High Priestess: The Life & Times of Patricia Crowther

by Patricia Crowther

High Priestess is a fascinating account of a witch's life as a High Priestess of the Great Goddess.Patricia verifies the Craft's system of Degrees by providing proof of their usage in ancient times and gives startling evidence concerning the long-standing enigma of how Alex Sanders obtained the Book of Shadows, which he incorporated into his own brand of witchcraft. One of the most interesting parts of the book is her recollections of her friendships with occultists and witches such as William Gray, R. J. Stewart, Ray Bone, Ruth Wynn-Owen, and, of course, Gerald Gardner.

Genres: Biography, Crafts, Wicca, Nonfiction, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Priestess is both Patricia Crowther's autobiography and a valuable look at the Craft scene in England from the sixties onwards. She wrote a similar book years ago titled "Witch Blood!" but it's almost impossible to locate a reasonably priced copy in decent shape these days. From what I understand, both titles cover much of the same time frame, but since this one was written in 1998 it reflects a more modern perspective in light of the exploding popularity of the Craft both in the British Isles and across the Big Pond in the States. This is one of those works of non-fiction that reads as fluidly as any novel, and is just as engaging. Anyone with an interest in British Traditional Witchcraft and the history of modern witchcraft should give this a look.

A wide variety of topics and experiences are related here, including interactions with well-known witches and occultists - Gerald Gardner and William Gray, to name a few - interesting accounts of synchronicities and other mystical experiences, the legend and lore of ancient, sacred sites in England and the Mediterranean, and personal information and accounts of Patricia's family and loved ones. The mystical experiences and her thoughts about them were of particular interest to me, and I was delighted that I have arrived independently at many of the same conclusions as she did in reaction to very similar circumstances! She also gives her firsthand experience in meeting the infamous Alex Sanders, and holds nothing back. To quote another reviewer from somewhere else on the webs, "She lops him to pieces as a lying fraud." Reading Patricia's thoughts about his character makes me all the more eager to read Fire Child, which should be arriving by post any day now.

Patricia also throws in some book recommendations that should prove to be... interesting to track down.

[Alexia ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book and I found it to be fascinating. It was the first auto-biography of a Pagan that I read and I think it was a fantastic choice to begin with. I wasn't familiar with Patricia Crowther's work but I had read her name several times in passing in several books about Paganism and in the biographies of Doreen Valiente. I was curious to learn more, especially from her point of view. I was not disappointed. The book takes us back to a simpler time within the Pagan communities and makes us feel like we where there and lived and learned with them. Lots of events of Patricia's life are told in an very amusing and interesting way, captivating the reader and making us feel present. It made it seemed like back then things were indeed simples, without the "internet drama". It reminds me of a passage I read in one of Doreen's biographies in which she refers that the drama back then was much simpler since it needed to be carried out either in presence or letter which ended up being either a small one-time event or wouldn't be too prolonged since the time taken to write the letter, send it and await a reply would have eventually calmed the nerves of the people involved. This makes me think that back then things WERE simpler and, perhaps, better? Just my personal ramblings here, but I enjoyed diving into this book.

I really enjoyed seeing Gerald Gardner from her POV, since the main POV I have of Gerald was from Doreen. It was interesting seeing him from another perspective. I also loved reading about her adventures with Arnold and, after that, with Ian. It is inspiring to see her development and her life. Also several things of which she talked about were very interesting and, as Pagan, lots of them I would be interested in learning more and exploring.

This is a book I definitely recommend to all of those interested in learning more about the story of Wicca and Patricia's life and work.

[Constantinos Nterziotis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hated the moment I finished the book. Patricia Crowther takes you to the '60ties, in a travel through time and shares certain experiences from her life, from her practices in Wicca, for the promotion she did, for the situation and the climate around the Craft in the 60'ties and '70'ties. The book may not be well organized but that's not a drawback as Patricia is a wonderful/down to earth guide to her life around the Craft ot the Wise. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Gardnerian Wicca or in the history of the modern Witchcraft.

She describes her childhood, how she met Arnold, how he took her to Gardner and initiated in the first degree at 1960 and to the second and third in 1961. Historical information can be found around Wicca before Gardner. Experiences from her practicing seances, automati writing, ouija board, speculum, mirror scrying, tarot. Letters and items she received regarding the teachings and tools of the Craft from hereditary Witches, which matched with Wicca's. Her opinion about Alex Sanders, about their three meetings and how he managed to take initiation and the BOS. Her meeting with Doreen Valiente. How she took Gerald's death or the situation around the Witches' Mill in the '70ties. Later she describes how she lost her husband, her mother, how she met her second husband. How she treated to her cats, all the acts she did to promote Wicca. She writes about her contribution of the Tarot of the Old Path.

In the last chapters she descibes her trip to Hellas, Cyprus, Malta... How Aleister Crowley was close to Wicca in his young age. How the Gerald's High Priestess , Dorothy tried to tell him not to publish a book about Witchcraft and why he copied the Key of Solomon to his novel. In the last chapter "towards the year 2000" she talks about the oral teachings of Initiatory Wicca, which are more important than the written ones in the BOS, what lineage means to her, how the first witch was initiated, how ancient religion and magick are inseperable, about paganism and new age movement, and she gives an advice to young High Priestesses to build but never destroy. She closes by paying her last respects to Gerald Gardner. I will close the review by saying thank you to her.