Gerald Gardner and the Creation of Wicca

A concise, cohesive, and highly original account of Gerald Gardner and the genesis of Wicca, as a paganised witchcraft.

Gerald Gardner provided the inspiration for Wicca, as a modern, revived, form of Pagan witchcraft. This Element re-evaluates the sources of his inspiration, and emphasises his ability in achieving a new synthesis of magical beliefs drawing from both Eastern and Western traditions. He emphasised Wicca's fresh sources in tribal and nature religions.Gerald Gardner (1884–1964) provided the central inspiration for Wicca, as a modern, revived, form of Pagan witchcraft. As such, his cultural and religious significance has grown exponentially over the 60 years since his death. 'A Rough Magic' re-evaluates the sources of Gardner's inspiration, redefines his early life within the context of colonial Malaya and the opium trade, and emphasises his vision and ability in fashioning an entirely new synthesis of magical beliefs drawn from both Eastern and Western traditions. In so doing, he stripped away the demonic elements of witchcraft and emphasised Wicca as a creative, mutable and undogmatic nature religion, serving as both fertility cult and a unique source of personal empowerment, that was capable of transforming the world.