A few years ago, I took part in the opening day of a relocating bookstore. As part of the day, several people were giving brief talks. Speaking just before me was Ed Fitch, and when he was finished, after some nice applause, people started talking amongst themselves. Now, before I continue, do you know Ed Fitch? I mean, do you know more about him than that he’s published a couple of books? If not, read on.

By the time I came up to give my talk, I had completely changed what I intended to say. Instead, I found myself talking about the masters among us. This column is based on what I said that day.

There’s hardly a day that goes by when I don’t hear from someone who says, “I wish I’d had a chance to talk with (someone),” where the someone is historically famous. It might be Aleister Crowley, Israel Regardie, MacGregor Mathers, Alex Sanders, Gerald Gardner, A.E. Waite, Evangeline Adams, Dion Fortune, Scott Cunningham or one of many others. To these people I say, “Pay attention to the masters among us!”

Let’s start with Ed Fitch. Although many people are known for helping trigger the modern interest in Witchcraft and Paganism, nobody is more important than Ed. In the earliest days of the movement, Ed was responsible for manuscripts that trained people in the Pagan way. Those papers trained people, who trained others, who have become the leaders of today’s movement. In the days before the Internet, he published a newsletter (that eventually became a magazine) called The Crystal Well. Thousands of people have practiced or modified those rituals and taught them to others. You can get the best of the writings from that journal in Magical Rites from the Crystal Well. It’s filled with practical information and rites you can use, but also serves well as living history.

And when it comes to importance in the development of the Craft, another living master is Raymond Buckland. He trained with Gerald Gardner and introduced Gardnerian Wicca to the U.S. If you want to know the history of modern Wicca, Raymond is the person you should go to. His living history of the Craft is revealed in his book Witchcraft from the Inside. And when it comes to a non-sectarian training manual for learning to be a Witch, nothing is better than Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft.

When it comes to the Tarot, masters such as Eden Gray, A.E. Waite and Paul Foster Case are no longer with us. But we are lucky to have two people with us today who are widely acknowledged as masters of the Tarot and extend our knowledge of the cards. One is Rachel Pollack, author of such books as Seeker, The Forest of Souls and The Kabbalah Tree. The other is Mary K. Greer, who wrote The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals and Understanding the Tarot Court.

When it comes to The Golden Dawn, two modern masters are Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero. They were friends of Israel Regardie, and their notes and additions to Regardie’s classic books, The Tree of Life and The Middle Pillar, are important contributions to that system. The Essential Golden Dawn and Self-Initiation Into the Golden Dawn Tradition have helped develop untold thousands of magicians.

Noel Tyl is one of the foremost astrologers in the world today. His books are not only brilliant explanations of astrological subjects, but books such as Solar Arcs, Synthesis & Counseling in Astrology and Vocations have expanded on previous astrological theory.

I am proud to say that in my book Modern Sex Magick, there is an article by Lola Babalon. She was responsible for introducing chaos magick to the U.S.

This is not meant to slight any other authors or teachers. The people I named above are simply a few of the many I would contend are masters in their respective areas of expertise. Perhaps, as you read this, you are thinking of other people who are masters. In fact, in another month or year, perhaps new masters will arrive, to explain things in better ways and expand upon our current levels of information.

No, you can’t talk with Crowley, Cunningham, Regardie, Adams or any of a wide range of masters of the past. But you can read the books of the many masters living today. Many teach classes and workshops you can attend. You can also write to any Llewellyn author by sending your letters in care of Llewellyn. Although we can’t guarantee that they’ll respond, be sure to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a reply.

Years from now, you may be wishing you could have talked with one of the masters who is alive right now. Don’t pass on your opportunities.

Betty Friedan and Growing Up —
Tribes and Craft

On February 4, 2006, Betty Friedan died. Many of you reading this might be asking, “Betty who?” because she was definitely “old school.” But Friedan wrote a book back in 1963 that literally changed my life. It was probably responsible for changing your life, too, even though you might not know it.

The book was The Feminine Mystique. It pointed out that discrimination against women was both cultural and legal. At that time, just 40 years ago, the cultural conception of the inferiority of women was common. The ideas of equal pay for equal work, equal opportunity in the workforce and the right of pregnant women to keep their jobs were unheard of. It was this single book that triggered the modern feminist movement and has helped inch civilization toward a more egalitarian culture. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.

I was in elementary school when I read that book. It literally forced me to reevaluate the entire way I had related to girls. The book, however, was not simply a political diatribe. Rather, the thing that really caught my attention was its presentation that something was very wrong, and as a result of this “something,” women were unhappy.

By this time, my father had been dead for half of my short life, and I idealized my mother. I talked to her about the book (which she had already read), and I realized that she didn’t understand it. “Women don’t need to control their own money,” she said. “They just take the money that husbands give them and use it.” She also said, “I don’t understand why Friedan claims women are dissatisfied. I don’t have time to be unhappy. There’s always another wall to wash or load of laundry to do.”

Of course, I have a great deal of respect for my mother. She was one of the smartest people I have ever known. But even at my young age I realized that her experience prevented her from understanding what Freidan was writing. It was literally at that moment that I realized how different I was from her. I was growing up.

One thing I have learned is that humans are social animals. They need to have groups. That group can be family, school, religion, etc., what is sociologically called a “tribe.” As I matured, I found that the tribe with my mother, while important, was no longer the most vital tribe for my personal growth. Most people simply find themselves in a tribe, but some people choose their tribe. Have you chosen yours?

A growing number of people have found their tribe within the Craft community. If you’re thinking of becoming part of this tribe, there are a couple of books I’d like to recommend to you. First, there is The Witch’s Coven by Edain McCoy. This explains what the basic tribal aspect of Witchcraft, the coven, is all about. You might add to this her Spellworking for Covens, which has rituals and techniques for use in a coven. Another book on this subject that is even more expansive is Amber K’s Coven Craft.

If you want to be part of a ceremonial magick tribe, beside the books by the Ciceros you might also look at Inside a Magical Lodge and Circles of Power by John Michael Greer.