PaganPagan World World 29 43 Year 11 Issue 3

October 2009

Hi all and welcome to the 43rd issue of Pagan World!

In this issue:

Interview with Peter J. Carroll, Part 2 2-10 by Morgana & Saddie Pagan holidays in Russia – ‘Makosh’ 11-13 by Gwiddon, PFI Russia The Modern Allthing 13-15 By Susan Granquist Taking the Medicinal Waters at Kilburn 16-18 Wells by Michael Berman BA, MPhil, PhD Interview with Janet Farrar and Gavin 19-24 Bone By Christopher Blackwell Paganism: A Responsible Religion 25-27 by Thorg da Lusitânia Translated by Sara Timóteo News from the PFI: Introducing PFI 28-29 Russia by Morgana Russian Paganism: Interview with Yggeld 30-35 By Christopher Blackwell Contact Us! 35-36

A Happy Halloween & Samhain to all!

PAGAN WORLD THE MAGAZINE OF THE PAGAN FEDERATION INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION PAGAN THE OF MAGAZINE THE

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Peter J. Carroll only part of you is good. You know? Interview, November 2008 Part of you is just terrible. Crowley (Part Two) almost did the opposite. He said the terrible part is good and the good part By Morgana & Saddie is bad, but I still think that’s a bit too From Wiccan Rede Lammas 2009 black and white for me. I think we are

very, very complicated creatures,

really, we have many motivations, all S: Coming back to the Apophenion. of which needs satisfying, otherwise Liber Kaos seemed to be very much we’re likely to go mad eventually. a book of magical theory, while the

Apophenion seems to have more S: Why did you choose to explain religious overtones, which I found this in the terms of many very interesting. consciousnesses rather than the

many facets of the same P: Well, yes, although I wouldn’t say consciousness? religious in the conventional sense, but I think I’m developing more of a P: I don’t experience myself as having sense of mystical reverence for the a single centre of consciousness. I Universe than I used to have. I used to appear to myself to pass through be a bit of a reductionist. My early many different modes. Some people writings on magic are almost an may say maybe that’s just moods, but attempt to deconstruct them to their in extreme states during invocations I basics, and then to reassemble simple seem to become somebody else. I’m pieces back to a usable structure. As I sometimes very surprised what I’ve get older I seem to develop a more written. I thought: “surely I didn’t holistic outlook, tending to regard the write that!”. I keep re-reading the Universe as an organism, which is book, finding surprising things in it, somehow alive in some sense. Call and wondering why I wrote that. Some that religion if you like, I regard it as a people like to describe creativity as more mystical perspective. having an origin outside of themselves.

Some people talk of spirit guides, some S: Also, in Apophenion you talk people talk of intelligence from aliens about the personal pantheon, and all kinds of crazy things. I just which was again not something think that the human mind is far more completely new, but it is talked complex than psychology currently about from a completely new admits. I think there are whole worlds perspective. Conventional magic within it. The sort of consciousness I talks about the Ego as being the have when I’m dreaming seems driving force behind magic itself. completely different to the one that I You talk about consciousnesses, have when I’m sitting here talking. I Egos in plural. have more than one different self that

dreams. I experience myself to consist P: Well, I never was particularly of several different people basically. I attracted to Thelemic theory, which think possibly in the way that the does seem very ego-based. They would pagans appeared to have at some perhaps argue that they are talking of point. If you read the very early pagan some transcendent form of the ego, literature, apparently they didn’t have your true Will. I’m not sure such a the same sense of personal agency thing exists. At least not in a unitary that modern people like to ascribe to form. I think people are far more themselves. They considered complicated than that. Most themselves the playthings of the gods. monotheist religions attempt to say - 2 -

A man might excuse himself for things. When pagans talk to me about committing adultery – “I’m sorry, Zeus their gods I wonder, does that pagan did it”, “Well, that’s perfectly alright imagine that there is a place called then”. To try and pretend to be Asgard with people in spiked helmets coherent all the time is perhaps sitting in it controlling the Universe, or psychologically unhealthy. When you does that person think of the cosmic look at all the things that people do in or psychological forces. I mentioned our culture to get out of their heads, to Asgard, but what about your average become someone different for a while, Hindu? I think they have what we call whether they go and scream and a “Mythos” kind of belief, I don’t think shout at a boxing or a football match, many, except for the poorest in India or whether they watch pornography or literally believes that there is a god whatever they do, people always seek whose head was cut off and then to express the other parts in replaced by an elephant’s head, who themselves that they don’t express in brings good luck. I think most ordinary life. In the past we would educated Hindus tend to regard it as a have perhaps described those things myth which has acquired it’s own as minor gods, which people power. It’s none the less powerful for worshipped. But I find it simpler to that, but I don’t think they would assume that they are all parts of our literally believe it to be true. I may be very, very complex psychology. I think wrong. I’ve had difficulties with getting the idea that you only have a single Hindus to explain it to me in detail. self, or that you should have a single Here in the West culture tells us to self, is very much a monotheistic idea believe that God is literally real, and is that’s been bolted on the last couple of literally some Old Testament tyrant, or millennia, and I think, possibly it’s some New Testament hippie figure time to re-examine it. who was and is real in an objective sense. I don’t think most of the older L: We have many facets, to some religions looked at it quite the same you are a father, to others… way. Perhaps they did, but when you read the stories they concocted about P: But is there a real self underneath them, they appear to have concocted that? I don’t think so. There’s a huge them almost self-consciously. They range of drugs that you can give know that they can change and add to people, which will change their the story if they wanted to, whereas personality completely. And as long as we’re not supposed to change or add they stay on the drug they’ll have that to the story of Jesus at all, because it’s personality. You can give drugs that supposedly literally true. That, I think will make people paranoid. You can is perhaps the difference. Of course give drugs that will make people besides the high philosophical ideas of violent all the time. You can give drugs religions, it mostly comes down to that will make people calm and docile solving your emotional problems. I all the time. So what is the real self? I say, well, why not have a little help don’t think there is one. from gods, if they’re useful? In Western monotheism that’s considered S: Liber Kaos tried to revolutionise the height of idolatry unless, of course, the way we look at magic. Is the you call them saints. I say why not Apophenion trying to revolutionise just do it? I was particularly impressed the way we are looking at deities? by reading translations of the older Tibetan tantras. Some of their books P: I think, in our scientific-based on magic and tantra would say things culture we tend to think a bit too like “At this moment summon a much in black and white about certain convenient god”. And they actually

- 3 - have this tradition of Tulpas. They read Superman and Batman comics, have this idea that you can create a when I was a kid. Now there are thoughtform. They say that some of anthologies of such things in the the entities you may encounter are not bookshop. They’re called things like really independent pre-existing gods, “Gods in Lycra”. Modern gods. And but are created by human intentions. now they are talking about the Marvel heroes as if they formed some sort of L: What kind of place can the gods pantheon. And most of the superhero have in modern society? comics had a moral purpose as well. The triumph of good, the failure of P: I think we do still create gods in a meanness, or whatever. People would certain sense, in a way they did in want stories like that. To develop ideas ancient times. Look at the television! about their own beliefs. You’re invited to become intimately involved with the thoughts and ideas L: But after classical paganism, a of various celebrities. And they are in lot of religions, especially a way imaginary, aren’t they? They’re Christianity provided the “straight only patterns of electrons on a tube, and narrow pathway”. Coming no more than imaginary figures really. back to this idea of the seventies’ And some people literally treat them revolutions, what happened? like gods, don’t they? They talk to them in their own heads. P: I think culture suddenly became too complex for monotheism. There were L: It was in Liber Kaos where you just too many options in life. Too said somebody only becomes real many freedoms, too many different when you go out to lunch with things you could do. The old style them. monotheism, with its ten commandments and everything was P: Quite. no longer perceived as adequate.

L: People, especially young people L: Rudolf Steiner has this idea of have this identity problem of “Who the parabola, where there were am I?” and “What am I doing?”. these ages as everyone got deeper With this they have formed their into matter, and one has the idols, football- and pop groups and possibility to decide whether they whatnot. go in really deeply, or remove themselves from matter and into P: But in the past this would all have the world of spirituality. been done religiously. If you went to an ancient Greek or Roman P: Well, that depends on what you amphitheatre for a play, the mean by materialism. I was very much characters weren’t purely secular. influenced by Ramsey Duke’s idea that Many of them were figures from the material and spiritual is all the mythology. In the theatre they were same thing. When people talk about made „real” for people. materialism they just mean the abuse of matter, wasting it. To me you define L: Those characters would give the spirituality in the things you do. morality of the story. The question Everything you do is also “things”. is where do we get our morality Surely if you go out and look after the today? environment, plant trees and treat Nature well – that is as much an P: I’ll give you an example of expression of spirituality as sitting in a something I’ve seen recently. I used to church. On the other hand, the most

- 4 - grossly material things were done in L: Christianity basically created a the name of so-called “spiritual” laity. There is a divine connection, religions. Vast cathedrals were built, and you are not allowed to have a huge armies marching across conversation with God – countries slaughtering millions. Christianity has taken away this Everything we do is on the Material direct mystical connection. Plane one way or another. It just depends on the quality of what you do, P: Yes. The Catholic Church has said really. for millennia, that only it had the keys to heaven, didn’t it? Protestantism L: I really like the fact about your basically said it’s every man for magical system that it’s organic – himself, which is an advance, and I everything has to affect the life think most of the better magical body in a way that it becomes more thinking evolved from post-protestant at ease, as opposed to dis-eased. cultures. I think part of the reason we’re having some trouble getting P: What I’ll say always annoys pagans, much going in the Latin countries is but why was it that monotheism because they are ex-Catholics. succeeded paganism? Many pagan societies did things that we find now L: But the Catholics had the idea of quite horrible, and the kinds of neo- what ritual is about, and when you paganisms that we have now don’t look at real rituals, then the involve those things, generally Protestants have nothing on the speaking. It doesn’t involve human Catholics. sacrifice, the roman arena and gladiators, institutionalised S: Well, since they took everything prostitution, all kinds of superstitions from the Mithras cult… that don’t appeal to us now. In many pagan cultures it was pretty damn L: Yes. I think most of neo- grim, and monotheism, when it was paganism is about going back to introduced, succeeded with a positive the original connection, but with social revolution at the time. The what we already have. So we have modern neo-paganism we have is the best of both worlds. another revolution on top of monotheism. It kept a good part of P: I think you have to work on that monotheist morality. When a pagan basis. I believe that any form of says things like „An it hurt none”, complete retreat to the former Pagan that’s basically no more than the fundamentalism is crazy. It always Christian „Do unto others”, isn’t it? makes me laugh when I look at people Most religions have a theoretical in modern occultism use egyptological morality, which is far removed from symbolism. You can use a simplified the actual reality as it’s practiced, but egyptological system, as presented by given the choice between living in a the Golden Dawn, but then you look at Christian Dark Age and a Viking Dark an academic book on Egyptology, you Age, I would probably opt for the realise it’s just a complete mishmash. Christian one. That society was Ancient Egypt is a civilisation which marginally less brutal as far as I can lasted for about two thousand years see. I don’t see much of a golden age and was spread out through a country in the past, except possibly Athens about two thousand miles long. All under Pericles for a short period. And those gods that were made into a even then not for women, I suppose. pantheon by the Golden Dawn came from completely different periods, from completely different cities often

- 5 - separated by a thousand of miles… Maleficarum, a lunatic fantasy they would worship one god and would paranoia written by some Catholic never have heard of the other. priests. And now they are taking it as their gospel. L: It’s like people in Wicca believing in an unbroken line back to L: I think the main question is how whenever… I think there has to be do we create a mystery religion for certain honesty about it, even if it’s today? only honesty to yourself. P: What do you mean by mystery P: It came to me as a revelation at a religion? very early age that every generation rewrites magic in a way. To me the L: To me, a mystery religion is to first bit of really obvious Chaos Magic, sort out the paradoxes of your own although it doesn’t look like it, was the life. As soon as you recognise Golden Dawn. Basically Mathers and paradoxes, you realise the patterns his mates assembled a system from – which is quite an Apophenic way countless different sources from the of looking at things – and can start past and pretended they hadn’t. So I to unravel them on your own terms. thought, when it came to putting my ideas together, which became P: I thought you’re talking about inevitable (I didn’t call it Chaos Magic mystery in terms of a religion with initially, I didn’t start calling it that, certain secrets that are ritually we just adopted the title), I thought I’m passed. not going to pretend that this stuff is of ancient antiquity, or following any L: Absolutely not! kind of unbroken tradition or anything. I’m going to say “Yes, we’re P: The mystery of being able to making it up.” Everyone else has understand the inner working of always done that. Look at the medieval things, then? On those terms I would grimoires. Many bits of that are say science was a mystery religion, pinched from Hermeticism. Now because most people don’t understand Hermeticism isn’t what it says it is, how it works. A few people understand Hermeticism was in the first couple of the way atoms make up things and centuries an attempt to recover that gives them a certain ability to fragments of Egyptian knowledge, that predict what things will do. Also, were then translated into Greek. It was magic, as I would understand it, is a syncretic even in it’s own day. It mystery religion. It says certain things ascribed to itself a historical tradition, about how certain things will work in which it didn’t have. I thought “Well, the world. It says certain things about you can’t get away with this anymore”. how psychology works, which may be We’ll take what we want, and we’ll applicable to other people’s worlds admit that we did it. quite possibly. It gives you some understanding of things like that. I L: People really need to break away think it’s a mystery religion in the from the idea that these things are sense that it gives me a model of what etched in stone. You talk about spirits are. It allows me to understand Paganism; you talk about “of the my psychological motivations both as land…” evolutionary developments, and also those things, which, because they P: You know that the ultimate source acquire an amazing degree of material for most of what passes for coherence and persistence are almost Witchcraft is? It’s the Malleus independent entities.

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absolutely imperative for couples to L: And that brings us to the stay together to raise children to keep question of what are the gods? the farm going, huge amounts of religiously backed morality developed P: You are looking at systems which around the subject. It’s always are immensely complicated and situational. Now that the economic powerful, they are like gods compared situation is changing, now that it’s not to us, and you can sometimes placate so bad for society if single women them or please them, but you really reproduce it’s become a less of a moral can’t annoy them long term, without problem as well. I don’t think there’s something very bad happening. an ultimate morality, it always evolves, doesn’t it? A morality is now evolving L: The ultimate goal for many in the ecological direction. The Bible people is to be happy… basically says the Earth is there to do what you will with, the “beasts of the P: I don’t know about that. I think one field are all your property”. And now of the ancient Greeks had the we’re realising that that might not be difference between pleasure and situationally correct with what we’ve Virtue, I think it basically came down got – so the morality is changing to that there is more ultimate pleasure again. in virtue than pleasure, isn’t there? To have done something of lasting value L: Yes, people should be far more is worth any number of boxes of concerned with adapting to the chocolate or bottles of beer, because land than the other way around. that’s just gone in a few hours. I think happiness comes ultimately from P: Some cultures have a morality like virtue rather than pleasure. An that even today. The first son would attempt to create happiness by buying get the land, the second son would get pleasure doesn’t seem to work very sent to the monastery (advertised as a well. privilege). And because that often leads to a huge surplus of women, the S: We have arrived to my next first son often marries a pair of sisters. question about the Apophenion. It doesn’t sound like normal morality, Where would a Panpsychic draw but it does keep the population in his morality? balance with the environment, instead of the land being chopped into smaller P: Most sensible systems of morality and smaller pieces and the whole are based on just long-term common thing ending in wars. sense, aren’t they? If you go around killing people, you will probably Coming back to the original topic, I eventually get killed yourself as a would only go as far to say that yes, result. If you go around thieving, morality does need a change now. I eventually the amount of theft in don’t think Panpsychism argues for society will make it unsustainable and any particular moral stance, because everything you have will be taken we could say, well, the more evolved away life form you’ve got, the more intrinsic Look at almost any piece of morality value it has. I sometimes wonder, and ultimately it’s evolved from the when my wife goes around the garden social situation. A lot of our sexual picking up slugs and snails and morality is ultimately economic, and stamping on them, I think well, that that’s why it’s changing so much at snail is a considerably more advanced the moment, because the economics life form than the plant that it’s eating. are changing. In the times when it was I have a problem with that. But there

- 7 - again, just how many of them would I manufactured the entity based on a be able to tolerate? And by using their child’s toy robot, and built a whole set food, I’m probably killing them anyway of rituals around it, and decided to by lowering their chances. send it astrally back to the time of the Big Bang, billions of years ago and it’ll L: On a different subject: what was come to us in our dreams and show us your purpose to do magic in the what it looked like. Just about first place? everybody reckoned, they got the strange result that the Universe looked P: Curiosity. Ultimately I would say back then just about the same as it curiosity. does now. I kind of ignored that result for a long time, but it was recorded, L: No ulterior motives? Most people and it gradually begun to dawn on me in Wicca would say, “To heal that this may be one of the most people”. astonishing discoveries that I ever made by magic. It may yet prove to be P: Oh, I do that stuff, but it’s wrong, but if it were proved to be right, ultimately curiosity. The same thing I’d say that was practically the most that motivates scientists. The Large astonishing result I ever got. I do Hadron Collider has been built expect the Big Bang theory to collapse ultimately to satisfy curiosity. “What in my lifetime if I’m lucky. I may be on Earth would happen, if we switch it completely wrong on that, but if so, on?” To me magic has a lot of practical that would be the realisation of my uses, of course, but ultimately it’s most interesting result ever. curiosity. S: This result is referred to in the S: You’re talking about Results Liber KKK. Magic. What was the most impressive result you have achieved P: I think it is. I may have put it into with magic? print. If you can use magic to get that kind of result, what can’t you do? P: Well, it depends on what you mean by impressive. Whether you’re talking L: When you talk about the about useful or improbable. When I Universe looking the same, do you get really angry, I’ve done poltergeist mean 20th-21st century, or… effects: throwing things over the room without touching them, smashed bits P: No, I mean on the vast scale. It’s not of glass just by looking at them. But all compacted into one place. It’s not only when I get very, very angry. in a state of explosion. The stars are Although this might seem completely distributed on a large scale, the Big mad the most interesting result I ever Bang didn’t happen at all. As the got, was with a whole bunch of us in pagans thought, we live in a Universe Germany. We did a big evocation to that undergoes endless cycles, but not send an entity back to have a look at cycles of expansion and contraction. the Big Bang. This was the time when the Big Bang entered everyone’s S: Another completely random consciousness in a very big way, and question. Where does the Chaostar we thought the Chaostar looks like a symbol come from? big bang, so is Chaos Magic a “Big Bang mysticism”? I always was quite P: There are several reasons for that intrigued by the idea of the Big Bang. one. It was the symbol of the ancient After all, I have to say I believed in it. Babylonian goddess Ishtar, and then So we did this thing one afternoon, we Michael Moorcock used it as a symbol

- 8 - of chaos in his fantasy novels. These publishing the first edition of the are the two main sources, but it’s got Principia Discordia happened in everywhere now, hasn’t it? 1976.

L: In Wicca it would be the Eight- P: yes, that influenced us. fold Path. S: I have another autobiographical P: Well, the Buddhists have a wheel question. In an interview you wrote with eight spokes, don’t they? that you never really excelled at team sports. L: I’m intrigued about the pantheon of the Apophenion, for example P: Yes, I’m not a good co-operator. I Pareidolia… feel more comfortable either in charge of something or not involved, to put it P: Yes, Pareidolia is basically bluntly. I might be just very Apophenia gone a bit wrong. The egotistical, I don’t know, but I always works of Dali are fabulous examples of felt I’d rather trust my own judgement Pareidolia. One thing mutating into than somebody else’s. another, seemingly unrelated things… dreamlike stuff. Many gods seem to be S: Then how did the whole idea of personifications of things that exist in the IOT happen? the human mind, so Apophenia is the personification of what I see as the P: Don’t forget, I put myself in charge driving force behind magic itself. Most of it. The reason I decided to play the magic is concerned with strange and whole hierarchical gambit was to get hidden connections between things, something done. Ever since college I systems of correspondences. What had magical groups and I always drives people to make those found myself organising things, connections in the first place? Then in otherwise not much would happen. If I 1958, I think it was, some delegated things, people would do psychologist called Klaus Conrad them, but if nobody was organising it, coined the word Apophenia, and I nothing would happen. There are thought: Wow! I never heard the term supposedly a couple of other Chaos before, until someone mentioned it on groups, the Z(Cluster) and the College. They just mentioned it in Autonomatrix, which are supposedly the course of discussion. I broke off completely anarchic, but it was a my reply, googled the word Apophenia, deliberate choice to introduce went back to the message thread, hierarchy, so the administration and saying „oh, my god, what an organisation would get done. Anarchy extraordinary idea! We could have a doesn’t tend to work. Not for very long, goddess called Apophenia!” and and not for more than three or four someone wrote back: „Well, okay, Pete, people. Frater U.D. was a tremendous we’ve just seen the birth of a goddess. organiser, and the whole European Well done.” I thought, why not? We thing wouldn’t have come about, if he have made deities out of all kinds of hadn’t been there. things. Okay, maybe not made a deity, but recognised that there was one M: What is the hallmark of the there. That’s what magicians have good Chaos Magician? done all the time, isn’t it. P: Imagination and determination, I S: Apophenia seems to be suppose. Unless you have the everywhere. If we take Chaoism, imagination to make something, or both the first Chaos Mass and the make something of yourself, no one is

