Spring ’07 PanGaia #46 1 BBIMEDIA.COM CRONEMAGAZINE.COM SAGEWOMAN.COM WITCHESANDPAGANS.COM Magazines that feed your soul and liven your spirits. Navigation Controls Availability depends on reader. Previous Page Toggle Next Page Bookmarks First Page Last Page ©2011 BBI MEDIA INC . P O BOX 678 . FOREST GROVE . OR 97116 . USA . 503-430-8817 PanGaia: A Pagan Journal for Thinking People SPECIAL SECTION: WORDS OF POWER Why do we call ourselves Witches? For most of human history, a “witch” was something other people called you, not a name you chose for yourself. It denoted a worker of ill-intentioned magic, one whose uncanny connection to powers not honored by official religion made people nervous — nervous enough to kill. Even today, in many countries, no one in their right mind would take on the title. So why do we? By Archer . 20 What’s in a name? The Cailleach is a Crone goddess, and not one to be invoked lightly. I imagined that she would not take kindly to a mispronunciation of her name. By Myshele Goldberg. 23 The Notorious N-Word To a savvy Magician, words of power are not limited to Barbarous Names of Evocation, Aeonic Utterances, or Holy Names. Words which manipulate the group-mind can be far more effective — and dangerous — than anything you will read in a grimoire. By Kenaz Filan. 26 A Choice of Oaths I hadn’t even started medical school yet when I first encountered the difference between my worldview and that of the medical culture I was about to join. I learned that, as part of a ceremony welcoming the entering class, we were all supposed to take the Hippocratic Oath. But no one seemed to be taking it as seriously as I. As a practicing Pagan, the gods of the oath were not long dead to me. I knew what the oath said, and I didn’t necessarily agree with everything in it. ON THE COVER: By Leigh East. 31 Raymond Buckland — Grandmaster of American Wicca The Divine Magic of Language Language is one of the more potent forms of Ray Buckland was the author of the first magic, and even if you don’t consider yourself to American book on the Old Religion — and be a writer, you may be surprised at how a little has since written nearly fifty more. poetry (or prose) can enhance your magical prac- Interview by Michael Night Sky . 16 tice. By Holly Buck . 34 Spring ’07 PanGaia #46 1 PanGaia: A Pagan Journal for Thinking People FEATURE The Emerging IndoPagans IndoPagan: among a growing number of people, this name describes their spiritual path. It is a path that blends the Western tradition of NeoPaganism with Eastern traditions of South Asian origin, commonly with Hinduism. Up until Image © 1996 Photodisc, photo by C. Sherburne. Image © 1996 Photodisc, photo by recently the bulk of those following an IndoPagan path believed themselves to be alone. But that’s beginning to change. By Devi Spring . 40 FICTION A scientist discovers an astounding equation. By Matt McHugh . 51 POETRY In Praise of Brigid by Tim Harkin . 25 All Words are Spells by Rowena . 38 40 No Masters, No Druids by Benn Mac Stephan . 39 Genesis (for J.R.R. Tolkien) by Ursula Fanthorpe . 50 COLUMNS Impressions By Elizabeth Barrette . 3 Underworld By R. J. Stewart . 55 Tarot Journey By Joanna Powell Colbert . 57 Mind and magic By Judy Harrow . 61 Rite behavior By Kenaz Filan . 65 Connections By Archer . 80 DEPARTMENTS Feedback loop Letters from Our Readers . 5 Toe-To-toe Debate and Controversy: Should Pagans Keep Secrets? . 9 Point of view Perspectives from Our Readers . 13 51 Inner circle PanGaia recommends . 69 Marketplace Goods, Services and Ideas . 77 OUR FEATURED ARTIST Carol Snedeker-Martinez is a self-taught artist and illustrator living in western North Carolina. To contact the artist please visit her website at 69 www.carolsmartinez.com . 2 PanGaia #46 Spring '07 may include tidbits of, a language whose very words convey magi- cal power. The magic of Ursula Le IMPRESSIONS Guin’s Earthsea stories functions in this way. Elizabeth Barrette Closely related to the idea of Language and the Craft magical language is the idea of true names. According to this “The difference between the right Similarly, language can define premise, knowing the true name of word and the almost right word is the the layer of reality in which you a person or thing gives you power difference between lightning and a travel. Visit a foreign country, or over it. For this reason, some Pagans lightning bug.” neighborhood of immigrants, or take a secret craft name which – Mark Twain even an ethnic restaurant where they reveal to no one, or at most to t is language that makes us hu- the staff speak a language other their covenmates. They may