My Articles | The Wica

Biography and Introduction

Born an idealistic Piscean with a head for science, it is no great surprise that the mystical and magical sides of life had attracted me for as long as I can remember. As a teenager, my first ventures into practical magic were experienced through the likes of the 'Ritual Magic Workbook' by Dolores Ashcroft Nowicki. After dutifully constructing my own personal temple on a white bed-sheet, I started to find this path a little lonely and naturally gravitated towards Witchcraft, which seemed far more gregarious. I subsequently set up a small Pagan/eclectic group in Cambridgeshire. I was, however, eager to find a real Gardnerian or Alexandrian Coven.

A short while later, a peculiar twist of fate meant that I ended up having the good fortune to meet a previously unknown High Priest of The Wica, Charles Clark, who had been friends with Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente and several other early Elders. I was subsequently initiated and trained by Charles and went on to start my own Coven with my then-partner and fellow initiate David Johnson.

In my mid-twenties various life circumstances meant that I had moved several times and I felt that I needed to spend some time exploring the feminine, so I started a women's mysteries group in Nottingham, out of which was born the Nottingham Goddess Camp. Having felt that I had sufficiently explored my anima, I returned to the Middle Pillar, revived my Coven, and started writing.

I have been involved with various Witchcraft and Magical groups for over 30 years. With Dr Stuart Whomsley, I have written academic papers upon transpersonal psychology, Esoteric Orders and Pagan Paths.

My first major book, 'Here Be Magick', about Charles Cardell, Ray Howard and the Coven of Atho was released at Beltane 2022. Please click HERE to order your signed copy directly from me.

One day whilst being the victim of a muse, I realised that I am some kind of literary necromancer. There are so many fascinating personalities, groups and Orders in the occult and esoteric world; each with its own very human story, and they continue to fascinate me. Working with them is not without effort, but in a strange way it is also effortless as I have a strange faith in the muses who start to deliver you pertinent things.

I first set up this website nearly 20 years ago and kept the domain name active. Apologies for it not being a great looking website - but what it lacks in face, I feel it makes up for in content.

This is an AI-free zone. In fact AI cannot write accurately on the history of niche areas such as witchcraft and occultism. It regurgitates misinformation based on what has been inaccurately posted and subsequently furthered on the internet. Until then, there are humans.

Melissa Seims - 2025

My Articles on the History of Modern Witchcraft

I wrote two articles on a little known but ealry Gardnerian Craft initiate called Celia Penney - Celia's muse was a really fun one to work with. Read the two articles here.
- The Literary Necromancing of Celia Penney (2023/2024)
- Celia Penney and her Magic Box (2024)

Here is a trilogy of articles that I wrote in 2022 and 2023 after investigating the connections between Sylvia Tatham, Patricia Kopinski, 'Medea', Bill Liddell, Robert Turner and Alex Sanders. The first two articles were written with genealogical assistance from William Wallworth):

Read my 2022 article which looks at the influence of the Coven of Atho on Alex Sanders and Doreen Valiente. Valiente was in this gorup and used sections of the Coven of Atho material in the 'Libre Umbrarum' section of her 1978 book Witchcraft For Tomorrow. (See Here Be Magick for further details on this.)

The Mystery of the Emaciated Woman' - an article I wrote to address an issue that had arisen after the publication of my book 'Here be Magick'

My 2021 article 'The Magick and Mystery of Maurice / Margaret Bruce' can be read here. Over 60 years ago, Margaret transistioned into who she felt she really was. She was also a wonderful magician and knowledgeable occultist whom Gerald Gardner referred to as 'the Magician of the North'. Some of her work has recently been republished by Wishan Books

My 2020 article, 'A Curious Discourse' looking at Gardners involvement with witches on the Isle of Man in the 1950s. (Published 2021 in The Enquiring Eye.)

My follow-up article to 'A Curious Discourse' entitled 'A Manx Legacy'. (Published 2021 in The Enquiring Eye.)

Here is my first article about Charles Clark, a little-known, early High Priest of the Wica who made it his mission to spread the Craft in Scotland. (PDF version here) (Published in Circle Magazine Issue 93 Spring 2005, The Cauldron No. 116 May 2005, Wiccan Rede Beltane 2005, G.B.G.'s Family and Friends Autumn/Samhain 2005.)

'He Casts The Circle' - an article I wrote about the 'Weschcke Documents' in which I used original documents to explore how the casting of the circle developed and changed throughout the 1950s. (PDF version here) (Published in The Cauldron, No.120 May 2006, The Cauldron - Brazilian version Edition IX.)

'The Scottish Roots of the Wica – the Early Gardnerian Craft in Scotland.' An article about The Scottish Wica and Gardner detailing the rise of the Witch Cult, in Scotland, in the 1950s and early 1960s. (PDF version here) (Published in Pagan Dawn Beltane 2006, G.B.G.'s Family and Friends Samhain/Yule 2006, The Cauldron No,121, August 2006, The Cauldron - Brazilian version Edition XI.)

'Doreen Valiente and the Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn'. An article about Doreen Valiente and her Golden Dawn notebooks. (Published The Cauldron no.124 May 2007, G.B.G.'s Family and Friends Spring 2007) [NB: This article was heavily revised and updated in 2024 and awaiting publication.]

'The Coven of Atho' is an article about Charles Cardell, Raymond Howard and the Coven of Atho. (PDF version here)(Published The Cauldron no.126, November 2007.)

'Wica or Wicca? - Politics and the Power of Words' is an article about the use of the words 'Wica' and 'Wicca' (PDF version here) (Published The Cauldron no. 129 August 2008)

The Birth of Religion - an article from a Transpersonal Psychology point of view. Co-written with Dr Stuart Whomsley and published in the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology.

My Articles on General Magic and Witchcraft

'Who Will Plow My Vulva?' - An article I wrote about Inanna as an insatiable Goddess of Love. (Published in Pagan Dawn, Samhain 2007)

Here is a brief introduction to the main branches of modern Witchcraft. This was written as a handout for the annual British Transpersonal Psychology Conference held in 2005 where Dr Stuart Whomsley and I presented it.

'Penumbral Polarity' An article I wrote about the dynamic dance between the HP and HPs; a philosophy espoused to me, by my initiator.

Ritual Magic and the Golden Dawn

Read my article 'Old Magic, New Witchcraft' written whilst I was looking at The Golden Dawn and it's influence on the Wica. I once offered a printed version via Lulu with covers designed by my late HP, David Johnson, but have since pulled it as I thibnk it needs to be updated and I first write it over 12 years ago! To see its original cover click here

The Golden Dawn: Symbolism, ritual and self-development - an article about the psychology behind Esoteric Orders co-written with Dr Stuart Whomsley and published in the journal of Transpersonal Psychology.