The Rebirth of Witchcraft

by Doreen Valiente

One of witchcraft's most widely known figures, Doreen Valiente was a close friend of the late Gerald Gardner, generally regarded as the founder of modern Wicca. Initiated by him in the 1950s and for a time High Priestess of his coven, Doreen helped him rewrite his seminal Book of Shadows and establish witchcraft's international reputation. In this intriguing exposé, Doreen provides an insider’s account of the birth and evolution of the contemporary Wicca movement. She recalls her spat with Gardner that eventually split his coven, the controversy surrounding Alex Sanders, "King of the Witches," and many other witches whom she has known, including “Dafo,” Robert Cochrane, Leslie Roberts, and Sybil Leek. She also describes the clairvoyant communications she received purporting to come from John Brakespeare, an 18th-century witch.

Genres: Witchcraft, Wicca, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Paganism, History, Religion

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1989

About the author

Doreen Edith Dominy Valiente was an influential English Wiccan who was involved in a number of different early traditions, including Gardnerian Wicca, Cochrane's Craft and the Coven of Atho. Responsible for writing much of the early Gardnerian religious liturgy, in later years she also helped to play a big part in bringing the Neopagan religion of Wicca to wider public attention through the publication of a string of books on the subject.
Having been born in south London, she first became involved in the Craft after being initiated into the Gardnerian tradition in 1953 in a ceremony performed by Gerald Gardner.
Subsequently becoming the High Priestess of his Bricket Wood coven, she helped him to produce many important scriptural texts for Wicca, such as “The Witches Rune” and the “Charge of the Goddess”, which were incorporated into the early Gardnerian Book of Shadows.
Splitting off to form her own coven in 1957, she went on to work with Robert Cochrane in his coven, the Clan of Tubal Cain, till the mid 1960s when she began working as a solitary practitioner. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s she penned a number of books on the subject of Wicca - which she always called "witchcraft" – including “An ABC of Witchcraft” (1973) and “Witchcraft for Tomorrow” (1978), as well as being an early proponent of self-initiation into the Craft.
Having had a significant influence in the history of Wicca, she has been referred to as "the mother of modern Witchcraft" and is today is widely revered in the Wiccan and wider Neopagan community.

Reviews

[Matal “The Mischling Princess” Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doreen Valiente was really a formidable woman. In “The Rebirth of Witchcraft,” she provides a fascinating account of both the early years in modern witchcraft up to 1989 when this book was first published.

Valiente discussed how the term “Book of Shadows” came into general usage. What was particularly fascinating for me was reading about her relationship with Gerald B. Gardner and how his love affair with publicity caused a lot of problems. However, this appeared to be an ongoing theme in modern witchcraft (and continues to be so to this date), primarily with the males of our species, which Valiente discusses in detail.

In this book, Valiente brings up a number of different personalities, including but not limited to, Alex Sanders and Roberta Cochran. However, Valiente isn’t hateful. Instead, she reveals who she was to the core: a no-nonsense woman who was determined to discover the truth. She was definitely an intelligent and fascinating woman.

What I really liked about this book is the fact that she included a photograph of Maddalena of Aradia fame. And Valiente didn’t limit her information to only Great Britain, but included some data on both Australia and the United States as well.

This is a fascinating account and definitely an important work on the history of modern witchcraft and one that I would recommend be read by all.

[Alexia ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. It was the first book (without counting ABC of Witchcraft) of Doreen Valiente that I've read and my god, I love this woman!

She presents the History of Wicca from her point of view based on her experiences in life in such a way that we can clearly understand how it all happened. We can understand the social environment and all the trouble and confusion that needed to occur for Witchcraft to be where it is today.

From Gardner to Crowley with Sanders in the middle and more people you might haven't heard about but whose influence in Witchcraft was very important, Doreen Valiente explains and tells us how it all happened.

Just loved it!

[Steve Cran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doreen Valiente is a household name among the practitioners of witchcraft. She was first initiated into the craft by Gerald Gardner in the New Forrest Coven. She would later rewrite almost entirely Gardner's book of Shadows taking out many of the Crowleyisms and making the speech of the craft up to date.

