Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

BESANT, Annie (1847-1923)

The social reformer who became head of the Theosophical Society on the death of the co-founder, Col. H S Olcott, in 1907.

She went on to join the Co-Masons when the organization arrived in Britain from France in 1902 and became the British national delegate, overseeing the affiliation to the Grand Orient of France in 1922.

On her death, her daughter, Mabel Besant-Scott, became leader of British Co-Masons.

Annie Besant was a prominent member of the Rosicrucian Fellowship of Crotona, an organization which Doreen Valiente implies may have been used as a cover for the activities of the Southern Coven of British Witches.

see also: THEOSOPHY; THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc