January 28, 1947 – March 16, 1989
The God and Goddess are only happy when their worshippers are happy! Our Gods are Gods of Life and Joy…
The Witchcraft Fact Book, Eddie Buczynski
Edmund Buczynski (1947-1989) was an American Wiccan known for founding two distinct traditions of Wicca: Welsh Traditionalist Witchcraft and The Minoan Brotherhood. Born into a working-class family in Brooklyn, New York, he later embraced his homosexuality and became active in the vibrant gay scene of Greenwich Village. Along with his partner Herman Slater, Buczynski opened The Warlock Shop, an occult supply store, in 1972. When the shop moved from Brooklyn to Manhattan, the name changed to the Magickal Childe. After various initiations, he founded the Minoan Brotherhood in 1977, a Wiccan tradition specifically for gay and bisexual men.
Buczynski’s upbringing influenced his later pursuits. His father, a WWII veteran, moved the family to Ozone Park, Queens, where Buczynski began to explore his identity. His interest in paganism reignited when he read Gerald Gardner’s Witchcraft Today. He then connected with prominent figures in the occult community, including Leo Martello and Herman Slater, which ultimately led to their joint venture in running The Warlock Shop.
Frustrated by traditional forms of Wicca that marginalized homosexual and bisexual practitioners, Buczynski sought to create a more inclusive space. He was particularly inspired by the Minoan civilization of ancient Crete, which he believed had cults that celebrated male love. This inspiration led him to revamp Gardnerian Wiccan rituals, authoring “The Book of the Mysteries,” which incorporated ancient Mediterranean religious festivals alongside traditional Wiccan sabbat celebrations. Buczynski’s legacy continues to impact the Wiccan community, especially among LGBTQ+ practitioners, even after his death from HIV/AIDS in 1989.