Home   Kent   News   Article

Hundred of witches, wizards, pagans and druids living in Kent

Earlier this week it was revealed a Medway woman who says she is a witch was convinced witchcraft works after two circles of sorcerers joined forces to cast a spell on thieves who stole her scooter.

Witch and psychic medium Deborah Samuels-Stuck, 51, claimed its powers helped to get the scooter returned a few days later.

She said: “I’m a psychic medium and a witch.

Witch, psychic reader and healer Deborah Samuels-Stuck
Witch, psychic reader and healer Deborah Samuels-Stuck

“I was so angry at this happening that me and my circle of witches cast a spell. I messaged my friend who happens to be a witch.

"The next thing is all these witches had got together and taken part in a spell.

“There were 20 witches in total, two circles of witches.

People all over Kent practice being witches and wizards
People all over Kent practice being witches and wizards

But it turns out, she's not the only one living in Kent.

According to the 2011 Census, there are people in the county who practice wicca and witchcraft and some who practice as pagans and druids too.

Paganism covers a great number of spiritual and religious beliefs.

Thousands of pagans and druids gather at Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice. Picture: Alastair Johnstone
Thousands of pagans and druids gather at Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice. Picture: Alastair Johnstone

The ancient pagan religion, druidry is based on the reverential, sacred and honourable relationship between the people and the land.

Modern druidry is the spiritual interaction between an individual and the spirits of nature, including those of landscape and ancestry, together with the continuities of spiritual, literary and cultural heritage.

Wicca is one of the most influential traditions of modern Paganism.

A wizard with a 300 year-old witching bottle
A wizard with a 300 year-old witching bottle

Also known by the name witchcraft, it began to emerge publicly in its modern form in the late 1940s.

It is a mystery tradition that guides it's initiates to a deep communion with the powers of nature and of the human psyche, leading to a spiritual transformation of the self.

Wicca is both a religion and a craft.

Witches stage meetings all over the county
Witches stage meetings all over the county

As a religion, its purpose is to put the individual and the group in harmony with the divine creative principal of the cosmos, and its manifestation at all levels.

As a craft, its purpose is to achieve practical ends by psychic means, for good, useful and healing purposes.

Witchraft is a path of magic and love and the movement of deep poetry of the soul and joining with the mysteries of nature and the old Gods.

In the Ashford area five people listed their religion as druid, 159 said they were pagan and 25 listed themselves wicca with one saying they followed the witchcraft.

Witches are all over the county
Witches are all over the county

In Canterbury, 18 people listed their religion as druid and 230 people said they were pagans.

Thirty-nine said they classed themselves at wicca and two practised the witchcraft religion.

Dartford has five druids, 122 pagans and 13 people following the wicca religion, with just two practising witchcraft.

In Dover and Deal there were 17 druids, 174 pagans and 28 wicca and two following the witchcraft religion.

In Folkestone and Hythe 14 people said they were druids and 153 people said they were following the pagan religion.

Pagan and wicca religions are popular in certain areas of the county
Pagan and wicca religions are popular in certain areas of the county

Thirty-seven people in the area said they were following the wicca religion and seven listed themselves as following witchcraft.

In Gravesham, 10 people listed themselves as druids while 101 said they were Pagan.

There were also 23 people who listed themselves as following wicca and two people following witchcraft.

In Medway 24 people said they were druids, while 387 people said they were pagans and 88 said they were following wicca while five said they were following witchcraft.

In Maidstone 14 people listed themselves as druids and 184 people said they were pagans.

A wizard with a 300 year-old witching bottle
A wizard with a 300 year-old witching bottle

Forty-three people said they were wicca and four said they were following witchcraft.

In Sevenoaks there were 12 people who said they were druids, while 86 said they were pagans.

Seventeen were practising the wicca religion while four others said they were following witchcraft.

In Swale, 10 people said they were druids while 208 people said they were pagans.

Canterbury also stages a Pagan Parade
Canterbury also stages a Pagan Parade

Thirty-nine people living there listed their religion as wicca while five said they were following witchcraft.

In Thanet 19 people said they were druids, while 191 people said they were pagans.

In the area there were also 67 people practising wicca while eight were following witchcraft.

In Tonbridge and Malling eight people said they were druids, while 109 listed themselves as pagans.

Twenty-three people said they were following the wicca religion, but no one living in the area said they were practising witchcraft.

In Tunbridge Wells four people said they were druids while 128 listed paganism as their religion and 21 people listed they followed the wicca religion and two followed witchcraft.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More