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Witching hour gives Patricia va va broom
YESTERDAY may have been the shortest day of the year - one of the last shopping days before Christmas and a day millions of us were still wishing we hadn't over- indulged at the work do.
But for one particular woman in Sheffield the day was of far greater significance - the Winter Solstice.
Patricia Crowther is one of the nation's most revered High Priestesses of the Craft of the Wise, or witchcraft to the uninitiated.
"Winter Solstice is a very special time," she says. "It's the time when the powers of nature go into recession - it's one of the four tides of nature.
"It's best to work with it than against it. Spring equinox is the time of activation, when plans are put in place, and Winter Solstice is when you should meditate."
Patricia, now 82, was ordained as High Priestess in 1960, and set up the Sheffield Coven in 1961. She is now referred to as a Grand Mother of the craft - primarily because of her age. "We respect the old in the Craft," she says.
This year she published her tenth book, Covensense, a reference book for followers of the Craft of the Wise, or for the curious-minded. Topics include the significance of the magic circle, herbs, flowers, initiation, ritual and spells - and all are addressed as answers to questions Patricia has been asked over the years.
But despite the resurgence of interest in paganism in recent years, Patricia says: "The Craft of the Wise, or witchcraft, as it called so crudely, is the oldest religion in the world. We worship the Great Goddess, she is the Queen of Heaven."
The Goddess is 'triformis', appearing in three forms - maiden, mother and crone - and Patricia said: "You pray like you do for any religion.
The Goddess protects you but she also shows you the way, but she's strict. She's like a good mother - when you're initiated she puts obstacles in your way. You become a child of the Goddess."
Patricia's appearance - a full head of thick curls, barely wrinkled skin, and a razor-sharp mind - belies her years. "On my natal chart the moon is in Gemini, which is the sign of youth and the young-at-heart, and I know that has something to do with it," she says.
Her home is filled with unusual ornaments, most of which represent figures from mythology or the Goddess herself. There are also dozens of pictures of Patricia as a glamorous young woman. One particularly striking image is that of Patricia sitting naked on a stool for her initiation. "That's what you have to do when you're initiated - you go as you were born into life," she explains. "There's nothing dirty about it."
As with any qualification, becoming a High Priestess takes time and training.
"When you're training a potential High Priestess or Priest you give them things to read, ask them questions, and then, when the time comes, you say, 'You're ready'.
"But you have to be of the right mind and you have to worship the Goddess - it has to come from the heart."
A witch's knowledge and magic is passed down from person to person or through generations. Patricia herself has been passed magic from a witch in North Scotland, Jean MacDonald.
"She wrote to me and wanted to check I was the real thing, and after several letters she sent me some of the inner rites. I can't tell you what they are because they are sacred. They had been passed to her from her grandmother.
"Her line of witchcraft went back to the 17th century. A witch cannot die until she has given her magic to another witch."
Patricia has lectured on witchcraft throughout the UK and America, and has produced a BBC series called The Spell of Witchcraft. In 1981 she appeared on BBC Radio 4's Start the Week to talk about her book Lid Off The Cauldron.
Patricia says the application of witchcraft is more practical than one would think.
"During the war witches used their powers to stop Hitler from invading Britain in 1940," she says.
"There were 17 of them chanting, 'You cannot cross the sea, you cannot cross the sea' - and he didn't."
But the tale has a remarkable twist. "I was doing a talk for the Conservatives one evening and a man said that during a particular meeting regarding the invasion of Britain in 1940, Hitler, who never dozed, suddenly fell into a light daze."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
