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 The Feri Tradition: Vicia Line
Author: Corvia Blackthorn
Posted: December 20th. 2003
Times Viewed: 29,237
Feri is an initiatory tradition of Witchcraft emphasizing "the more natural and wild forms of human magic and sorcery."[1] It contains a multiplicity of initiatory lineages or "lines," all ultimately tracing back to Victor and Cora Anderson. The tradition's name has been spelled in a variety of ways over time. Early initiates used Fairy, Faery, or Faerie, but Victor Anderson later changed the spelling to Feri in order to distinguish our tradition from others using similar terms (Faery Wicca, etc.). This change was not universally adopted and some lines of Feri still use the earlier spellings.
Feri is an oral tradition with no canonical book of rituals and lore. It also places a high value on poetic creativity and individual exploration. This has naturally led to variations between the practices of different lines. What follows is an outline of Feri as it is known and practiced in the Vicia line. (Pronounced vee-chee-ah.) In Vicia, we work with a body of material taught by Victor and Cora Anderson to their direct initiates, primarily during the last decade of Victor's life. According to the Andersons, Vicia was also a very early name for the Feri Tradition.
Origins
The historical origin of Feri has long been debated among Feri Witches, and it's doubtful there will ever be a single universally accepted account. However, almost all agree that the first definitely known modern teachers of the Feri Tradition were Victor and Cora Anderson.
According to Victor, Feri is a magical science that was practiced by a small dark-skinned people who came out of Africa tens of thousands of years ago. These are the original Fairy Folk or Little People, and they turn up in the legends of many cultures under different names. The Fairies were reputed to be strongly psychic and highly skilled in the magical arts. Victor considered himself a direct descendent of these small dark people and used to say, "I was not converted, I am kin to the Fairy race!" Because the Fairy Folk traveled so widely and lived so long ago, there are echoes of Feri to be found in practically every culture. (Some Feri Witches see this as a poetic explanation; others see it as literally true.)
The terminology can be a bit confusing because "Fairy Folk" also refers to certain nature spirits and inhabitants of the etheric region. According to the Andersons, the small dark humans known as Fairies had a particularly close relationship to these spirit beings.[2] Victor once said that he considered Feri a good name for the tradition because it included nature spirits, gods, and the ancestral race of small humans. He also said it can mean someone who is powerfully psychic and a worker of magic.
Modern History
Founder Victor Henry Anderson was born on May 21, 1917, in Clayton, New Mexico. Victor was a gifted Craft priest, shaman, and poet, who had strong memories of past lives as a Witch. An accident in early childhood left Victor legally blind, and he had extremely limited physical sight. He was, however, highly skilled at etheric sight and could clearly see auras and other etheric phenomena.
Victor told of being initiated as a Witch by a woman "of the Fairy race" when he was nine years old. One account of this event can be found in Margot Adler's classic book on neo-Paganism, Drawing Down the Moon. Not long afterward, Victor was introduced to the Harpy coven. Harpy was a pre-Gardnerian group practicing Witchcraft in southern Oregon in the 1920s and 30s. The Harpy coveners recognized the youthful Victor's talents and included him in their rituals. The names of some of the Harpy coven members have been preserved (but are not public), along with something about their professions. Harpy disbanded shortly before Victor met Cora, and Victor doesn't seem to have kept in contact with the members. As a young teen, Victor was also initiated into Vodou by a Mambo from Haiti who had immigrated to southern Oregon.
Victor was always a tireless student of the occult, and had many teachers and collaborators over the years. His memory was phenomenal, and like the Bards of old, he possessed a vast store of memorized lore, poetry, spells, and songs. Victor had a beautiful speaking and singing voice, and also played the accordion professionally. In 1970, Victor published Thorns of the Blood Rose, a book of love poems and poetry rooted in the Feri Tradition.[3]
Cora Anderson was born Cora Ann Cremeans on January 26, 1915, in rural Alabama. Cora's family practiced folk magic and she had a grandfather who was a "root doctor." He cured her of a serious illness in her youth and later shared his magical lore with her. Cora is a natural psychic and an authentic kitchen Witch. She worked for years as a hospital cook and would often infuse healing energy into food for the patients. Cora sometimes refers to herself as a simple "hill Witch," but under that simplicity lies a profound understanding of both life and the Craft.
