Not necessarily "modern pagan" but definitely not British or England based to my knowledge.
The Corn Maiden/Woman/Mother and the Hunter is a very big aspect of the split of gender in Deity for the Great Spirit (the source of all creation) in a few different Native American beliefs. It's the big "Mother" and "Father". I am usually against categorizing American Indian tribes all into one, but it's a solid statement. There is a triad pyramid of the Great Spirit on top and the male and female just below that. The male is almost always associated with an animal that has antlers. It's shared by the Hopi, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Pawnee, etc. There is a long list. So Graves may have been "inspired" by such mythology.
Re: Anglo Saxon Witchcraft By: Brysing Moderator / Adept
Post # 14 Feb 17, 2015
I would like to add a little more about the history of England.The term "Anglo-Saxon" has nothing to do with the tribe of Angles. It merely means Saxons who settled in England, as opposed to Saxons sill living in Saxony.There were three main Germanic tribes who settled in England; Angles,Saxons, and Jutes. The name England, comes from the Angles; Angle land; and is the area now known as East Anglia.The Saxons settled a bit further South in Essex and Sussex. The Jutes settled in Kent. The Saxons were the largest of the three, and eventually "ruled" most of England. But, many other "settlers" came to England, mainly Danish. The Roman Army, and some Romans left England, but not all! In fact most of the "Romans" who settled in England did not come from Rome! They were from many parts of the Roman empire.
The history of Britain, and all the many Pagan beliefs,is very complicated; as is that of USA, because of the many "settlers.
Re: Anglo Saxon Witchcraft By: Brysing Moderator / Adept
Post # 17 Feb 17, 2015
The "modern" rulers of England are actually Viking. Norsemen! England had many invaders from the "Norse countries", but really it came to the present day from Normandy, with William, in 1066. when the Saxon rulers of England were defeated.
The Romans left England because the Empire grew too big, and was no longer viable.England really became " a waste of time and resources." So the Army was withdrawn. But many Romans stayed here.
The Angles and Saxons aren't one people group necessarily, they both originated near Germany. The Saxons were one of the many Germanic tribes, The Angles may have been from France. Both tribes were once pagan, worshipping the same gods as the Norse. Both tribes were seen as worthy barbaric warrior tribes and equals to the Norse. Around the 8th to 9th century the Angles converted to Christianity and gave up there old ways of being warriors and devolved into wimps that were to easily slain by the Norse invasion in the 9th century. The Saxons converted to Christianity yet remained as honorable warriors willing to die with swords in their hands. The first phase of battles during the war against the Norse invaders went poorly for the Saxons, but eventually the Christian Saxons prevailed and won the war, the Norse didn't immediately convert to Christianity. The Norse and Saxons believed in warfare which is why they were both mighty people, modern people tend to be unworthy of their barbaric ancestry. The Saxons may have believed in witchcraft and magic, but the Norse and Celts are recorded as actually practicing it, usually only Norse women did so as magic was seen as a more feminine thing to practice.
Re: Anglo Saxon Witchcraft By: Lark Moderator / Adept
Post # 21 Mar 30, 2015
The Saxons began their occupation of Britain during the 400's. They eventually displaced the former Celtic rulers and the Saxons continued to rule England until 1066 and the Norman Conquest. For a time during the 700's - 900's Saxon rule was heavily challenged by the Viking incursions. Eventually Saxon rule was reestablished by Alfred the Great.