also man. Language allows us to com- than the local one — and you enter inscribe names on their magical Imunicate with each other and a different world. If you make an preserve ideas. The beginning and tools as a means of instilling power. attempt to communicate with peo- end of all things is the Word. Most Similar practices appear in tradi- ple in their own language, rather especially, the Word controls and tions around the world. than expecting them to join you shapes power. Another small-scale example in yours, a magical transforma- The creative force of words ap- is that of magic words. Sometimes tion occurs: you suddenly become pears in many different religions. these are borrowings from another more “real” to them, more a “per- Origin myths often attribute the language, or archaic relics like son,” and they are likely to treat world’s existence to the divine “mote” in “So mote it be.” Their use you more favorably. On the other Word. According to Egyptian my- indicates a situation outside the hand, conversing in a language thology, Ptah created the world usual. Other times, the magic words not shared by everyone present with speech, the word taking form seem like “nonsense” syllables can be a brutal way of excluding in his heart and then emerging that nevertheless purport to cause someone. from his mouth to do its work. Ac- wondrous effects, simply by virtue Even a subset of language, cording to Christian mythology, of their sound. Over time, they the Word of God guided creation, known variously as a lexicon or may work their way into common a motif repeated in C.S. Lewis’ jargon, can identify people as be- knowledge, usually losing most of novel The Magician’s Nephew when longing or not belonging to a par- their power in the process, like “ab- Aslan sings Narnia into manifesta- ticular group. Think of all the spe- racadabra” and “hocus pocus.” tion. According to Miwok mythol- cialized terms — athame, cone of Languages also tend to include ogy, Silver Fox and Coyote danced power, esbat, etc. — that character- some words with magical effects, and sang, and beneath them Earth ize Pagan conversation. Those can which are either not recognized took shape. create quite a barrier to someone as such or are acknowledged only Language can shape not only outside the community. Learning in jest. Consider the premise “As the world, but the worldview. Each their meanings thus becomes a rite I will, so mote it be,” companion language has a unique way of de- of passage for newcomers. to the premise that “This is so be- scribing things, events, and ideas This leads naturally to the cause I say it is so.” Performative — which influences how native idea of magical languages. Vari- statements such as “I promise” or speakers observe them. When a ous natural languages over the “I hereby consecrate” do exactly language dies out for lack of speak- centuries have gained a reputa- that. The word is the deed, literally. ers, we lose a precious piece of di- tion of belonging to scholars, wiz- That’s magic. The word “please” versity. When you learn a new lan- ards, witches, priests, and other can change a person from unwill- guage, however, you expand your not-quite-worldly folk. Latin and ing to willing in regards to a re- options for perception and expres- Arabic, for example, contain many quest, quite an impressive feat for a sion. This also brings you closer to original texts of occult lore. Then single syllable. That’s magic too. the language’s home culture, a key there are the inventions, ranging Years ago, I heard a filk song by reason why some Pagans choose to from simple alphabets to whole Stephen Savitzky, “The World Inside learn the historic language of their languages, which people have cre- the Crystal,” which describes cyber- religion. Irish, Welsh, and Gaelic ated to contain magical writings; space as a place “Where we play enjoy increasing popularity in part Theban is a fairly popular magi- with words and symbols / And because of Druidic and Avalonian cal alphabet, for example. Fantasy creation is the game / For our sym- practitioners. fiction sometimes mentions, and bols have the power / To become Spring ’07 PanGaia #46 3 the things they name.” No wonder Word.” Myshele Goldberg analyzes we speak of “computer wizards,” the core principles of name magic PanGaia for they have created a whole new in “A Rose by Any Other Name.” Issue #46 — Spring 2007 realm, entirely out of magic words Each of these articles takes a dif- in esoteric languages that ordi- ferent angle on the names we use Publisher nary people do not understand. for ourselves and others, and the Blessed Bee, Inc.