- 9 - going to do it for you. Also persistence, can find in novelty shops. You press a really, and determination. We've had button, and a word falls out, then you so many people drift though it and not try to find how that relates to my really getting into it. But it's still very problem. I think ultimately Kabbalah much ‘Do It Yourself’. You only get out is no more than that, a technique of what you put into it. The people who association. Of course, what we call stayed with it were the people who Kabbalah now is not like the ancient tended to innovate within it, rather Kabbalah. The Tree of Life is medieval. than just administer it. It's just a technique to read more into something than what at first it M: And what do you mean by appears. It's an attempt to extract imagination? Do you mean those things, but you're largely fantasy? What role does fantasy manufacturing them really. play in your system? M: Do you see it possible that P: I don't know how imagination works imagination can be part of a divine really; I think it's something really intervention? weird and chaotic. You just have to let it happen. The only way I find I can P: Yes. Because imagination involves stimulate imagination is to get a load creating something that wasn't there of data together and then just let it in the first place, it's not causal, is it? stew and see what happens. It's We can't account for where it comes mainly seeing connections, I suppose, from. It seems to come from the Apophenia idea. But I don't somewhere else. suppose I’d go off to the realm of fantasy in the sense of fantastic and S: Is there anything else you would impossible things. I always see like to tell our readers? imagination as finding something that is just do-able, realisable. My P: Use your imagination and imagination is normally aimed at determination to make it real! It's not trying to create something possible. an easy thing to make work, because it's pretty foreign to our consensus M: Yes, and going back to a world-view. It's something you have to previous discussion about work quite hard at to make it work. Kabbalah, where do you get your Maybe in a previous age, when it was ideas? Where does Kabbalah come part of the common currency of from? From angelic or divine thought, behaviour and belief was beings? Or from our own easier. Now we have to work quite imaginations? hard at it. And you have to make it relevant to today. Every generation P: I think Kabbalah was an early reinvents magic. I don't think there are exercise of lateral thinking. Trying to any real bizarre arcane secrets. It's a read more into the sacred texts than syncretic art, but that really is the what they apparently contained. The secret. There are no ancient sacred classical operation of Kabbalah is texts that work magic by themselves. Gematria, when you take a word, try You have to put it in there by your to find it's numerical equivalent, and own effort. then try to find other words with the same number, and try to find a M & S: Thank you very much. philosophical or metaphysical connection between them. It's a mechanical process, and often creates rubbish. It's a bit like that device you

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Pagan holidays in Russia – as association with magic and ‘Makosh’ divinations – all of these attributes by Gwiddon, PFI Russia appear to link her, at least in spirit, if not in direct relation with common In the lands of the East Slavs, right in Indo-European origin, with the Greek the centre of the Great Russian plain goddess Hecate. from time immemorial common folk and noblemen alike celebrated one of Pagans today often think of Makosh as the great High Days of the Wheel of the goddess who is responsible for the the Year, ‘Makosh’ at the end of creation of continuities, continuity of October. The name for this holiday time and space, of life itself in its comes from the namesake and title of many rites of passage, continuity of a one of the oldest deities worshipped in family, and of everything which what is known today as Russia, as contains more than one element, well as other Slavic lands. which continues to grow into something else, yet The exact meaning of her retains its internal logic, name is hidden deep something which within folk-memory and continues on to repeat scholars still argue as to after a different fashion what it means. Most often again, and again and the name is divided into again. Makosh’ is also the two parts – ‘Ma’ – one with the will and the meaning mother and power to sever that ‘Kosh’ – a purse, a sack – continuity if such action most often associated becomes necessary in with a ‘purse of Fate’. On light of other continuities. other words, Makosh is the Mother of Fate. A Russian pagan author, Another interesting layer Tatyana Blinova in her to her name’s meaning is book ‘Pyatnitza’ said: “..in added by ‘moknut’, ‘mokraya’ – words today’s world things like with a common root of ‘mok’ – the one-story-fits-all paperback novels moisture. That’s why some argue the for ladies, sitcoms, knitting, everyday etymology of her name from moisture, trips (home – kindergarten – work – moist earth – which echoes in the store – kindergarten - home), weekly memory of another ancient goddess, house cleanup, traditional spring whose very name (or title) is ‘Mati Syra cleaning, birthdays, national holidays Zemlya’ (‘Mother Moist Earth’ in and rights of passage – is today’s English). jurisdiction of Makosh. She is also the one who enables us to get through this The archetype of an old chthonic routine, if we let her help us. … So, at goddess, with attributes of down to this moment, while writing this book I earth grittiness, moisture (related to am stringing words, articles and the life-giving waters of the deep periods into one continuity, one unconscious) and Fate, is reflected not understandable system of signs to only in her purse, which holds both express my ideas, so that they are good and ill luck, hidden from view to understood by the readers – I am doing avoid the possibility of bias in the Makosh’s work. The modern woman choice of Fate, but also in the spinning does not have to necessarily weave or wheel, with the thread that she spins spin threads to do Her work…” being the thread of one’s Fate, as well

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The time to honour Makosh’ The site ‘Slavyanskaya Sloboda’ corresponds exactly with the time of http://slavyans.narod.ru/holidays/m the year, which is close to her in ‘feel’ akosh.html provides the following – not the harsh dryness of interpretation of the rites summer or winter, but the for Makosh’ celebration: moist and cool rainy season of late autumn. Nature is poised awaiting Russians call this time of the arrival of Winter. the year, to this day, Women are getting ready ‘Rasputitza’ (the ‘Off-road for their usual work during time’ in English). In long winter nights. That is ancient times, and quite why the ritual leader starts often nowadays as well in the rite with the following the countryside, late traditional song: autumn was the time when rain turned dirt roads into mud, thus Lady of the house, open up the doors! severing ties between villages. People Guests are a-waiting in your backyard! felt isolated and insular. Merchants Open up your hewn doors! and travelers could not continue with Spread your new runners for them! their normal ways, and folks turned to Honoured guests have come to you a more private, family and home-based Makosh’ the mother has come to you life until the first frost. Like a mother, she’d shower you with gifts, Rain would also force people to stay Walking through your cozy house, put, preventing them from gathering To open up your painted chests, the harvest, seeing friends and Into one she puts very light thin relatives in other villages, and going fabric, outside in general. This was the And white linen she puts in another, perfect time for traditional women’s And into the third one she puts white occupations – celebrating weddings, fine cloth… spending time with children and family members at home, weaving and Priestess of spinning threads with girlfriends Makosh (crowned (interestingly enough, in the old days a with a wreath and woman had to count the number of holding a horn of knots as she weaves, so most often the plenty in hand) weavers would sit perfectly still and collects sacred quiet, silently counting in their minds offerings of bread, the knots, which is almost like wine and honey. A meditating). chicken is sacrificed (NB: The high point in Makosh celebration Nowadays mostly is a week-long period between the two they make do with store-bought Fridays at the end of October. Friday chicken meat). After the ritual opening is sacred to Makosh in the Slavic come the traditional divinations for the lands, same as it is to Freya in the coming winter. For the feast, women Norse lands, and the Christian make porridge of gruel with honey and Orthodox Church co-opted the milk, as well as roast the chicken. holiday, calling it ‘Paraskeva Pyatnitza’ Women put on ritual games, with their (in English ‘Paraskeva Friday’). Saint faces covered with masks, which they Paraskeva is the Christian mirror- put on after a long break for the image of Makosh’. summer. When darkness comes, the spirits and ghosts emerge from the

- 12 - other world and begin their wild The Modern Althing: dances. They greet the coming winter To Honor the Gods, the Old Ways and revel in the anticipation of its and the Faith arrival. To protect themselves and By Susan Granquist scare off the evil spirits, people don the scary masks. The celebration is Assemblies, known as things (ON. concluded with a special dance – the þings), were a vital part of the lives double-ring circle dance. and customs of the Germanic and Old Norse people. These gatherings were The rite we have described here is held at a traditional spot which could based on some of the folk traditions, accommodate large groups of people kept by women in the country-side all coming together such as a field, forest over Russia and other Slavic lands. It or hill at an agreed upon time. Many speaks of the understanding our of these places retain their names as a ancestors had for the Wheel of the meeting place, such as the Icelandic, Year, the changes which occur in that Þingvellir, which means literally special time between seasons. This "assembly field." There are many holiday marks a special spot when the similar places with the same meaning veil between the worlds grows thin, such as Tingvalla in Sweden and and we can interact with other-worldly Tynwald on the Isle of Man. beings – our ancestors, which protect us when we honour them and other beings, which may be mischievous, if taken lightly or without respect.

Winter was a very trying season for our ancestors, and so divinations were necessary to predict what will happen in the coming times of snow, when hunger and frost forces common folks to do all they can to survive. Women Although the Icelandic Alþingi is were very important at this time, as perhaps the best-known thing today, it they worked hard to preserve the was based on ancient custom among harvest to make it last through the the Germanic people. An early Iron winter, in the name of survival. Thus, Age Roman inscription to Mars celebrating the Mother of Faith, Thingus, which is translated as the ancient mother Makosh’, as well as God of the thing, on a votive stone in women, her earthly representations, is North England dating from the 2nd what is right and proper at this time. century, and Tacitus (Germania 11) Happy holidays! records the wide-spread custom in the first century CE. In Old Saxon 'thing' was in use 685 CE with the same meaning of an assembly or gathering, and as ðing in OE and OHG as þing in ON. The term, þing derives from the Common Germanic *þengan meaning "appointed time," and the meaning of thing in the sense of an unspecified object is derived from this earlier, original usage.

There were things for many purposes and of different sizes and importance,

- 13 - ranging from a húsþing or house- aside weapons and fighting as a thing, held by a chieftain for his own means to solve problems and work out men, to much larger meetings to an differences. It is an ideal to strive for Allsherjarþing, or thing of all the in modern times. hosts, such as the Icelandic Althing or the Swedish Thing of all Swedes. In years leading up to 1997, there were concerns about the growing Today we tend to think of the things arguments fed by the internet and as strictly courts and legal bulletin boards where proceedings, but things were held for misunderstandings could so easily many reasons, and the seasonal arise, and the lack of places to go things in particular were likely to be unless one was a member of a much more. There were religious particular group or organization. One rites, story-telling, trading, socializing, solution that was proposed was an exchanging news, renewing old Althing where all could attend acquaintances as well as meeting new regardless of organizational affiliation people. or lack of, where individuals could meet and talk to people with different Today we tend to think of the things views in order to find others they find as courts and legal proceedings, but fellowship according to their own things were held for many reasons, needs and interests in the same and the seasonal things in particular manner as in the elder times. were likely to be much more. There were religious rites that bound the community together despite the differences argued at thing, and it was a time for trading as well.

