Maxine Sanders: "Queen" of the Witches

My first taste of organized coven-work was through an Alexanderian group known as the Coven of the Northern Star. Its High Priestess had studied with Alex and Maxine Sanders in London during the late sixties and brought the Craft with her to the Midwest.

Alexanderian Witchcraft owed more to medieval ceremonial magic than to any Margaret Mead-influenced pagan / witch-cult, though, as with most Wiccan gatherings of that time period, it dressed itself up in that historic disguise.

The Alexanderian Book of Shadows was a copy of the one developed by Gerald Gardener and as such Gardenerians and Alexanderians were more alike than not. I have a deep appreciation for my "Wiccan" roots. Those were my formative years and I learned a lot about myself... I still have a fascination with the history of the rise of modern witchcraft and with the Sanders' in particular, especially Maxine who was a vivacious champion of the Craft of the Wise, as they say. She, along with Janet Farrar, was the face of Modern Wicca. Here is a brief bio on this enchanted lady, taken from her website:

Maxine Sanders was initiated into the Circle of Witchcraft in 1964. The High Priest of that Coven was Alex Sanders, known throughout the world as 'King of the Witches'. Maxine and Alex were Handfasted in 1965, and legally married in 1968.

The Sanders became household names during the sixties and seventies, dramatically bringing Witchcraft, its practices and reality into global consciousness.

It is widely acknowledged that the intense publicity surrounding the Sanders precipitated those with a leaning towards Paganism to break away from the bonds of the then rigid Christian ethic. Despite the extreme interest of the paparazzi, the many sincere Initiations performed in Maxine and Alex's Covensteads during and since that period, saw the inception and fashioned a lineage of Witchcraft that has since spread throughout the world.

Maxine is a highly respected Priestess of the Sacred Mysteries. She has encouraged, enabled and inspired students of the Priesthood to take on the conscious mantle of their spiritual potential. She believes the catalyst for that inspiration comes from the Cauldron of the Goddess in all its guises.

Among Maxine's students and Initiates are those who have written authoritative books and informative works on Modern Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Gods and Goddesses, Seasonal rituals, Sabbats, Ceremonial magic, Cabbala and The Sacred Magic of the Angels.

Several of Maxine's pupils have become accomplished teachers of esoteric knowledge and work internationally. However, most follow the traditional path and pass on the Sacred Mysteries within the hidden Inner realms of the Temples of the Goddess.

Today, when she is not travelling or giving talks, Maxine practices the Art Magical and celebrates the Craft’s rituals either in the mountains or in her stone cottage, Bron Afon. Maxine practices her Magic’s alone; she has retired from the work of teaching believing this is better performed by younger priesthood. Her vocation as a Priestess includes talking to audiences who wish to listen and counselling those who are in need of kindness, truth and hope.