Cochrane's Craft | |
---|---|
Type | Traditional witchcraft |
Theology | Polytheism / Pluriform Monotheism |
Founder | Robert Cochrane (legally Roy Bowers) |
Origin | 1951 |
Members | Unknown |
Other name(s) | Cochranianism |
Cochrane's Craft, which is also known as Cochranianism, is a form of traditional witchcraft founded in 1951 by the English witch Robert Cochrane, who himself claimed to have been taught in the tradition by some of his elderly family members, a claim that is disputed by some historians such as Ronald Hutton and Leo Ruickbie.[1]
Despite numerous practical and theological similarities to other forms of modern witchcraft, such as Gardnerian Wicca, Cochrane's Craft sets itself apart from other traditions in many notable ways, such as its emphasis on the pursuit of wisdom as the highest goal of witchcraft[2] and Cochrane's insistence that witchcraft is not Pagan and, in fact, has no more in common with Paganism than does Qabbalah.[3]
History
History of Tubal Cain originates from the Bible as ancient. Since the beginning formations of the Brotherhood of the Order of the Quest, the end goal for all who joined was to have peace, unity, wisdom and love on earth. A simple goal to help place an end to the endless wars and human misery that have plagued our planet for thousands of years via a coordinated effort of like minded brothers, where the purpose of our Great Work was to help create a world that was unified under this common banner of peace, love, unity and justice for all. What some may call , “heaven on earth” or even a “Solomon’s Temple” that covers the globe. In order to accomplish this monumental task, Tubal Cain and his descendants were instructed by God in Matthew 10:34 where it is said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Tubal Cain is the widow’s son who originally was “a sharpener”—one who whets or sharpens instruments.
In more modern times such as in the most recent translations of the bible we find that he morphs from being one who sharpens instruments for example; a sword, to becoming the “forger of all instruments of bronze and iron” (ESV), or an “instructor of every artificer in brass and iron” (KJV). Hence, he is the Supreme Hierophant or High Priest of commerce, war and materialism which currently rules this 6th Age. Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews, says that “Tubal exceeded all men in strength, and was very expert and famous in martial performances, … and first of all invented the art of working brass.”‘
Josephus in the Antiquities of the Jews, A.D. 93;
Nay, even while Adam was alive, it came to pass that the posterity of Cain became exceedingly wicked, every one successively dying one after the other, more wicked than the former. They were intolerable in war, and vehement in robberies; and if any one were slow to murder people, yet was he bold in his profligate behaviour, in acting unjustly, and doing injury for gain.
Tubal Cain had descended from Cain, the son of Lamech and Zillah, and the brother of Naamah, who Tubal is said to be the last soul survivor of the race of Cain after the flood. The Sons of Tubal Cain, his descendants are first recorded in the inscriptions of Tiglath-pileser I, by the King of Assyria in approximately the year 1100 BC. Later they are also reported by Tukulti-ninurta II, Ashurnasipal II, Sargon and Shalmaneserr III, and are mentioned as the Mushki.
TUBAL CAIN IN FREEMASONRY-
“Tubal Cain has been considered among Masons as a symbol of worldly possessions.” – Albert Gallatin Mackey – A lexicon of freemasonry
Masonic Historian, Albert Gallatin Mackey had said that Tubal Cain is the Vulcan of the Pagans, and is thought to have been closely connected with ancient Freemasonry. Here is a quote on Tubal Cain from Mackey’s book, A lexicon of freemasonry;
He was the inventor of edge-tools, and introduced many arts into society which tended towards its improvement and civilization. Tubal Cain is the Vulcan of the Pagans, and is thought to have been closely connected with ancient Freemasonry. Faber says that “all the most remarkable ancient buildings of Greece, Egypt, and Asia Minor, were ascribed to Cabirean or Cyclopean Masons,” the descendants of Vulcan, Dhu Balcan, the god Balcan, or Tubal Cain. Oliver says, “In after times Tubal Cain, under the name of Vulcan and his Cyclops, figured as workers in metals and inventors of the mysteries;and hence it is probable that he was the hierophant of a similar institution in his day, copied from the previous system of Seth, and applied to the improvement of schemes more adapted to the physical pursuits of the race to which he belonged.”* For these reasons Tubal Cain has been consecrated among Masons of the present day as an ancient brother. His introduction of the arts of civilization having given the first value to property. Tubal Cain has been considered among Masons as a symbol of worldly possessions.