Valiente has worked with such greats as Gardner, Robert Cockrane and Leslie Roberts. She gives an insiders view into the rebirth and history of the craft. Up until 1952 the practive of witchcraft was illegal and the most recent trial was the trial of Helen Duncan for the crime of contacting the dead. This landmark case caused a landslide in popular opinion which lead to the repeal of the witchcraft acts. For amny years withcraft had been an underground sort of thing mostly kept alive in family traditions or very secret coven.

Valiente examine the role of such works gnerated by such author's as Charles Leland, William Frazier and their books on withccraft and the sacrificial king. Charles Lelands works bring some light onto the practive of withc craft that they worshipped the Goddess Diana and met monthly for their rite, mostly skyclad.

Interest in the occult was also simmering. Aleister Crowley made a splash in the media calling himself the great beast while Dion Fortune was famous for starting "The Society of Inner Light" Helena Blavatzky also found "THe Theosophical Society.

Incontrast to what others may think Doreen had a rather positive impression of Gerald Gardner. She believes his claim that he was indoctrinated into a working coven of witches. Gardner did meke changes by incorparating words and phrases used by Aleister Crowley and Leland. He also incorparated some elements of Masonism and he brought in several elements from Ceremonial Magic. She reports that withces used to draw their circles with wands or wooden branches rather than with athames. Witches never really had a "Book of Shadow" hereditary kinowledge of witchcraft was passed down orally as most witches back in the day could neither read nor write. Grimoires were used by Ceremonial Magicians. In Doreen Valiente's view Withccraft in it's true form is most akin to Shamanism an is very simple.

Doreen left Gardner's group over some sharp differences of opinioon over publicity. Gerald Gardner was a very flamboyant person and this lead to a lot of negative press. Doren would next work with Robert Cochrane. He was very different from Gardner. He worked robes as opposed to skyclad. He also used hallucinogens in his work and often times came close to endangering some of his followers with these hallucinogens. Cochrane has a militant attitude that was very anti Gardnerian. Valiente found many instances of dishonesty and false claims in Cochrane's claims and parted company with him as well.

Doreen Valiente continues to describe her experience with the likes of the reporter Robert Leslie. Some one judging from her description was too good hearted and nice that people drained off of him. Trends in withcraft point to an awkening of female consiusness and a shaking off of male dominated things. Her mediations tell thaat practitioner can work individually and do not need the validation of the coven. She c=encourages practitioner to learn theoru expereience and meditation as opposed to book and other riged learning style.

For those into Witch Craft this book gives and insiders view that is rarely affored. Enjoy your foray into witchdom.

[Sable · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent biographical story of the founding of modern Wicca through the eyes of one of its most significant founders - Doreen Valiente. The text varies between scholarly research to journalism to gossip and speculation. Overall it's a fascinating read.

I liked Valiente. She had a lovable mix of scholarly intelligence and gullibility. I can only assume it was due to a desire to believe the best in people and willingness to take them at their word, which came through in her writing. She obviously also, like many of her contemporaries, sincerely believed in the existence of original hedge witchcraft and continued to seek it out through research and even channeling.

Whether or not you share her faith in such a thing (I do not,) her work is still interesting as she discusses interaction with other Craft leaders and traditions as well as such details as where the use of certain tools came from and how some customs developed.

I was amused to see that the same snobbery and Witch Wars that seem to be a part of the modern community were also present at witchcraft's beginnings; traditional witches questioned the legitimacy of Gardner's initiation; Gardner's followers questioned the legitimacy of Alex Sanders' initiation; both BTW groups questioned the legitimacy of the initiations of any "traditional" group they encountered. And everybody questioned the North American traditions. Doreen herself was of the opinion that making up a ritual from scratch in no way determined its legitimacy as long as it worked. I think that's an excellent lesson for modern witches. Perhaps our initiations are all only as valid as we believe them to be.

Valiente also strongly approved of feminist witchcraft; but cautioned that men are needed also. Again, these are sentiments that I share.

I have deep respect for Valiente as a Witch, a teacher and a poet, knowing how much of the modern Wiccan liturgy she wrote (which, by the way, she admitted to in her book, when it was to the advantage of most witches of the time to claim ancient descent of their Book of Shadows passed down through generations). Her prose writing, however, suffers from a little rambling and wandering off topic. This is the only reason I did not give the book five stars.

