1734 Tradition
Encyclopedia
The 1734 Tradition is a tradition of Traditional Witchcraft founded by the American Joseph Wilson
, who developed it between 1964 and 1972 and founded the tradition in late 1973 and early 1974http://www.shadowdance.org/toteg/warts26.html. It was largely based upon the teachings which he received from an English Traditional Witch named
Robert Cochrane
, the founder of Cochrane's Craft
. Other influences on this tradition were a Kansas Witch who initiated him into a coven in Wichita
, known as "Sean" and also Ruth Wynn Owen, a Welsh Witch and founder of the Y Plant Bran tradition. More about these influences may be found on the 1734 Tradition web site, linked below.
Wilson stated that "1734 was NOT intended to be a tradition by which legitimacy is recognised by a confirmed/recognised pedigree" and because of this he did not believe that there was any leader of 1734. He did mention in his writings who he believed was "authentic 1734", talking only of people to whom he had taught his methods, and in so doing stated that there was no "lineage" of the Tradition. He was very specific in stating that it was NOT Wicca, and NOT a "lineaged religious system". His best definition of the Tradition was that it was a "Method, cloaked in a Mystery."
In the correspondence between Wilson and Cochrane, the glyph of 1734 and the meaning of the figure were set as a task for Wilson to complete by Cochrane, who taught through induction. The actual results of that discussion and as much as is able to be written down about the actual meaning of the glyph and the cryptogram of 1734 are in the Letters, which were published as The Robert Cochrane Letters by Capall Bann. The interesting factor of the "meaning of 1734" as Joe envisioned it, was that there is more than one meaning, more than one riddle, and more than one Mystery, connected with the etymology, and that people must first encounter the Mystery, and then figure out its meaning for themselves.
http://www.shadowdance.org/toteg/warts26.html
Joseph Bearwalker Wilson autobiography
Joseph Bearwalker Wilson
Joseph Bearwalker Wilson was a shaman and witch, founder of the 1734 Tradition of witchcraft, toteg Tribe, Metista, and a founding member of the Covenant of the Goddess....
, who developed it between 1964 and 1972 and founded the tradition in late 1973 and early 1974http://www.shadowdance.org/toteg/warts26.html. It was largely based upon the teachings which he received from an English Traditional Witch named
Robert Cochrane
Roy Bowers
Robert Cochrane , who was born as Roy Bowers, was an English Neopagan witch who founded the tradition known as Cochrane's Craft, which is seen by some to be a form of Wicca but is sometimes considered distinct from it due to Cochrane's opposition to both Gerald Gardner and Gardnerian Wicca.Born...
, the founder of Cochrane's Craft
Cochrane's Craft
Cochrane’s Craft, which is also known as Cochranianism, is a tradition of the Neopagan religion of Witchcraft founded in 1951 by the English Witch Robert Cochrane, who himself claimed to have been taught it by some of his elderly family members, a claim that is disputed by some historians such as...
. Other influences on this tradition were a Kansas Witch who initiated him into a coven in Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, known as "Sean" and also Ruth Wynn Owen, a Welsh Witch and founder of the Y Plant Bran tradition. More about these influences may be found on the 1734 Tradition web site, linked below.
Wilson stated that "1734 was NOT intended to be a tradition by which legitimacy is recognised by a confirmed/recognised pedigree" and because of this he did not believe that there was any leader of 1734. He did mention in his writings who he believed was "authentic 1734", talking only of people to whom he had taught his methods, and in so doing stated that there was no "lineage" of the Tradition. He was very specific in stating that it was NOT Wicca, and NOT a "lineaged religious system". His best definition of the Tradition was that it was a "Method, cloaked in a Mystery."
Etymology
Some have suggested that the term "1734" refers to the year 1734, and that Cochrane traced his "Witch-Blood" back to that date. However, this claim has been refuted by a number of 1734 adherents, who claim that the number does not refer to the year. It is suggested that Robert Graves' book, "The White Goddess" is the best source for a "meaning" of 1734.In the correspondence between Wilson and Cochrane, the glyph of 1734 and the meaning of the figure were set as a task for Wilson to complete by Cochrane, who taught through induction. The actual results of that discussion and as much as is able to be written down about the actual meaning of the glyph and the cryptogram of 1734 are in the Letters, which were published as The Robert Cochrane Letters by Capall Bann. The interesting factor of the "meaning of 1734" as Joe envisioned it, was that there is more than one meaning, more than one riddle, and more than one Mystery, connected with the etymology, and that people must first encounter the Mystery, and then figure out its meaning for themselves.
External links
http://www.shadowdance.org/toteg/warts26.html
Joseph Bearwalker Wilson autobiography