Magical Buffet Mythology: Tanit

by Administrator, posted in Mythology

Article by Rebecca
Image by Will Hobbs (www.sirwilliamwesley.com)

Did the people of Carthage sacrifice babies to Tanit? Is that really all there is to the Patron deity of Carthage? An online search says, “Yes, it really is.” To that I say, in my best Fozzie the Bear voice, “For shame.”

Tanit is the great Phoencian goddess of Carthage, consort of Ba’al-Hammon. As a deity, Tanit embodies all things traditionally associated with the feminine. She is considered a lunar goddess, as well as motherhood and fertility. Tanit watched over the city of Carthage, and the people there built numerous temples in her honor.

The people also created a symbol to represent her, something uniquely hers, a triangle with a circle at the top with a horizontal line between the two. Often the horizontal line has smaller up turned lines at the end. Many believe this to be a woman, or goddess, in a long dress with her arms upraised in worship or blessing. Of course, others feel this symbol represents an altar. You know, the triangle is the base, with the line being the altar top, and then the circle would be the sacrifice. That’s where the trouble begins.

Many say the circle represents a baby. Historians have been debating about whether the citizens of Carthage sacrificed babies for a very long time and I am absolutely not going to be able to answer that question for you…. Oh, you’re still reading? Good for you! Here’s the deal, when they excavated the burial grounds of Carthage they found hundreds of urns, many of these urns were inscribed to Tanit or Ba’al (the hubby, remember?) and contained the remains of infants. Obviously there are arguments for both points of view; some point out that young lambs received the same burial treatment as the infants, that older children and adults were buried in a separate place, of course they also mention that many cultures buried children separate from adults. The list of yes they dids and no they didn’ts goes on and on. You know what I have to say to all this?

I don’t care. You heard me, I don’t care! I’m not saying that I’m pro baby sacrifice, what I’m saying is that it’s not happening now, so why let it be an issue when contemplating Tanit? The true horror of Tanit isn’t the potential of infants being sacrificed to her, it’s the fact that it’s hard to find anything besides that about her! Here is Tanit, THE goddess of Carthage, and I can’t learn anything about her because everyone wants to talk baby slaughter. Even if people did sacrifice children to her, I’m sure there’s more to her than that. Hopefully one day I’ll get to learn what it was about this goddess that inspired the love of all of Carthage.

Profile: The Grey School of Wizardry

by Administrator, posted in Organizations

By Susan “Moonwriter” Pesznecker
Dean of Students
Grey School of Wizardry

Once upon a time, actually not that long ago, a Wizard lived in the mythical land of Norcalifia, where he enjoyed spending time with family in a natural setting, working on his art, and studying wizardry. Many other magickal folk visited him on his land. Most of the visitors were adults, but several brought along children who they were raising in the grand tradition of magick. It gave the Wizard pause, and one night he began thinking about how hard it must be for youngsters to study magick in a decidedly “mundane” world. Then and there, he resolved to do something to bring children closer to the wonders of magick and wizardry. His first step was to write a sort of “handbook,” the Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard. As is often the case, one good idea leads to another, and as the Grimoire took shape, it occurred to the Wizard that it might be wonderful to start a school for magickal children, a special place where they could study wizardry, practice magick, and chat about arcane topics in their very own Great Hall.

Sound like a fairy tale? It’s anything but. The Wizard is none other than Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, a noted Pagan elder living in Northern California with his family. The school is the Grey School of Wizardry, an on-line school of magick, arcane lore, and general wizardry that opened on August 1, 2004 with 25 registered students and a handful of faculty. Originally designed as a school for children ages 11-17, the Grey School was surprised not only by the youths who came knocking on the door, but also by the adults who sought entrance. Rather than turn anyone away, adults and children alike were welcomed, and the rest is history. Today’s Grey School accepts students age 11 and older and includes some 700 active students and more than 40 staff and faculty, with enrollments increasing daily. Students and faculty hail from all fifty states, a number of US military bases, two American Embassies, and several countries, including Australia, Austria, Canada (7 provinces), Chile, France, Germany, Greece, Istanbul, Mauritus, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Venezuela. The northernmost student lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, while the southernmost resides in Santiago, Chile. Students’ ages range from 10 to 72.

