What is a Gardnerian?
We who are called Gardnerians are children of the Wica. We trace our initiation and practice to Gerald B. Gardner (1884-1964), who stumbled upon a Hereditary Coven practicing Witchcraft in England in the 1930s. Following his initiation into this coven, Gerald Gardner sought to bring to the public’s attention the tenets and ideas of this dying faith.
At the time of his initiation, Witchcraft was still illegal in England. With the reluctant permission of his initiator, Gardner began to write about Witchcraft to give voice to the teachings he had received and elucidate the ideas behind his experiences in the Craft. In the process, he sparked both revival and controversy. Revival because the time was right, and the world was ready to consider a religion with a multidimensional Goddess at its center. Controversy because, as a result of his work, others who had been practicing Witchcraft in the shadows came forward to agree or disagree with what he was articulating. And the esoteric world has not been the same since….
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To the public, we have taken upon ourselves the name Gardnerian and define our Community as those who can both trace initiation directly back to Gerald Gardner –- Woman to Man and Man to Woman — and use the same rituals and teachings provided to Gardner from the coven within which he was initiated.
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The Gardnerian practice of witchcraft is wide and deep. It is rooted in the land, and we hold reverence for all Life. We commune with the spirits of place and honor those who have gone before. Our God and Goddess connect us to the Land beneath our feet, to the Underworld, to the Planets and Stars above, to the Mysteries of the ancient world, and to Lore and Craft — little valued by mainstream culture. Each Coven is a unique blend of talent and interests.
Hands Across the Pond
We have been privileged to maintain contact with one of Gardner’s High Priestesses, Patricia Crowther. Her sharing of information has greatly expanded our knowledge and understanding of the Craft as practiced in the UK at the many significant folk and archaeological sites there. Ms Crowther has most generously chosen to share her original audio creations with us, asking that we openly distribute them to seekers on the path to the Olde Religion. You will find more information about these recordings on The Zodiac Experience page of this website. Share them in good faith and encourage others to do so; however, the tenets of love and trust shall hold true here, as these freely shared gems are not be exchanged for monetary gain.
Gardnerian Training
Training to be initiated into a Gardnerian Coven is a long process which lasts a minimum of a year and a day. Often the process is longer to allow the student to get to know the coven members, and for the Coven to evaluate the student. We do not initiate in haste as “fit” is most important for all involved.
This evaluation period allows the prospective member to learn about our basic Lore and Practice. The time allows the student to question, test, and integrate what has been learned into their personal lives. At the conclusion of this period, the student may request initiation, or may find that our path is not for them. We are happy to assist seekers to obtain linkage to a group which may be a better fit for them. Gardnerian groups never proselytize. A seeker must request both training and initiation.
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For those who have been looking for a spiritual path, who have experienced different esoteric groups, and are examining Gardnerian practice; we advise an open mind. The more experienced seeker will find that there are beliefs which need to be unlearned as well as new material to assimilate. In other words, the way you think things are may not be the way they really are at all….
A Declaration of the Traditional Gardnerian Wica
On July 18th, 2022, the Traditional Gardnerian Wica released a declaration in response to a growing contingent of Gardnerian initiates who no longer adhere to the foundational practices within the tradition. Among the altered practices include same-sex initiation, a switch to non-binary roles, and the changing or exclusion of rituals, in part or whole, that fundamentally alter the practice of the tradition.
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As a result, a schism occurred, and Gardnerian practice is now bi-furcated into two different mystery schools: The Traditional Gardnerian Wica and Inclusive Gardnerian Wicca. Traditional Gardnerian Wica seeks to preserve the mysteries and rituals passed down by Gerald Gardner, whereas Inclusive Gardnerian Wicca focuses on expanding their practices to include divergent personal gnosis and a wide diversity of practitioners.
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To read the letter, A Declaration of the Traditional Gardnerian Wica, click here.
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