Every witch everywhere should read this book for posterity if nothing else, and it made my list of books that I think every Witch should read.

[Vatikanska Milosnica · Rating 4 out of 5]

a memoir slash history of a movement, very informative, written by an author with a strongly practical rather than a whimsical bent, and all narrated in an honest, no-nonsense tone (which felt refreshing witchcraft-wise)

additionally, it introduced me to the existence of tory wiccans in the early movement which oppened up much-needed new brainpaths in thinking about the neopagan revival

[Constantinos Nterziotis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book under the view and experiences of Doreen Valiente, the valuable Doreen Valiente. She examines every subject using clues, evidence, experience and her research. The reader will see her experiences throughtout the rebirth of Witchcraft but he will also read her criticism about every subject she deals with.

In chapter two she talks about the contribution of Murray, Graves, Leland. In chapter three he describes what she had read and how she met Gardner. Their first dialogues, how she got influenced by him, how she defied him, how he got influenced by her. She writes about Gardner's initiation in 1939 Later we read how she worked with Gardner to revive the Old Religion. She eventually discovered his influences and writes about it, but also how she noticed an ancient element in the BOS which was authentic. She used that to create a new structure, based in oldest teachings, removing a lot of modern ones. She talkes about Gardner and publicity. The conflicts in the coven, which split. How she met Robert Cochrane and joined his coven and what was going on there. How she left the coven. How she met mr. Leslie Roberts. What he was doing and how Valiente helped him. There is an interesting chapter with a communication with a coven leader of 17th century or older. This chapter seems to contain authentic old teachings of Witchcraft. Anyway, the reader could decide. She also mentions Alex Sanders and his action to bring more publicity to his tradition. And she has a chapter about Lugh and his claimings about Pickingill. In the end she shares some of her thoughts for the new age of aquarius, thus the future.

[Patick Kyteler · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The only reason for secrecy today is when witches themselves prefer not to have their identities and their private addresses revealed."
- Doreen Valiente (The Rebirth of Witchcraft, p.54)

How worthwhile is reading THE REBIRTH OF WITCHCRAFT by Doreen Valiente? I learned more about the true history of Wicca in the first five chapters than all the other books on modern witchcraft that I've read to date.

As for the content Doreen Valiente gives a compelling first person account of Wiccan history from its earliest nights to the feminist revolution of the 70s. In particular you get a really good scoop on the shady personalities behind the faces of Gerald Gardner, Alex Sanders and Robert Cochrane. Tricksters and liars all.

Of course this doesn't mean that Doreen didn't hold any affection for these men. She did, but she doesn't make excuses for their behavior either. Perhaps because of this honesty there is a real feeling of authenticity to her words.

The other chapters while less relevant are at the very least interesting reads. I particularly liked the chapter on Leslie Roberts, a homosexual witch and occult investigator who died tragically. His story (as well as that of Alex Sanders) establishes the early presence of gay men in the Craft. It also serves as a vivid lesson on the importance of knowing your limits as a witch and the very real danger of psychic vampires.

This book should be required reading for all students interested in the history of the modern Craft.

[Azra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I bought a long while ago and never got around to reading. In it, Doreen Valiente writes about the people involved in the beginnings of the modern Craft movement. Most of what she writes about is from her own experience.

This is an excellent book. The chapters are laid out in progressive manner, from the forerunners of the Craft, to Gerald Gardner and her work with him, Robert Cochrane, and Alex Sanders. It goes on to explore the then new development of Feminist Witchcraft and the future of the Craft in general.

Valiente gives a rounded portait of the people she writes about, giving time to their successes, failures and foibles. Sometimes, the people she writes did not fare well at all, such as Robert Cochrane. While she writes honestly about her associations - and disassociation - with him, there is also a note of compassion in the writing toward the end.

This is a fascinating look at the roots of the modern Craft, written by someone who was in the thick of it. Besides the biographical look at the people involved, Valiente also occasionally throws in hints on other sources of information, such as other books she feels would expand on the information she can only touch upon. I am glad I finally got around to reading it.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read on the real history of witchcraft.

Valiente is so cut-throat and clear in a society often obsessed with being mysteriously grandiose. Anyone who knows even a little bit about witchcraft has heard the names Gardener, Cochrane and Pilkington but in this book we get the real introduction to what they were like and where their practices really came from.

