The Georgian Tradition was founded in 1970 by George (Pat) Patterson, Zanoni Silverknife and Tanith. It began as a small coven in Pat’s home in Bakersfield, CA.

Pat received early teachings from members of a Celtic coven in Boston. When World War II began, Pat enlisted in the Armed Forces and served for four years. On his return to Boston, he found that family members had destroyed his Book of Shadows and ritual items. He could not find the family he had studied with and did not find any other Witches for a long time, but he never gave up hope. In 1970, at 52 years of age, Pat began a magickal calling that resulted in Zanoni and Tanith finding him and helping to found the Georgian tradition. Their first student, Bobbie Kennedy, came along shortly thereafter.

Soon after forming the group, Pat applied to the State of California for legal status as an incorporated church and, through the Universal Life Church, obtained a charter (1971) and ministerial credentials for himself and Zanoni.

Pat gathered information, lessons and lore from many helpful sources. These included Doris and Sylvester Stuart of England, Lady Gwen of the New England Covens of Traditionalist Witches (N.E.C.T.W.), Ed Fitch of the Gardnerian Wicca tradition and others. The Georgian tradition is based on Gardnerian and Alexandrian practices, Etruscan lore, rites and rituals shared by the Sylvestrians and N.E.C.T.W. as well as material from New York Covens of Traditionalist Witches (N.Y.C.T.W). Lord Hermes, Ed Buczynski and Lady Siobhan (Order of the Silver Wheel).

In 1976, Pat began editing the Georgian Newsletter, an informal correspondence that helped build and bridge the Georgian community. Pat passed over in 1984 leaving behind a thriving Georgian community. At present, there are known Georgian covens in British Columbia, California, Florida, Oregon, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Washington and Oklahoma.