An essential aspect of thing was the requirement of frið or peace. Regardless of the type of thing, it was deemed to be held under the protection of the gods, and was opened with a solemn declaration of peace, Such cooperation and growth was also even those who were on their way or felt to be necessary in order to meet returning from a thing were both the challenges presented by a largely protected and bound by requirement Christian oriented government and of peace. Breaking the peace of thing society in maintaining and securing was viewed as the same as the our religious rights. Of even greater breaking of peace or shedding of blood importance was the need for a on temple grounds. This was not the gathering where the youth of our faith peace of absolute agreement, but one could meet one another, and the of arbitration and mediation, putting sharing of concerns of raising a family with heathen principles.

In October of 1997 an Althing was held on that basis in Nashville, Tennessee, with the participation of a special guest, Allsherjargoði Jormundr Ingvi from Iceland, and members from various groups and organizations. The requirement of frið at this time is not to be in laying aside sharp and - 14 - wounding words, and to discuss these tasks and understand them at differences with thought and care. the Althing is the result of so many of us making an effort to be together in Although the Irminsul Ættir has one place. The energy of all of us continued to sponsor the Althing combined in one place speaks louder financially, it is not an Aettir meeting than regular blóts, and it's a palpable or thing in the usual sense; nor have thing when you're there, which is why we been alone in presenting the it seems to me that it is not just Althing. We have had the help and important to me that I am there, but support of dozens of individuals over to the Gods and Goddesses, too. They the years whose dedication to the faith attend, too, and they hear us. Some goes beyond the politics and years, it has felt like slogging through disagreements that often divide the an arid land for months before finally heathen community. Troy Wisehart is coming to a well. I fill up on them and one of the goður who has presented feel content and at peace when I leave rituals and workshops at the Althing with a clear mission. and participates actively in the planning. Of the Althing he said in a The other side is that we have recent message, "With ritual, gathered as a group. We have come fellowship and workshops on various together for years now. For some of us aspects of heathen life not only is this it entails difficulties to take the time gathering a great get away for the out of our daily lives to travel to the whole family but an valuable thing, but we do, because it is educational experience as well. I important for us on a personal level, strongly encourage any heathen who but also as a group or a people. We would like to contribute to the growth need each other. Each person's energy of heathenry to take advantage of this adds to the group and makes the call opportunity to demonstrate their to the Gods and Goddesses even commitment to the preservation of our louder and more heartfelt. Northern European heritage." We are proud to be able to do this Tina Reid, from Abbottsford, BC, also each year. In the past, the Althing and explains her reasons for the sacrifices the thing were important events for my and effort to hold and attend the ancestors. I feel that I do honour unto Althing: them by following in their footsteps. Odin said that cattle die, kinsmen die: "On a personal note, in my family, the the self must also die; I know one Althing has become somewhat of a thing which never dies: the reputation New Year's ritual. It marks the of each dead man. Because of that, I beginning of a new yearly cycle for me. believe it is important that we gather Each year I have attended, I have left and speak of our ancestors. We also with a new focus. Early on, the gods share and receive knowledge with and goddesses made it abundantly those who have gathered at the clear that they would give me a task, Althing, which, I believe, is also an and when the next Althing rolled integral part of this faith." around, I was finished with that task and received a new one. There is an open list for those who wish to participate in general In the beginning, it was a simple discussions and the planning of the matter of familiarizing myself with a Althing, or volunteer to do rituals, different deity, but as I grow older, the workshops or other presentations at tasks are becoming more and more [email protected] . The complex. I think the ability to receive Althing is open to all, Heathen or not.

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Taking the Medicinal Waters Inn was opened around 1600, on the at Kilburn Wells site of the old mansion. by Michael Berman BA, MPhil, PhD The fashion for taking 'medicinal waters' in the 18th century came to Though hard to believe as you walk Kilburn when a well of chalybeate down Kilburn High Road today, (in the waters (water impregnated with iron) suburb of London where I have spent was discovered near the Bell Inn in th most of my life) back in the 18 1714. In an attempt to compete with century taking the local medicinal the nearby Hampstead Well, gardens waterous used to be a highly popular and a 'great room' were opened to pastime and attracted many people to promote the well, and its waters were the neighbourhood. promoted in journals of the day as cure for 'stomach ailments': Kilburn grew up on the banks of a stream which has been known variously as Cuneburna , Kelebourne Kilburn Wells, near Paddington.—The and Cyebourne , which flows from waters are now in the utmost Hampstead down through Hyde Park perfection; the gardens enlarged and and into the River Thames. It is greatly improved; the house and offices suggested the name means either re-painted and beautified in the most Royal River or Cattle River ('Bourne' elegant manner. The whole is now open being an Anglo-Saxon word for 'river'). for the reception of the public, the great The river is known today as the River room being particularly adapted to the Westbourne. From the 1850s it was use and amusement of the politest piped underground and is now one of companies. Fit either for music, London's many underground rivers. dancing, or entertainments. This happy spot is equally celebrated for its rural The name Kilburn was first recorded situation, extensive prospects, and the in 1134 as Cuneburna , referring to a acknowledged efficacy of its waters; is priory which had been built on the site most delightfully situated on the site of of the cell of a hermit known as the once famous Abbey of Kilburn, on Godwyn. Godwyn had built his the Edgware Road, at an easy hermitage by the Kilburn river during distance, being but a morning's walk, the reign of Henry I, and both his from the metropolis, two miles from hermitage and the priory took their Oxford Street; the footway from the name from the river. Kilburn Priory Mary-bone across the fields still nearer. was a community of Augustinian A plentiful larder is always provided, canonesses. It was founded in 1134 at together with the best of wines and the Kilburn river crossing on Watling other liquors. Breakfasting and hot Street (the modern-day junction of loaves. A printed account of the waters, Kilburn High Road and Belsize Road). as drawn up by an eminent physician, Kilburn Priory's position on Watling is given gratis at the Wells. Street meant that it became a popular resting point for pilgrims heading for —The Public Advertiser , July 17 1773. the shrines at St Albans and Willesden. The Priory was dissolved in In the 19th century the wells declined, 1536 by Henry VIII, and nothing but the Kilburn Wells remained remains of it today. popular as a tea garden. The Bell was The priory lands included a mansion demolished and rebuilt in 1863, the and a hostium (a guesthouse), which building which stands there today. may have been the origin of the Red Lion pub, thought to have been The following information on the founded in 1444. Opposite, the Bell waters was found in The Domestic - 16 -

Encyclopaedia Vol 4 by A. F. M. actually nothing new, for people were Willich, which was published in 1802: making them in the last century too:

Kilburn-Water, is a saline mineral … Such has been the growth of London fluid, obtained from a spring at in this north-westerly direction, within Kilburn-well, about two miles from the the last half-century, … and such the end of Oxford-street, London. This progress of bricks and mortar in water was formerly in great repute, swallowing up all that was once green but is at present seldom employed. and sylvan in this quiet suburb of the Nevertheless, it promises to be metropolis, that the "village of Kilburn," serviceable in cases of habitual which within the last fifty years was costiveness, where powerful laxatives still famous for its tea-gardens and its would be productive of dangerous mineral spring, has almost become consequences ; as it may be used with completely absorbed into that vast and safety, till the intestines have "still increasing" City, and in a very recovered their natural tone. It may short space of time all its old farther be advantageously taken by landmarks will have been swept away. persons of sedentary lives, who are … Kilbourne … took its name from the peculiarly subject to hypochondriasis, little "bourne," or brook, … rising on the indigestion, and other disorders southern slope of the Hampstead arising from relaxed habits. The dose uplands. It found its way from the is from one to three pints, which slope of West End, Hampstead, should be drunk at short intervals, till towards Bayswater, and thence it produce a purgative effect : and, as passing under the Uxbridge Road, fed its operation is very slow, it appears to the Serpentine in Hyde Park. The be eminently calculated for persons, brook, however, has long since whose stomachs are delicate or disappeared from view, having been impaired. arched over, and made to do duty as a sewer. The only evidence that remains today of the existence of the former Wells is … before the end of the sixteenth a commemorative paving stone, on the century, and even perhaps earlier, corner of Belsize Road and Kilburn near a mineral spring … there arose a High Road. rural house, known to the holiday folks of London as the "Kilburn Wells." The well is still to be seen adjoining a cottage at the corner of the Station Road, on some premises belonging to the London and North-Western Railway. The water rises about twelve feet below the surface, and is enclosed in a brick reservoir of about five feet in diameter, surmounted by a cupola. The key-stone of the arch over the doorway bears the date 1714. The water collected in this reservoir is The following extract from Edward usually about five or six feet in depth, Walford’s 1878 publication Old and though in a dry summer it is New London : Volume 5. throws further shallower; and it is said that its light on what the neighbourhood used purgative qualities are increased as its to be like. It also shows how bulk diminishes. These wells, in fact, complaints about the frightening pace were once famous for their saline and of change in the modern world are purgative waters. A writer in the Kilburn Almanack observes:—"Upon a - 17 - recent visit we found about five feet six with natural materials, predominantly inches of water in the well, and the flower petals and mosses, but also water very clear and bright, with little beans, seeds and small cones. Well- or no sediment at the bottom; dressings are beautiful and delicate probably the water has been as high and take a lot of work to make, and as it now is ever since the roadway yet they only last for a few days. After parted it from the 'Bell' Tea Gardens, the well dressing is erected next to the not having been so much used lately well it is blessed in a short outdoor as of old." "Is it not strange," asks Mr. service. In towns and villages that W. Harrison have several wells, a Ainsworth, "that, in short procession these water- from well to well is drinking times, the carried out during wells of Hampstead the blessing of the and Kilburn should wells. The well not come again into dressing season vogue?" spans from May through to late From: 'Kilburn and September. And, St John's Wood', Old who knows? and New London: Perhaps there was a Volume 5 (1878), pp. 243-253. URL: time when the Kilburn Wells were http://www.british- dressed in this manner too. history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=452 ****** 34 [accessed: 02 September 2009]. Michael Berman BA, MPhil, PhD, Unfortunately, however, the wells works as a teacher and a writer. never did. And these days, as you Publications include The Power of struggle to make your way through Metaphor for Crown House, and The crowds of shoppers heading for Nature of Shamanism and the Sainsbury’s , Primark , Poundland and Shamanic Story for Cambridge the like, it is hard to imagine they ever Scholars Publishing. Shamanic even existed. What you can do, Journeys through Daghestan and though, is to drown your sorrows at Shamanic Journeys through the the passing of an era in the rebuilt Old Caucasus are both due to be Bell (pictured below). published in paperback by O-Books in Well dressing is the art of decorating 2009. A resource book for teachers on (dressing) wells, springs or other water storytelling, In a Faraway Land , will sources with pictures made of growing be coming out in 2010. things. This ancient custom, still popular all over Derbyshire, is thought As for his work in the field of religious to date back to the Celts or even studies, although Michael originally earlier. The church banned it as water trained as a Core Shamanic worship, but the tradition refused to Counsellor with the Scandinavian die. The wells are dressed with large Centre for Shamanic Studies under framed panels decorated with Jonathan Horwitz, these days his elaborate mosaic-like pictures made of focus is more on the academic side of flower petals, seeds, grasses, leaves, shamanism, with a particular interest tree bark, berries and moss. Wooden in the folktales with shamanic themes trays are covered with clay, mixed with told by and collected from the peoples water and salt. A design is drawn and of the Caucasus. For more info please its outline pricked out onto the surface visit www.Thestoryteller.org.uk of the clay. The design is then filled in - 18 -

