Scott Cunningham

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Scott Douglas Cunningham ( June 27, 1956 - March 28, 1993 ) was the author of several popular books on Wicca and various other alternative religious topics. Today the name Cunningham is synonymous with natural sorcery and magical community. He is considered one of the most influential and revolutionary authors in the field of natural wizardry.

biography

Scott Cunningham was born at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak , Michigan , USA and is the second son of Chester Grant and Rose Marie Wilhoit Cunningham. The Cunningham family moved to San Diego , California in the fall of 1959 . Apart from many trips to Hawaii, he lived in San Diego until his death. Cunningham had an older brother, Greg, and a younger sister, Christine.

During his high school years, he met a girl who moved in occult circles and witch covens . This classmate introduced him to Wiccan and taught him the spiritual Wiccan. He was introduced and initiated into various eclectic covens.

He studied literature from 1978 at San Diego State University . After two years he had published more work than most of his professors and left university early to devote himself entirely to writing.

In 1983 Scott Cunningham was diagnosed with lymphoma . Over the years his health deteriorated noticeably and since 1990 he has increasingly suffered from multiple infections caused by HIV disease. In 1993 he died at the age of 36.

Neo-paganism

Cunningham's religious beliefs were simple and easy to understand. He has practiced fairly basic interpretations of witchcraft, often alone, although in his series of books for lonely practitioners he describes how he also practiced with friends and teachers. Although his belief was quite simple, he described the religion in great detail and thoroughly. Cunningham practiced the rituals extensively and made sure that his explanations in his books were short and understandable. This also illustrated his belief that religion is a deeply personal and very individual matter. In Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner , Cunningham's most successful book, he wrote, "Learn by action and the Goddess and God will bless you with everything you really need."

He also believed that as a hitherto secret religion for beginners, Wicca should show more openness and acceptance. In the same book he wrote: “Wicca was a closed religion until the past decade, now it is no longer. The inner components of Wicca are open to anyone who can read and has the appropriate mind to understand matter. The only secrets of Wicca are the individual ritual forms, the spells, the names of the deities and so on. "

It is reported that in 1980 Cunningham studied with Raven Grimassi , another popular neo-pagan writer whose tradition was. Grimassi confirms that in the three years that he taught Cunningham, he was initiated into the first degree of his tradition.

bibliography

credentials

  • Several of Scott's own books contain autobiographical text.
  • Rosemary Ellen Guiley : The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft .
  • Raven Grimassi: Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft .
  • David Harrington: Whispers of the Moon: The Life and Work of Scott Cunningham, Philosopher-Magician, Modern-Day Pagan .

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Cunningham, Scott
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Cunningham, Scott Douglas (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American author of books on alternative religious topics
DATE OF BIRTH June 27, 1956
DATE OF DEATH March 28, 1993