Newwitch #8 Y 1 BBIMEDIA.COM CRONEMAGAZINE.COM SAGEWOMAN.COM WITCHESANDPAGANS.COM

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We recently received the following letter from a Your second question is: “why doesn’t newWitch confine its coverage reader who had a bone to pick with us. It read: to our ancestral heritage?” Let me preface my remarks on this sub- Dear newWitch, ject by saying that I support taking pride in our ancestors and drawing I am an Odinist, incarcerated in Michigan De- strength and wisdom from the beliefs and practices of those who went partment of Corrections. I’m before us. But Wicca simply doesn’t define writing about what I believe itself as ancestral religion, still less a bloodline- is “mis-direction” in your “If you accept your limi- based one. (By the way, many Odinists and magazine. tations, sure enough you’ll Asatru don’t define their religion that way Most Wiccans, and all become them.” either.) Traditionalist Wicca — Gardnerian, Al- Odinists, have a European- exandrian, and the like — has what one might based heritage. Most of our — Richard Bach call a national heritage, that of England; but I ancestors are from Europe. have never even heard of a Trad Wicca group I don’t understand why newWitch embraces Bud- that only accepted folk who could prove their ethnicity was English. dhism, Voodoo, and male homosexual practices. Furthermore, eclectic Wicca syncretizes influences from wildly disparate We Odinists are proud of our heritage and sources; to claim it as part of “our ancestral heritage” is the wildest community. The Norse bloodline has passed down form of wishful thinking. our religion and magick from generation to gen- Your third, and deepest question is: “Why does newWitch cover eration. I would like to see the Wiccans fully em- religions other than Wicca?” Conveniently, the answer once again clari- brace their heritage and become empowered with fies our mission: becausenewWitch isn’t only for Wiccans. We chose magick that has been destined for them to use. our title with care: we aren’t newWiccan but newWitch. The difference This would remove all doubt as to who their true is subtle, but real. We believe that Wicca is religion, while witchcraft is family and community are. This would also give practice. And therein lies a crucial difference. Wiccans have a (relative- Wiccans a real pride about their heritage and peo- ly) standard set of beliefs and rituals while witches range quite widely ple. We Odinists are tired of being ridiculed for be- in almost every respect ranging from the deities they worship to the ing proud of our European heritage, just because it ethical guidelines they follow. While most Wiccans are also witches, not is not politically correct. all witches are Wiccan. I know Asatru witches, Wiccan witches, Voudon Why does newWitch cover other religions that witches, Buddhist witches, and people who do witchy things with their have nothing to do with Wicca or our ancestral spice cabinet and wire whisks. So newWitch doesn’t confine itself to the heritage? Isn’t that just watering it down? realm of Wicca alone — we are free to cover a much broader range — Mike of material. Some of it is Wiccan, and by far most of it can be loosely defined as Pagan, but we don’t have Dear Mike, a theological litmus test for what is To begin with, your letter makes a common included in our pages. mistake: you assume that because we report on something, we’re endorsing it. Our job is not to Mike, it’s endorse anything. We are not a house organ, no wonder you think an advertising supplement or a party newWitch is on the wrong track, broadcaset. To paraphrase the since you’ve drawn a cold iron box of racism, immortal Will Rogers, “we don’t homophobia and intolerance around the word “witch” make the stories, we just watch in which yourwhile humble we see it as editorour primary tellsmission isit do like just the he opposite. sees it the witchcraft and report on it.” We at newWitch are here to open doors, not close them. As far as Be that as it may, you posed three ques- we are concerned, Witches don’t have to be straight, or European, or tions, so I’m going to give you three answers. Your Goddess forbid, believers in predestined racial magic. first question is: Why doesnewWitch welcome gay Our ”true community” is made up of people who believe that the people? The simple answer is: because they are world can be a larger, more open, and more welcoming place — who there. One of newWitch’s missions is to reach out are willing to get their hands dirty and do something to make it so. In to folks who may not have previously felt welcome short, newWitch is all about the fundamental heart of in mainstream Paganism; including articles from, magick — changing the self, changing the world. and about, GLBT Pagans definitely fits in with that I hope, in that respect, that this editorial is an act mission. of witchcraft, too.

