Raymond Buckland (1934-2017) | The Wild Hunt

Raymond Buckland, author and founder of Seax-Wica, died Wednesday after being hospitalized for chest pain. Ray, as he was called by his close friends and family, is largely considered responsible for introducing the U.S. to Gardnerian Wicca.

Raymond Buckland was born August 31, 1934 in London to Stanley and Eileen. By 1939, as World War II loomed, the family moved to Nottingham where Buckland spent his childhood. During his school years, he became interested in the theater and acting, a passion that would follow him through life.

It was also during these early years that Buckland was introduced to spiritualism and the occult. His uncle was a practicing spiritualist, and shared the concepts with his then-12-year-old nephew. In a 2008 interview, Buckland said, “I read everything I could on that subject then expanded my interest to other related subjects: ghosts, ESP, magic, witchcraft, etc.” Like theater, it was a passion that would follow him into adulthood.

Raymond Buckland (1934-2017) | The Wild Hunt

See also::  Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick