Witches of History: Lois Bourne

It wasn't long before Bourne was officially initiated into Gardner's Bricket Wood Coven. Her initiation ceremony took place at midnight on Candlemas of 1958 in the Bricket Wood Cottage. Bourne described the process as “profoundly moving” and recalled it as one of the most important experiences of her entire life. Upon initiation, she would go by the craft name of Tanith.

Bourne joined the coven after the parting of ways between Doreen Valiente and Gardner, and so the animosity that dominated the coven for so long had been calmed by that time. She fully supported Gardner's version of Wicca and his adherence to ceremony and structure. She noted that Gardner was a strict adherent to “correct procedure,” and any deviation was frowned upon for fear it would pervert the craft.

Throughout her time with Gardner, she would grow to love him as a paternal figure in her life who tutored her in the ways of the craft. She paid close attention to how he performed ceremonies and made sure to mimic his movements so as to make him proud. And proud she made him! Bourne quickly ascended to the role of High Priestess in the coven and remained there until her death at 89 years old.

Bourne and Gardner's relationship was precious and dear to them both, and they quickly became like family.

Bourne's sons even considered Gardner to be like an adopted grandfather to them. They would attend the group often and always demand one of Gardner's hand-made paper airplanes, which he happily obliged to make for them.

Bourne remained a true friend and supporter of Gardner for the entirety of her life. When Gardner came under fire for his use of nudity in ritual and was accused of sexual deviance, she was the first to come to his defense. She lampooned the various writers for their hit pieces and claimed that they had no clue as to the inner workings of the coven and merely had an axe to grind. On another occasion, when Gardner was accused of making up his version of the craft instead of adhering to ancient wisdom, she wrote the following:

“It is true that Gerald was less than completely honest on occasions, but the ancient wisdom which is the basis of witchcraft is changeless and constant, and the nature of the gods remains the same. Whether his portrayal of the craft is an accurately ancient one or a modern invention is only important to pendants and historians. In the final analysis, the magic works.”

There is, of course, a case to be made for the possibility that Bourne was blinded by the enigma that was Gardner but, in any case, her loyalty is something that can be admired. Her stories and defense of her icon never wavered, and she went to her grave believing fully in the magickal prowess of Gardner.

Despite her loyalty to Gardner, Bourne was not simply a carbon copy of her mentor. She was a strong-minded and exploratory witch who maintained many different perspectives that contributed to her unique craft.

She considered herself somewhat of a bridge builder between Wicca and Christianity. She believed that there was great value in the Christian tradition and that much could be learned about the mystic world if one could only read between the lines. She was also a student of the Maharishi, an Indian guru who popularized transcendental meditation as well as other Eastern spiritual traditions.

She took her varied knowledge and applied it to her craft, giving her a broader inner eye and making her power all the more potent, though she would consider herself a Wiccan first and foremost. She wrote the following about the craft:

“The Craft is not for the weak, nor is it for the vain. The successful practice of witchcraft and the working of magic require that one should be psychologically healthy, mentally and physically strong, in control of one’s emotions and not subject to wild variations between high and low spirits.

The inner circle of witchcraft is virtually closed, but the outside perimeter attracts its share of the psychologically disturbed, the lunatic fringe who see in the practice of witchcraft a short-cut to their heart’s desire and the possible attainment of power; there are in existence other occult groups which make useful receptacles for such would-be witches.”

She described her own magickal gifts as a latent power within, stirring and restless like a coiled serpent flexing its muscles and longing to express itself.

The method that this expression takes is unique for each individual. But she felt that the proper procedures are paramount in allowing that magick to manifest safely and not harm the individual, which is why she was such an adherent to ritual and tradition. For her, it was a safeguard from unleashing something that could be detrimental to the practitioner's mental, physical, and spiritual health.

She believed that many who had been locked up in mental asylums over the years were simply witches who were never shown how to control their gifts.

A true tragedy indeed, so she dedicated her life to creating works that could help guide the uninitiated to a safer path forward into the expression of their abilities.

Over the span of her life, Bourne would go on to publish five books.

These publications include: