The Georgian Tradition

The Georgian Tradition was founded in 1970 by George (Pat) Patterson, Zanoni
Silverknife and Tanith. It began as a small coven in Pat’s home, in Bakersfield,
CA.

Pat received early teachings from members of a Celtic Coven in Boston. When
World War II began, Pat enlisted in the Armed Forces and served for four years.
On his return to Boston, he found that family members had destroyed his Book and
ritual items. He could not find the family he had studies with. He did not find
any other Witches for a long time, but he never gave up hope of finding his
brothers and sisters of the Craft. In 1970, at 52 years of age, Pat began a
magical calling that resulted in Zanoni and Tanith finding him and helping to
found the Georgian Tradition. Their first student, Bobbie Kennedy, came along
shortly thereafter.

Soon after forming the group, Pat applied to the State of California for
legal status as an incorporated church and through the Universal Life Church had
a charter (1971) and Ministerial credentials for himself and Zanoni.

Pat gathered information, lessons and lore from many helpful sources. These
included Doris and Sylvester Stuart of England, Lady Gwen of the New England
Covens of Traditionalist Witches (N.E.C.T.W.), Ed Fitch of the Gardnerian
Tradition and others. The Georgian Tradition is based on Gardnerian and
Alexandrian practices, and Etruscan lore, using those rites and rituals shared
by the Sylvestrians and N.E.C.T.W. as well as material from New York Covens of
Traditionalist Witches (N.Y.C.T.W) Lord Hermes, Ed Buczynski and Lady Siobhan
(Order of the Silver Wheel) were most helpful.

Georgian Wicca is similar to Alexandrian and Gardnerian practice, in that it is an initiatory line and oath-bound. Many of the rituals are similar to those published in various books on what is sometimes called "British Traditional Wicca" (BTW), such as the Farrar's Eight Sabbats for Witches and The Witches' Way, as well as the privately distributed version of what was later published as Ed Fitch's Grimoire of the Shadows.
Georgian Wicca, however, is not a recognized member of the BTW, as it
lacks an important requirement - initiatory lineage back to one of the BTW
covens in England. Therefore, it is considered BTW-derived.

Newsletter Days

Beginning in 1976, Pat edited the
"Georgian Newsletter", a chatty, informal correspondence that helped to build
the community of Georgians and link them with one another. Following his death
in 1984, the newsletter continued for a few years, and subsequently ceased
publication. The newsletter contained bits of gossip, "Helpful Hints", book
reviews, and the ever popular feature "Being a Witch is ... " The newsletter has been revived by Lord Bel Taran and can be read at The Georgian Newsletter

Present Day

Georgians are now worldwide and growing; many are in the Armed Forces,
carrying the Tradition with them. Recently, there has been an upsurge in those
interested in reconnecting with or learning about the Georgian Tradition.

At present, there are known Georgian
Covens in British Columbia, California, Florida, Oregon, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan,
Washington and Oklahoma. There is also a current effort being made to reconnect members of the Tradition. This website is one such effort.

The aims and purposes of the Georgians shall be:

• to honor the Gods of the Old Religion,
• to aid the members to progress and improve themselves mentally, physically and spiritually;
• to work magick for the benefit of members and any others who may seek out aid for right purposes;
• to aid others in learning the Craft who truly desire the knowledge of the Craft for proper reasons;
• to combat the untruths and to spread the truth about the Craft to those outside the Craft;
• to work for peace, harmony, and unity among the various branches of the Craft;
• to work for a better understanding of and a better relationship between man and nature."