Cora and Victor first met physically in Bend, Oregon, in 1944. Both immediately felt that they'd already met. They soon realized that their previous acquaintance had been on the astral plane, where they'd traveled together and made love many times before. They were married on May 3, 1944, just three days after their first physical meeting. The newly-weds compared notes and found they'd both grown up in families with magical lore. One of the first things they did together was build an altar. In 1945 their son Elon was born. His name was given to Cora in a dream and means "Oak" in Hebrew.
The young family moved to Niles, California, in 1948. They eventually purchased a home and settled for good in nearby San Leandro. In the mid-1950s, Victor and Cora read Gerald Gardner's Witchcraft Today with interest. It seemed that Witchcraft was becoming more public. As a consequence, Victor had the idea of starting a coven based on the Craft knowledge that he and Cora already shared. He also received a letter in 1960 from Leo Martello and several Witches in Italy encouraging him to teach the Craft in California. The result was an early Anderson coven known as Mahealani, which is Hawaiian for "full moon."
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Andersons had "brought in," or initiated, several people. One was Gwydion Pendderwen (Tom DeLong), a young man who was a friend of their son. Gwydion went on to become a major contributor to the developing direction of the tradition. He wrote Craft songs and poetry and co-wrote rituals with Victor. Much was added to the existing practices of the Andersons at this time, including some of the Welsh lore that Gwydion so loved. There are some initiates, particularly those of Gwydion's direct lineage, who consider him a co-founder of the Feri Tradition.
In the early 1970s, the Andersons formed a new coven with Gwydion and Alison Harlow, who was an initiate of Gwydion's. When Gwydion married, his wife was initiated and also became part of the coven. Much of Gwydion's beautiful liturgical poetry was written around this time. The group disbanded after a few years and the coven members went their separate ways. Gwydion continued to teach and initiate Feri Witches; he also began teaching something he called "Faery Shamanism." Alison went on to co-found a Feri coven that is still meeting and teaching today. She also trained an apprentice who has begun her own branch of Feri.
The Andersons had been teaching and initiating a variety of individual students outside of the coven, and they continued to do so. One of these initiates was Starhawk. Her best-selling book, The Spiral Dance, was influenced by Feri Witchcraft and popularized such Feri concepts as the Three Souls, and the Iron and Pearl Pentacles. Another of these initiates was Gabriel Carillo (Caradoc). Gabriel began developing a systematized body of written Feri teaching materials in the late 1970s. Using these materials, he started teaching Feri in a paid class setting in the early 80s. This was a controversial step, as the Andersons taught via oral tradition and never charged money for Craft training. However, Gabriel believed he could reach more people in classes while still remaining true to the tradition. His lineage came to be known as Bloodrose. Gabriel continued to expand and develop his teaching materials over the following decades, and now teaches internationally and via the Internet. Because of his public accessibility, the majority of people now involved in Feri are related to Bloodrose in one way or another.
The Andersons' teaching method was always very right-brained and informal. There were no classes, no handouts, only conversations and the occasional ritual, usually followed by a home-cooked meal. Discussions with Victor were non-linear and overflowing with information. Someone once aptly remarked that talking to Victor was like to trying to drink from a fire hose. Often the connecting threads and underlying patterns of his information didn't become apparent until much later on. There was also a non-verbal component to Victor's teaching. He was a true shaman, and had the ability to shift the consciousness of his students on a level well below the surface of conversation.
Victor and Cora continued teaching right up until Victor's death in 2001, initiating some 25 to 30 people over a span of 40 or so years. In honor of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1984, Cora wrote and published Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition. This book is still the definitive written work on Feri/Vicia thealogy and practice.[4] It should be pointed out, however, that the tradition cannot be learned from a book. Feri is essentially a mystery religion. Its greatest teachings can only be known after initiation and through direct experience.
Despite the various differences between lineages today, there are some Feri commonalities. Most important is the shared bond of initiatory lineage. All the lines of Feri have knowledge of certain secret Names, and we all receive a hands-on passing of Power at initiation. There also seems to be some liturgy in common - mostly materials from Victor or Gwydion. Most lines emphasize direct personal interaction with deities, nature spirits, and other realms of being. There's often a high level of creativity and a love of things wild, beautiful, and poetic. Feri Witches also tend to emphasize the evolutionary and spiritual development of the Self.
 
Core Beliefs
Some lines of Feri work primarily with a pantheon of seven deities. However, in the Vicia line we "don't have a set pantheon, but we do deal with groups of gods. It depends on whom we need to deal with. We deal with the gods of the trees, the gods of the rivers, the gods of the rocks, our own personal god.... The thing is that "pantheon" means many or all of the gods, from the Greek."[5]
The primordial deity in Vicia is seen as a Trinity, one made up of the Star Goddess and the Twins. The Twins are the male potency of the Goddess made manifest, for She holds both male and female within herself. As Cora says, "Our Goddess is God Herself. Not only does She have a sex, but She is sex, both male and female."[6] According to Victor, "[T]o think of the Star Goddess as just the chief head of the Feri Pantheon is not right... God was first worshipped as the Mother and the dual Father/Son in one. Just like you have the proton in the center of the hydrogen atom and the electron going around it. It's just as simple as that."[7] The Goddess brought forth the Twins solely because She desired them. They are her son, lover, and other half.
The Twins are not strictly male, as all gods contain both male and female within themselves. They can manifest as a male/male pair, a male/female pair, or a female/female pair. Feri is quite unashamedly sexual, and all of the various pairings are seen as sexually active. The Universe itself was born of the orgasm felt by the Star Goddess when She first made love to the Twins. The Twins can also combine to manifest as a single god (as two candle flames may be brought together to form a single flame).
This fluid approach to both gender and deity is one of the main characteristics of Vicia. Victor taught, "Mere gender, as we think of it here, is always so restrictive. What gives rise to what we call gender, what feminine means and what masculine really means, is like we hear sounds in music or see colors in the spectrum."[8] As a result, Vicia is very open to people of all sexual orientations and sexual magic is not confined to male/female pairings.
An important belief in Vicia is that the gods are not psychological constructs or inspirational ideas, but actual beings. Not only that, we are all part of a single family of evolving consciousness. There's a Feri maxim that states, "God is self and self is God, and God is a person like myself." In Vicia, our ultimate destiny is seen to be joining the company of gods. This work is usually accomplished over the course of many lifetimes. It is not seen as an easy or safe path to follow, but as Victor said many times, "Everything worthwhile is dangerous."
Vicia might almost be described as a universal religion, as at various times it may incorporate elements or work with deities from a broad spectrum of cultural traditions. The Star Goddess is truly She of Ten Thousand Names. She is seen as Isis in Egypt, Kali in India, Cerridwen in Wales. She may appear as a young girl, a mature woman, or an ancient and wise Crone. The Twins manifest in an equally varied number of forms, appearing either separately or as a combined single god. There's even a strand of Luciferianism in Vicia. As in Leland's Aradia: Gospel of Witches, Lucifer is sometimes seen as the bright and shining consort of the Goddess. This comfort level with Lucifer is not universal in Feri, however.
Another core belief concerns the structure of the human being. We are believed to have a four-fold nature: a physical body and three selves or souls. In Vicia, the three souls are sometimes referred to as Fetch, Talker, and God Self.[9] These three souls correspond in many ways to the three souls found in Huna. Huna is a metaphysical system based on Hawaiian lore and originally popularized in the writings of Max Freedom Long. Victor had native Hawaiian teachers in his youth; he also knew Max Freedom Long and was a member of Long's organization, Huna Research Associates.