A Bit of Wiccan History give his 'lectures'. These consisted of Interview with him dictating notes, but he never Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone answered questions and you never By Christopher Blackwell dared ask. I still have all those notes. They make fascinating reading, Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone particularly Stewart's side notes as to represent a remarkably large segment where Alex got his information from. of Wiccan history. In 1970 Janet was initiated by Alex Sanders as Maxine Christopher: Stewart was a writer Sanders was initiating Stewart Farrar. and a journalist. How did the book Stewart would work with her and later "What Witches Do" come about? become her husband. How and when did you begin to write together? Gavin Bone was initiated into Seax- Wicca in 1986 and would meet the Janet: Stewart met Alex and Maxine Farrars and become friends with them Sanders at the premier of 1989, becoming an important documentary film "Legend of the member of the team, working together Witches." Stewart was what he called with them and nursing Stewart 'an interested agnostic' at the time, during his several strokes. although he had a few friends, including fellow journalist Francis As I researched them, I found them to King who were involved in the occult. be more fascinating. I therefore e- Stewart asked Alex and Maxine if he mailed them with a request to could interview them for his paper interview them and they were kind Reveille. They agreed, and actually enough to grant it. invited Stewart to take part in circle as part of the interview. Now how many Christopher: Janet, I am struck by Alexandrian covens would agree to the fact that you and Stewart that today? Alex was so impressed would get your training at the with the interview he asked Stewart if same time and how this would he would do the voice over for a long affect both of you so personally playing record of A Witch Is Born. It that you would form a life together. was during this that Stewart and What was it like for you and did myself actually met, as I was the you have any idea of the path it initiate for the recording. would lead you on? Alex also used many of Stewart's Janet: At the time I was this '60's photos for the cover of the LP, so it 'hippy chick' all 'peace and love beads'. was this that forged the relationship I had no idea that it would lead me between Alex and Stewart. Several into the direction that I took, and I years earlier Alex's story had been know that Stewart didn't either. You published by June Johns in the book mentioned training, well, let's be King of the Witches. Alex had never honest about this, there was very little been really happy with the book. He training at the time, and most of what felt it just didn't contain enough we were taught was pretty basic: information on 'what witches do'! He Circle Casting, simple sympathetic voiced this to Stewart and that's how magic. We certainly weren't taught the title came about - What Witches anything in depth and practical work Do. was definitely 'on the job' training. You simply joined in the ritual which was It was a unique book for its time. being performed on the night. Most of Certainly others had published books the training that Alex (Sanders) did on Wicca but they hadn't actually - 19 - talked about what actually went on in circle. This was the first. Janet: We did a few talks in the UK at places like Atlantis Bookshop, but Christopher: When you and Stewart there were really for book promotion. left and formed your own coven, at Our actual giving lectures and what point did you begin to workshops really started in 1991 when personalize your practice of Wicca? we first visited the United States on a four month tour. We were completely Janet: Almost immediately. It was surprised at the effect we had, had on unavoidable as Alex had given us and Wicca in the US. All our workshops, the other members so little material to lectures and seminars were booked work with. We found that we had to fill out. For many our books had been in the gaps. Sure, we had the ritual their first introduction to Wicca, so framework, the Book of Shadows that they considered us 'their spiritual Alex had appropriated from the mother and father'. That was a bit Crowthers, but it just wasn't enough. disconcerting, I can tell you! We really The real change occurred when we had to get a grip on our egos to stop moved to Ireland. Here was a land rich them over- inflating. in mythology and magic. It just didn't seem appropriate to use the elements The real touring and workshops began of Western High Magic in a country when Gavin joined us in 1993. He where the gods, goddesses and spirits immediately joined us on the next of the land were still alive. We quickly three month tour to the US. It was began to create rituals and practises Gavin who really changed everything related to the ancient Irish which we regarding the way we gave workshops were still seeing practised. We also and lectures. Stewart was an excellent begun to take material from other author and incredibly literate, but he sources such as Robert Graves White was not always a good speaker. While Goddess and of course, Maura Gavin was quite shy at first, he McNeills Rites of Lughnasa. Many quickly showed that he knew how to people don't realise that the Holy engage people, as he took a much King/Oak King ritual cycle can almost more 'hands on approach'. Since then be fully credited to Stewart's adaption most of our workshops have been of it from Graves. You won't find it practical and experiential, based on being used in Wicca before 1980. the principle that people want to learn Eventually these were to be published practical techniques as well as have in Eight Sabbats for Witches and The an actual spiritual experience. Witches Way. The books which became A Witches Bible. What was We have been back and forth to the fascinating was the reaction to them. US every year since 1993, but we have They were being hailed as landmark also visited Australian and New works, while others were accusing us Zealand, South African, and of course, of 'giving away the secrets' and being the UK and Europe. In fact, we are 'oathbreakers'. doing more and more in Europe particularly in Italy, where there is a Well, the Gardnerian Rituals that were resurgence of interest in pagan in them were already published and practise. the whole festival cycle in the books was actually all our own work. Chistopher: Gavin, How did you come to be initiated into the Seax- Christopher: When did you and Wicca tradition? Stewart begin to give your talks about Wicca?

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Gavin: Well, rather like Janet and magical rules, it didn't matter what we Stewart it was a case of that was what did and where we took it from it all was on offer at the time! I think seemed to work! people need to remember that Wicca in the UK was incredibly closed off right Christopher: How did you come to up until the late 1980's. People meet the Farrars and what effect tended to join the first coven they did they have on you? came across. To be honest, I'd have been quite happy joining a Gardnerian Gavin: Well, I first 'met' them through or Alexandrian coven if it had been their books. My first book on Wicca around in my hometown! I joined the was actually Doreen Valiente's ABC of Seax-Wica coven in 1986, up until Witchcraft. The back cover of the book then I had been a solitary witch. In a endorsed several others from the same way I feel lucky that I came into Seax- publisher included The Witches Way, Wica first. The reason being is that I which was the first of their books that didn't have to put up with the b******t I brought. over the origins of the tradition - we all knew in the group it came from a I first physically met them at an event book! Of course, I've never been able in England, Pagan Link'89. It was to do things the easy way; the first suppose to take place at Leicester magical group I joined was an eclectic University, but when the head of the group consisting of a Ceremonial University found out he cancelled the Ritual Magician, three Spiritualist event. We ended up having to have the Mediums, a Sufi practitioner, and a festival in a muddy field on a pick- Norse Shaman. I was the youngest in your-own strawberry farm at a place the group, and it was the Norse called Groby. It was September, Shaman who had set up the Seax- pouring with rain and cold. The first Wica coven. I knew my life in Wicca time I saw Janet and Stewart they was going to be strange when the were huddled together trying to keep young lady initiating me initiated me warm, just after giving a lecture in a as a 'Jesuite' rather than a 'Gesith' large tent that the wind was whistling (the Seax-Wica name for priest). The through. Myself and my then wife, Seax-Wica coven very quickly left the Tania, decided they needed warming material in Buckland's book behind up so we got them tea. Being Nurses, and we quickly began to use material we had volunteered to do First Aid on from Janet and Stewart's books, as the site, so were making sure that well as the other contemporary writers speakers didn't suffer from of the time such as RJ Stewart, hypothermia. Marion Green etc. We also began to experiment with Shamanism, which I met Janet and Stewart again, about was just becoming popular and with a year later. I had made firm friends Chaos Magick. It became very eclectic. with the organisers of the event, and All of us in the coven came from joined their group, Clan Bran, an different magical backgrounds so we eclectic mix of people from different swapped information and what we had Craft backgrounds. When they visited learnt. I have a background in Ireland, I went with them and met spiritual healing and spiritualism, so Janet and Stewart again. that was gift to the group, so to speak, and these experiences are evident if They weren't what I had expected you've ever attended any of our when I met them. Most Alexandrians workshops or read any of the books I and Gardnerians I had met didn't contributed to. What was interesting accept that I was valid as a witch; in was that once we had learnt the

- 21 - their eyes I simply didn't have the I don't really know what Stewart's right 'initiation'. impression was of him, he certainly liked him. He was much quieter than many of the people around us at the time and only seemed to open him mouth when there was something important to say. I think that impressed Stewart.

Christopher: Why did you decide to move to Ireland that has become your home?

Janet: It wasn't really for any deep Janet and Stewart weren't like that, spiritual reason - it was actually they accepted anyone they considered financial! The only people who make to be genuine in their intent regardless lots of money as authors are people of Wiccan origins. It's difficult to really like Dan Brown! Most of us live pretty quantify the effect Janet and Stewart much close to the bread line most of had on me. Obviously their books were the time and would make more money highly influential on myself and the in mundane jobs. This is why we covens I was a member of. The real moved to Ireland, they don't tax effect though was when I physically writers. Of course, once we moved met them. First of all, they renewed here we fell in love with the place; with my enthusiasm for Wicca which had its history and with its people. We become jaded by being continually told certainly wouldn't consider living that 'I wasn't Craft' and needed 're- anywhere else now. initiation', but most importantly, they changed my life. I never expected to be Christopher: Gavin, You have co- where I am today, a published author authored books with the Farrars, and giving lectures and workshops. you became their business manager and then you nursed Christopher: Janet, what was your Stewart after his stroke. This and Stewart's impression of Gavin? seems to have been strong Did either of you realize that he partnership between you all. Isn't was going to become a partner with that close a relationship between you two? partners unusual?

Janet: Well, I really enjoyed the cup of Gavin: Yes, it is unusual. You have to tea the first time I met Gavin! The know some of the background to next time was a bit different. It was in understand why this occurred. Janet Ireland and I had been going through and myself became a 'couple' in Salem a really hard time, which I had been during a visit for the 3rd Centenary of trying to keep to myself. Gavin caught the Salem Witch Trials. It was not me in the kitchen and said 'why are intended but it happened. Afterwards you hurting'. I was taken aback and we agreed to split. thought: ' what an arrogant bastard!' Later I realised that he was in fact Janet told Stewart what had happened quite perceptive and was the only one and that it would happen again. Much seemed to care about the fact I was to her surprise he simply told her to going through something. 'get him over here to Ireland and we'll live as a threesome!'

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What you have to understand is that joint experience and knowledge of Stewart was in his '70's and there was magic and spirituality. a 34 year age gap between him and Janet. He realised he was getting old Christopher: Gavin you introduce an and that she needed someone younger idea not heard a lot here in the in her life – now that's love! We States, possible ties of Wicca to discovered later from one of his oldest ancient shamanism. Care to tell a friends he had in fact engineered us bit about that? getting together which is why he hadn't come with us to the United Gavin: I don't think I was the first to States. mention the links. Shamanism was mentioned both in Doreen Valiente's To live in this sort of relationship, books, and Janet and Stewart's as the where a woman has to all intents and root of magical practise. My interest purposes two husbands takes a in the connection stems from my certain level of maturity. We certainly origins in what was really a self- wouldn't recommend it for everyone, it initiatory coven. I think this made us just worked for us. I think that was much more open to new ideas. In the because we all had the same spiritual early to mid 1980's the Shamanic beliefs and goals. Certainly, there revival was just getting started due to were ups and downs but in the end it the influence of Michael Harner. was 'all for one, and one for all'. Several writers on witchcraft had started to adopt Christopher Each shamanic techniques came in with including Starhawk. different talents Many of us just and training. How didn't understand has that affected why a clearly pagan the practice and tradition such as teaching that you Wicca was using do today? Judeo-Christian magic such as Janet and Gavin: Caballa. We simply We think it's given rejected it, this led us a unique approach to Wicca and many to reject Wicca as well in the style. Gavin has a background in UK, while others like myself looked at Spiritual Healing, while Janet is a the possibility of merging both practising medium. We have absorbed practises. those aspects into our group training and workshops. Our emphasis has If you look at the history of Wicca it become much more on experiencing has always been based around the the mysteries through spiritual principle 'if it works use it'! Doreen connection, as well working with Valiente the mother of modern spirits and psychic practise. witchcraft, had always been clear Translated into practice this means about this. I think Gardner applied energy work, spirit-craft, and this and used what was around him, understanding spiritual cosmology. We and in the 1940's and '50's that meant use a quote during many of our High Magic. Alex Sanders, of course practical workshops: 'it's not enough did, the same, in fact in his case to a to know how to drive the magic car, heavier degree. you have to know how it works so you can fix it!' We now teach 'magical One of things I came to realise was mechanics'. This has come out of our that if you brushed away the modern

- 23 - overlays there is in fact a bedrock of shamanic practice beneath REAL Christopher: Is there anything else traditional witchcraft, including the you would like to say to our use of trance states. This is very clear readers? to anyone is familiar with Robert Cochrane and the witchcraft that he Janet and Gavin: Wicca and practised. Witchcraft are evolving traditions. They aren't static, over time they If Gardner and Sander's can adopt change and they adapt new High Magic as the basis of practice for techniques into them. It doesn't witchcraft why can't we adopt older matter what tradition you are from, or traditions such as Shamanic practise? how you started in Wicca, all that is Surely that is historically more in important is your connection to the keeping with what witchcraft is, divine, with the God and Goddess. To working with spirits in magic practise. quote Gardnerian: 'There is only one true intiator'. Who is that? Is that a Christopher: Since Stewart's death, High Priest or Priestess, no it's the you two carry on the tradition and divine itself. It is why ultimately you now are married. What plans do cannot be a witch unless you make you have for the future? that connection and it doesn't matter how you were initiated, whether it was Janet and Gavin: At present we're from someone who has correct lineage pretty much carrying on the way we or from a self-initiatory, unless the have over the last few years. We are divine is present, the 'initiation' hasn't visiting the UK for three events this happened. year, conferences in Preston, Canterbury and The Day for Doreen For years Wicca has been about itself. (Valiente) in London in September. We It's been like a child who says 'me, me, are going to be in the US for Samhain; me!' It has been completely driven by Florida, Washington DC and Delaware. its own needs rather than the needs of In the meantime we are continuing the world. Now it is beginning to with our on-line course, and planning realise that it is a spirituality and one off seminars over the summer. In spiritualities are not driven by self- the meantime we are also running our ishness, they are driven by self- open circle - Teampall Na Callaighe - lessness. Wicca has to realise in these as well as our coven. We are looking changing times that it has to be about forward to a glorious hot summer in service to the divine, to the God and Ireland after 5 years of rainy Goddess. This is what being a summers, so that we can go out with Priestess or Priest is all about, about our groups to the ancient sites. service not about fulfilling our own drives, otherwise we are just engaging Christopher: Where can our readers in spiritual masturbation! learn more about what you are doing, or about your books and traditions?

Janet and Gavin: We have our main website at http:// www.callaighe.com . But we also have an open Facebook site under the names Janet Farrar _ Gavin Bone. This is kept continually update with news of our tours, workshops, and online seminars.

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Paganism: all Good and on the impurity of the A Responsible Religion Matter as the source of all Evil, by Thorg da Lusitânia opposed principles that are at war Translated by Sara Timóteo with each other until one of them (Good) wins and the Evil (the impure substance) be destroyed. This way of This short explanation about thinking causes the human being to Paganism, also known as the Old become naturally more extreme Religion, aims to refute the unfounded regarding perspectives and behaviors accusations directed to its followers of that we could resume in one sentence: being connected to extremist right- «If you think like me you are with me wing parties, devil worshippers, and you are one of the good ones; if Satanists or simply ravaging and you think differently then you become rowdy savages. my enemy and I have to fight you». This is the logic of dualism that The Old Religion was until the advent distinguishes Good from Evil. of Christianity the most practiced belief. Its roots are intertwined with Regarding these two ways of the roots of Mankind. As any other understanding and interpreting religion we believe in a spiritual world, Creation, we can only think that the primary cause and source of concepts of sin and of the Devil as the everything that manifests in this personification of absolute Evil are physical world. strange to Paganism. This is easy to confirm through the study of pagan Pagans believe that the body, as well mythologies, namely the Greek, as Nature where they are generated Sumerian, Northern or Egyptian due to an emanation from Spirit to myths just to mention the most Substance are sacred, two known. complementary forces that become one and indivisible on the Creation Gerald Messadié, journalist, process. For us, the sacredness of researcher and author of several Nature lies in this interaction between articles and books about religion such Divine and Matter; therefore we do not as A History of God and A History of regard any human being as less the Devil states that: virtuous or impure, «born in sin» and needing to be purified through any “It was the Hellenic democracy that baptism or to ask for forgiveness for kept the Devil outside the borders. an «original sin». Because the Fallen Angel is nothing but a logic strategy of totalitarian powers. Monotheist religions share a dualistic Never a Greek clergy was known for perspective, inherited from Zoroastro taking the supranational power to and later perfected in the IIIrd century separate Good from Evil.” of the Common Era by Mani (manicheism), stating that the spirit As we get here I think that hereby was being pure and the matter impure, the fully demonstrated the emergence of evil resided in Matter and so if the the Devil as the supreme Lord of Evil Spirit prevailed over matter all evil and now seems to be the time to would end for the human being (and question: why should we, followers of Mankind would be gone). Is is from the Old Religion, to be led to follow a this school of thought that being that does not belong to our contemporary monotheisms emerge beliefs (Wiccan, Anglo-Saxon, Classical and with them a radical perspective on or others)? What would we really profit the purity of the Spirit as the source of from cults to the Judaic-Christian - 25 -

Satan, Alter-Ego for the Good God and understanding Creation in its origin the reason to validate His existence? If and manifestation and in which we all there was not a being entirely evil exist with our affinities and there would be no need to be a being divergences. entirely good, whose commandments constitute the only Truth and whose Those levels of perception are like true Law shall reward the good and realms of existence that travel over all punish the bad. creation. They are everywhere and anywhere to be found and reflect the Despite having not such reduced and ways in which one relates to the radical notion of Evil or any deity as Divine and to the world around devil we still have our ethics and him/her. So these levels are based on morals. Undoubtedly our minds the being either physically, resonate with freedom and tolerance of emotionally, mentally and/or traditions and cultures different from ecstatically (trance). our own, because we do not forget that Paganism is a reflex of the same These realms of understanding allow cultural diversity found in its that the same principle, idea, myth or distinctive folklores. However, being fact be interpreted differently tolerant about the Tradition of each according to the degree of sensibility one does not mean that we are and grasping of each one. Paganism libertines without ethics or rules, but also tries to convey that principle by instead that we are responsible people respecting diversity and that understand that Good and Evil understanding between diverse are two faces of the same coin and a traditions and mythologies – some good coin has two faces. For us there value more the «historic» or factual, is not any belief or culture entirely evil others the symbolic meanings, others or good as we may see on this excerpt the social and even others that from the Iliad attributed to Homer: conjugate successfully two or three perspectives. The diversity of these “When he asks himself whence come levels of understanding only good and ill, the answer he gives is emphasizes the richness of the myths that they are dispensed by Zeus from that come from a world where great storerooms which lie in his Mankind made no distinction between palace.” ... the «dream world» and the «real world» and where Gods and Goddesses still As we may conclude from these few «walked» with Men. lines it is up to the human being to choose. We are responsible for our That is the reason why the study of freedom of choice and not dependant Paganism through mythologies may be on a God entirely evil and other God seen as necessary for the development entirely good. This is also known as of a feeling of mutual religious our free will; the Greeks had a tolerance so needed these days. perspective that all Men receive a share of good and evil and that is up And for those who insist that we are to them to manage that share. As we connected in some way with Neo-Nazi all know, for instance, civilisations ideals or parties, we state that in our such as the Greek do not build or religion there is not such thing as one survive upon a world without rules. people, one nation or official way of cult so close to the far right-wing Paganism does not recognize dogma or movements. We do not subscribe the mysteries, but instead several idea of one Leader or, for that matter, perspectives (Traditions) and levels of only one God.

