Patricia Crowther, High Priestess in Gardnerian Wicca, Crosses the Veil
Patricia Crowther [Courtesy]
Patricia Crowther (born Patricia Dawson, 14 October 1927 – 24 September 2025), known in the Craft as Thelema, peacefully passed into the arms of the Goddess at the age of 97. Crowther has been a central figure in Wicca for nearly seven decades and a pioneer in the early development of modern Witchcraft. She was among the most influential voices in the promotion and preservation of Wicca.
Born in Sheffield, England, Patricia displayed a lifelong affinity with magic and spirituality, encouraged by her family’s connection to local folk traditions and clairvoyance. Trained in the performing arts, she toured as an actress, singer, and dancer before her path turned toward the occult.
In 1956, she met stage magician and ventriloquist Arnold Crowther, who introduced her to Gerald Gardner. On 6 June 1960, Patricia was initiated by Gardner into the Wica, later initiating Arnold in turn. The couple married that same year and soon established Sheffield Coven. Together, they formed what became known as the Sheffield line of Gardnerian Wicca.
Following Arnold’s passing in 1974, Patricia remained an active and visible presence in the Craft. She authored eleven books, contributed to the creation of the Tarot of the Old Path (1990), and became a respected teacher and elder whose influence extended far beyond her coven. She and Arnold had also co-created A Spell of Witchcraft (1971), a groundbreaking BBC Radio Sheffield series that introduced modern witchcraft to a wider audience.
Patricia’s works include The Witches Speak (1965, with Arnold Crowther), Witch Blood (1974), Lid off the Cauldron (1981), One Witch’s World (1998), and Covensense (2009), among others. Through these writings, she documented the lived reality of Witchcraft and offered guidance to generations of practitioners.
As High Priestess, author, and teacher, Patricia Crowther leaves a profound legacy. Her work ensured that Witchcraft remained vibrant, accessible, and present in modern times. Her memory will be a blessing to all who have been touched by her work in Wicca, and her spirit continues to live on in the covens and communities she inspired.
Hail the Traveler!
A six-part series on Witchcraft, each episode twenty minutes long, was broadcast by BBC Radio Sheffield beginning on 6 January 1971. Presented by Patricia and Arnold Crowther, it was produced by Peter Hawkins and is available on YouTube:
Reactions to the Pagan Threat book Continue
Rev. Oberon Zell, Church of All Worlds, submitted a reaction to the book:
Miles is advocating up a hateful and vicious dichotomy, that all non-Abrahamic religions (i.e. Paganism) are the enemy of Christianity. This attitude has given us the horrors of the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Conquistadors, Witch-burnings, the Salem Witch Trials, the Holocaust, and other religious persecutions and genocides throughout history. Moreover, it is a blatant repudiation of the “great commandment” of Jesus to “Love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matt. 22:39) and to “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” (Matt. 7:1)
Paganism (from Latin, paganus; peasant or country dweller) is an umbrella term for a number of religious and spiritual traditions that are united by a common belief in animism (everything is alive) and polytheism (there are many gods). As the ancestral religion of all humanity before monotheism, Paganism is often called Nature worship or “The Old Religion” (meaning pre-Abrahamic).
Some common values shared by many Pagan paths include Gaianism (the Earth’s biosphere is a living organism we all know as “Mother Earth”), pantheism (everything is sacred) and immanent Divinity (Divinity is within everyone). As Jesus said, “Thou art Gods” (John 10:34) and “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you” (Luke 17:21).
Modern Pagans are not the enemies of the followers of Jesus, whom most of us hold in high esteem as a great teacher of love, compassion, forgiveness and mercy. Rather, we are friendly folk, good neighbors, and patriotic concerned citizens who care deeply about our fellow humans, the environment, and all living things.
Modern Pagans value diversity, good works, gender equality, caretaking the Earth, celebrating the turnings of the seasons (the Wheel of the Year), individual freedom and personal responsibility.
“Christian” means “Christ-like.” So what was Christ like? Jesus taught love, not hate. Genuine Christians strive to live accordingly. And the people Jesus held most in contempt were the hypocrites and the wealthy who refused to aid the poor, sick and homeless. In Matt. 7:3, Jesus says: “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
“Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)
Well-known author and presenter in the Pagan community, John Beckett, published his response article on the Patheos site:
It’s obvious he knows nothing of the origins of the modern Pagan movement. I wouldn’t call it spontaneous, but it’s definitely organic. Monotheism is unnatural, and without constant reinforcement people begin to recognize many different Gods and Goddesses. They see the divine in nature. They remember magic. As Christianity has lost its power to compel people to follow it, many are returning to more organic beliefs and practices.
Kim Gardner, wrote The Wild Hunt sharing “As a vet, I am appalled by this book and want to ensure that other veterans remember the oath that we took never expires.” Gardner is a leader in the Gardnerian tradition of the Craft, with 30+ years of experience, who serves on the national Pagan Pride board.