Polynesian religion and magic have been a major influence in Vicia. Other influences include Haitian Vodou, Kabbala, Native American concepts, European folk magic, and Gaelic lore. This is not mere eclecticism, but an acknowledgement of an underlying vision of reality to be found in many cultures. Nor is it cultural appropriation, as Victor's personal heritage was Irish, Scottish, Hawaiian, and Native American. He honored all his ancestral ties and teachers and encouraged his students to do similarly with their own. Vicia students often explore their cultural roots and the magical lore of their personal heritages, as "a Witch's power is in their blood."[10] This is not a hard and fast rule, however.
Ethics and Standards of Conduct
In Vicia, we have a strong code of ethics. At all times we are encouraged to have a high regard both for ourselves and for others. All humans are seen as kin - our brothers and sisters. We treat them with respect and love, and demand respect in return. We continually work to be in right relationship with the gods and each other. We are expected to help our brothers and sisters in the Craft when they are in need. We are also expected not to "coddle weakness" in ourselves or in others. In other words, we strive not to be co-dependent in any lessening of the human spirit. Victor also spoke of the need to balance this concept with compassion for human frailty. We are not blind to the presence of evil, however. Martial magic is seen as a legitimate means of defending our selves and our communities.
There is no corollary to the Wiccan Rede in Vicia.[11] Instead, there's a focus on honor and Kala. Kala is a word borrowed from Hawaiian, meaning "the light, luminescence, pure, bright." In Hawaiian it also carries the meanings, "to loosen, untie, free; to forgive." Cora Anderson writes, "Keeping oneself Kala is extremely important in every activity of life.... It means to keep oneself clean and bright and free from complexes within and without."[12] Complexes may be thought of as energy knotted up by guilt or shame, or by deeply buried limiting beliefs. Being free of complexes allows a healthy and open flow of communication and energy between all three souls. It is also seen as a prerequisite for effective magic.
Some of the key principles of Vicia are embodied in the Feri Star or Decagram. The points of this ten-pointed star represent: Love, Wisdom, Knowledge, Law, Liberty, Sex, Self, Passion, Pride, and Power. Balance is sought in each point and between all of the points. A person who has achieved this balance is said to be "on their points." Ethical actions are a natural outgrowth of this state.
In addition, sexual ethics are very important in Vicia. Victor taught, "We are a sex positive tradition, but you must know the heart of the one you approach. No one must ever be approached with force or poor intent."[13] Sex is seen as a sacred act, and we know that we share the power of creation with the gods. Sexuality is not seen as a game or treated lightly, and we honor the vows we take to each other as lovers or spouses. A state of sexual purity is sought, akin to the innocent sexuality of childhood. In the Vicia line, this state is known as the Black Heart of Innocence.
Organizational Structure and Role of Clergy
In general, Feri doesn't have a set organizational structure. Feri covens exist, but so do solitary practitioners and loosely affiliated groups. The Vicia line generally favors monogamous couples and covens; however, other arrangements are certainly possible. What structures exist are usually non-hierarchical, and there's no separate clergy. On the other hand, Vicia does honor its elders and teachers. The highest mark of respect is being named a Grandmaster. This title does not confer authority over others, but is instead an acknowledgement of expertise and experience. To become a Vicia Witch is to embark on a never-ending process of growth and learning. Each of us is always working toward personal mastership.
While it's possible to practice some aspects of Feri as a non-initiate, initiation is required for full participation in the tradition. In the Vicia line, initiation comes early in training and is seen as the beginning of the journey. Through initiation we formally join ourselves to the Star Goddess, Twins, and all the gods. We also receive a passing of the power that is known by some as the "Feri current."
