| Prehistory |
| 1.
Small cultures begin to develop spiritual structures. Nature
Spirits begin to appear. |
2. Hunter-gathering
cultures gradually change to farming societies. Gods and Goddess
of the harvest become prevalent. Sacrifices appear in rituals. |
3. Urban societies
take root. Communities form as spiritual sects formalize their
beliefs and practices. The Goddess figures dominate most cultures. |
| 4.
Abrahamic times begin to record historical evolutions. Patriarchal
governances begin to dominate most societies. |
5. Celtic/Druid
cultures survive into the Christian era. The 8 sabbats are further
ingrained into ritual and spiritual practices. Small communities
known as Clans become prevalent. |
6. Magikal practices
spread through eastern and western Europe. Gypsy societies form
and carry the practices of Witchcraft through all cultures. |
| The Burning Times |
| 7.
The 8th Century; The Catholic Church forms the Council of Necea
to review Biblical texts. 5 books of the Christian Bible are
removed from the testaments to solitify the Churches control
over society and political governments. |
8. Late 8th Century,
Sorcery & Witchcraft are deemed harmful and associated with
heresy by the Church. |
9. 13th Century,
The Inquisition is established 1227-1233, many lose their lives
for the sake of spiritual cleansing. Anglo-Saxons form covens
and the label Witchcraft is born. |
| 10.
15th Century, The Witch trials begin in 1490. The burning times
begin with full vigor. |
11. 16th Century,
The 1st Witchcraft Act of England is established in 1542 under
the realm of King Henry VIII. The Craft is deemed illegal and
organized covens go underground. The secrecy begins. |
12. 16th Century,
The 2nd Witchcraft Act of England is signed by Queen Elizabeth
in 1563. |
| 13.
Late 16th - early 17th Century, Fear of witches and their worships
peak. This hysteria starts the creation of mis-information concerning
Pagan ways and beliefs. Associations of Satan and Pagans are
established by Church leaders to further the destruction of this
wide spread belief system. |
14. 17th Century,
The 2nd Witchcraft Act is repealed and replaced with a much tougher
one. The new law passes in 1604 and lives until 1736. |
15. Mid 17th Century,
Hysteria in England is at it's highest point and migrates to
the American Colonies. |
| 16.
Mid 17th Century, England's laws govern the new pilgrim communities
and the first hanging for Witchcraft occurs in Connecticut. |
17. Late 17th Century,
The Salem Witch Trials begin in Massachusetts during 1692. Hangings
expand to include drowning and the horrific burnings. |
18. 18th Century,
Some sanity finds it's way into England's grand halls and the
1604 Witchcraft Act is repealed by King George II in 1736. |
| 19.
Mid 19th Century, Many leaders of the 'secret' covens open the
curtains and step out into the public eye. Many mystical novels
and reference books are written and published in England. |
20. Late 19th Century,
Spiritualism flourishes. Charles Godfrey Leland claims to have
discovered hereditary witches in Tuscany. The Gospel of Aradia
enters the public eye. |
 |
| Current Century |
| 21.
20th Century, Anthropologist Margeret Murray publishes the theory
of organized pagan cults. |
22. Gerald Gardner
was initiated into an English coven in 1939. The Murray theory
is accepted. |
23. The last Witchcraft
Acts of England are repealed. The Craft is no longer illegal
in 1951. |
| 24.
Gerald Gardner establishes a tradition known as Wicca, combining
beliefs from Crowley, Ordo,Templi Orientis, Masonry, Golden Dawn,
Rosicrucians, folklore and mythology. The first Coven is founded
in 1951. |
25. The Gardnerian
sect is introduced into the U.S. in the 1960's. |
26. The Alexandrian
sect created by Alex Sander's becomes popular in the 1970's.
The Gardnerian traditions begin to decline. |
| 27.
1980's becomes a decade of feminine spirituality and Wicca is
seen as a woman's religion. Often referred to as 'Feminist spirituality'. |
28. New Age, Metaphysical
and Native American beliefs become increasingly popular. The
late 80's and early 90's bring a new evolution of Paganism to
it's original balance of God/Goddess beliefs. |
29. 1990s Wicca
becomes increasingly popular and is more widely accepted as a
system of belief in society and culture. |
| 30.
An increase in the use of internet technology brings forth many
websites defining Witchcraft traditions and sharing knowledge
of various traditions. |
31.
The 21st Century sees an increase in acceptance of Witchcraft
through popular TV shows and movies. This popularity brings many
out of the broom closet and open discussion about pagans and
paganism begin. |
32.
2007 The U.S.
Veterans Administration approves the Pentagram as a symbol
permitted on headstones for fallen soldiers in military cemeteries. |
A Time Table
