Feri Tradition

The Feri Tradition is an initiatory tradition of modern Pagan Witchcraft. It was founded in California in the 1960s by the Americans Victor Henry Anderson and his wife Cora Anderson.

Practitioners have described it as an ecstatic tradition rather than a fertility tradition. Strong emphasis is placed on sensual experience and awareness, including sexual mysticism, which is not limited to heterosexual expression.[1] The Feri Tradition has very diverse influences, such as Huna, Vodou, Faery lore, Kabbalah, Hoodoo, Tantra, and Gnosticism.

Definition

Scholars of Paganism like Joanne Pearson and Ethan Doyle White have characterised Feri as a Wiccan tradition.[2] The latter noted however that some practitioners of modern Pagan Witchcraft restrict the term Wicca to British Traditional Wicca, in which case Feri would not be classified as Wicca; he deemed this exclusionary definition of the term to be "unsuitable for academic purposes".[3] Instead, he characterised Feri as one form of Wicca which is nevertheless distinct from others, such as British Traditional Wicca, Dianic Wicca, and Stregheria.[4]

History

Anderson met Cora Ann Cremeans in Bend, Oregon, in 1944; they married three days later, on 3 May, claiming that they had encountered each other before in the astral realm.[5] Born in Nyota, Alabama, in January 1915, Cora had been exposed to folk magical practices from childhood;[6] reputedly, her Irish grandfather was a "root doctor" who was known among locals as the "druid".[7] The Andersons claimed that one of their first acts after their marriage was the erection of an altar.[7] The following year, a son was born, and they named him Victor Elon, with the latter being the Hebrew word for oak; Cora claimed that she had received the name in a dream.[8] After the birth, a ritual was held to dedicate the infant to the Goddess.[9] In 1948, the family moved to Niles, California, later that year purchasing a home in San Leandro.[10] There, Anderson became a member of the Alameda Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and he subsequently remained so for forty years.[11] Victor earned his living as a musician, playing the accordion at events,[12] while Cora worked as a hospital cook.[7] It has been claimed that Anderson could speak Hawaiian, Spanish, Creole, Greek, Italian, and Gothic.[13]

In the mid-1950s Victor and Cora read Witchcraft Today, a 1954 book by English Wiccan Gerald Gardner,[7] with Cora claiming that Victor corresponded with Gardner for a time.[14] The Pagan studies scholar Chas S. Clifton has suggested that the Andersons used Gardner's work as a "style guide" for the development of their own tradition of modern Pagan witchcraft.[15] Similarly, Kelly stated that the Andersons' tradition "began to more and more resemble that of the Gardnerians" as the couple learned more about the latter, adopting elements from it.[16] Anderson was in correspondence with the Italian-American Wiccan Leo Martello, who encouraged Anderson to found his own coven.[6] Circa 1960, the Andersons founded a coven, naming it Mahealani, after the Hawaiian word for the full moon.[6] Throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Andersons initiated a number of individuals into the coven.[7] One of these was Gwydion Pendderwen, a friend of their son who shared their interest in the esoteric.[6] Pendderwen contributed to the development of what came to be known as the Feri tradition, with some members of the lineage viewing him as its co-founder.[7] Pendderwen noted that he had first met the family when, aged thirteen, he got into a fight with Victor Elon, although the two later became friends.[17] Pendderwen was particularly influenced by Welsh mythology, and on a visit to Britain he spent time with the Alexandrian Wiccans Alex Sanders and Stewart Farrar, subsequently introducing various Alexandrian elements into Feri Wicca.[18] In the early 1970s, the Andersons established a new coven with Pendderwen and his initiate, Alison Harlow.[7] After Pendderwen married, his wife also joined this coven, although it disbanded in 1974.[7]

Andersons' teaching

Over the next four decades, the Andersons would initiate between twenty-five and thirty people into their tradition.[7] Anderson has been described as one of the "founding teachers" and the "seminal voice" of the Feri tradition,[13] although – according to Feri initiate Storm Faerywolf – he preferred to refer to himself as "Grand Master and a fairy chief".[19] The original word that the Andersons used for their tradition was Vicia, which Cora claimed was Italian.[20] She added that "the name Fairy became accidentally attached to our tradition because Victor so often mentioned that word in speaking of nature spirits and Celtic magic".[21] Early initiates alternately spelled the name of the tradition as Fairy, Faery, or Faerie, although Anderson began using the spelling Feri during the 1990s to differentiate it from other witchcraft traditions of the same name; not all practitioners followed his example.[22] Cora claimed that Feri was the word's original spelling, adding that it meant "the things of magic".[23] Anderson also referred to his form of Wicca as the Pictish tradition.[24] In their writing, the Andersons mixed terminology adopted from Huna, Gardnerian Wicca, and Voodoo, believing that all reflected the same underlying magico-religious tradition.[25] It drew heavily upon the huna system developed by Max Freedom Long.[26] According to one Feri initiate, Corvia Blackthorn:

"The Andersons' teaching method was very informal. There were no classes in an academic sense, only conversations and the occasional ritual, usually followed by a home-cooked meal. Discussions with Victor were non-linear and overflowing with information. Someone once aptly remarked that talking to Victor was like to trying to drink from a fire hose. Often the connecting threads and underlying patterns in the information didn't become apparent until later on. There was also a non-verbal component to Victor's teaching. He was a true shaman, and had the ability to shift the consciousness of his students on a level well below the surface of conversation."[7]

According to Kelly:

"Studying with Victor presented some unusual problems. He demanded as much respect as any working-class grandfather might. One could ask for clarification, but to even hint that one disagreed with him, or worse yet, to contradict him, would result in an immediate and permanent order to leave. One was tempted to ask such forbidden questions because Victor lived in mythic time and was totally uninterested in other people's concepts of logic or consistency;... Another student told me that when Victor read a new book and believed it was true, then he considered it to have always been true and would rethink his history accordingly."[27]

According to one initiate, Jim Schuette, Anderson was "a taskmaster. He took pride in testing his students."[28] One of those initiated into the Andersons' Feri tradition was Starhawk,[29] who incorporated ideas from the Feri tradition when creating Reclaiming.[30] She also included aspects from it in her 1979 book, The Spiral Dance, including mention of the Iron and Pearl Pentagram and the three souls, all of which originated within Feri.[7] Another prominent initiate was Gabriel Carillo (Caradoc ap Cador), who in the late 1970s developed a written body of Feri teachings, and began offering paid classes in the tradition in the 1980s, generating the Bloodrose lineage; doing so generated controversy among Feri initiates, with critics believing that it was morally wrong to charge for teaching.[7]

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References

Footnotes
  1. "The Faery Tradition" ©1988, 1995, 2000 Anna Korn
  2. Pearson 2002, p. 38; Doyle White 2016, p. 46.
  3. Doyle White 2016, p. 161.
  4. Doyle White 2016, p. 162.
  5. Anderson 1994, p. 1; Rabinovitch 2002, p. 7; Blackthorn 2003; Doyle White 2016, p. 47.
  6. Blackthorn 2003; Doyle White 2016, p. 47.
  7. Blackthorn 2003.
  8. Anderson 1994, p. 2; Blackthorn 2003.
  9. Anderson 1994, p. 2.
  10. Anderson 1994, p. 3; Blackthorn 2003; Doyle White 2016, p. 47.
  11. Schutte 2002.
  12. Anderson 1994, p. 1; Rabinovitch 2002, pp. 7–8; Blackthorn 2003.
  13. Rabinovitch 2002, p. 7.
  14. Anderson 1994, p. 4.
  15. Clifton 2006, p. 132.
  16. Kelly 2011, p. 43.
  17. Clifton 2006, p. 130.
  18. Doyle White 2016, p. 47.
  19. Faerywolf 2012.
  20. Anderson 1994, pp. 4–5; Doyle White 2016, p. 48.
  21. Anderson 1994, p. 6; Doyle White 2016, p. 48.
  22. Blackthorn 2003; Faerywolf 2012; Doyle White 2016, p. 48.
  23. Anderson 1994, p. 5.
  24. Anderson & Anderson 2012, p. 4.
  25. Clifton 2006, p. 131.
  26. Clifton 2006, pp. 130–131.
  27. Kelly 2011, p. 41; Doyle White 2016, p. 48.
  28. Schuette 2012, p. vii.
  29. Adler 2006, p. 124; Berger 2005, p. 38; Doyle White 2016, p. 60.
  30. Adler 2006; Berger 2005, pp. 48–49.