Everything done at the Grey School is driven by the school’s visionary motto—Omnia vivunt, omnia inter se conexa (everything is alive, everything is interconnected)—and its mission statement: “It is the Mission of the Grey School of Wizardry to make available the Wisdom of the Ages to a new Generation and a new Millennium.” New students enter a 7-level program, each level increasing in rigor. Completing one level requires 24 credits, equal to about 8-12 classes, depending on difficulty. Classes are divided among 16 departments. The following section introduces each department and gives an example of an entry-level (Level 1) class and a more challenging class:

Department of Wizardry (Color correspondence: Indigo): Indigo relates to perception, imagination, illusion, and the ability to see patterns. This Department provides a basic introduction to Wizardry and magick.
· Level 1 class: Wizardry 100: Becoming an Apprentice
· Upper level class: Wizards of History 301: Medieval (Level 3)

Department of Nature Studies (Silver): Silver represents the color of the Moon, the secrets of nature, women’s mysteries and magicks, and witchcraft. Nature Studies includes all aspects of natural science and mysticism that relate to nature and its mysteries, plus such practicalities as naturalist studies and outdoor craft.
· Level 1 class: Green Magick 101
· Upper level class: Natural Wonders 606: Geysers and Hot Springs (L6)

Department of Magickal Practice (Gold): Gold represents the color of the Sun, the sign of Leo, adolescence, joy, fruitfulness, and nobility. Magickal Practice includes the practical foundational basics and magickal hardware: theory, tools, regalia, the sanctum sanctorum, principles of correspondences, signs, symbols, spells, and charms.
· Level 1 class: Your Sanctum Sanctorum
· Upper level class: Planetary Correspondences (L4)

Department of Mind Magicks (Aqua): Associated with Friday and the planet Venus, Aqua is an excellent hue for peacefulness and profound reflection. Meditation is the basis of most of the Eastern disciplines of magick and wizardry. This discipline also includes all forms of psychic development, dreamwork, pathworking, and other mind magicks.
· Level 1 class: Core Energy Practices
· Upper level class: Meet the Indigo Children (L4)

Department of Healing (Blue): Blue is the color of emotional work, healing, wisdom, and thoughtfulness. Healing refers to all forms of magickal arts and practices devoted to curing diseases, relieving aches and pains, promoting tissue regeneration, and restoring vitality and wellness.
· Level 1 class: Introduction to the Healing Arts
· Upper level class: Healing Charms and Talismans (L4)

Department of Wortcunning (Green): Green is the color of vegetation, as in gardening; also fertility and prosperity. Wortcunning (an arcane term for herbalism) is the lore and art of knowing and using the magickal, medicinal, and other properties of plants.
· Level 1 class: Kitchen Witchery 101
· Upper level class: Anatomy and Physiology for Herbalists 601: Skin, Muscle, and Bone (L6)

Department of Divination (Yellow): Yellow is associated with mental work; meditation, will, intellect, divination and communication. Divination is the art of foretelling or predicting the future or of discovering things that are lost, hidden, or secret. Although not all seers were Wizards, all Wizards are expected to be seers.
· Level 1 class: Mantic Arts, Divination and Augury
· Upper level class: Tarot 301: Choosing a Deck (L3)

Department of Performance Magick (Orange): Orange is attuned to warmth, friendship, abundance, spirit, will, principles, theory, and alertness. Also called conjury, stage magick, and performance magick, this area deals with illusions and special effects, as well as the bardic arts of music, chants, poetry, singing, and storytelling.
· Level 1 class: Conjury 101: Magic Without the K
· Upper level class: Storytelling 401: Tales of the Fabulists (L4)

Department of Alchemy and Magickal Sciences (Red): Red is the color of fire, inspiration, vitality, pride, anger, bravery, strong emotions, purification, and arid places. Alchemy is the magickal art and science of transformation and transmutation. Aspects of magickal sciences include philosophy, life extension studies, robotics, artificial, and traditional sciences, such as metallurgy, chemistry, and the photographic arts.
· Level 1 class: Principles of Alchemy
· Upper level class: Photography (L5)

Department of Lifeways (Pink): Pink is the color for relationships with other people – especially those involving family, self-awareness, love, intimacy, and romance. Lifeways addresses aspects of personal life, interpersonal relationships, and life cycles.
· Level 1 class: Lifeways 101
· Upper level class: Ethics of Magick 400 (L4)

Department of Beast Mastery (Brown): Brown is the most common color of fur and feathers, and represents all things soft and fuzzy. Beast Mastery concerns everything to do with animals of all kinds, especially animal communication, zoology, and the lore of totems. The lore of magickal animals, such as unicorns and dragons, is also included in this department.
· Level 1 class: Beast Mastery 101
· Upper level class: Paleontology 301: When Dragons Roamed (L3)