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I believe this comparison has no Again, I quote Gerard Messadié in his sense. The two sentences are in no work about The History of God , in way related – their essence is very which the author states specifically different. Gardner appeals to that: responsibility while Crowley appeals to the Chaos in every «Star» by being “The fundamental social values of one’s own Law. This is only one of the contemporary Christianity, such as the many divergences between Thelema respect for others and the sense of and Paganism; to insinuate that social justice, were instituted by Gardner somehow took advantage of Greece, and not certainly illustrated by Crowley’s ideas to create Wicca the history of the Church, at least until becomes ridiculous in the sense that the end of the XIXth century. And in the demonstrates a major ignorance of the XXth century even the strange essential distinction between «magick» pontifical political stand regarding and «religion» concepts. Nazism was object of vivid criticism.” I tried to make this explanation as As may be derived from the previous clarifying as possible regarding those words, the values that the western accusations inspired in old world is so proud of, such as respect inquisitorial prejudices that today still and concern for others, democracy convey fear, distrust and a false image and social justice do not emerge from of the Old Religion. Of course today a Christian Europe but from a Greek there is more of an academic patina to pagan perspective. With the end of it – is is there, covered by civilized Europe as a confessional state, from discourses broadcasted everyday the mid-XXth century on, there comes through the media into our homes. again the possibility of religious Such apparently innocuous discourses freedom, the acknowledgement of the are generating day by day fearful Old Religion and its followers, until thoughts on the mind of the ordinary then forced to hide because they were citizen and radical perspectives among named as sorcerers/warlocks, devil their own people. worshippers, libertines and source of curses and all evil of society. I respectfully remember those who died for their faith not accepting the This principle of justice and concern imposed conversion, today as in the for others inherent to Paganism is old days of the Inquisition evoked by Gerald Gardner during the persecutions, tortures and sacrifices. XXth century when he approaches the There followers of the Old Religion «Threefold Law» in the context of using were accused of heathenism and indiscriminately and insanely magick, brightened the fire with their bodies in referring also to other law that became name of their Good and One God. We a precept in Paganism: have to keep resisting and fighting, in a responsible and dignifying manner, An it harm none do what ye will so that we can be up to the examples Here freedom equals responsibility. of the ancient pagans and so that our beliefs and rights may be respected as By the way, there is nowadays a a faith with over a thousand years that winding temptation to attribute to this contributed for many cultures and phrase from Gardner a similarity with civilizations and also for ours. Aleister Crowley´s Do what Thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law / I am the Law.

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NEWS FROM PF INTERNATIONAL could further cooperation between our AUGUST 2009 respective organisations.

Introducing PFI Russia and visit to Yggeld told us about “North Wind – Moscow August 2009 Scientific and Research Society”. He explained that “North Wind’s main Via PFI I have had sporadic contact activity is to search, study and develop with Russians for a number of years. the ways for preserving the non- Unfortunately my lack of Russian or material Indo-European cultural misfortune to be attracted to less heritage including Slavs.” They also savoury groups and/or individuals restore ancient burial mounds. It also made any real contact virtually acts as an umbrella organisation for a impossible. number of pagan groups. “We also restore the ancestors’ rituals, together This situation dramatically changed with “Circle of Pagan Tradition” when Yggeld contacted me in 2007 and even more so when Gwiddon Stanislav – who along with Yggeld is contacted me in 2008. Briefly this lead one of the founding members of North to creating a website – including all Wind – is an archaeologist and is able the problems of dealing with Cyrillic – to offer his expertise when restoring and the launch of PFI Russia in June for example the burial mounds which 2009, have unfortunately been looted. http://www.ru.paganfederation.org/ “The First Congress of the Circle of Native (Pagan) Tradition* took place in Vyshgorod-on-Yakhroma of mitrovsky district, Moscow region in Russia since 29th April till 2nd May 2007. It gathered more than 40 officially registered delegates, representatives of 21 heathen groups and communities from 20 cities of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The first version of the Heathen Tradition Manifest, which Gwiddon attended the Dutch PFI goal is to unite the followers of the conference in May and he and Paul Native Religion, was presented by the sorted out the remaining technical authors at the Congress.” problems. Thanks to both of you for making the website possible! I was surprised I made a reciprocal visit to Moscow to see how from August 12-19 , 2009. The green a highlights of the week were meeting city some wonderful Russian pagans. Moscow Gwiddon had arranged to meet Yggeld really is – & Stanislav and later we spent a it is the wonderful day with Stanislav, Tatiana largest and Vitya at a local sacred site. European city with At our first meeting we introduced over 10.5 ourselves of course and spent some million intensive hours discussing how we inhabitant s and yet

- 28 - there are numerous parks with rich collection of pre-historic artefacts and forests and some lovely old trees. beautiful figurines to the Scythian Stanislav invited us to visit one of Gold. these parks- Kolomenskoye which was the former royal estate. There was For more comments and photos of the a wonderful old Oak tree, carefully visit please see the PFI Forum – tended by the park keepers. There we http://www.forum.paganfederation.or raised a traditional carved wooden g/ - Russian Language section and Slavic chalice to greet the Spirits of the other places. Land and to wish each other good health and lasting friendship. Thanks to Gwiddon for volunteering to be the National Coordinator for PFI We walked on to a beautiful glade, Russia and to my new found friends in which in the August sun was already Moscow, my hearty thanks for all the whispering Autumn. books and gifts and very warm There we were shown the “Woman’s welcome. I hope we can meet again Stone”, a natural large stone with a soon. multiple of “roundings” not dissimilar to women’s breasts. Tatiana told me Bright blessings, that it was tradition for women to sit Morgana on the stone and “absorb the fertile energy”. As in many other places I Home altar with god have visited with similar sacred spots, carving and even Christian women gladly come wooden along for help if they are having chalice difficulty getting pregnant. That day (Yggeld) the stone was being regularly visited with groups of women sitting there

(and including a couple of guys.)

People would toss coins over the stone for good luck – I was given a handful of small change so that I too could make a wish! Then Tatiana and I made a blessing, raising the chalice once more and offering seeds as a gift.

It was a wonderful afternoon (See

photos). Drinking from a Slavic Chalice at a folk festival At the Woman’s Stone.

Of course Gwiddon and I visited the Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral (with the famous “onions domes”) and the National History Museum, with an amazing

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Russian Paganism Way back in 1986 I joined one of Interview with Yggeld Moscow groups, which members were By Christopher Blackwell calling themselves cosmists. We admitted, that there is a Superior The breakdown of the Soviet Union Mind in the Universe, and that Nature and the fall of Communism ended the is a living being, and that it is official Atheism. There has been a intelligent in its own way. We are still rapid development of religion in certain, that Nature can feel both Russian, not only Christian, Muslim happiness and pain. The world around and Jewish, but also Pagan. us is not some soulless medium. The world is inhabited by spirits, it is In a online forum for Pagan Federation personalized and magical. So the International I came across reports on Nature should also be treated as a some of the problems and Superperson. development of Paganism there, some reported by Yggeld. So I asked if I In early 1990's many people from my could interview him and he kindly generation also started to understand agreed to this interview. paganism as worshiping of ancestors. After leaving this life, the ancestors Christopher: Could you give us a bit become a spiritual part of the Creation of background about you and and the Nature. Together with the perhaps what Pagan path you High Gods - cosmic superpersons - follow? they are an integral part of this Universe, and they are watching us Yggeld: I was born and brought up in from other dimensions, from the Other Moscow, in the Soviet Union - Russian World, the World to Come, giving us Socialist Federative Soviet Republic their help and support, if we turn to (RSFSR). Now this country is called them correctly. Russia. Christopher: As the official Atheism My secular name is Dmitry Gavrilov . I fell by the wayside in Russia, there am forty years old. I have a university seemed a rush to fill the void. How degree in Chemical Engineering. did that affect Paganism in Russia.? How much what we see is I came to paganism in 1986 - way old Paganism and how much is back in the Soviet period. Both then what we might call neo-Paganism. and now I have not considered paganism to be a religion. Paganism is Yggeld: Paganism existed during the wider than religion. Paganism is the Soviet years in the form of cosmism, primordial and natural world even though its followers did not perception of any normal person. It is realize this fact. Such world-famous incident to anybody from the very scientists as Vladimir Vernadsky, childhood. When remembering myself Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Ivan as a child, I understand, that I was Yefremov are the prominent figures of already comprehending the world as a the Russian cosmism. Vernadsky pagan at that time. You can call developed a teaching about paganism different names, but it is anthroposphere (noosphere). certainly mainly based on mythological Tsiolkovsky spoke about radiant form outlook, which is regarded as equal to of personality existence. Yefremov rationalist outlook, and there is always returned us to euhemeristic idea a place for cosmos and magic. about the people, who are like Gods.

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Unfortunately internationalism, which present times - The Lay of Igor's was the official ideology of the Soviet Warfare, epic tales, magic spells. Even Union, did not allow Russians to pay some folk Christian sources contain a due respect to their ethnic tradition, lot of pagan ideas, e.g. in Columbine and to have sufficient knowledge of Book. In XIX-XX century the scientists their ancestors' folk tradition. There collected huge amount of ethnographic was a gap between the ethnic and materials, in the Russian North in the cosmic parts of paganism. Books first place, where paganism survived about paganism written by much longer. Academician and archaeologist Boris Rybakov were a real revelation to No country in the world became many of my compatriots. It looked like Christian in a blink of an eye or by he built a bridge from the High Forces some miracle. Stories like these are and Ancient Gods to us, living on the fiction and ideological subversion. Earth and honoring the custom. Paganism remained alive among people for really long. Its traces can be When communist and internationalist found even now - in the customs and ideology was defeated, people started beliefs. Materials collected by the looking for new spiritual support. Part scientists recorded the folk tradition, of the people were comforted by which the church failed to destroy. religion - Christianity, Islam or Buddhism. However many started to Besides, in our work we rely upon look for their own roots and paths. archaeological data (and we try Anyone, who honors his ancestors as cooperate with archaeologists), sacred spirits and gods, is a pagan. texts of other Indo-Europeans, we are looking for and are finding parallels in For a Christian serving God is more Rigveda, Avesta, Homer's and Orphic important, than the family ties. Those, anthems, Elder Edda and etc. who invent non-existing ancestors and new gods for themselves are neo- Christopher: How do Pagans find pagans. Neo-paganism, just like each other in Russia? Christianity, is geared to Revelations, including those written in books, Yggeld: We find each other at rituals which leads to spiritual dead end and and mass fests. Also by blindness. Any person should choose correspondence, as well as via the path to walk on solely by Internet. Sometimes we find each him(her)self, being guided by the other in truly mystical ways, when natural and internal law as well as people meet, and discover spiritual conscience. affinity.

