1956 - 1993

Prolific Wiccan author and expert on earth and natural magic, best known for his books on magical herbalism, earth power, crystals, gems and metals and "the truth about Witchcraft." Born June 27, 1956, in Royal Oak, Michigan, Cunningham moved to San Diego in 1961. He began practicing Wicca in 1971. A full-time writer, he has authored more than two dozen fiction and nonfiction books and has written scripts for occult videocassettes.

Cunningham was introduced to the Craft in 1971 through a book purchased by his mother, The Supernatural, by Douglas Hill and Pat Williams. Early on in life, Cunningham had a strong interest in plants, minerals and other natural earth products, and the book piqued his curiosity. He read it and was particularly fascinated by the book's description of Italian hand gestures used to ward off the evil eye.

In the next two days, two other incidents added impetus to his interest in the Craft: a movie about Witchcraft shown on television; and a female classmate in high school who was involved in an occult and magic study group. Meeting on the first day of drama class, the two began talking, and Cunningham unconsciously made the evil-eye hand gestures. The classmate recognized them and asked, "Are you a Witch?" "No," said Cunningham, "but I'd sure like to be one." The classmate introduced him to Wicca. Learning magic intensified his interest in the power of nature. Since then, Cunningham was initiated into several covens of various traditions but eventually opted to practice as a solitary.

In 1974 he enrolled in San Diego State University and studied creative writing, intending to become a professional writer like his father, Chet, who has authored more than 170 nonfiction and fiction books. He wrote truck and automotive trade articles and advertising copy on a freelance basis. After two years in college, he realized he had more published credits than most of his professors, and decided to drop out and begin writing full-time.

The first book he wrote was Magical Herbalism, though it was not his first to be published. That book, Shadow of Love, an Egyptian romance novel, appeared in 1980. Magical Herbalism was published in 1982. Between 1980 and 1987, Cunningham wrote and had published 21 novels in various genres, six nonfiction occult books and one nonfiction booklet. Besides Magical Herbalism, his credits include Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic (1983); Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (1985); The Magic of Incense, Oils and Brews (1987); The Magical Household (1987; coauthored with David Harrington); and Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic (1987).

Cunningham anonymously wrote a booklet, The Truth About Witchcraft, which explains folk magic as well as the Wiccan religion. An expanded, book-length version of The Truth About Witchcraft, as well as a second title, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, were published in 1988. He also wrote The Magic of Food, a book about the magical properties within foods, as well as instructions on selecting foods to create specific changes in life.

Cunningham lectured and taught groups around the country and occasionally made media appearances on behalf of the Craft. He viewed Wicca as a modern religion, created in the 20th century. Though Wicca incorporates elements of pagan folk magic, it is not a continuation of the ancient pagan religion. Cunningham felt that Wicca should be stripped of its quasi-historical and mythological trappings and presented to the public as a modern religion sprung from primeval concepts. The purpose of Wicca is to facilitate human contact with the Goddess and God; the differences between traditions, he maintained, were petty and distracting.

Like others in the Craft, Cunningham believed in reincarnation, but he felt many people place too much importance on exploring past lives. He said the present is what counts, and one's attention should be given to learning the lessons of the here and now.

The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft
Rosemary Ellen Guiley