Sybil Leek
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011) |
Sybil Leek | |
---|---|
Born | Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England | 22 February 1917
Died | 26 October 1982 Melbourne, Florida, United States | (aged 65)
Occupation(s) | White witch, antiques dealer, author, television personality |
Sybil Leek (née Fawcett; 22 February 1917 – 26 October 1982) was an English
Personal life
Sybil Leek was born on 22 February 1917 in the village of
Her eccentric habits as a self-described witch soon resulted in problems. Media interest grew, and Sybil became tired of the attention from news reporters and tourists. Chris Packham, in a BBC article about her, quoted a contemporary saying, "people either thought she was a bit of a joke or a fraud." Although the village itself benefited from the extra tourism and visitors, some were unhappy with the extra traffic and noise. Her landlord eventually refused to renew her lease, prompting Leek to move away from the area and emigrate to the United States of America.[1]
United States
When Leek moved to America, she became an astrologer, describing astrology as her "first love".
Contrasts with other witches
Sybil Leek was strong in the defence of her beliefs, and sometimes differed with, and even quarrelled with, other witches. She disapproved of nudity in rituals, which is a requirement in Gardnerian Wicca, and she was strongly against the use of drugs, and she contrasted with most other witches in that she did believe in cursing. She also claimed to have had an out-of-body experience.
Her student Christine Jones stated that Leek "mixed truths with untruths liberally, causing great harm as she went".[4]
Death
She died of cancer on 26 October 1982 at the Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida.
Books
Title | Year | Publisher | Identifier |
---|---|---|---|
A Shop in the High Street (1st UK edition) | 1962 | Jarrolds | |
A Shop in the High Street (1st US edition) | 1964 | David McKay Company | LCCN 64--15886
|
Diary of a Witch | 1968 | Prentice Hall | LCCN 68--18514
|
The Sybil Leek Book of Fortune Telling | 1969 | The Macmillan Company | |
Numerology: The Magic of Numbers | 1969 | Macmillan | |
How To Be Your Own Astrologer | 1970 | Cowles Book Company | |
The Sybil Leek's Astrological Guide to Successful Everyday Living | 1970 | Prentice Hall | ISBN 0-13-879882-6
|
Telepathy, The 'Respectable Phenomenon' | 1971 | The Macmillan Company - Book Club edition | |
The Complete Art of Witchcraft | 1971 | a Signet Book New American Library | LCCN 70--15997
|
The Astrological Guide to Financial Success | 1972 | Grosset & Dunlap | |
My Life in Astrology | 1972 | Prentice Hall Book club edition | |
The Story of Faith Healing | 1973 | Macmillan Publishing Company | |
Sybil Leek's Book of Herbs | 1973 | Cornerstone Library, Simon & Schuster | ISBN 0-346-12435-2
|
Tomorrow's Headlines Today | 1974 | Prentice-Hall, Inc. | |
Reincarnation: the Second Chance | 1974 | Stein and Day | ISBN 0-8128-1693-5
|
Sybil Leek's Book of Curses | 1975 | Prentice-Hall, Inc. Book Club Edition | |
Star Speak, Your Body Language from the Stars | 1975 | Arbor House | ISBN 0-87795-118-7
|
Sybil Leek's Book of the Curious and Occult | 1976 | Ballantine Nonfiction | ISBN 0-345-25385-X
|
Dreams | 1976 | W. H. Allen | |
Sybil Leek on Exorcism. Driving Out The Devils | 1976 | W. H. Allen | |
Astrology And Love. Be a Better Lover | 1977 | Berkley Publishing Corp. | |
Moon Signs: Lunar Astrology | 1977 | W. H. Allen | ISBN 0-491-02451-7
|
Magazines
Title | Year | Publisher |
---|---|---|
"Sybil Leek's Astrology Vol 5 #3" | March 1972 | Twin World Publications |
"Sybil Leek's Astrology Vol 5 #4" | April 1972 | Twin World Publications |
"Sybil Leek's Astrology Vol 5 #5" | May 1972 | Twin World Publications |
"Sybil Leek's Astrology Vol 5 #6" | June 1972 | Twin World Publications |
"Sybil Leek's Astrology Vol 6 #2" | August 1972 | Twin World Publications |
"Sybil Leek's Astrology Vol 6 #3" | September 1972 | Twin World Publications |
"Sybil Leek's Astrology Vol 6 #5" | November 1972 | Twin World Publications |
"Sybil Leek's Astrology Vol 6 #6" | December 1972 | Twin World Publications |
"Sybil Leek's Astrology Vol 7 #2" | February 1973 | Twin World Publications |
References
- ^ a b "BBC Inside Out – Sybil Leek; White witch". BBC. 28 October 2002.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Judika Iles, p. 746
- ^ "The G-T Big 4: To Tell the Truth (CBS Nighttime)". kinescopes.com.
- ^ Jones 2010, p. 121.
Sources
- Bramshaw, Vikki. Craft of the Wise: A Practical Guide to Paganism & Witchcraft. ISBN 1-84694-232-2.
- Jones, Christine (2010). Sybil Leek: Out of the Shadows. ISBN 978-0-9827263-6-5.
- The Raveness. Molly, Sybil and Crowley a popular poem from her book Lavinia : Volume one. (2006) ISBN 978-1-5023139-6-6.
- Leek, Sybil, Diary of a Witch (Prentice-Hall, 1968).
External links
- Sybil Leek Memorial Page
- Lovestarz.com article on Sybil Leek
- BBC article on Sybil Leek
- controverscial.com article on Sybil Leek
- A Biographical Sketch of a Friend & Acquaintance of Aleister Crowley