When I opened Pagan Threat by Lucas Miles, it chilled me to the bone. This book is not an invitation to spiritual reflection, it is an attack. It dresses hate, bigotry, and falsehood in the language of piety. I tried to read it cover to cover, but I didn’t make it. I had to stop, because what I read was a distortion of truth and a desecration of love.
The full text is available on Gardner’s SubStack.
Ed Hubbard, well known as a Pagan author, media pioneer, and leader in Witch School and within the Correllian Nativist Tradition, where he has served as First Priest and Chancellor ,noted on social media:
So here is the battle plan the book, The Pagan Threat, which is backed by Turning Point USA.
Lucas Miles’ The Pagan Threat (with a foreword by Charlie Kirk) lays out a “final battle plan to resist paganism.” Here’s their strategy, spelled out clear as day:
1. Deepen discipleship in core Christian doctrine (translation: double down on dogma)
2. Engage more in politics and the public square (translation: legislate belief)
3. Use technology for Gospel advancement (translation: out-code us)
4. Evangelize the youth (translation: get them before we do)
5. Combat false doctrines / pagan ideologies (translation: target our very existence)
6. Renew interest in spiritual gifts (translation: rebrand their magic while denying ours)
Friends, this isn’t about some abstract “culture war.” It’s a handbook with us as the named enemy.
Heathe Spirituworker, Sarenth Odinsson,
It should be clear by now: there is no such thing as apolitical when it comes to Heathenry. Likewise, there is no such thing as apolitical polytheism or animism. You are, by dint of being part of a minority religion in a Christian majority country, politicized. You are politicized whether you want to be or not because of a growing trend of Christian nationalism. You are politicized because the symbols of your religion keep getting appropriated by white supremacists and white nationalists. You are politicized because you have made the choice, or more increasingly, have grown up and are not Christian.
The full text is available on Odinsson’s site.
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Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: This Might Hurt Tarot Deck, artwork by Isabella Rotman, published by STERLING ETHOS, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
Card: Ten (10) Of Pentacles
This week, there is likely to be a focus on being in a position where resources and financial security are easily accessible and reliable. There is likely to be an emphasis on the family and community, which can represent a different type of wealth. Expressing gratitude for not only good fortune but also celebrating the steadfastness and dedication required to achieve success is also indicated. The ability to contribute by supporting family and strengthening community is yet another way to celebrate and pay forward success.
Conversely, there is the potential for questioning where one finds oneself when it comes to career, finances, projected success, and what is truly important. Financial strain or shortcomings may be an indicator of changes required to secure a more prosperous and stable future. Engaging with community and reconnecting with family in meaningful ways may also be on the horizon this week.
Spirit Bears!
Spirit bears are a rare form of the American black bear distinguished by their white or creamy fur, brown eyes, dark nose pads, and pale claws. They are neither polar bears nor albinos, and only about a hundred are believed to exist.
Most live on Princess Royal and Gribbell Islands in the coastal rainforests of British Columbia, where they are known as Kermode bears (Ursus americanus kermodei). Roughly one in five bears on these islands is white, while the rest are black; on the mainland, the percentage of white bears decreases sharply with distance from this core habitat.
According to the North American Bear Center, genetic research by Dr. Kermit Ritland and Craig Newton revealed that the white coat comes from a double recessive gene unique to this subspecies. A single nucleotide change in the MC1R receptor gene causes the expression of adenine rather than guanine, producing white fur when inherited from both parents.
Outside British Columbia, white black bears are extremely rare—about one in a million. A few have been documented in Manitoba and Minnesota, though these cases involve different mutations than those found in Kermode bears. Among them was “Halo,” a young male spotted near Orr, Minnesota, in 1997, whose unusual appearance prompted legal protection for all white bears in that state. Three years ago, a spirit bear was seen in Michigan.
While most are black, 10–20% carry a recessive gene that gives them a distinctive white or cream-colored coat, making them highly symbolic in Indigenous traditions and the official provincial mammal of British Columbia.
View this post on Instagram
Dana Cama captured the remarkable footage, later shared by Natural Habitat Adventures on Instagram. The spirit bear, also known as the Kermode bear, is a rare subspecies of the American black bear distinguished by its creamy white coat. Unlike albinism, which produces a complete lack of pigment, this coloration results from leucism, a genetic condition that reduces pigmentation in skin, fur, or feathers. To appear in white, a cub must inherit the recessive gene from both parents.
Natural Habitat Adventures described the sighting as “a rare spirit bear encounter on our Great Bear Rainforest Expedition by Nat Hab Manager of Social & Expedition Content @danacama!” The organization noted that spirit bears, found almost exclusively in the coastal rainforests of British Columbia, are among the rarest animals on Earth and serve as enduring symbols of the region’s rich biodiversity.
Cama also reflected on the experience through her personal Instagram account, posting a photo of her field journal entry that read simply: “How is this my job? So grateful.”