Department of Cosmology (Violet): Violet is associated with power, wealth, good fortune, judgment, industry, and religious thought. This department explores the wonders of the Universe: constellations, calendars, the solar system, celestial knowledge and origins, and astrology.
· Level 1 class: Introduction to Cosmology
· Upper level class: Archaeoastronomy 301 (L3)

Department of Mathemagicks (Clear): All creation is suffused with magickal formulae – underlying everything, but invisible to all but the imagination. The Pythagorean Mysteries laid the foundation for all mathematics, particularly arithmetic, geometry, and music. In this department are included sacred geometry, numerology, and chaos theory magicks.
· Level 1 class: Mathemagicks 101: Magick And Number
· Upper level class: Pythagorean Numerology 401 (L4)

Department of Ceremonial Magick (White): The color of purity, white represents friendship, sincerity, divinity, and blessings. Ceremonial Magick is based upon both the Qabalah and the Hermetica, along with Neo-Platonism and Oriental doctrines. This department covers all forms of rites and rituals, for all purposes.
· Level 1 class: About Rituals
· Upper level class: The Celtic Fire Festivals (L6)

Department of Lore Mastery (Grey): Lore means “teachings,” and lore mastery is the primary attribute of the Wizard. In this department, students study the books, teachings, people, and wisdom of the ages, as well as myths, legends, and folktales.
· Level 1 class: Myths and Legends
· Upper level class: The Development of European Magic (L7)

Department of Dark Arts (Black): The Dark Arts include binding, banishing, fortitude, consistency, and protection. Black magick itself is not necessarily evil; ethical Wizards chiefly use the Dark Arts to protect themselves and others from harm.
· Level 1 class: Defense Against the Dark Arts 101: Rose and Thorn
· Upper level class: Identifying Psychic Attack (L4)

As shown in the above list, each department is identified and guided by a corresponding color. Students and faculty use the department-specific colors to craft and wear tabards and other regalia identifying their field of study.

Grey School students—known as apprentices—study at their own pace. Depending on level, each class is completeable in one to three months. A core of basic wizarding skills is covered in a series of required classes; spread among the levels, these “requireds” include such topics as core energy practices, magickal ethics, shielding, spellcraft, and the safe use of herbal preparations.

To graduate, students must finish all seven levels of study and complete at least one Major, which selected upon entering Level 2. Individual academic advisors guide students through the completion of their Major, which represents an intense course of study from one of the sixteen departments. Finishing a Major means completing a wide range of specialized classes and a culminating project known as a “Practicum.” In a Practicum, students work through “lab” and “lecture” sections and showcase their amassed knowledge in a unique and rigorous final project. Students who finish the program are certified as Journeyman Wizards.

Academics are central to the Grey School. Special achievement is recognized through an active Dean’s List and the Student Achievement Award, as well as with bestowal of “Student of the Year” awards to one adult and one youth student. Led by Headmaster Zell-Ravenheart, the Grey School fields a talented, experienced staff and faculty hailing from several countries. Faculty members are selected for expertise in one or more of the sixteen magickal departments, and each prospective faculty candidate passes through a careful selection process. Most have college degrees; a large number have advanced degrees. Among the faculty are high school and college teachers, lawyers, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and professional writers.

As with any school, there is more to the program than just classes! There is also a wonderful, thriving community. Students in the Grey School are sorted into elemental Houses (youths) and Lodges (adults), depending on sun sign. The four Lodges are the Circle of the Standing Stones (Earth), Society of the Four Winds (Air), Order of the Dancing Flames (Fire), and Coterie of the Flowing Waters (Water), while the four Houses are the Gnomes, Sylphs, Salamanders, and Undines Houses, respectively. The four Houses and four Lodges create a “home” for students in the Grey School, and provide a place to talk, share ideas, study, and engage in group challenges and activities. Each House or Lodge is led by a faculty “Head” and a student Prefect. Prefects are selected for their academic excellence and overall example; to be selected Prefect is both an honor and a responsibility. The school also appoints student Captains, akin to traditional boarding school “Head Boy” and “Head Girl” positions. The Captains represent the highest student positions in the school. While a Prefect is responsible for leading one House or Lodge, Captains oversee the entire student body. Both Prefects and Captains undergo special leadership classes to prepare them for their positions; upon completion each receives a metal Prefect badge.

