Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki
Encyclopedia
Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki is a British
occult
author, psychic
, and esoteric
practitioner. An associate of Walter Ernest Butler, she succeeded him as Director of Studies of the Servants of the Light
.
, off the coast of France
.
She spent World War II
on the Wirral Peninsula
in the northwest of England
. She studied acting
in London
and also took opera
training at Trinity College of Music
. She also enjoyed the sport of fencing
when young.
During the 1960s, she and her husband Michael entered the Fraternity of the Inner Light
, an esoteric order founded by Dion Fortune
. In 1965 she became associated with the Fraternity of the Inner Light
and its founder Walter Ernest Butler, and with Gareth Knight
in the Helios School. In 1971 this became the Servants of the Light School. In 1976, when Butler retired, Ashcroft-Nowicki became Director of Studies of the SOL, a position she holds to this day.
Perhaps her most important contribution to modern occultism has been her popularization of pathwork as a training tool for the study of the Qabalah.
Politically, she describes herself as "a steadfast supporter of the Monarchy
and the Sovereignty of Britain," with a "profound dislike of the whole idea of the European Economic Community
."
decks, the SOL Tarot Deck with Jo Gill and Anthony Clark, and the Shakespearean Tarot with Paul Hardy.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
author, psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
, and esoteric
Esotericism
Esotericism or Esoterism signifies the holding of esoteric opinions or beliefs, that is, ideas preserved or understood by a small group or those specially initiated, or of rare or unusual interest. The term derives from the Greek , a compound of : "within", thus "pertaining to the more inward",...
practitioner. An associate of Walter Ernest Butler, she succeeded him as Director of Studies of the Servants of the Light
Servants of the Light
Servants of the Light is a modern-day Western Mystery School which teaches the esoteric sciences through correspondence. These sciences, which in their true form constitute the Yoga of the West, have previously been secret, but nowadays they can be taught in a more open fashion.SOL was founded in...
.
Biography
Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki was born and lives in the Channel Island of JerseyJersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, off the coast of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
She spent World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
in the northwest of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She studied acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and also took opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
training at Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
. She also enjoyed the sport of fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
when young.
During the 1960s, she and her husband Michael entered the Fraternity of the Inner Light
Fraternity of the Inner Light
The Fraternity of the Inner Light is a magical society and Western Mystery School.-History:In 1922, after a falling out with Moina Mathers and with Moina's consent, Dion Fortune left the Alpha and Omega and formed the Fraternity of the Inner Light as an offshoot of the Alpha et Omega. This brought...
, an esoteric order founded by Dion Fortune
Dion Fortune
Violet Mary Firth Evans , better known as Dion Fortune, was a British occultist and author. Her pseudonym was inspired by her family motto "Deo, non fortuna" , originally the ancient motto of the Barons & Earls Digby.-Early life:She was born in Bryn-y-Bia in Llandudno, Wales, and grew up in a...
. In 1965 she became associated with the Fraternity of the Inner Light
Fraternity of the Inner Light
The Fraternity of the Inner Light is a magical society and Western Mystery School.-History:In 1922, after a falling out with Moina Mathers and with Moina's consent, Dion Fortune left the Alpha and Omega and formed the Fraternity of the Inner Light as an offshoot of the Alpha et Omega. This brought...
and its founder Walter Ernest Butler, and with Gareth Knight
Gareth Knight
Dr. Basil Wilby, aka Gareth Knight is a British esotericist and occult author who began his esoteric training in 1953 as a member of the Fraternity of the Inner Light, founded by Dion Fortune....
in the Helios School. In 1971 this became the Servants of the Light School. In 1976, when Butler retired, Ashcroft-Nowicki became Director of Studies of the SOL, a position she holds to this day.
Perhaps her most important contribution to modern occultism has been her popularization of pathwork as a training tool for the study of the Qabalah.
Politically, she describes herself as "a steadfast supporter of the Monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
and the Sovereignty of Britain," with a "profound dislike of the whole idea of the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
."
Published works
To date Ashcroft-Nowicki has written 17 books and designed two tarotTarot
The tarot |trionfi]] and later as tarocchi, tarock, and others) is a pack of cards , used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot...
decks, the SOL Tarot Deck with Jo Gill and Anthony Clark, and the Shakespearean Tarot with Paul Hardy.
- The Shining Paths
- The Sacred Cord Meditations
- The Servants of the Light Tarot
- The Ritual Magic Workbook
- Illuminations
- Magical Use of Thought Forms