About the author
Doreen Edith Dominy Valiente (4 January 1922 – 1 September 1999) was an English Wiccan who was responsible for writing much of the early religious liturgy within the tradition of Gardnerian Wicca. An author and poet, she also published five books dealing with Wicca and related esoteric subjects. Born to a middle-class family in Surrey, Valiente began practising magic while a teenager. Working as a translator at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, she also married twice in this period. Developing her interest in occultism after the war, she began practising ceremonial magic with a friend while living in Bournemouth. Learning of Wicca, in 1953 she was initiated into the Gardnerian tradition by its founder, Gerald Gardner. Soon becoming the High Priestess of Gardner's Bricket Wood coven, she helped him to produce or adapt many important scriptural texts for Wicca, such as The Witches Rune and the Charge of the Goddess, which were incorporated into the early Gardnerian Book of Shadows. In 1957, a schism resulted in Valiente and her followers leaving Gardner in order to form their own short-lived coven.
📖 Where to start with Doreen Valiente
💬 What our editors say about Doreen Valiente's books
“Valiente’s work is an indispensable guide for those committed to understanding the Sussex roots of modern witchcraft. Its strength lies in its detailed exploration of historical figures and symbolic meanings, such as the hare and…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Where Witchcraft Lives
“Valiente’s text stands as a monumental resource for those committed to the serious study of Wicca, offering a unique synthesis of historical scholarship and esoteric instruction. It particularly suits individuals interested in…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Witchcraft for Tomorrow
