Difference between revisions of "Sybil Leek"

'''Sybil Leek''' (née Fawcett; 22 February 1917 – 26 October 1982) was an English [[witch]], [[astrology|astrologer]], [[occult]] author and self-proclaimed psychic. She wrote many books on occult and esoteric subjects, and was dubbed "Britain's most famous witch" by the BBC.

When Leek moved to America, she became an astrologer, describing astrology as her "first love." In April 1964, an American publishing house wanted Sybil to speak about her new book ''A Shop in the High Street'', and she was invited to appear on ''To Tell the Truth'', a TV programme in the States; her appearance occurred on 13 April 1964. She took the opportunity to go, and flew to New York City, where she gave many interviews. While in New York, she was contacted by Hans Holzer, a parapsychologist, who invited her to join him investigating hauntings and psychic phenomena. They went on to do numerous TV and radio programmes on the subject.  

In 1967, Sybil came to the tiny town of Wapwallopen, in rural Pennsylvania. Here, she visited with [[Frederick Santee]], a medical doctor and ritual magician. Her time in Pennsylvania was documented in a series of articles in the ''Press Enterprise'' by reporter Ted Fenstermacher. Her reason for coming to such a remote area was, as she claims, "to get away from newsmen."

During this time, she inducted both Dr. Santee and his head nurse, Janie, into her witchcraft lineage, allowing them to form their own coven, the [[Coven of the Catta]]. The coven regards Sybil as the grandmother of their lineage.

Strong in the defence of her beliefs, Leek sometimes differed and even quarrelled with other witches. She disapproved of nudity in rituals, a requirement in some reconstructed traditions, and was strongly against the use of drugs, but she was at odds with most other witches in that she did believe in cursing. She also claimed to have had an out-of-body experience.

* ''Reincarnation: the Second Chance'' 1974 Stein and Day ISBN 0-8128-1693-5