesses called Asherahs. We call them Dryads today.

About 500 B.C. in Britain, people worshiped Apollo at Stonehenge.

About 230 B.C. the Greek botanist Theophrastus wrote a book on using herbs for medicine.

About 45 B.C. a Roman poet, Tibullus wrote about a worshipper of the Goddess (Hecate) casting a magick circle, singing, and eating cakes as Wiccans do today.

About 40 B.C. Propertius, a Roman poet, wrote about Witches using herbs.

About 20 B.C. Horace, a Roman poet, interviewed a Witch named Canidia. In the interview, Horace refers to a book of spells and magick as science! He also wrote in his Satires about two Witches practicing sympathetic magick and worshipping the Goddess.

About 24 Strabo, the Greek Geographer, wrote the Celts didn't waste their natural resources. Yes, the Celts were environmentalist, like many Wiccans today.

About 150 Lucie Apuleius, a Roman novelist & philosopher wrote in his De Magia that magick was a noble art and not evil. He also wrote the novel Metamorphoses where a woman named Meroe worshipped the Mother Goddess Isis.

About 313 Christianity becomes the official state religion of the Roman Empire. At a meeting at Milan Bishops for the first time declared that all Gods except their God were false.

About 385 Emperor Theodosius I established the death penalty for using magick.

About 450 the Historia Regum Britanniae, records that King Vortigern of Britain used magicians in his court. This is after Britain was suppose to be a Christian nation.

Probably to attract Goddess worshipers the Church presided by Emperor Marian at Calcedon in 451 AD invented the doctrine of "Mariolatry." That is the worship of Mary!

About 542 King Arthur unites Britain and established a policy of duel allegiance to both Pagan and Christian. Like the future queens and kings of Britain, he will need them both to protect the country from invasion. Some will argue that King Arthur had no Pagan connections. However, The Historia Regum Britanniae, states that Arthur used some 200 astrologers from Monmouthshire. Additionally, Merlin according to the Historia Regum Britanniae, had a familiar spirit. Familiar spirits are strictly forbidden in the new religion's bible. The idea of Arthur as a defender of the Christian faith was added by later writers, he was a Pagan.

About 597 the Historia Regum Britanniae, reports that Pope Gregory I sent Augustine to the Angles of Britain because they had completely rejected Christianity.

About 616 the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reported that Eadbald, King of Kent rejected Christianity and followed Pagan customs.

About 633 the Historia Regum Britanniae, reports the murder of King Edwin's trusted magician.

About 793 the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reported that Heathens destroyed churches. This could be true because most churches were built over Pagan holy sites. It is likely they wanted their holy sites back and the churches were in the way! In fact, Notre Dame in Paris was built over Cernunno's temple, Cernunno's name is carved under the altar. Worms cathedral in Germany is built over a temple of Zeus. Saint Paul's cathedral in London was built over Diana's temple.

About 919 the Norse kingdom of York is established by Raegnald. Bringing the Norse religion's influence into Wicca, such as runes and Norse mythology.

By the 1000s the Christian Church had adopted the pentagram as a symbol of the ascending of Christ into heaven or the five wounds of Christ. A pentagram in stained glass is displayed in Worms Cathedral, Worms, Germany.

In the Middle Ages, the wear of the Witches high conical hat became a rage in fashion. But the country folk had a more practical purpose. The hat was a safety device. Country folk while traveling through the forest would be struck by falling cones or branches. As an object fell it struck the cone of the hat and bounce away from the wearers head and face.

1050 The Church for the first time declares that the Roman God of Light, Lucifer as Satan.

In 1229, the council at Toulouse denied the bible to all except priests and higher officials. their reason to prevent people from interpreting it.

About 1324 Dame Alice Kyteler, a Wiccan, wealthy, attractive, and influential Anglo-Irish Lady was charged with Witchcraft. She appealed to King Edward II and all charges were dropped in spite of the enormous evidence that she was indeed a Witch.

