Scott Cunningham
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Scott Douglas Cunningham (June 27, 1956 – March 28, 1993) was the author of dozens of popular books on Wicca and various other alternative religious subjects. Today the name Cunningham is synonymous with natural magic and the magical community. He is recognized today as one of the most influential and revolutionary authors in the field of natural magic.
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[edit] Personal life
Scott Cunningham was born at the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA, the second son of Chester Grant Cunningham and Rose Marie Wilhoit Cunningham.
The Cunningham family moved to San Diego, California in the fall of 1959. The family moved there because of Rose Marie's health issues. The doctors in Royal Oak declared the mild climate in San Diego ideal for her. Outside of many trips to Hawaii, Scott lived in San Diego until his death.
Scott had one older brother, Greg, and a younger sister, Christine.
When he was in high school he became associated with a girl whom he knew to deal in the occult and covens. This classmate introduced him to Wicca and trained him in Wiccan spirituality. He was initiated into various eclectic covens that are not privy to traditional Wiccan teachings and secrets.
He studied creative writing at San Diego State University, where he enrolled in 1978. After two years in the program, however, he had more published works than several of his professors, and dropped out of the university to write full time.
In 1983 Scott Cunningham was diagnosed with lymphoma. Over the years his health deteriorated, and in 1990 while on a speaking tour in Massachusetts, he was diagnosed with AIDS-related cryptococcal meningitis. He suffered from several infections brought on by his cancer, and finally died in early 1993. He was thirty-six years old.
[edit] Religious beliefs
Cunningham's religious beliefs were simple and easy to understand. He practiced a fairly basic interpretation of Witchcraft, often worshipping alone, though his book series for solitaries describes several instances in which he worshipped with friends and teachers.
While his beliefs were simple, he had arguably every detail of his religion thought out. He practiced things thoroughly, however he went out of his way to make sure explanations were brief and clear in his books. This exemplified his belief that everyone's religion was deeply personal and invariably individual. In Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, easily Scott's most successful book, he wrote, Learn by doing, and the Goddess and God will bless you with all that you truly need.
He also believed that Wicca, which had been a very secretive religion in the past, should become more open and accepting to newcomers. In the same book, he wrote, Wicca has been, up until the past decade or so, a closed religion, but no more. The inner components of Wicca are available to anyone who can read and has the proper wit to understand the material. Wicca's only secrets are its individual ritual forms, spells, names of deities and so on.
It is reported that in 1980 Scott studied in a tradition under Raven Grimassi, another popular neopagan author. This is verified by Grimassi who admits that Cunningham studied under him for three years as a first degree initiate in his system. Cunningham later moved on, as Grimassi states: "In favor of a self-styled approach to Wicca".
[edit] Published works
[edit] Books
- 1980 - Shadow of Love (fiction)
- 1982 - Magical Herbalism: The Secret of the Wise (ISBN 0-87542-120-2)
- 1983 - Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic (ISBN 0-87542-121-0)
- 1985 - Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (ISBN 0-87542-122-9)
- 1987 - The Magical Household (ISBN 0-87542-124-5)
- 1987 - Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic (ISBN 0-87542-126-1)
- 1988 - The Truth About Witchcraft Today (ISBN 0-87542-127-X)
- 1988 - Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (ISBN 0-87542-118-0)
- 1989 - The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews (ISBN 0-87542-128-8)
- 1989 - Magical Aromatherapy: The Power of Scent (ISBN 0-87542-129-6)
- 1991 - Earth, Air, Fire, and Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic (ISBN 0-87542-131-8)
- 1993 - Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen (ISBN 0-7387-0226-9)
- 1993 - Divination For Beginners (ISBN 0-7387-0384-2)
- 1993 - Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (ISBN 0-87542-184-9)
- 1993 - Spell Crafts: Creating Magical Objects (ISBN 0-87542-185-7)
- 1993 - The Truth About Herb Magic (ISBN 0-87542-132-6)
- 1994 - The Truth About Witchcraft (ISBN 0-87542-357-4)
- 1995 - Hawaiian Magic and Spirituality (ISBN 1-56718-199-6)
- 1997 - Pocket Guide to Fortune Telling (ISBN 0-89594-875-3)
- 1999 - Dreaming the Divine: Techniques for Sacred Sleep (ISBN 1-56718-192-9)
[edit] Art by Robin Wood
Several of Scott's books include black and white drawings and (in some editions) cover art by the Wiccan artist Robin Wood.[1] Among these books are Magical Herbalism, Earth Power, and Earth, Air, Fire, Water.
[edit] Videos
- Herb Magic (ISBN 0-87542-117-2)
[edit] Film references
- Never Say Macbeth, 2007 film features a group of actors who battle the curse of Macbeth by using Scott's book, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. This film will be released on DVD by Vanguard Cinema in August, 2008 [2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Several of Scott's own books contain text "About the Author"
- The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft - Rosemary Ellen Guiley
- Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft - Raven Grimassi
[edit] External links
- Llewellyn's On-line Bookstore: Scott Cunningham
- Reflections on Scott Cunningham
- Witchvox Article - Christopher Penczak Coming Out of the Broom Closet
- Gay Witch Network Discussions, Articles, Resources, Networking, and Community.
- Never Say Macbeth Film featuring Scott's book.
