Roma Lister, Aradia, and the Speculative Origins of a Witchcraft Revival
10 days ago
- #Folklore
- #Witchcraft
- #Wicca
- Charles Godfrey Leland published 'Aradia, or, The Gospel of the Witches' in 1899, claiming it was derived from an ancient Italian witchcraft tradition.
- The book presents a goddess-orientated creation myth featuring Diana and her daughter Aradia, who teaches sorcery to free the oppressed.
- Aradia's anti-authoritarian message and hidden knowledge of sorcery were unique and influential in shaping modern Wicca.
- The origins of Aradia remain mysterious, with scholars debating whether Leland, his informant Maddalena, or others like Roma Lister contributed to its creation.
- Roma Lister, a writer and medium, played a significant role in Leland's research, collecting folklore and possibly influencing Aradia's content.
- Lister was deeply involved in spiritualism and automatic writing, leading to speculation that she may have channeled parts of Aradia.
- Aradia's impact on Wicca was solidified when Doreen Valiente used it to rewrite Wiccan rituals in the 1950s.
- The collaborative efforts of women like Lister, Maddalena, and Valiente were crucial in the revival of modern witchcraft.