The
Legend of Aradia
Charles Letland and Raven Grimassi
In
1508 C. E. the Italian Inquisitor Bernardo Rategno (having studied witch trial
records preserved in the archives of the Inquisition at Como) wrote a text
called the Tractatus de Strigibus. In this text he states that the "
witches sect" had begun to expand 150 years earlier. This would place the
"expansion" about 1350 (14th Century Italy). What caused this to
happen? Well, the answer may be found in the old legend called The Legend of
the Beautiful Pilgrim. This legend can be found in author Charles Leland's
notes for his book: Aradia, Gospel of the witches.
According
to this story, there once was a young woman from the town of Volterra who
"travelled far and wide, teaching and preaching the religion of old
times, the religion of Diana, the Queen of the Fairies and of the Moon, the
Goddess of the poor and the oppressed". Leland goes on to say "And
the fame of her wisdom and beauty went forth over all the land, and people
worshipped her, calling her La Bella Pellegrina (the Beautiful Pilgrim). In
the Aridian Tradition they refer to Aradia as The Holy Strega (pronounced
Stray-gah, meaning witch) and we honour her memory. We do not worship her.
According
to our teachings, Aradia formed covens (called groves) in central Italy during
the 14th Century. She taught the Old Religion of Nature, and of Magic, but
above all she taught a Spirituality.
Beyond
this she gave hope to peasants whose lives were made miserable, in service to
the wealthy class. She taught them personal power, and personal value, in an
Age when the Church taught shame and sin, and servitude. Aradia returned their
beautiful pagan heritage to them, a heritage which was preserved in secret by
courageous Priests and Priestesses of The Old Religion. Aradia taught harmony
with Nature, and directed her followers to merge with Nature through seasonal
rites, and ritual observation of the Full Moon (times of planetary power).
Charles
Leland's version of Aradia, is not the original version. It has little to do
with the Aradia I have addressed here. His work is a Christianised view of
Aradia, and does not reflect the beliefs, or practices, of Hereditary Italian
Witches.
THE
GIFTS OF ARADIA
In
the 14th Century, Aradia taught that certain powers could be obtained through
following The Old Religion. Aradia called them "gifts" because she
stressed that these powers were side benefits of adhering to the Old Ways, and
not the reason for becoming a witch. These gifts are commonly referred to,
today, as the traditional powers of Witchcraft.
1.
To bring
success in matters of love
2.
To bless and
consecrate
3.
To speak with
spirits
4.
To know of
Hidden Things
5.
To call forth
spirits
6.
To know
Secret Signs
7.
To possess
the Knowledge of changing forms
8.
To possess
the Knowledge of Divination
9.
To cure
disease
10.
To bring
forth beauty
11.
To have
influence over wild beasts
12.
To know the
secrets of the hands
Aradia
taught that a witch must observe the Seasonal Rites and the time of the Full
Moon, in order to keep these powers.
HISTORY
OF ARADIA
Aradia
(Strega Witch) was born in Volterra, Italy, on August 13, 1313. In her early
teens (10-12 yrs.) she moved with her parents to the Alban hills near the lake
now known as Nemi. This region not far from Rome. She experienced something in
the unexplained area, a mystery to herself. This was the beginning of her
promoting the old religion that was taught to her by her aunt.
On
the subject of her "mystery". A voice using telepathy spoke to her
telling her to look upwards. She gazed upwards and saw the skies began to
darken (for there was a Moon Shadow) and she understood. This changed how she
perceived life.
RAVEN
GRIMASSI
Listed
below are books written by Raven Grimassi
The
Book of Ways (Volumes 1 & 2) 1981 & 1982
The
Book of the Holy Strega 1981
The
Teachings of the Holy Strega (1991 reprint, new Intro)
Whispers,
teachings of the Old Religion of Italy 1991
The
Aridian System, an introduction to Italian Witchcraft.