The Witch and Mr. Hotfoot Jackson: Remembering Sybil Leek

Renowned Witch, Sybil Leek was born on February 22nd 1922 (or 1917 according to her funeral card and the Astro Databank) in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. Sybil claimed to descend from a line of Witches and was pretty public with her claims of Witchcraft. She told the London's Daily Express, published Thursday February 20th, 1964: "I am a white witch and come from a line of white witches, who exist only to do good." After the loss of her first husband she moved to the New Forest area of England, where she was the HPS of the Horsa Coven. The New Forest area was a hotbed for the resurgence of Witchcraft at the time. Sybil was known in that area as not only an antique dealer but a bit of an eccentric, carrying a Jackdaw named Mr. Hotfoot Jackson around on her left shoulder (supposedly his preferred perch). She eventually moved to the US in 1964.

"I am fair, fat, 40, and living the life of a starlet..."

1966: “Witches Not All Bad, Says Dame"

Rossell Hope Robbins kept this newspaper clipping of an interview with journalist/healer/witch Dame Sybil Leek, along with others he collected and was sent, in his archives on witchcraft.

1964: “Spell Casting Witch on TO TELL THE TRUTH"

Sybil was quite the character and made many public appearances. Here is a video where she appeared on To Tell The Truth.

One of her greatest loves was astrology, this can be seen in her writing. Herself a Pisces she truly traversed the creative waters of the written word. I was recently in touch with Thorn Nightwind who shared these fantastic images of Astrology items in his Sybil Leek collection.

Photo of Sybil Leek's Astrology Puzzle

Photo of the early 1970 re-done astrology course, Course 1 Leek and Charles Luntz offered them through her Astrology Schools, Astrology Dynamics. Charles Luntz was the President of the St Louis Theosophical Society.

Photo of Sybil Leek's Astrology Journals

Photo of Sybil Leek's Astrological Delineations: Your Birthsign And Your Music

Sybil Leek was a prolific author and wrote over 60 books on everything from curses to telepathy. Below is an incomplete list of her work.

Photo of the author's Sybil Leek book collection

• A Shop in the High Street, 1964

• Mr. Hotfoot Jackson, 1965

• The Jackdaw and the Witch: A True Fable, 1966

• The Astrological Cookbook, 1968

• The Diary of A Witch, 1968

• Numerology: The Magic of Numbers, 1969

• The Sybil Leek Book of Fortune Telling, 1969

• The Tree That Conquered the World, 1969

• Cast Your Own Spell, 1970

• How to Be Your Own Astrologer, 1970

• Sybil Leek's Astrological Guide To Successful Everyday Living, 1970

• Phrenology, the Key to Limitless Understanding of Character And Personality As Revealed By The Configurations And Regions Of The Head, 1970

• Telepathy: The Respectable Phenomenon, 1971

• My Life in Astrology, 1972

• Astrological Guide to The Presidential Candidates, 1972

• The Astrological Guide to Financial Success, 1972

• ESP the Magic Within You, 1972

• Sybil Leek's Book of Herbs, 1973

• The Bicycle--That Curious Invention, 1973

• The Complete Art of Witchcraft, 1973

• The Story of Faith Healing, 1973

• Tomorrow's Headlines Today, 1974

• Reincarnation: The Second Chance, 1974

• Sybil Leek's Zodiac of Love, 1974

• Tomorrow's Headlines Today, 1974

• The Best Of Sybil Leek, 1974

• Herbs: Medicine & Mysticism, 1975

• Sybil Leek's Book Of Curses, 1975

• Driving Out the Devils: An Exorcist's Casebook, 1975

• Star Speak: Your Body Language From The Stars, 1975

• Zodiac of Love, 1975

• A Ring of Magic Islands, 1976

• The Assassination Chain, 1976

• The Night Voyagers: You and Your Dreams, 1976

• Sybil Leek's Book of The Curious And The Occult, 1976

• Inside Bellevue, 1976

• The Night Voyagers: You and Your A Dreams, 1976

• Moon Signs, 1977

• Astrology and Love, 1981

Photo of the Sybil Leek's Obituary

She lived out the remainder of her days in Indialantic, FL (close to Melbourne) where she died just before Samhain, October 26, 1982 at the age of 60 (or 65 depending on what birth date you believe) to cancer. She was survived by two sons.

I spent all of my childhood vacations in Melbourne with my Grandmother, I only wish I had the chance to meet this grand dame of Witchcraft! I have no idea how I missed this cape wearing Witch! Sybil is now part of the weird wonders of Florida.

1963: Sybil Leek on the Halloween Sabbat, on the BBC

References:

• The Supernatural, Douglas Hill and Pat Williams, 1965

• Astro Databank

• The New York Times, Oct. 29, 1982

• London's Daily Express, published Thursday February 20th, 1964

• The Boston Sunday Globe - March 8, 1964

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ABOUT SI MANDRAGORA

Si is a Gardnerian High Priest and Minos in the Minoan Brotherhood operating in Flagler County, FL. A practitioner of various kinds of witchcraft since adolescence, he now runs Mandragora Magika, creates occult art, grows all kinds of plants but mostly in love with the poisonous variety. Si holds a degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute.