Intiaited into Wicca by Monique Wilson, he went on to create a mail-order Wicca school in America and publish several books on witchcraft. Considered to be the “legitimate” American heir to Gardner’s throne, he announced his arrival to the U.S. in 1962 by letter to FATE magazine, in a letter to the editor calling himself “Sir Raymond Buckland”, although he was never knighted.  In the letter he claimned he had vast knowledge of the occult. Buclkand had apparently acted as a "Wiccan missionary" to America. 

     Buckland claimed to have a PhD in Folklore from Brentrand Forrest School, which was actually a diploma mill, according to Bear's Guide To Alternative Degrees 7th edition (1980) It also went by the names of Sussex College of Technology, and The University of Man. Brentrand Forrest School, et al, was operated out of a large home south of London, and sold degrees through the mail for around $250 with no classes or studying involved.  

    Bear's Guide To Alternative Degrees also mentioned mentions Buckland's own now defunct diploma millcalled “The Occult Research Bureau” (not be confused with a website by the same name owned by a different individual), that sold Doctorates ranging from $5 to $65. He plagiarized Henri Gamache’s book, Master Book of Candle Burning, for his book Candle Burning Magic. Buckland’s book gives advice that amounts to “work hard, and save your money”, which doesn’t require magic! 

    Buckland claims a Scottish ghost that had been a witch in the 16th century introduced him to “Picta Wicca” (yeah, right). But it’s obvious Buckland created Picta Wicca was created so he could cash in on the growing solitary Wiccan movement, since Picta Wicca is geared toward solitary practitioners. Picta Wicca seems to be made out of bits and pieces of other occultic practices, just as any form of Wicca. No surprise there.

    Like all occultists, Buckland has yet to do anything that most people would cosndier actual magic! 

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