Doreen Valiente 1922-1999   Doreen Valiente was an English Witch and was one of the most influential person's to shape modern Witchcraft. Doreen's association with Gerald Gardner, led to her initiation in 1953. She then helped Gerald to embellish numerous rituals and texts, that he claimed were passed down from the New Forest Witches of England. Before meeting Gerald Gardner, she had been an admirer of Charles Leylands Italian Witchcraft, for a long time. Doreen recognised some verses in Geralds material that were exactly as they appeared in two different texts published by Aleister Crowly. Uncomfortable with this, she modified or removed them from Geralds Book Of Shadows, creating new formats. Some of Doreen's poems have become standard verses in the Craft Community, such as her now famous version of the "Charge Of  The Goddess". Doreen also went on to be an author of many books. Doreen passed from this world on September 1st 1999, after a long struggle with cancer.

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