The Gardnerian tradition of Wicca, a form of religious witchcraft, follows the writings and teachings of Gerald Gardner (1884–1964), which were published in England in the 1950s. Gardner claimed to have discovered and been initiated into a group that was practicing an ancient indigenous British religion. Within the Pagan community, there is debate over how much Gardner received from tradition and how much he created himself. In either case, the tradition has been influential; many groups in the United States follow the ritual guidelines published in Gardner’s books or taught to his initiates. The Alexandrian tradition is one variation of the Gardnerian tradition of British witchcraft, named after Alex Sanders and his wife Maxine who personally initiated many followers into the craft.