Valiente is a shining star in this community for doing her research and showing no fear in the face of devout fans who often threw shit her way for being honest about their favourite 'Witch King' du jour.

Well-researched, honest and little bit funny; this book is a must read for anyone interested in witchcraft.

[Wade Macmorrighan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read this book, you don't really need to invest in Prof. Hutton's diatribe, "The Triumph of the Moon", which is essentially a work of Special Pleading wrought with innumerable Logical Fallacies.

[Cinnimini · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easier look into the history of Witchcraft then Triumph, with little personal stories. Interesting.

[Magdalene O’Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doreen took no bullshit from charlatans, swindlers, and liars, and yet remained optimistic about the future of the Craft. This attitude is no more evident than in Rebirth of Witchcraft. She ruthlessly dismantles the myths about dozens of public figures in the esoteric community over the past century without abandoning what was good and valuable about their contributions to the Craft. There are so many hidden gems in this book, I cannot begin to name them. Chef's kiss, Doreen.

[Sarah Ay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written very academically, it considers all histories of witchcraft and gives a great background for anyone interested in the surface or origins of witchcraft and Wicca. I personally only rated it 3 star because it’s a bit hard to read because it sounds very scholarly, I prefer anecdotal books on witchcraft. The 3 stars is only my preference on writing style, the book is still a great one, definitely worth reading !

[Viv Pandaqueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in Marino library and I was glued to it for weeks.
It is such a good history of Wicca and Witchcraft (mainly in the UK), but it is peppered with personal stories, which keeps it so engaging.
Its more like sitting in on a lecture than reading through a book, and I would recommend it to anyone.

[Weslyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a MUST for anyone interested in Wicca, Witchcraft, or Paganism. It takes you inside the history in an up close and personal way. It’s as if the author is having this conversation with you in person, not through a book. I couldn’t put it down once I really got into it.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read most of these accounts before, like in Triumph of the Moon and Doreen Valiente: Witch but there is something so fascinating about reading her own version of them. Truly marvellous.

[Vasilis St. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Romance of Witchcraft would be an appropriate title. This book is a product of the times also known as New Age but at the same time is a useful example of what we called the psychology of witchcraft.

[Jennifer Hakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that gives a lot of first person history of the start of wicca in England. Doreen Valiente is a talented writer, and you feel like you are in the room with her while you read. I think it's an important book for anyone in the modern occult community to read.

[Lilliana Blackstar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is delightful to read. Doreen Valiente is a great writer, and presents here a very candid and honest account of her perspective of the rebirth of Witchcraft from the 1950s thru the time she published this (1989)

[Eva Muhlhause · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything by Doreen is worth reading if you are interested in trad craft and its origins.

[Tegan Faust · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not a bad book by any means. It's like a collection of short biographies from when Doreen valiente knew the people.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although a brief text this is a laborious read with a lot of repetition. Scattered throughout there are some genuine insights into magical practise and human nature, however many of Valiente's experiences seemed to quickly devolve into a rather dull case of deja vu.

Ultimately, this is little more than a brief history of a small part of Pagan practise from an even smaller part of the world, with no real links to broader experiences of time or place.

[Dev S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the essential go-to texts that founded Gardenerian Wicca. It is well written, comprehensive and accessible. If you are interested in the modern Neopagan movement then this is an essential text.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful history of British witches/witchcraft in the years following WWII. As a fan of Ben Aaronovitch's "Rivers of London" series, I was fascinated to learn about the work of a coven to ward off an invasion by Hitler during the war and of the deleterious effect on its members. Highly readable.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at the beginning of the witchcraft revival in Britain. Not my favorite Doreen Valiente book but a good read nonetheless!

[Amyd · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've come to the conclusion I don't get along with the more modern books by Pagans. Again she just succeeded on getting on my nerves, breaking rules and trying to justify it. Doesn't work.

[Katie]

Didn't make it through all of it, but it did help me write my final paper for school!

[Chelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Period!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit more in depth and interesting that this authors other books. Highly recommended for anyone interested in learing about witchcraft from the leading author.

[Gabriel Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, in both social and magical terms. Essential reading alongside the recent biography. If I was to choose one of them, I'd go with this.