Shadow Pact School of Wicca?

[PendragonKnight001]

I just recently found out about a fairly secretive form of Wicca (you know how Gardner etc. started their own schools of thought, kind of like that) called Shadow Pact. Apparently they emphasise neutrality above all, which basically means they try to be fair to everyone, no matter what they think, look like, or do. (which goes beyond the usual, since they try to understand and attempt to forgive murderers and other people generally hated by others.) They're supposed to be the absolute closest to the 'original' religion as anyone can get, and are trying to influence governments and societies to rethink their views on religion, clearing up the misunderstandings about symbols and symbolic names rampant in popular minds. What do all of you think about this?
P.S. Yes, I did only create an account on here in order to ask about this, I think it's really interesting, and information seems to be a bit restricted about them, so I thought maybe other people can add to my information?

[PendragonKnight001]

Also, should this be in Paradigms? not sure now...

[Rin]

There is no "original" Wicca preceding Gardner, while he drew from a variety of sources (primarily a mashup of GD/Thelema style ceremonial magic, a loose understanding of European mythology, a dab of European folk magic and extensively discredited academic theories), he was the first to put them all together and label them "Wicca."

[Frumens]

How did you get in contact with this organization?

[PendragonKnight001]

There is no "original" Wicca preceding Gardner, while he drew from a variety of sources (primarily a mashup of GD/Thelema style ceremonial magic, a loose understanding of European mythology, a dab of European folk magic and extensively discredited academic theories), he was the first to put them all together and label them "Wicca."

Yes, I know that Gardner was less than consistent, and that he said that his "Wicca" was the original "Wicca", but that is absolutely not true. The word 'Wicca' comes from the Anglo-Saxon 'Wicca', which refers to a male practitioner of the Craft, or witchcraft. It was largely used to refer to people living in the 'Hwicce' area of England, the name meaning "sacred vessel", as well as the term 'Wicce', referring to the female practitioners of the Craft. This is what I mean when I refer to the 'Original' Wicca. However, what I said was 'original' in this post was the religion. While I don't know if this Shadow Pact group are thought to adhere to the religion these people practiced at the time, or a religion that was even earlier, with the knowledge I have, I can only assume that this is what my source was referring to. Also, please don't try to lecture me on this shit anymore, I get really riled up at anyone who actually believe that Gardner was anything but a romanticist who created a heavily victorian and christianised religion, with nothing more than a few roots in older systems, and I am an archaeologist who used to work in England, and who published a hefty text about this exact subject. Even if you are indeed correct, I am incredibly unlikely to believe you or see your point of view, so don't even bother.

[PendragonKnight001]

How did you get in contact with this organization?

I didn't so much get in contact with them, as heard about them from someone with a bit more information on them. Since I am now living in a location with much more restricted information flow, I haven't been able to find out anything other than what he told me. I was hoping maybe someone else might have heard of them.

[Frumens]

Sorry, but I've never heard of them. Maybe you should ask on the traditional witchcraft forum. To be honest the bit about influencing governments sounds shady to me. Beware of cults.

http://www.traditionalwitch.net/forums/

Love.

[RoseRed]

This isn't Cosplay, Knight Pendragon.

That's quite a name.

[Rin]

There is no "original" Wicca preceding Gardner, while he drew from a variety of sources (primarily a mashup of GD/Thelema style ceremonial magic, a loose understanding of European mythology, a dab of European folk magic and extensively discredited academic theories), he was the first to put them all together and label them "Wicca."

Yes, I know that Gardner was less than consistent, and that he said that his "Wicca" was the original "Wicca", but that is absolutely not true. The word 'Wicca' comes from the Anglo-Saxon 'Wicca', which refers to a male practitioner of the Craft, or witchcraft. It was largely used to refer to people living in the 'Hwicce' area of England, the name meaning "sacred vessel", as well as the term 'Wicce', referring to the female practitioners of the Craft. This is what I mean when I refer to the 'Original' Wicca. However, what I said was 'original' in this post was the religion. While I don't know if this Shadow Pact group are thought to adhere to the religion these people practiced at the time, or a religion that was even earlier, with the knowledge I have, I can only assume that this is what my source was referring to. Also, please don't try to lecture me on this shit anymore, I get really riled up at anyone who actually believe that Gardner was anything but a romanticist who created a heavily victorian and christianised religion, with nothing more than a few roots in older systems, and I am an archaeologist who used to work in England, and who published a hefty text about this exact subject. Even if you are indeed correct, I am incredibly unlikely to believe you or see your point of view, so don't even bother.

That's more or less my point - "Wicca" in it's modern form as a religion and an organized movement was invented (perhaps "put together" would be a better term) by Gardner. Prior to this there existed a system of rural folk magic native to Europe, but this wasn't any kind of consistent or organized movement or religion/spiritual ideology, just sets of techniques passed down over the centuries within communities scattered across a large geographical area, altering as they were touched on by various influences through the passage of time. I'm not sure what it is you're so vehemently disagreeing with me about.

[jaggazoom]

A brief search produced nothing but comic and board game references for me. Any sources, OP?

[PendragonKnight001]

This isn't Cosplay, Knight Pendragon.

That's quite a name.

yeah, I wanted a name quick, and have been seeing a few references to the legend of Arthur recently, so it just popped into my head

[PendragonKnight001]

That's more or less my point - "Wicca" in it's modern form as a religion and an organized movement was invented (perhaps "put together" would be a better term) by Gardner. Prior to this there existed a system of rural folk magic native to Europe, but this wasn't any kind of consistent or organized movement or religion/spiritual ideology, just sets of techniques passed down over the centuries within communities scattered across a large geographical area, altering as they were touched on by various influences through the passage of time. I'm not sure what it is you're so vehemently disagreeing with me about.

Meh, it seemed as though you were one of those people who idolised Gardner. The point is, the way I see it, all of the primitive religions, although separated by land borders of the time, had several things in common that permeated into later religions, and many of the newer gods are thought to be different names for the same original gods, meaning that at the very beginning, there is likely to be something that the others evolved from, the original element of truth. I assume that the Shadow Pact follows something believed to be closer to this than any others in modern times.

[PendragonKnight001]

A brief search produced nothing but comic and board game references for me. Any sources, OP?

Not much, as of yet. The only source I have is a friend still living in England who told me about this rumour he'd heard. His description was quite fascinating, and detailed, and he himself is not one to lie about anything.