| Revision as of 15:21, 18 March 2022 editFirefangledfeathers (talk | contribs)Administrators31,647 edits + a source, a little content← Previous edit |
Revision as of 16:48, 18 March 2022 edit undoFirefangledfeathers (talk | contribs)Administrators31,647 edits →top: + source, 1972 witch pop. estimate and Sheba's role, both attributedNext edit → |
| Line 4: |
Line 4: |
|
Jessie Wicker Bell or '''Lady Sheba''' (July 18, 1920 – 2002<ref>{{harvnb|Guiley|2008|p=196}}</ref>) was a writer of the U.S. ] and founder of the ''American Order of the Brotherhood of the Wicca'' with the aim to unite all practitioners of ] (covens, groups, traditions). Born in the mountains of ], ], Jessie came from an ] background on her maternal side, and a Native American background on her paternal side; her great grandfather was a ]. She claimed that her family had practiced witchcraft for 7 generations, and that she had led many previous lives. Her own grandmother introduced her to craft when she was just 6 years old and taught her the lore of the Irish Fairy Folk and the Spirit Guides of the Cherokee. She also claimed to have inherited psychic abilities and been granted the “Hand of Power”, which enabled her to protect others. |
|
Jessie Wicker Bell or '''Lady Sheba''' (July 18, 1920 – 2002<ref>{{harvnb|Guiley|2008|p=196}}</ref>) was a writer of the U.S. ] and founder of the ''American Order of the Brotherhood of the Wicca'' with the aim to unite all practitioners of ] (covens, groups, traditions). Born in the mountains of ], ], Jessie came from an ] background on her maternal side, and a Native American background on her paternal side; her great grandfather was a ]. She claimed that her family had practiced witchcraft for 7 generations, and that she had led many previous lives. Her own grandmother introduced her to craft when she was just 6 years old and taught her the lore of the Irish Fairy Folk and the Spirit Guides of the Cherokee. She also claimed to have inherited psychic abilities and been granted the “Hand of Power”, which enabled her to protect others. |
|
|
|
|
|
In 1971, Lady Sheba published ''The Book of Shadows'' and founded the American Order of the Brotherhood of the Wicca, an offshoot of ]. The book was controversial, as it revealed information that other Wiccan's intended to keep secret. Lady Sheba appointed herself high priestess of the order and worked to expand its influence. Other covens, both within and outside the United States, were formed under its umbrella, and she began referring to herself as Witch Queen over the new groups.<ref>{{harvnb|Guiley|2008|pp=196–197}}</ref> Many Wiccans objected to her use of the title.<ref>{{harvnb|Melton|1987|p=641}}</ref> |
|
In 1971, Lady Sheba published ''The Book of Shadows'' and founded the American Order of the Brotherhood of the Wicca, an offshoot of ]. The book was controversial, as it revealed information that other Wiccan's intended to keep secret. Lady Sheba appointed herself high priestess of the order and worked to expand its influence. Other covens, both within and outside the United States, were formed under its umbrella, and she began referring to herself as Witch Queen over the new groups.<ref>{{harvnb|Guiley|2008|pp=196–197}}</ref> Many Wiccans objected to her use of the title.<ref>{{harvnb|Melton|1987|p=641}}</ref> By 1972, Lady Sheba estimated the American population of witches at over 100,000, and the ] called her "the head of all witches in the United States".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Robert T. |title=Witches meet in city, but frog changes unlikely |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97492871/star-tribune/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=Star Tribune |date=September 23, 1972 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Article continues on </ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
==Bibliography== |
|
==Bibliography== |