Outside of the Houses and Lodges, a series of interactive forums provides a “Great Hall” setting, where students can meet and get to know each other. Within the Great Hall are a number of forums, including a bardic circle, a book discussion area, and a place for general conversations; staff or faculty members mentor each forum. Students also use the forums to earn merits for their House or Lodge via the spirited competition of regular “challenge” activities. The Grey School hosts a number of student-led clubs in such magickal specialties as animal care, herbology, magickal languages, gardening, and the dark arts. Several departments sponsor departmental awards, including the Dragon Stone Award (Department of Divination), the Seal of the Ouroboros Award (Department of Alchemy), and the Webweaver Award (Lifeways). The School also creates and hosts a number of regular publications, including a Student Handbook, a Course Catalog, and a quarterly student-run newspaper known as Whispering Grey Matters.

Although the Grey School exists in a fully online environment, students have an opportunity for in-person meetings and mentorings. The curriculum includes in-person internship classes for teachers and students who live close, geographically. Some students have likewise arranged meet-ups; in the United States at least two city-based groups of Grey School students meet regularly for magickal events and practice. The Grey School has also begun sponsoring summer Conclaves, camping-style events featuring classes, outdoor activities, workshops, campfire bardic circles, and more. The first Grey School Conclave took place in July 2006 in Oregon’s Silver Falls State Park. Attended by 33 students, it was a tremendous experience for all! To date, Conclaves are planned in California, Washington, Arizona, and New York for the summer of 2007.

One of the most interesting features of the Grey School is its lack of religious alliance. We neither teach nor promote religion in the Grey School, and we have thus been embraced by a multi-faith student body that includes Christians, Pagans, Catholics, Druids, Jews, Wiccans, Buddhists, and more. Rather than focusing on religion, the Grey School teaches Wizardry as a matter of art and science, philosophy and lifestyle. While we do not offer classes on how to join or practice specific religions, we do offer some classes on comparative religions, mythology, history, and the mystic traditions and ceremonies of various spiritual practices as those topics relate to Wizardry. In addition to its position on religion, the Grey School of Wizardry neither discriminates nor benefits members on the basis of race, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. Rather, we value each student for the unique talents and point of view that they bring to our magickal community. The resulting rich, diverse environment has helped form the school’s bedrock.

Today, Oberon’s vision is alive, the Grey School growing and thriving as it works to bring up a new generation of Wizards. Incorporated as a non-profit educational institution in the State of California in March 2005, the school currently awaits its IRS Determination Letter for 501(c)(3) status. We remain dedicated to the tenets voiced by our motto and mission statement: everything is alive—everything is interconnected. We, members of the Grey School of Wizardry, are a proud part of that wonderful, living web.

Bright blessings!
Prof. Moonwriter
Dean of Students
Grey School of Wizardry

—–

To find out more about the Grey School of Wizardry, visit www.greyschool.com. The School is proud to offer low, accessible tuitions. For youth students (ages 11-17) entering the school, Level 1 tuition is $20, with tuition increasing by $2 for each subsequent level. For adult students (18 and over), Level 1 tuition is $35, increasing by $5 for each subsequent level. Note: youth students may need parental permission at the time of registration.

It’s OK we’re taking it back: The Swastika

by Administrator, posted in Symbols

Article by Rebecca
Image by Will Hobbs (www.sirwilliamwesley.com)

Yes, it is true; the swastika is going to be forever etched in most people’s minds as a symbol of the Nazi movement. It is a true tragedy considering how much this symbol has to offer humanity. Before the swastika was hijacked by Hitler to become the Hakenkreuz (hooked cross) it was living a peaceful life providing luck and good fortune to millions of people. This may seem awkward to say, but join me in opening your hearts to the swastika.

The swastika is a simple shape. It’s an equilateral cross, with the arms bent at right angles in either a left-facing or right-facing direction. Some people espouse the belief that a left-facing swastika is a sign of evil. Perhaps that’s true, the power a symbol has is only what is given to it by its viewer, but as far as I’ve uncovered, there is no historical precedent to confirm such a belief. Traditionally the swastika is oriented so that the main line is horizontal, but you will sometimes see it rotated slightly.

