Self & Spirit in Traditional Witchcraft

Discover the beliefs and practices shaping one of today's most distinctive Neopagan movements in this online talk exploring the history and philosophy of Traditional Witchcraft.

Traditional Witchcraft is a Neopagan movement distinct from the more well-known Gardnerian Wicca, although both arose out of the occult and witchcraft scene in 1950s United Kingdom. Practitioners investigate their family and ethnic roots and incorporate a variety of folk traditions into their personal practice. They work closely with the plants, landscape and seasons of their specific geographical location. The movement encourages embodied personal growth through the practice of practical magic.

The rise of popular internet use in the mid-1990s contributed to the growth of this movement, and its do-it-yourself spirit, individualism and self-autonomy continue to appeal strongly to Millennials and Gen Z today.

Your speaker

This talk is led by Dr Steven Muir, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Concordia University of Edmonton, where he taught for many years and specialised in early Christianity, the history of religion, and the comparative study of world religions. Alongside his academic career, he has a longstanding interest in tarot and the history and practices of magical and occult groups. This rare combination – rigorous scholarly training paired with a lasting fascination with the occult – makes him ideally placed to guide you through the history and philosophy of Traditional Witchcraft.

What to expect

Dr Muir will focus on two defining features of Traditional Witchcraft: self-agency and affiliation with spirits. You'll learn how practitioners work with a high degree of self-agency and a strong sense of their innate worth, and how they undertake creative and symbiotic partnerships with deities, spirits and elemental forces – rather than simply worshipping them, as in a conventional theistic model, or dominating them, as in a model from ancient magic. This is a talk format, delivered live online, with the opportunity to engage with the material through Q&A.

This online talk includes:

• The origins of Traditional Witchcraft in 1950s Britain, and how it differs from Gardnerian Wicca
• The role of family, ethnic roots and folk tradition in personal practice
• Working with plants, landscape and season specific to place
• Self-agency and the practitioner's sense of innate worth
• Symbiotic partnership with deities, spirits and elemental forces
• Why the movement has grown among Millennials and Gen Z since the rise of internet culture

Who is this for?

• Anyone curious about Traditional Witchcraft and how it differs from Wicca
• Practitioners interested in folk magic, ancestry and place-based practice
• Those interested in the history of modern occultism and Neopaganism
• Students of new religious movements and contemporary spirituality
• Anyone drawn to egalitarian, life-affirming approaches to magical practice

Join us online to explore one of today's most compelling modern magical movements – book your place now.

Live online with replay

This talk will be recorded. You will find the recording link in your College Account within two working days from the event - an email will alert you when it is ready. This recording will be available for replay for three months following the event. Please see our terms for more information.

Previous participants say:

"Excellent. Looking forward to Professor Muir doing another talk in the future."

"Prof. Muir has the admirable gift of conveying fascinating insights and scholarly information in a very accessible manner. His talks are expertly presented and delivered with great expertise and obvious joy."

"I love Dr Muir's work, as he speaks on overlooked topics but always from a place of great respect. He is a lightworker in many ways and I appreciate how his work acknowledges the feminine always even if in subtle ways."