The first reference to Tubal Cain in Freemasonry is found in the “Legend of the Craft,” where he is called “the founder of smith-craft. Tubal Cain was a master at forging weapons in which 33rd degree Freemason and Master Rosicrucian, Manly P. Hall says this about him and his weapons; “The Mason must ‘follow in the footsteps of his forefather, Tubal-Cain, who with the mighty strength of the war god hammered his sword into a plowshare.”
Tubal Cain is the password given in the Third Degree of Blue Lodge of the Master Mason.
Tubal Cain is described in the Bible under Isaiah 2:4 –“He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” And also in Joel 3:10 – Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!
Beliefs
Theology
As in most forms of Neopagan Witchcraft, Cochranians worship both a Horned God and a Triple Goddess. The Goddess is viewed as the White Goddess, a term taken from Robert Graves' poem, The White Goddess.[1] She is also viewed as a triad of three mothers or three sisters, which both Cochrane and Evan John Jones noted as having similarities with the weird sisters or Norns of Germanic paganism.[1]
In Cochrane's Craft, the God is associated with fire, the underworld and time, and has been described as "the goat-god of fire, craft, lower magics, fertility and death". The God was known by several names, most notable Tubal Cain, Brân, Wayland and Herne.[1] Cochrane's tradition held that these two deities had a son, the Horn Child, who was a young sun god.[1]
Cochrane, like Gardner, believed that there was a being beyond the God and the Goddess; the Godhead, although he referred to this deity as "the Hidden Goddess". He also referred to it as "Truth".[1]
Cochrane told of a cosmogony myth, which involved Night, "a feminine being with force, but without form, giving birth to man and with him she discovered love, and so all things began".[1] He said that the Elder Gods had seven children who each created a realm to rule over from a castle, as well as creating the elements of earth, air, fire and water, each of which had a god ruling over it.[1]
Ethics and morality
No mention is made in Cochrane's writings to the Wiccan Rede or "Threefold Law". Cochrane instead offers an "old witch 'law'" that reads:
Do not do what you desire - do what is necessary.
Take all you are given - give all of yourself.
What I have - - - I hold!
When all else is lost, and not until then, prepare to die with dignity.[4]
In a letter to occultist William G. Gray, Cochrane said:
Nothing is purely good or evil, these are relative terms that man has hung upon unacceptable mysteries. To my particular belief the Goddess, white with works of good, is also black with works of darkness, yet both of them are compassionate, albeit the compassion is a cover for the ruthlesness of total Truth.[1]
Practices
Cochranians wear robes whilst performing rituals and adhere to the traditional Great Rite.
Tools
An iconic part of Cochrane's Craft is the tool known as the stang. A stang is a forked staff used, primarily, as a portable altar. In The Roebuck in the Thicket, Evan John Johns describes the acquisition and adornment of a stang intended for use by a coven. According to Jones, the shaft of the stang should be made from ash; the fork of the stang should be made of iron; the base should be shod in iron; two upward-facing crossed arrows should adorn the shaft below the fork; and, on the four "Great Sabbats" (i.e. Candlemas, May Eve, Lammas, and Halloween), the arrows should be garlanded as fits the season.[1]
Media
In 2015 a feature film, The Coven was released based on the premise that "Robbie Cochrane founded a Wicca coven as recently as the 1960s" and that followers were meeting in Queen's Wood in Highgate. A Cochranian devotee, Uri Clef, is killed and the film's plot reveals the killer in a subtle and complex story line.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cochrane, Robert; Jones, Evan John. Howard, Mike (ed.). Roebuck in the Thicket:An Anthology of the Robert Cochrane Witchcraft Tradition. Capall Bann.
- ^ Cochrane, Robert (1966-01-05). "Second Letter to Joe Wilson". Letter to Joe Wilson. Retrieved 2019-06-27.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Cochrane, Robert. "Letters to Bill Grey" (PDF). Letter to Bill Grey. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
- ^ Cochrane, Robert (1966-04-08). "Sixth Letter to Joe Wilson". Letter to Joe Wilson. Retrieved 2019-06-23.