Doreen Valiente (1922-1999) was an English Wiccan who has been called the "Mother of Modern Witchcraft."
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know -- but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Pioneers, Dreamers, Villainesses, STEMinists, Warriors & Social Justice Warriors, and many more. Encyclopedia Womannica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
Encyclopedia Womannica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Liz Smith, Cinthia Pimentel, and Grace Lynch. Special thanks to Shira Atkins and Edie Allard. Theme music by Andi Kristins.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan and this is Encyclopedia Womannica.
In case you’re just tuning in, here’s the deal! Every weekday, we’re telling the stories of women from throughout history and around the world who you may not know about, but definitely should. Each month is themed and this month is all about Witches & Saints.
Today we’re talking about a woman who is often referred to as the “Mother of Modern Witchcraft.” Not only was she responsible for writing or rewriting much of the early Wiccan religious liturgy, but she also published a series of easily understandable books that brought this once esoteric belief system into the public sphere. Let’s talk about Doreen Valiente.
Doreen Edith Dominy was born on January 4th, 1922 in an outer suburb of London to middle class Christian parents. It was an era of great societal change, when science and religion were at loggerheads. Environmentalism, women’s liberation, and individualism were just starting to become major political movements.
After moving with her family to Surrey as a child, Doreen had a series of what she believed to be spiritual experiences. In her early teens, she said she began to study and even practice forms of magic. Her parents were concerned by this new and unusual interest and shipped Doreen off to a convent school. She wasn’t a fan. Doreen dropped out of school at 15. She then found work at a factory before eventually settling into an office job.
During World War II, Doreen was a translator before transferring to an office of the Intelligence Service where she worked on message decryption. Some have suggested that her association with Britain’s intelligence services did not end after the war, though there is no hard evidence to support this claim.
During the war, Doreen developed a particular interest in occultism and started reading everything she could find by famous occultists like Charles Godfrey Leland, Margaret Murray, and the highly controversial Aleister Crowley. After a post-war move to Bournemouth, she rekindled her interests in witchcraft and psychic phenomena.
Soon thereafter, Doreen started corresponding with Gerald Gardner, generally considered the Father of Wicca, and expressed interest in joining his coven.
For those of us who need a refresher, Wicca traditionally celebrates and ritualizes the rhythms and cycles of the natural world. The human participants in those processes, Wiccans, generally self-organize into small groups called Covens.
Gardner’s coven used a now-famous text called the “Book of Shadows” written by Gardner himself based on what he claimed were ancient written fragments passed down from pre-Christian covens. Once initiated into the coven, Doreen noticed that much of the Book of Shadows was actually based on the work of Alesteir Crowley, not ancient sources.
Doreen led the charge in removing Crowley’s influence from the work and, in collaboration with Gardner, re-wrote significant portions of the book. She was an excellent writer and poet and used that talent to turn the “Book of Shadows” into more of a spiritual and liturgical document. From then on, Doreen’s revised version of the “Book of Shadows” served as the basis for “Gardnerian Wicca,” one of the most dominant and important traditions of modern witchcraft.
Doreen also helped to formulate other elements of early Wicca, including re-writing other works and emphasizing the importance of Goddess worship. She also created common prayers and basic rituals.
Doreen eventually she stepped down from her role as High Priestess of Gardner’s coven to form her own.
In the early 1970s, Doreen authored three popular books focused on witchcraft and magic. These established her as an authority and helped spread her ideas and practices to a much larger audience. These books, including “An ABC of Witchcraft,” were easy to understand for the average reader, and gave those interested a way into Wiccan belief and practice without having to join an actual coven.
During the 1970s, Doreen also got into politics and was one of the founding members of the Pagan Front, a political lobbying group focused on the religious rights of Wiccans and other Pagans.
At the same time Doreen became involved with the National Front and the Northern League, both of which are far-right white nationalist political parties in the UK. She only stayed in these far-right parties for approximately 18 months, and eventually left because of their opposition to women’s rights, gay rights and sex education- three issues she was passionate about.
Doreen died of cancer on September 1st, 1999 in Brighton, England.
Tune in tomorrow for the story of another remarkable woman from throughout history. All month we’re talking about Witches and Saints.
Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.
Talk to you tomorrow!