Sept 2006 Newsletter

Raymond Buckland Raymond Buckland Many of the very first books that we pick up are the ones that stay with us, and our library, forever. For many, the first book was “Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft” (now celebrating its 25th anniversary), and it is also known as the big blue book. Volume 1, Issue 16 September 2006 In this issue: Special points of interest: ∗ Raymond Buckland 1– 7 CEPF News Deity of the Month 13 ∗ Classifieds Section Ceremony and Ritual Page 14 ∗ Crafts Candles, Herbs and Runes 12 ∗ Advertising Section Church of eclectic pagan fellowship fellowship pagan of eclectic Church Many Paths… One Goal CEPF Newsletter It was with this book that many may have learned the fundamentals of our chosen paths, and it is also with this book that we learned what it was we wanted and needed. Raymond Buckland wears many hats, including Englishman, author, witch, founder of Seax-Wica, operator of his own Museum of Witchcraft in America, and the person who introduced Gardnerian Witchcraft in America in 1964, and, of course, but never least, he is known as the “Father of American Wicca”. It was Raymond Buckland that first introduced many of us to the Old Religion, written by an actual witch, and it is Raymond Buckland that gave us the variable jumping board of Wiccan mainstream into our homes, which continues today. Of a Romany Gypsy descent, from his father’s side, Mr. Buckland is a foremost authority on the subject of Gypsies, and he has written many books on that subject as well. Even though Mr. Buckland attended the Church of England, it was at age 12 that his Uncle introduced him to Spiritualism and the occult, and he never looked back. Coming to American in 1962 from England where he wrote many comedy scripts and was a personal scriptwriter for the popular British comedian, Ted Lune, Raymond Buckland was able to write wonderful works that has kept us glued to our seats for many years. Margaret A Murray and Gerald Gardener influenced Mr. Buckland’s pagan based search, and it was then that he was able to see what he felt was missing and was able to then think of Wicca as a religion. He then contacted Mr. Gardner on the Isle of Man and it was not long before a lifetime friendship developed between the two men. Mr. Buckland eventually became the US based spokesman for Mr. Gardner, and whenever Mr. Gardner received a US based query, he forwarded it on to Mr. Buckland. Mr. Buckland met Mr. Gardner for the first and only time in 1963, when Mr. Buckland was to be the initiation by Monique Wilson, Gardner’s High Priestess. Sadly, it was shortly after this first meeting that, while on vacation to winter in Lebanon, Mr. Gerald Gardner passed away and was buried in Tunis. Interested in the occult for well over fifty years, and writing for the past forty years, with a book published each of those forty years, (both fiction and non-fiction works), and having more than a two million copies in print, as well as published in seventeen foreign languages, he has also received numerous awards for both his works and books, which are featured in several national book clubs. He has also served as Technical Director for movies, working with Orson Wells (Necromancy) and with director William Friedkin (The Exorcist) on a stage production of “Macbeth”. He has lectured at colleges and universities across the country and has been the subject of numerous newspaper and magazine articles, appearing on numerous television and radio talk shows, appearing extensively on stage in England and has also played small character parts in movies in America, taught courses at colleges and universities, been a featured speaker at conferences and workshops, and he has been listed in numerous reference works. After more than a quarter century of working in and leading the craft in America, giving him the title of the most sought after and considered to be amongst the top of America’s leading authorities on Witchcraft, all I can say is that this man knows very well what it is he is doing, and I for one, has hopes that he continues to bring the Craft into better light and continues to keep it coming into our homes. Mr. Buckland, on behalf of The Church of Eclectic Pagan Fellowship, I wish to say thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule and agreeing to do this interview. It means a great deal to many people. I would also like to say congratulations on the 20th anniversary of your book, “Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft”. I personally had a chance to hear your radio interview on Lance and Graal (http://www.lanceandgraal.com/) (Episode 26). It was a wonderful interview and very enlightening on you and your beliefs and hopes. And many of these questions are based upon that broadcast. CEPF: You studied at King’s College School in London, went on to earn a doctorate in anthropology from Brantridge Forest College is Sussex, what was it that interested you in anthropology? RB: It’s not easy to put a finger on it after all these years! Anthropology is, of course, “the study of Man” (these days read “Hu-man”!) and that is an ever-changing, extremely interesting, totally absorbing subject. How have we developed? How do we think? What makes us do the things we do? Especially important, perhaps, is what do we think and in what do we believe? All these are fascinating topics and part of the on-going study of humankind. CEPF: In 1957, you served a short term in the RAF for a total of two years, what was that experience like for you and your new bride? RB: It was – as I expected – a complete waste of time! (So many people drafted at that time shared that feeling.) It took two years out of my life that could have been put to better use, especially at a time when I should have been cementing my marriage and building a career. However, in retrospect it did give me some interesting experiences and brought me into contact with a wide variety of people I might never have met otherwise. CEPF: Immigrating to the United States in 1962, you went to work for BOAC (British Airways), was your interest in the occult still with you? RB: Oh, yes. My interest in the occult has been life-long. It started in England, when I was about twelve, and has never left me. Working for BOAC meant that I was able to visit some of the more mystical places I might otherwise not have been able to get to – The Villa of Mysteries at Pompeii, for example. CEPF: Mr. Buckland, with your extensive background in the occult, is there anything that you happen to have for us in the future? RB: The joy of the occult is that you never know what is going to crop up in the future – despite looking into crystals and reading tarot cards! My focus these days is in Spiritualism (which is actually where I got my start) and I have done two or three books on that subject recently with more to come. I have also developed my own version of the Ouija® Board – the Buckland Spirit Board – which is about to be presented, together with a book on the subject , by Doorway Publications. CEPF: You were brought up in the Church of England (also known as Ecclesia Anglicana, and is a mainstream of Celtic, Roman tradition of St Augustine, and the old Romano-British church), did the background of this church, or its teachings assist you in anyway when, at age 12, your uncle introduced you to Spiritualism and the occult? RB: No. Although nominally CofE, my family seldom attended church. Probably because we were of Romani descent (my father was a full-blood Rom). This turned out to be a bonus in that I didn’t have as much “brain washing” to get rid of as did others. CEPF: You assisted Gerald Gardner with the introduction of the Gardnerian path to many people in the U.S. Did you believe that, during this time, either of these would catch on as quickly as they did? RB: No, we had no idea. We knew there was a great interest but didn’t have any inclination that it would be picked-up and would spread as it has done. But it seems that there were many people who – like myself – had been looking (whether consciously or unconsciously) for an alternative to the established religions. Wicca turned out to be exactly what was being sought. CEPF: In about 1973, you left the Gardnerian tradition and founded Seax-Wica, and later on Pecti-Wita, which is a Scottish tradition inspired by an “Aidan Breac’. Can you tell us a bit more on this? And, who is Aidan Breac? While researching for this interview, I came across a disturbing endnote from the website Controverscial, (see insert below), is there anything to this? And what are your comments? RB: For some time prior to 1973 I had been not entirely happy with Gardnerian, for a variety of reasons. One of these was the many ego trips that I saw taking place; power plays by those who should have been above that sort of thing. (This was one of the negative aspects of no longer following the lengthy waiting periods originally prescribed for introduction to and advancement through the degrees in such a degree system as Gardnerian.) It wasn’t only this, but that was a main part of my need to break away.

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