newWitch #8 Y 1 itch newWnot your mother’s broomstick

#8 DECEMBER ’04 - FEBRUARY ’05 table of contents 46 FEATURES 37 T. THORN COYLE — A ROSE OF FERI Feri Tradition priestess, author, and academic — and activist, musician and tattoo model — T. Thorn Coyle proves that breaking boundaries can help transform the world — and ourselves. INTERVIEW BY JOHN SULAK, PHOTOS BY CHARLES GATEWOOD. 43 GLAMOURING — THE MAGICAL ART OF SERENDIPITY It might sound difficult to believe, but it’s true: you can find as much magic in a bleak city street as in a moonlit misty glade, if you know how. BY ELIZABETH VONG. 46 CORPSES, CANDLES AND CAULDRONS A talk with magical mystery writer M.R. Sellars. INTERVIEW BY MICHAEL SAMHAIN.

48 GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION A beginner’s guide to Pagan Reconstructionism. BY CAROLINE TULLY. 52 EVOCATION 101 ‘Cuz calling the gods takes more than just picking up the phone. BY LAURA BRITTON. 53 10 TIPS FOR CREATING GREAT RITUALS Feeling a bit wobbly about writing your first ritual? No need to panic if you take it one step at a time. BY MICHELLE BELANGER. 55 THE MAGIC OF ANIME Japanese animation brings magic to surprising places. BY TAYLOR ELLWOOD 57 CUT AND PASTE Simple spellwork with collage. BY TAYLOR ELLWOOD.

58 INK FOR THE DEAD A tattoo means more than meets the eye. FICTION BY CEALLAIGH S. McCATH-MORAN. 63 HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE YULETIDE Tips for turning the winter holidays back into holy days. BY SALLY McSWEENEY. 65 santa lucia: return of the light A Christian saint can become part of your Yuletide celebration. BY DIANE SAARINEN. 2 Y newWitch #8 33 Cover photo © 2004 Charles Gatewood 37

POETRY 61 the minotaur BY charlotte i. weltzin.

REGULARS 21 FOXY WITCH: The Hedonist’s Wheel of the Year BY SHEELA ARDRIAN 23 ASTROWITCH: Transiting Venus: Planet of Magnet Attraction BY TASHA HALPERT 25 BELL, BOOK, & CANDLE: Dream Time Magic Issue #8, December ’04 - BY REV. GALINA KRASSKOVA February ’05 27 CITYWITCH: The Web of Urban Life newWitch (ISSN 1546-2838) is published quarterly by BBI Media, BY CHRISTOPHER PENCZAK Inc., PO Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 29 CHALICE AND KEYBOARD: Rock ’n Roll for Pagans 97116. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pt. Arena, CA, and BY PHIL BRUCATO at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send ad- dress changes to newWitch, P.O. Box 641, Pt. Arena, 33 DARKER SHADE OF PAGAN: Music for Fire Worshippers: an CA 95468. Interview with Incus leader Jason Cohen. BY JASON PITZL-WATERS. Editor-in-Chief: Anne Newkirk Niven Managing Editor: Dagonet Dewr 35 good witch, bad witch: Answers to your questions. Cover Design and Art Editor: Alan Niven Proofreader: Kari Kybele Office Deities: Alisa Bechtol & Tim Hall IN EVERY ISSUE 1 THE VIBE: Editor speaks newWitch Office PO Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 97116 5 RANT & RAVE: Dear newWitch Customer Service, call toll-free 888-724-3966 or 17 nW NEWS: What the Publisher wants you to know 503-430-8817. Fax 707-882-2793. 19 newWitch VOICES: Your dreams, ideas, stories Email: [email protected]; order online at www.bbimedia.com, $18 per year 67 SPELL IT OUT: The Good, the Bad, and the Wicked ($24 outside U.S.) 68 SPOTLIGHT ON PAGAN BANDS: Heather Alexander Contents ©2004-2005 BBI Media, Inc. 79 SPELLBOUND: Find it, sell it, buy it here Printed in the United States on recycled paper. 80 ALL ABOUT YOU: Strut your stuff newWitch #8 Y 3