Christopher: Were there any ready Christopher: Officially freedom of sources of information on the various religion, but what does that mean forms of Paganism or has that had to as far as government help or be developed from scratch? discrimination, especially for minority religions? Yggeld: There are several sources of our knowledge about the Russian and Yggeld: Freedom of religion was also Slavic paganism. These are medieval an official position of the Soviet Union. Christian exhortations against However, in the Soviet times the paganism written in XII-XVII church did not dare to record all centuries, some parts from the Russians as orthodox Christians. medieval Russian chronicles. Epic Church was really separate from the works, which have been preserved till state in the Soviet Union. Those, who

- 31 - believed in Christ, and followed Jointly with atheists we stand against Christian rituals, were the actual teaching religion at public schools. Christians. However, we are ready to look for points of contact with the Christian In present Russia many of former church, when we speak of struggling communists and members of youth drug abuse, alcoholism, debauchery communist organizations (Komsomol) on the TV screens or homelessness on became "orthodox Christians". I think, the streets. that were just about as much communist, as they are now orthodox Christopher: Is there any reaction Christians. from the ordinary Russians, any backlash against Pagans? Nobody is prosecuted for their religion in Russia. However the most favorable Yggeld: We do not cause any active treatment is provided to the Russian antagonism, and find understanding Orthodox Church and the officials amongst atheists and followers of close to it. They are trying to proclaim, ethnic beliefs of Finno-Ugric and that Russian people are wholly Siberian peoples in our country. There orthodox, which is far from being real. are publishing houses and media in Russia, thanks to which we can get Christopher: What about the rapid our position across to co- citizens. rise of the Russian Orthodox Church? Does that create any We have both opponents and problems for Russian Pagans? supporters there. Only in 2009 alone I published five books about Slavic and Yggeld: The church in Russia is Indo-European paganism. invading the field of secular education. However, even the priests themselves In order to clearly state our position, I admit, that there is only a small and my co-authors wrote and percentage of those, who truly believe published Heathen Tradition Manifest. in Christ. It has already been published in different countries five times by now, Slavic paganism is not officially including its English version in WCER recognized as the ethnic religion of the magazine. This document was people yet. But the real paganism in recognized as the theoretical basis for its actual sense is not a religion for pagan movement development by everybody - in modern conditions several dozens of Russian and Paganism is the belief of free people. Ukrainian pagan groups. Here is the internet link for the readers to read In my opinion Christianity, in the way this document both in English and it now exists in Russia, restructures Russian: the human consciousness to http://northernwind.ru/project/trad/ submission, and it weans away from ryam.pdf having independent thinking. http://northernwind.ru/project/trad/ ryam.pdf We - pagans - recognize every individual's right to freedom of Christopher: Have the Pagans religion. This is their personal matter. formed any organizations to help However, we are against altering and protect their freedom and to rethinking the history in favor of the educate people about what Russian Orthodox Church. Paganism is and is not?

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Yggeld: Yes, we have also formed our articles, which English translations own organizations in order to be able are currently being prepared. to more efficiently stand for our beliefs. I took part in creation of the The immediate objectives of the social movement of the Circle of Native Russian and Slavic paganism (and (Heathen) Tradition in 2001, and I am probably the world paganism as well) still a member of the Circle's are reflected in the Heathen Tradition Coordination Board. Manifest, which I mentioned above. I would like to cite a collective option Besides I also represent a scientific translated by Dennis Schedrivy and research society - Northern Wind - (Kharkov, Ukraine) for you: which was formed in 1998. This is not a pagan association, but it unites the WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO? people, who want to understand traditional world outlook, without «Know and remember. The one, who restricting themselves by the narrow does not know and does not framework of Christian dogmas. remember, what happened yesterday, However, it turns out, that non- will not care about what is going to Christian way is in fact the pagan and happen tomorrow. Who of you knows the scientific way. In our activities we your own family tree to at least the are guided by UNESCO Intangible fourth degree of relationship? Heritage Convention. Who of you knows, what our ancestors During the recent years the Circle of laid down their heads - some of them Native (Heathen) Tradition has been with a scythe, some with a sword, holding regular meetings and some with a rifle, and some with a consultations with other large book? What did they burn for alive in Russian, Ukrainian and Belorussian fires and drowned with their legs and pagan associations. These are first of arms tied up with blessed hemp? all Union of Slavic Native Belief Communities (leader -Vadim Kazakov), What kind of Today is it without Skhron Yezh Sloven (leader - Vladimir yesterday? And it is today, when our Golyakov), The Great Fire (leader - Tomorrow is being born. We cannot king Ogin, also known as Gennadiy and must not count on a "good guy", Botseniuk). The School of Gennady who will come to us and invest money Adamovich - Professor of Minsk in our movement. University - is our partner in Belarus. We remember the saying: the one, who Christopher: What do Pagans hope pays, orders the music. Do we want to accomplish in the future? How heathens to dance as saltimbancos at much contact do they have with festivals and holidays for the fun of Pagans world wise? the crowd and powers that be?

Yggeld: We are open for contacts with The voice of one man is the voice of no the followers of Indo-European one. Only by cooperating together, can Tradition from any country of the we create the base for the Tomorrow, world. Russians and Slavs originate which will really be better than from the Indo-European root. So far Yesterday. we have initially established regular contacts with PFI and WCER. We are For this we have to: ready to provide our foreign - wake our souls, our memory and our coreligionists with our books and mind from hibernation. Truly the sleep of mind gives birth to monsters. Going

- 33 - away from heathen Weltanschauung interested, to learn and follow the turns things, that have long existed Natural Tradition. not depending on the human presence or absence in the World, and with Everyone has the right to receive first- which people have always got along, hand knowledge about the gist of into a hundred-headed monster. If it heathenism, with no errors or were otherwise, there would not be mutilations. Everyone has the right to anyone, who'd have to write these make his choice in accordance with words, and there wouldn't be anyone the constitutional freedom of to read them; - recall and always conscience; remember that "honor" and - the gist of heathenism should be "conscience" are not just empty words, brought to the people not by some and that no matter how hard it may estranged saints or volkhvs, who are sometimes be, we should treat each lost in the spiritual wanderings, but by other, judge and ump each other by live and active people. If there are no the Honor, Consciousness and Truth. such people, they should be brought Our World is us. up; - secure economic independence for Our World is as good as we are; - the own self, own family and help understand and accept: no matter who the fellow believers to achieve it; our ancestors were - those famous for - spend forces and funds for their bravery, or those who dishonored multiplying the knowledge and skill in themselves, and no matter what paths all fields of the human being - from they walked - they are still our crafts to arts. Any reconstruction ancestors. If it weren't for them, we should start with active mastering of would not exist. We take pride for skills and tools. This is the wisest some of them, and we atone the faults investment of forces and funds. A and mistakes of others. But we heathen must become a master and remember everyone. It is unworthy for teach others his mastership. a heathen to renounce his ancestors. Knowledge and skills are pleasing to The ancestors are not to be judged; - Gods; recognize each other and join together - search and find connections and our experience, our knowledge, our ways of creative interaction with memory, and collect them in such a science; way that they would be available to all - act: do not wait for someone to coreligionists; - establish close and resolve our survival and environmental strong connection between each other problems, and problems of preserving and constantly share the the memory of centuries. achievements and understandings; - learn to pass whatever we have saved All the above are just initial steps. We to our children - pass it in such a way, should become those, who will that our children would not be like undertake the hard work to lead this outsiders, who are ready to abandon world out of the dead end, which we their home and kin and run to the have brought there by our own non- other side of the world for the shine understanding (or brought by someone and rattle of empty rattle-bags. with our hands?). And the time is running: tomorrow it may be late. and We should state our spiritual soothes one day it may happen that there is no in understandable form. We should Tomorrow for us. tell the truth about ourselves to anyone, who wants the Truth. We This is the only way! We, the should encourage those, who are heathens, will not only manage to survive in the modern world, but will

- 34 - also become a force, which this world Contact us ! will have to consider. On a national level, each country has So, the status quo can be changed by a National Coordinator. This is the directing the modern people thinking person you should write to with all to other, natural aggregate of vital and your questions and you should keep spiritual values, which will allow to him/her informed of changes of break the vicious circle with no address or e-mail! If you cannot violence. contact your National Coordinator, you can contact the International The living standard, which modern Coordinator. civilization gives to us, should be maintained, but with this said any International Coordinator: Morgana excess should be refused, and we PO Box 473, 3700 AL Zeist, THE should return to worshiping the NETHERLANDS surrounding Nature. This can only be [email protected] done voluntarily. Then a new epoch of the people's being will start on the Earth. Magazine Pagan World Diana Aventina, Begijnenstraat 44, We believe that for this purpose 3290 Diest, BELGIUM heathenism should be recognized and [email protected] accepted as an effective Force». PF International (Argentina): Christopher: Anything else that you Lady [email protected] would like our readers to know? PF International (Australia): Andrew Yggeld: I would like to wish Good PO Box 477, Keyneton, VIC 3444, Luck to everybody, who is reading my AUSTRALIA interview. Our ancestors are watching [email protected] us from the Higher Worlds, and let them guard you from any troubles, PF International (Austria): Jeff & while we remember them. Vernon [email protected] I wish every pagan to know and [email protected] remember his(her) ancestors, who are now one with the Nature. This is the PF International (Belgium): Maya will of Gods. I think, that although we Tuyaertsstraat 61, 2850 BOOM, may have different ancestors, but the BELGIUM Gods are still the same. [email protected]

There are no German, English, Indian, PF International (Canada): Slavic or Russian gods. We only call Oakwyndhr and Nuhyn Them, the High Forces, in our own PO Box 986, Tavistock, ON N0B languages. Each of us uses his own 2R0, CANADA language to name Them. And the Gods [email protected] smile in reply. Let the Gods guard you! [email protected]

PF International (Czech Republic): Cody & Joska [email protected]

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PF International (France): Syd PF International (Scandinavia and c/o Les Ateliers du Sydhe, 46 ter Finland): The Morrighan rue Ste Catherine c/o Kraka Gustafsson, 45000 Orleans, FRANCE Glidflyktsgatan 2, 128 33 [email protected] Skarpnäck, SWEDEN [email protected] PF International (Germany): Caesaja Zum Nordhang 3 58313 HERDECKE, GERMANY PF International (South Africa): [email protected] Damon Leff [email protected] PF International (Hungary): Saddie [email protected] PF International (South America): PF International (Italy): Elaphe Nero [email protected] Caixa Postal 448, Porto Alegre RS, 90001-970, BRAZIL PF International (Malta): Raine [email protected] [email protected]

PF International (Mexico): Tarwe PF International (Spain) : Aitziber & [email protected] Werty C/Ventura Rodriguez nº 9 10º 3ª, PF International (The Netherlands): 08035 Barcelona, SPAIN Morgana & Lady Bara [email protected] PO Box 473, 3700 AL Zeist, THE NETHERLANDS [email protected] PF International (Turkey): Birkan [email protected] PO Box 473, 3700 AL Zeist, THE NETHERLANDS PF International (Panama): Artemisa [email protected] Leizel Verbel, 0830-00352 Panamá, Republica de Panama [email protected] PF International (USA): Link 6538 Collins Avenue, #255, Miami PF International (Poland): Rawimir Beach, FL 33141 USA [email protected] [email protected]

PF International Portugal: Isobel Andrade & Jose Ferreira PFI UK representative: Anders APARTADO 13 - Oeste Litoral, 2564 [email protected] - 909 St.Cruz, PORTUGAL [email protected] PFI UK Interfaith representative : PF International (Romania): Leia Raven [email protected] [email protected]

PFI International Russia [email protected] PFI Asia representative: Ikari [email protected]

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