The swastika has a long history, and as any long lived thing, it has amassed a significant number of names associated with it. As mentioned before, the swastika lived a part of its life as the hooked cross of the Nazi movement. It is also known as the gammadion due to it being created out of four of the Greek characters gamma. In medieval times it was referred to as the fylfot, which was due to its use in stained glass windows where the swastika was used to fill the “foot” or bottom of the decorative pieces. When discussing heraldry, the swastika is known as the cross cramponne because each arm resembles a crampon or angle-iron. There are dozens more names that the swastika is known by, but must important is when we’re talking about the original….the swastika.

The swastika is a sacred symbol in Buddhism and Hinduism. For the Hindu the swastika represents the two forms of the god Brahma. Brahma is a creation deity, so the left-facing form represents the evolution of the universe and the right-facing signifies the involution of the universe. As if that wasn’t enough, on its own the swastika is a holy symbol and you will find it as decoration on all kinds of things throughout the Hindu world and culture. For Buddhists, the swastika represents eternality. As such you will find it on the chests and feet of some Buddhist statuary. Right-facing represents the balance of opposites, Dharma, and universal harmony. Left-facing represents intelligence and strength. Of course, thanks to good ole’ hooked cross swastika you will be hard pressed to find a right facing swastika at a Buddhist temple outside of India. In China you will find a swastika on maps to denote the location of temples and frequently on Chinese food packaging to signify that the product is vegetarian.

The swastika has a place in Native American traditions as well. To the Navajo it was (and perhaps still is) a sacred image used in rituals. Due to its frequent associations with the sun, the swastika has a place in Germanic and Slavic history, folklore, and art.

At one point or another, the swastika has been associated with or believed to symbolize good luck, well-being, the sun, the pole and the stars, the four seasons, the wheel of life, the four quarters of the moon, the creative forces, cyclic regeneration, the solstices and equinoxes, four elements, and I’m sure much, much more.

Some people claim that the swastika is such a simple geometric design that all these different cultures were bound to use it at one point or another. Others think that the prevalence of the swastika is due to something more along the lines of Carl Jung’s collective unconscious. To me, why it’s everywhere is irrelevant. What matters to me is that there is so much more to the swastika than Nazism. Like your mom would tell you, “You should never judge a book by its cover.” But in this particular instance, I’m more inclined to Chuck D of the rap group Public Enemy, “Don’t believe the hype!”

Want to learn more? You should, because there is a WHOLE LOT out there on this topic! Try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika to start!

Wanna reclaim the swastika? Visit these guys: http://www.reclaimtheswastika.com/

Kirlian Photography

by Administrator, posted in Events, New Age

by Rebecca

I recently visited my friends at The Holistic Studies Institute in Albany, NY for an evening workshop about Kirlian photography. As usual, everyone there was fantastic and an absolute joy to be with, but that night was about their special guest, Al Hulstrunk and his Kirlian device.

What is Kirlian photography? Well, it involves what is probably very basic science, but since I stink at even the most basic scientific explanations, please forgive this totally lackluster explanation. Essentially sheet film is placed on top of a metal plate and the object to be photographed is placed on top of the film. High voltage is applied to the plate to make an exposure. The corona discharge (A type of electrical conduction that generally occurs at or near atmospheric pressure in gases.) between the object and the plate passes through and is recorded onto the film. This creates a photo of the object with all kinds of cool colors emanating from it. That’s about as much science as you’re getting out of me, that paragraph was really hard for me and I’m not entirely sure I understand what I just said!

Now that you know what it is, I guess the next question is who cares? Here is where I can start talking a little bit more in my comfort zone. If my husband was writing this article, which he considered doing; it would probably be 80% science and 20% philosophy. Since it’s me, we’re looking at 90% philosophy and 10% of the crappiest science ever put to paper. So who cares? Well firstly, not too many people do care. Hulstrunk told us that Kirlian photography’s heyday was the 1970s. The technology is at an understandable stand still, more about that later when I get my totally sappy groove on. There had once been a large international community that studied the results produced by these devices, but these days it’s slimmed down to photography enthusiasts (the pictures produced can be very beautiful) and paranormal/psychic researchers.
Kirlian Photo of 2 of Rebecca's fingers
We now know what Kirlian photography is and the people who care about it. This brings us to why? It’s just a bunch of colors on a photo, right? Well, yes, it is. It’s what these colors may signify that causes the interest. There are many paranormal claims made in conjunction with these devices. Some have claimed that the use of Kirlian photography can predict illness or disease in plants and animals. There is the famous “phantom” leaf claim. Many experimenters have claimed that if they take a small part of a leaf and photograph it the rest of the leaf appears with it in developed photo. But these colors provoke other questions. Could there be a link between the colors and patterns produced and the chakras, the acupuncture points, astrological influences, psychic abilities, etc? Many people believe there is, and that the answers lie locked in that photographic image waiting to be interpreted like a Rorschach ink blot.