About 1349 King Edward III establishes two covens of 13, the "Order of Saint George" and "Order of the Garter." George's coven for the Prince of Wales and the garter coven for himself. The garter was a symbol of a coven and was worn by the High Priestess of the coven. By the end of Edward III's reign he had acquired nearly 170 garters. This practice of the High Priestess wearing a garter continues with modern Wiccans today.

About 1431 Joan of Arc (convicted Witch and Saint of the Church) was burned at the stake by the official church. Ms. Arc came from Lorraine, an area before and after her time was declared to be the center of Witchcraft in France. Joan of Arc was often called "the Maiden." The maiden is an office held within a coven. More proof, Gilles de Rais a close friend of Ms. Arc was executed for alchemy.

About 1540 Martin Luther supports the death penalty for Pagans.

About 1550 John Calvin supports the death penalty for Pagans.

1584 Sir Reginald Scot wrote, The Discoverie of Witchcraft protesting the horrible treatment of Witches and asked the public to review the legal process.

1588 the British fleet engaged the Spanish Armada at the Battle of the Gravelines, on 27-29 July and routed it. The Spanish Armada was still a threat to mainland England, for if the troops landed, England would be lost. So the Pagans cast magick for the destruction of the Armada and a storm destroyed much of the Spanish fleet.

1628 Robin Good Fellow is published. It displays a picture of the Witches God with 12 worshipers inside a circle, documenting a coven of 13.

1663 Witchcraft is reported to be numerous in America.2

1693 America, Governor Phips ended legal Witch hunts.

1703 America, Judge Nicholas Trott of Charleston, South Carolina stated, "There are Witches and they have done good for the common cause of religion."

1706 America, Grace Sherwood of Princess Ann County, Virginia was tried as a Witch. She was a Witch, but she was released anyhow.3

1717 the Druids religion publicly re-established.

1735 English Witchcraft laws were repealed.

1736 American Witchcraft laws repealed.

1816 the end of the Burning Times. Pope Pius VII abolished the practice of torturing Witches.

1821-23 the famine in Ireland drives many Irish Pagans to the U.S. bringing much of Irish Witchcraft to American covens.

1872 the Druid Society is founded in Germany.

On October 28, 1886, the world's largest statue of the Goddess is dedicated, "The Statue of Liberty." An interesting note, why was there so much support for the erection of a Pagan Goddess, in a so-called Christian nation, during economically hard times?

Beginning in the 1920s, Witchcraft was revived in Europe and America.

1887-1927, the Pagan, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle publishes Sherlock Holmes.4

1908 Winston Churchill becomes a Druid at Blenhein Palace.5

1940 many Celtic Witchcraft covens in England use magickal powers to prevent Hitler from invading England. They also sent a fog to aid in the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk.

1960 the Vatican II prohibits the harassment of Witches.

1970 the U.S. Department of Defense publishes DA Pamphlet 165-13 stating Witchcraft is not Satanism! It covers the history and correctly defines the religion.

1992 8 Dec. Headquarters United States Air Force Chaplain Service, approves SSgt Nathan Crisp to function as a Wiccan lay leader and provides the use of Chapel facilities for worship. See appendix 1.

Summary: Wicca is an ancient religion. Yes, we've changed rituals, magicks, and tools. In fact, the only constant in the universe is change. Since Wicca is a natural religion, it is only natural that Wicca would follow the example of the universe -- and change too!

1. Wicca, Satan's Little White Lie , Schnoebelen, William, Chick Publications, P.O. Box 662, Chino, CA 91708-0662, 1990. pp. 127

2. Chronicle of America, Chronicle Publications Inc., Suite 311, 105 South Bedford Road, Mount Kisco, N.Y., 10549., pp.70

3. Gleanings in the History of Princess Ann county, White, Benjamin Day [n.p.] 1924

4. The Wanderings of a Spiritualist, Sir Author Conan Doyle, Ronin Publishing, Inc. Box 1035 Berkeley, CA 94701, 1988, pp. 15

5. The Druids, Peter Ellis, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 255 Jefferson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503, pp. 13

6. America B.C., Fell, Barry, Pocket Books 1230 Avenue of the Americas, N.Y., N.Y. 10020, 1976, 1989

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