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.