Interview with Raymond Buckland
Local Coordinator of Chicago Pagan Pride 2010
By Gregory Michael Brewer (AutTumn)

Hello and merry meet Raymond. What a treat this is and an honor. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Including Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft, a must have in any Pagan book collection, how many books have you written in total and which is your favorite? Also do you plan on writing any more?

I have written about sixty books so far, plus designed and created tarot and other cards and an original talking-board. My favorite book is usually my most recent one but I’d have to say that especial favorites are “Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft”, “Buckland’s Book of Spirit Communication”, the three encyclopedias: “The Witch Book”, “The Fortunetelling Book”, and “The Spirit Book”, my fantasy novel “The Torque of Kernow” and my recent Victorian Mystery novel “Golden Illuminati”. I’m always writing more. I really want to concentrate more on fiction and I am presently working on a Victorian mystery series (two books completed and the third half-done so far) called “The Penny Court Enquirers”.

Of course I must ask a bit about Gerald Gardner as you had the opportunity to learn from him directly. How did you meet Gerald Gardner and what kind of person was he?

Back in the late 1950s/early 1960s, just after Gardner’s two main books had come out, I wrote to him and developed a correspondence with him. This eventually led to him introducing me to his High Priestess the Lady Olwen (Monique Wilson) and that, in turn, led to me being initiated by her. Gerald then asked me to “spread the word” and introduce the Craft to the U.S. He was a delightful person with a subtle but wicked sense of humor.

Did you ever have the chance to meet Doreen Valiente?

Only very briefly, when I visited her at her apartment in Brighton.

I own a copy of your video called Witchcraft: Yesterday And Today. This is something I enjoy sharing with the students in our group. From the time you first introduced Wicca to the United States up to the current day, how have things changed in the Wiccan/Pagan movement?

Well the video has since been made into a DVD (re-titled “Witchcraft: Rebirth of the Old Religion”) which is now twice the length (2 hours) so that it can cover things like your question (too many things changed to be able to cover here!). It also includes footage that my good friend Scott Cunningham took of “the making of” the video, commentaries, and new footage.

Did you ever think that Wicca would grow to become as large as it has?

No. I’m sure nobody thought it would.

In what direction do you see Wicca moving?

Always moving forward, however slowly, in a positive direction. I’m sorry to see so many people (young people especially, it seems) who are simply playing at what is very serious and sacred to so many of us. There seems to be a tendency to just want to “do magic” and “cast spells”! If that is what people want to do then they don’t need to call themselves Witches, of course; they are simply Magicians. But again, the younger ones love the perceived romance of the name. Despite that, people like Selena Fox are doing incredible work to promote Witchcraft/Wicca and to have it accepted for what it truly is.

Do you have a favorite method of raising energy in circle and form of releasing the energy such as the cone of power?

Yes, but having taken an Oath I do not share it! Sorry.

Out of curiosity, do you listen to any Pagan music and if so, who are your favorite artists?

I don’t really have any favorite artists. I listen occasionally, especially if something is recommended to me, but I really don’t listen to much Pagan music. However, my all-time favorite pagan music is Carl Orff’s cantata “Carmina Burana” and the companion piece “Catulli Carmina”.

Many groups and traditions use or have used a system of training including first, second, and third degree. In the group I teach we use a degree system and a rigorous education system that includes all the basics of witchcraft, magickal correspondences, history, ethics, and tenets of Wicca for the first degree that we call initiate degree. Second degree we have split into four sub-degrees based on the elements, such as Earth degree etc. and then finally the Third degree. What are your thoughts on the degree system in general?

The degree system can be a double-edged sword, to my mind. It requires strict adherence by the coven and it depends absolutely on rejection of egos, power trips, and the like. This has been the downfall of many groups. If the system can be made to work then it can be extremely effective for teaching and true advancement by initiates.

If you had to label yourself in regards to Witchcraft, what would you call yourself?

Don’t you just hate labels? It’s almost like studying food products – there may be a label but you need to study all the ingredients to fully understand the product. Originally I was pure Gardnerian, because in those days that’s all there was! Many years later I founded Saxon Witchcraft (Seax-Wica) and changed to that. Later still I dropped all formal observation and blended some Seax-Wica with some PectiWita plus a goodly amount of “what felt right at the time”! These days I really don’t practice formally (though I do observe certain private rites) and have focused my energies on my original metaphysical attraction, which was Spiritualism.

A long time friend and fellow Wiccan, who we call Lord Shining Starr, would like to ask you if in the endeavor of forming and teaching a group or coven, what struggles and trials have you faced and how did you overcome them?

That would fill another very large book! It all boils down to remembering to have faith in yourself, in the Lord and the Lady, and to honor the Wiccan Rede.

Finally, and once again a big thank you, would you please share with our readers a few last words of advice for both those who are beginning to walk the path and those who have been practicing and studying for quite some time? Love and blessings to you!

A number of people, over a number of years, have said the same thing that boils down to: there are many paths and they all lead to the same center. Whatever path you have chosen – be it permanently or only temporarily – know that it is not the only path and that it is no better or worse than anyone else’s path. Concentrate on what you are doing; where you are going, and let others do their own thing. There is far too much energy wasted on trying to prove yourself better/more important than someone else. Humility is to be applauded. Never be afraid to say that you don’t know something. Never be afraid to ask a question. Never be coerced into doing what you feel is wrong. . . and don’t believe everything you see on the Internet! Bright Blessings, love and light. Raymond Buckland

Blessed Be Chicago Pagan Pride
)0(