Nestled deep within the Arden forest of middle Mercia lies the bluebell carpeted Elfenwald, an enchanted woodland home of many creatures by day, and as many under the luminous gaze of Luna. Be careful where you tread lest you stumble upon something strange or get elfshot for your trouble. Heed the ancient advice and accept no food or drink, however tempting, else forever a guest of Elfhame you remain.
We are fortunate enough to abide in this place, occasioning into the dense oak and ash woodland where our forebears have lived and worked in harmony with the landscape, leaving an indelible mark for us to discover as to the mysticism carried on the Air.
Surrounding us is a world once alive in the imaginings of a young Shakespeare, who found Eden as you like it. A world once held in the iron grip of a Kingmaker and his noble kin who feast within the stone walls of the finest castle in the land.
Here the hero Guy slew the Dun Cow and married an Earl's daughter. White horses carry golden ladies through walled cities adorned in nought but nature's finest apparel. In the rolling hills of the open countryside an ancient circle of stones protects its rites, while a witch turns a King to stone.
Welcome to this leafy shire where the Good Folk dwell...
Here is an interesting link to the 1734 website where there is information pertaining to the Clan of Tubal Cain. Here, Stuart Inman reveals the truth about the false claims lately made as well as accusations levelled at the true Maid & Magister.
In addition to this snippet, this website provides a fascinating resource of the 1734 tradition as developed and used by the late Joseph Wilson, who shared brief but insightful correspondence with Roy Bowers.
Roy Bowers (aka Robert Cochrane) may or may not have been the progenitor of a tradition that, regardless, is now an established extant lineage. Whether or not these are archane roots or more recently germinated, most who were involved with his group and have commented agree that his was an effective and original resuscitation of the mysteries.
Of course, within the core of a tradition are the teachings and the mythos which the system hangs upon. In Bowers' case, we have come to know some of this through his letters and few public writings as the Clan of Tubal Cain tradition. Indeed, whilst much is publicly available, one must imagine there is much out there that is the privilege of those who have been initiated into the tradition.
Two things to consider here: 1) the importance of initiations to you and 2) the induction of the initiated into the group.
Life is full of initiations, from birth, first day at school, first job, etc. Indeed, the word implies the initial moment of something especial or recurring in one's life; the act of starting something for the first time. For many, initiation into a magical order would be, and likely should be, an initiation in this sense and possess a certain jen e say qua. Ritually, man has marked initiation points from the earliest of times and aboriginal tribes still do. So, this is both a celebratory milestone in a life whilst also imparting a certain something whilst admitting entry into an exclusive association.
The latter, that is admission to the core of a tradition, is significant in inaugurating the initiated. This can be from a base level, and/or a higher plain. For example, we must all have a distant memory of not being accepted into a group or team when children. On the other hand, the elation of being "picked for the team" almost has a life of its own. Higher up the scale, a cohesive and tight-knit ritual group are known to operate with one mind. In addition, initiations bring the initiate in line with the current and enables contacts within. Therefore, the association can be, or perhaps should be, inclusive of the sentience of the current. Indeed, whether a mortal being is the initiator or not, that deific instigator should necessaruly be present to transmit the body of gnosis.
So why is this relevant? Because, if that same group that Cochrane formed were still alive today it would have at its core that essence that made it what it was then, wouldn't it? Traditions can, and should, work in this manner. I heard a story the other day of a man who had an axe that had been in his family for three or four generations. What was amazing was that they had only changed the handle 6 times and the head 3. That's ridiculous, I hear you say, it's not the same axe. Ah, but is it? To him it is, despite the fact that all of its constituent parts have been updated since it first incarnated. So the spirit of the axe still lives, while its physical being is altered. In Platonic philosphy the object possesses the form or idea of what it is to be the axe.
So, through the transmission of the tradition it remains existent and the validity of the lineage, or path of inheritance, is important in keeping it alive through generations. Whilst the constituent parts of the group may change the spirit should not.