Ways of Worship
Vicia is a way of life, a world-view. Worship may therefore be inherent in any and every action. Writing a poem or story, making love, singing, tending a garden, cooking a meal, creating art; all these and more may be seen as acts of reverence offered to the Divine. More formal worship may be found in lunar and seasonal rites, or in various daily practices such as honoring one's God Self and Ancestors. Possession is sometimes practiced as a method for communing with the Gods, although in Vicia the emphasis is placed on training for Self-possession, i.e. full integration with one's own God Self. Many Feri Witches celebrate the same eight great Sabbats as Wiccans, and usually in somewhat similar ways. At Beltane we might raise a Maypole, and at Samhain we commune with our dead.
In Vicia, we work with a unique body of liturgy, spells, rituals, and techniques passed down from the Andersons to their direct initiates and covenmates. Original lore is carefully preserved but new material is also created. Creative inspiration is seen as a mark of close contact with divinity. Cora Anderson writes, "Only the ignorant insist that all our rituals are handed down verbatim from Witch to Witch. Just as the poet and musician can create great work through inspiration so we of the Old Religion can make new rituals and services to our Gods. This religion is not a dead fossil, but a living growing human experience."[14]
Images used above: 1) Victor Anderson with crystal ball, copyright © 1974 Susan Lohwasser; 2) Victor holding an ankh, copyright © 2003 Cora Anderson; 3) Victor and Cora as newly-weds, copyright © 2003 Cora Anderson.
Reading and Other References
Links:
http://www.vicia.info
http://www.cog.org/wicca/trads/faery.html
http://www.faerywolf.com
http://www.feritradition.org
http://www.whitewand.com
http://www.witchvox.com/passages/victoranderson.html
Reading:
Thorns of the Blood Rose by Victor H. Anderson. The classic book of poetry by one of the modern founders of the Feri tradition. Finally back in print, Thorns of the Blood Rose is available on line through the Anderson Bookstore at Lilith's Lantern <http://www.lilithslantern.com/bookstore.htm> and also from The White Wand <http://whitewand.com/booksandtools.html>.
Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition by Cora Anderson. The definitive work on the Feri/Vicia world-view. Newly reprinted and available on line through the Anderson Bookstore at Lilith's Lantern <http://www.lilithslantern.com/bookstore.htm> and also from The White Wand <http://whitewand.com/booksandtools.html>.
Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans, and Witches Today edited by Ellen Evert Hopman. Contains an interview with Victor conducted by Ellen Hopman. (Originally published as People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out.)
Drawing Down the Moon by Margo Adler. Contains an interview with Victor Anderson.
The Spiral Dance by Starhawk. Contains exercises and meditations from Feri and other traditions.
Witch Eye: a Zine of Feri Uprising <www.feritradition.org/Witcheye>
Phoenix Willow
Bio: Phoenix Willow first met the Andersons in 1997. Her teachers, Kalessin and Jim Schutte, are initiates of the Andersons. She was formally initiated into Vicia in June of 2002 and currently lives in Southern California.
[1] Victor Anderson, as quoted in Cora Anderson's book, Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition.
[2] See Cora's book Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition for more on the subject.
[3] Long out of print, Thorns of the Blood Rose is now available again. Internet sources include the Anderson Bookstore at Lilith's Lantern <http://www.lilithslantern.com/bookstore.htm>, and The White Wand <http://whitewand.com/booksandtools.html>.
[4] Newly reprinted in early 2004, Cora's book is available on line through the Anderson Bookstore at Lilith's Lantern <http://www.lilithslantern.com/bookstore.htm>, and The White Wand <http://whitewand.com/booksandtools.html>.
[5] Victor Anderson in Witch Eye #3, August 2000.
[6] From Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition by Cora Anderson.
[7] Witch Eye #3, August 2000.
[8] Witch Eye #3, August 2000.
[9] See <http://www.lilithslantern.com/exercises.htm>.
[10] Oral lore from Victor Anderson.
[11] See <http://www.witchvox.com/basics/rede.html>.
[12] In Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition.
[13] From a lecture given by Victor Anderson in 2001.
[14] In Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition.
Article Specs
Article ID: 7737
VoxAcct: 208598
Section: trads
Age Group: Adult
Days Up: 2,163
Times Read: 29,237
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