The belief system of the Church
and School is based not on one tradition but on a
composite system of spiritual and magical beliefs
resting firmly on five supports. The system has
Celtic undertones just because of our personal
heritage, but other ethnic flavors are apparent as
well. The five supports are:
1. The old masters and new texts
Literally thousands of old
texts have been studied by at least 50,000 members
of the School’s student body. People in our groups
can read hieroglyphics, cuneiform, ogham, and
other ancient scripts. We have people who are
acknowledged experts in biblical lore and in
Judaism. In modern languages too we are second to
none. Take a look at a list of the books we use in
conjunction with the School’s courses here.
2. Modern experimental work
With hundreds of new students
joining each month, we are able to research a
variety of different ways. Students do the work
and report their experiences back to us. When a
sufficient body of data has been accumulated, the
belief system is modified. We do not believe or
claim that our path is the only path; instead we
encourage experimentation.
3. Research into modern remnants of primitive
cultures
Especially Native American, though
also Eskimo, Hopi, Australian Aborigine, Brazilian
rain-forest cultures, and those of New Guinea.
This is an ever-expanding area, as is the newer
science of social anthropology which forms the
basis for parts of the course.
4. Family traditions
Gavin’s own family tradition,
though fragmentary, was passed down in South
Wales. His great-great-grandfather was transported
to Australia with the famous Welsh healer Dr.
Price, but both were pardoned by Queen Victoria.
How much farther back the tradition goes is
unknown, but that matters little now. Only small
portions of the tradition remain in the course,
because it was simply too chauvinistic to pass
muster in today’s society. The Church is not a
dinosaur unable to adapt; it is a vital, growing,
dynamic entity.
5. Students and other Wiccans and pagans
Gradually the School has been
discovered by pagans and Wiccans who want more
from their spiritual path than a chance to get
laid, or dancing in the dewy meadow, or
substituting a female for a male deity. These
people have done their own experimenting, and many
share results with us so that all students can
benefit from their experience. Some traditions
have been passed down in families and are part of
current Craft practice. Most of them go back only
to the late 19th or early 20th century.