Bibliography
  • Anderson, Cora (1994). Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition. San Leandro: Cora Anderson.
  • Anderson, Victor (1991). "Open Letter to Aidan Kelly and Llewellyn Publications". Lilith's Lantern. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  • Anderson, Victor (2013) [1970]. Thorns of the Blood Rose. Portland: Harpy Books. ISBN 978-0-9710050-3-7.
  • Anderson, Victor; Anderson, Cora (2012). The Heart of the Initiate: Feri Lessons (second ed.). Portland: Harpy Books. ISBN 978-1-936863-78-5.
  • Adler, Margot (2006). Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers and Other Pagans in America (third ed.). London: Penguin.
  • Berger, Helen A. (2005). "Witchcraft and Neopaganism". In Helen A. Berger (ed.). Witchcraft and Magic: Contemporary North America. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 28–54.
  • Blackthorn, Corvia (2003). "The Feri Tradition: Vicia Line". The Witches' Voice. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015.
  • Clifton, Chas S. (2006). Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America. Oxford and Lanham: AltaMira. ISBN 978-0-7591-0202-6.
  • Doyle White, Ethan (2016). Wicca: History, Belief, and Community in Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Brighton: Sussex Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-84519-754-4.
  • Faerywolf, Storm (2012). "A Brief History of Feri". Feri Tradition. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  • Kelly, Aidan A. (1991). Crafting the Art of Magic - Book I: A History of Modern Witchcraft, 1939–1964. St. Paul: Llewellyn. ISBN 978-0-87542-370-8.
  • Kelly, Aidan A. (2007). Inventing Witchcraft: A Case Study in the Creation of a New Religion. Loughborough, Leicestershire: Thoth Publications. ISBN 978-1-870450-58-4.
  • Kelly, Aidan A. (2011). Hippie Commie Beatnik Witches: A Social History of the New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn. Tacoma: Hierophant Wordsmith Press. ISBN 978-1-4609-5824-7.
  • Pearson, Joanne (2002). "The History and Development of Wicca and Paganism". In Joanne Pearson (ed.). Belief Beyond Boundaries: Wicca, Celtic Spirituality and the New Age. Aldershot: Ashgate. pp. 15–54. ISBN 9780754608202.
  • Pendderwen, Gwydion (2013) [1970]. "Introduction". In Victor Anderson (ed.). Thorns of the Blood Rose. Portland: Harpy Books. pp. iii–iv. ISBN 978-0-9710050-3-7.
  • Rabinovitch, Shelley TSivia (2002). "Anderson, Victor H. (1917–2001)". In Shelley Rabinovitch; James Lewis (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism. New York: Citadel Press. pp. 7–8. ISBN 0-8065-2406-5.
  • Schuette, Jim (2012). "Foreword". In Victor Anderson; Cora Anderson (eds.). The Heart of the Initiate: Feri Lessons (second ed.). Portland: Harpy Books. pp. vii–viii. ISBN 978-1-936863-78-5.
  • Schutte, Kelesyn (Winter 2002). "Victor H. Anderson: May 21, 1917 – September 20, 2001". Reclaiming Quarterly (85). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  • Wallworth, William (2015). "Victor Henry Anderson (1917–2001)". Deadfamilies.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015.

Further reading
  • Anaar, The White Wand. Looks at the artistic foundations of Feri. It also includes an interview with Victor Anderson. (available as pdf from http://www.whitewand.com/)
  • Cora Anderson, Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition. Musings about the Feri tradition and community.
  • Cora Anderson, Kitchen Witch: A Memoir –her life. (Harpy Books)
  • Victor Anderson, Thorns of the Blood Rose. A collection of his poetry, much of which has found its way into the liturgies and rituals of the tradition.
  • Victor Anderson, Lilith's Garden. A companion volume to Thorns of the Blood Rose, is another collection of mostly liturgical poetry, including some that was considered too "scandalous" for inclusion in the original volume.
  • Victor Anderson. Etheric Anatomy: The Three Selves and Astral Travel, (Harpy Books | http://www.harpybooks.com). A look at the psychic structure of the human being, with intuitive insights into some of the practices of Feri magick.
  • Cornelia Benavidez. Victor H. Anderson: An American Shaman, (Megalithica Books). Interviews with Victor Anderson accompanied by contextualizing essays.
  • T. Thorn Coyle, Evolutionary Witchcraft. Training manual in Feri written primarily for a non-Feri pagan audience. Contains poetry, exercises, and lore.
  • T. Thorn Coyle, Kissing the Limitless. Expands on and continues the training in Evolutionary Witchcraft, for use with whatever spiritual path the reader follows.
  • Francesca De Grandis, Be A Goddess. Comprehensive training in Fey (not-Feri) shamanism. The better portion of its liturgy, worldview, and cosmology was channeled by the author, who came from a family tradition, with feedback from Victor Anderson on parts of the manuscript.
  • Francesca De Grandis, Goddess Initiation. An experiential initiatory journey into Goddess spirituality and Fey shamanism.
  • Storm Faerywolf, The Stars Within the Earth. Collection of liturgical poetry, visual art, and spells inspired by the work and mythos of Feri.
  • Storm Faerywolf, "Betwixt and Between: Exploring the Faery Tradition of Witchcraft". (Llewellyn Worldwide). A comprehensive study of Feri Tradition, that includes lore, rituals, liturgy, and recipes.
  • Starhawk, The Spiral Dance. Early and influential liturgical codification of Anderson craft.
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