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Jessie Wicker Bell or Lady Sheba (July 18, 1920 – 2002) was a writer of the U.S. Wiccan Celtic Tradition and founder of the American Order of the Brotherhood of the Wicca with the aim to unite all practitioners of Wicca (covens, groups, traditions). Born in the mountains of Knott County, Kentucky, Jessie came from an Irish background on her maternal side, and a Native American background on her paternal side; her great grandfather was a Cherokee Indian. 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 Gardnerian Wicca. 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. Many Wiccans objected to her use of the title. By 1972, Lady Sheba estimated the American population of witches at over 100,000, and the Star Tribune called her "the head of all witches in the United States".
Bibliography
- 1971 - The Book of Shadows (Llewellyn Publications) ISBN 978-0875420752
- 1972 - The Grimoire of Lady Sheba (Llewellyn Publications) ISBN 978-0875420769
References
- Guiley 2008, p. 196
- Guiley 2008, pp. 196–197
- Melton 1987, p. 641
- Smith, Robert T. (September 23, 1972). "Witches meet in city, but frog changes unlikely". Star Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved March 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Article continues on page 7.
Works cited
- Guiley, Rosemary (2008). The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca. Infobase Publishing. pp. 196–197. ISBN 978-1-4381-2684-5.
- Melton, J. Gordon (1987). The Encyclopedia of American Religions. Gale Research Company. ISBN 978-0-8103-2133-5.