The Western Gate

The Alex Sanders Lectures
Alex Sanders / Commentary by Maxine Sanders
Rose Ankh Publishing

I saw this title in Courtyard books, the original or limited run I assume as this book here is newly published, anyway I went back later after Ale and Gluttony to find the book had gone, in fact according to Ben, the shop owner, someone had stolen it.
Luckily Rose Ankh Publishing released this. The lectures themselves seem to be the lectures given at various stages to the initiated witch by Alex Sanders. Much like the Masonic lectures and description of ‘the tracing board’ that illustrates various aspects of the particular grade the traveller has to endure.
Alexandrian witchcraft could be said to be parallel to Gardnerian. Alex however is rather more honest, that the Wicca espoused by both sets are a mish mash of ideas, most less than 100 years old as opposed to Mr Gardner who would have us believe his path is one of oral tradition handed down from who knows when and then he admits, probably begrudgingly, has been ‘modernised’ with the help of Doreen Valiente.
Of the two, if I had wandered into the Wiccan way, I would have chosen Alexandrian, not least because its literally based down the road in Notting Hill.
As an introduction to Wicca/Alexandrian witchcraft the book does in many way give an insight, but the full three degrees rituals are not fully explored, not to worry you can find them on the internet, and also many of the rituals, particularly cord magic isn’t fully explained with an example rite.
However let it be remembered these are the lectures given to initiates, not a working book of rituals or a grimoire as such.
As primarily a Solo, Hedge witch, I fully acknowledge that a coven and the synchronous hive mind is far more effective at manifestation than the solitary wanderer.
There are a few things that Alexandrian witchcraft may cause finger wagging and cancellation orders being waved by certain bratty influencers. Perhaps, to be fair, there is a point to both sides. For myself I always found the simple line, that the High priestess “should be beautiful”, to be of vanity, and superficial. The gnarly ‘ugly’ Old Oak Tree would agree with me.
Alexandrians firmly believe in the male/female. There is no male/male nor female/female and certainly not Gender –I’ll be this today, well not as far as practical circle magic is concerned. I’m not sure where to stand on this. I have an extract from an old book of shadows, which states the minimum requirement for a coven should be one man, and three women. The maximum it then goes on to say should either be this ratio multiplied, or one man and infinite women? It isn’t to impress the importance that the man plays in this theatre, in fact, his role is merely as the agitator, the thrust block and even as the necessary evil. Alexandrians believe, then, this ratio should be 1:1.
Alexandrian witchcraft declare the three colours, and the three cords the fledgling witch should acquire, to be red, white and blue. These then being the colours familiar to the witch. Not much discourse on this matter is given.
Red is the Physical, White is the Spiritual and Blue is the Wise, I must assume. Comparing this anomaly to my own dog-eared tome which states, the Priestess is White, The Witches are Red and the Unbegotten and First Silence – Black. Thus One Black, One White as polar opposites, and the Witch Red Blood encompasses them. It is not therefore that I would disagree with Alexandrian, as clearly, their methods work, their rituals have power and their Covens have standing or else they would have been consigned to the folly shelf long ago, but our palettes may differ.
In a rather synchronous Twist, Maxine Sanders relates that a ‘real’ witch would have Red Hair, and not Black as envisaged by, say, Hammer films, Maxine of course has White hair.
Undoubtedly, as do the Gardnerian and Masonic, Sanders uses kabbalist correspondence and knowledge, and this with the emulation of Nature, the Sabbats and Esbats and the celebrations of the Moons throughout and thereupon Twenty One festivals are celebrated in the coven.
Let me digress then;-

Measure the moon, take the Apple, for my sign is hidden within. This diagram shows a glyph for 2026, beginning at the top with the winter solstice on the 20th December 2025, the next lunar aspect (either Full or New) is the full moon on the 3rd January 2026. This Full moon, The next Full Moon and the one after denotes the Full moon of 3rd March 2026.
The next aspect is the New Moon of 19th March,
The Following new Moon is on the 17th April and then the 16th May.
The Nextdance again follows in dynamism, some say opposition, the Full moon procession, then of course the New Moon procession and finally to complete the circle the Full Moon on the 24th December 2026.
These Five dates viz;- 3rd March Full Moon. 16th May New Moon, 29th June Full Moon, 10th October New Moon, and the 24th December Full Moon present us with working Ritual dates. From New to Full Moon~ to Manifest and from Full to New Moon to Vanquish. Its alternates between whether the year has more periods to ‘Vanquish’ than ‘Manifest’. These dates of course are not found anywhere else in the oft’ plagiarised books of ‘Real’ witchcraft and and the point is, What is a festival but a natural reflection of nature, not some random picked date, i.e. we have to believe that Samhain is 31st October, in fact, its around the 6th November this year as a natural marker between the Actual Equinox and Actual Solstice.
Alexandrians denote Beltane, Lammas, Samhain and Imbolc as the Great Sabbats, whilst those of the Equinox and the Solstice are lesser_ Esbats.
It would be for others, in which camp I agree, that The Solstices are The Base and Height and The Equinoxes the Balances and determine the Great Shifts of Nature. Those dates directly between them -the cross quarter days are not fixed dates,i.e Oct 31st but rest dependent on where the solstice or the equinox lay. It could be said its just nit picking. But would you celebrate the Full Moon when it’s still waxing? The Winter Solstice Facing The Summer Solstice are direct Opposites, The Equinox’s are dynamic opposites and also balanced in Respect to Night and Day.
But really, what am I wittering on about, If a system works, ignite it. Maxine clearly states that some will be at odds with Alexandrian/wiccan practices, and that, we are all different and different systems for different ways etc.
Though there is much I could discuss that is in this book, it would do little more than suggest to many I am at odds with it, in fact, that’s not the case,
Alex Sanders is an important figure in ‘our’ history, whether you agree with his showboating and spotlight capturing or not. Likewise, though the other half of the book is a facsimile of the actual lectures, themselves duplicated throughout means you actually get half a book. But, it’s an important book, illustrated by that bloke who did the Satanic Mojo Comix, Ok, perhaps we could have had a load of photos but we’ve all seen the photos, they’re almost iconic, so I’m not going to moan about it.
The Full Moon when the sun is in Libra is actually in its opposite Aries. Even! in opposition weare illuminated, even at a difference we still dance the same tune. The New Moon in Libra of course is in the Shadow of the Sun, ne’er the same in one of a dozen.
As Maxine/Alex states the watchtowers of the quadrants would be from a different element. It is difference that creates dynamism until in opposition we have momentum. Opposition is of course reflection.
The Male/Female argument so divisive in the modern rainbow flagged alternative bookshops have to recognise polarity, opposition, dynamism. Nothing works without it.
And people will call and hiss, that Man being symbolic of the sun? “it’s not fair!”, and yet, the moon eclipses it perfectly, totally.
Finally, Coming back to the quadrants, (p.95) shows an illustration with Citrine ~Spring, Olive~ Summer, Russet~ Autumn and Black~ winter, this at a difference to the Golden dawn;- Spring~ Citrine, summer ~Russet, Autumn~ Olive and winter Black. Whereas in the system I use, spring Is Green, Nature born, summer is yellow, the fields of corn, Autumn is Russet, The falling leaves, And winter is Black. Three systems, three arguments. Which is right and which is not? three ways upon the crossroads to follow if the fourth is the path where you cannot turn back.
Systems and pigeonholes are things to mimic, parody and ultimatley to mock, but we should always emulate nature and dance in her stead.