This is awesome, right? So why isn’t there stuff about Kirlian photography everywhere? That’s the real problem. Standardization. Obviously for science you need to be able to get consistent results in order to prove results of experimentation. But these aren’t scientists at H.S.I., they’re psychics, don’t they just believe? Well, they do, but without uniform results even a room full of psychics can’t be certain what secrets are hiding in a Kirlian photo. Without a standard baseline, or control, how can anyone be certain what is happening in any given Kirlian photo? The gang at H.S.I. doesn’t let that dampen their spirits, they do what they can.

Each person present had a Kirlian photo taken of them and logged. This was just being a person standing around. Then, people went back through and had a second photo taken after doing something that could provoke a change. One person went all day without coffee, God bless her, and then had her photo taken. She was then allowed to have some yummy coffee, and then they took another photo. People used Reiki or Therapeutic Touch on each other. One daring woman put her hand in melting snow for as long as she could stand. A crowd pleaser was the woman who boldly knocked back a few swigs of vodka, in the name of science. For me, my second “activity” photo was me with my husband. We figured it was lower impact than a lot of the things people were doing. Once the film is developed, the folks at The Holistic Studies Institute will compare before and after, and see if there were noticeable changes.

This lack of control with Kirlian photography is causing it to become a dying art form. Because of it, the scientific community, which was never in love with it, has now totally abandoned it. Due to the prevalence of digital photography, finding film is starting to become challenging, and costly. Hulstrunk told us there have been no notable advances in the Kirlian field since the 1970s. There hasn’t been any new blood to push the envelope of exploration.

10 Questions about Handfasting

by Administrator, posted in Interviews

1. What is handfasting?
The short answer to this question is: a handfasting is a component of a wedding ceremony which entails gently wrapping cords around the bride and groom’s clasped hands and tying a knot, symbolically binding the couple together in their declaration of unity.

However, the long answer entails a bit of back-story. Today’s modern day handfasting ceremony is a revival – of sorts – of the handfastings of yester yore. The act of handfasting was originally an element to a formal betrothal ceremony (the precursor to today’s engagement) perhaps going as far back as ancient Celtic Scotland, up to the 16th century reformation-era. During the formal betrothal ceremony, in which a couple promises to one another their agreement in future marriage, there was a formal handshake to seal the deal. This was called the handfæstung, meaning, a pledge by the giving of the hand, according to A.E. Anton . The betrothals eventually became so formal that it was an event in and of itself, which eventually lead up to the wedding ceremony. Oh, the drama!

And now for the magical part: take into consideration the strength of intent. Fast forward to modern neo-Paganism and their adaptations of sacred ancient (and not-so-ancient) rituals. Modern day Wiccans and Pagans recognize the power of magic which is essentially focused intent. One of the main reasons for this handfasting renaissance, if you will, is because today’s magical community can identify with the symbolism of an elaborate handshake agreement. To illustrate the imagery and importance of the handshake, the knotting of cords around the hands was eventually incorporated, possibly by today’s neo-Pagans. Magical cord knotting presents an outstanding visual in illustrating intent. The handfasting ritual has been, almost effortlessly, adapted and incorporated into our modern Pagan wedding rituals as the main ceremonial element in addition to – or instead of – the ring exchange. Modern Pagans revived the literal tying of the knot.

2. Is it a legal marriage?
The handfasting ritual can be incorporated into any wedding ceremony, just as can the ring exchange. Whether or not a couple chooses to have a handfasting does not make or break the legality of the marriage. Rather, the couple must take the proper steps to ensure that their marriage is recognized by the government if they do so choose. Making sure one’s wedding is legal and binding and recognized by the state (or other municipal entity) varies from location to location, so check your local laws. Generally, there may have to be an ordained (or legalized) officiant in addition to the couple having filled out the proper paperwork (i.e., a marriage license) prior to the actual ceremony. Anyone can become handfasted if that is their intent; rest assured it will be recognized by the Gods. But it may not be recognized by the government – so do your research!

3. Do you have to be Wiccan to have a handfasting?
No. In fact, the term handfasting arose during the early Christian era, when Paganism had already lost much ground. It’s the symbolism that Wiccans and other neo-Pagans have reclaimed and today embrace. But people from all religious denominations can experience the beautiful handfasting ritual during their wedding ceremony. In practice, Wiccans are taught to place well-thought intention into ritual, and therefore they do so into the knotting of the cords. Because of this, the ritual of the handfasting invites a unique, magical experience between the couple. But you don’t have to be Wiccan to feel the magic if your intentions are true.

4. How do I find someone to perform a handfasting?
Go to Handfastings.org and search for an officiant in your local area. Handfastings.org is the first, and so far only, website dedicated to linking people in the Pagan and Wiccan communities with ordained officiants who perform handfastings, weddings and commitment ceremonies, and other rites of passage and celebrations. While the website itself is a work in progress (as I suspect in perpetuity), it will always be a direct source for those who seek someone to perform their handfasting ceremony. One can also find a wealth of information on a comprehensive website called Witcvox.com, where High Priestesses and High Priests can be found in one’s local area. There is also a handfastings Yahoo!Group (operated independently of Handfastings.org) where brides and grooms-to-be ask questions and share information. Otherwise, you are going to have to do what the founder of Handfastings.org did: I searched forever for a Wiccan High Priestess to perform my handfasting.

5. How can I find out if they are legally registered to perform marriage ceremonies?
“The Marriage License Laws for a man and a woman to marry vary from state to state. Although there are differences between the requirements in the various states, a marriage between a man and a woman performed in one state must be recognized by every other state under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution [U.S. Marriage Laws].”

This is where research comes in handy. If you are serious about getting married and you want your marriage to be recognized by your government, you should be just as serious about making sure the person who performs your ceremony is legal. In addition to finding a legal officiant, the couple getting married may also have to apply for a marriage license. Because laws vary greatly from location to location, a good place to begin your research is at U.S. Marriage Laws: http://usmarriagelaws.com where you can find legal marriage information your local area. For other countries please check your local government.

For same-sex unions to be recognized, this has been an uphill battle for many. While I personally advocate for the legalization and recognition of same-sex marriage, the current reality is that you may have to settle for a commitment ceremony or civil union ceremony for the time being (until the rest of the world comes to its senses). But this does not mean that you cannot have a handfasting. Remember, the Gods do not discriminate – if you take a vow with a loved one to be joined in unity during a handfasting, you most certainly will be married in the eyes of the Gods. Government laws have been slow to catch up. Handfastings.org lists many officiants who will be delighted to perform same-sex marriages and handfasting ceremonies.

Oh and by the way, none of the above is intended to be used as legal advice.

6. Tell us about your favorite handfasting that you attended.
Mine! I’m biased, of course. We had a beautiful Wiccan-inspired wedding ceremony, which incorporated components of our own backgrounds thrown in for good measure. Held just before Samhain, Wiccan High Priestess Lady Chandara Anath of Circle of the Crescent Moon presided over the ceremony. She cast a traditional sacred Circle, under the chuppah, a canopy traditionally used in Jewish weddings. The High Priestess “called the quarters,” honoring the four cardinal directions – East (Air), South (Fire), West (Water), and North (Earth), in addition to honoring Spirit (the Gods). After this, she performed a beautiful wedding ceremony, which included the handfasting of my (now) husband and me.

The cords were blessed and then wrapped around our hands to symbolize the solidarity of our union. The cords were tied into a special infinity knot, which we now keep as a token of our love. Then we said our vows, professing our love to one another in front of all our friends and loved ones, and declared our commitment to each other. Then the High Priestess blessed the rings and we had the traditional ring ceremony. Afterwards, my husband broke the glass, a traditional Jewish gesture that basically symbolizes that there’s no turning back (romantic, no?) – and many of the guests yelled “Mazel tov!” Footnote: my mother told me earlier that we wouldn’t be married unless the groom broke the glass. Oy vey!

After this, we stepped down off the platform where we were greeted by a broom (blessed and consecrated by the High Priestess before the ceremony), which was decorated with flowers and tulle. I have always respected the African-American ceremony of “Jumping the Broom,” where the newly married couple begins their new life by crossing this symbolic threshold and literally jumping over the broom. Many Wiccans believe the broom to be a sacred purification tool; hence the adaptation of the broom ritual by many American Witches. Afterwards, we celebrated with a costumed ball reception. A good time was had by all!

7. Is there one set ceremony for a handfasting, or are there options to help tailor the ceremony for a particular bride and groom?
Well now that you have a better understanding of what a handfasting is, you can see that any ceremony created by a bride and groom can be customized to fit the couple’s wishes. The most important aspect of the handfasting ritual, after the intent of course, is the cords.

Traditionally in much of cord magic (including handfastings), cords may be nine feet in length, with each end knotted or bound with thread to prevent fraying. A natural substance is ideal. In many initiation ceremonies, cords are measured as per the length (height) of the person being initiated; however, the numbers 3 and 9 are very magical and can be incorporated simply by using a cord that is 9 feet or 3 meters long, which is totally acceptable.

In handfasting cords, traditionally, 3 cords are used, each a different color: white for purity (or a “clean slate”), blue for fidelity, and red for passion. However, you may choose other colors that you or the bride & groom feel match their intent. For instance, the bride may love the color pink and be using it as one of her wedding colors. Pink would be a lovely color to use in the cords as well. Magically, pink symbolizes love. Do a search for color correspondences or go to: http://geocities.com/fullmoon_magic/color.html for a variety of references. My husband and I used a purple cord – I love purple, which symbolizes spiritual strength. Not to mention that it was one of our wedding colors!

A great site with an overview on basic cord magic by Estelle Daniels is: http://www.estelledaniels.com/Articles/Cords.html

Some people braid the three cords together, others only use one cord. It’s up to you! The best way to pick out cords is to use your intuition along with your intent. You can never go wrong with that.

8. What would you say is the biggest misconception about handfasting?
Considering handfastings are just now experiencing a revival, not many people have had the chance to create false impressions about the ritual. For those who may have heard of handfastings however, there may be a misconception about the original handfasting, or the betrothal, to have lasted a year and a day. The “year and a day” timeline stems from Wiccan ritual, whereby one cycle of the Wheel of the Year is completed (e.g., from Samhain (Wiccan new year) to the day after Samhain of next year. This somehow may have been incorporated into the subconscious minds of some Wiccans and Pagan folk, and they may have come to the conclusion that the old betrothals, or the promise to marry, were also exactly a year and a day. But to the best of my knowledge there is no definitive proof of the handfastings of old to be exactly a year and a day.

The obscurity of handfastings might invite general misconceptions about Wicca or Paganism itself. After my husband and I got married, one of our wedding guests came up to us during the reception and told us that it was a very interesting ceremony. “But I have one question,” he posed, “am I still Catholic?” We had a good chuckle. I asked him, “Well, were you Catholic before the ceremony?” “Yes,” he answered. I confirmed, “Then you are still Catholic.”

9. Any advice for potential brides out there considering a handfasting ceremony?
I think that most people are concerned about family acceptance of the ceremony. Most people have a very narrow idea of what a wedding ceremony should be, and what exactly constitutes someone to become husband and wife. Because of this I have received several questions from people about how to talk to their parents about having a handfasting, or even more pressing, a Wiccan ceremony. Each family is different so approaches should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. But one should always have respect for and sensitivity towards all love ones involved.

As I said earlier, one can easily incorporate a handfasting ritual into almost any ceremony. The further a bride and groom want to stray from the norm, the more complicated it can get (depending on the families and their religions), so a sensitive and understanding approach is always best. And, like in marriage, you may just have to compromise. The journey of marriage begins with the planning of one’s wedding.

10. Parting shot! Ask us here at The Magical Buffet any one question?
Yes, Handfastings.org has a few questions for you – a) Have you ever been to a handfasting? b) Where do you see The Magical Buffet 5 years from now? c) Brittney Spears: tressed to impress or shamefully shaved?

Okay Shira, despite the fact that I said one question, because you are so very cool I will answer all of your questions.
a) I have never been to a handfasting. I suck.
b) Hopefully on a new computer. The one it’s being done on now is pretty crappy.
c) If she shaved her head in an act of liberation, shaved is cool. If it really was just the last straw on the way to rehab, less cool. So probably both.


“Lady Artemisia” Shira G. Tarantino, High Priestess of the Goddess,
Wiccan Minoan Tradition of New York

A Second Degree Witch in the Minoan Tradition, Shira has been a practicing Wiccan for more than a
decade. Shira is the founder of Handfastings.org, whose mission is to link people in the Pagan and
Wiccan communities with ordained officiants who perform wedding ceremonies and other rites of
passage unique to the earth-friendly traditions. Established Beltane 2004, Handfastings.org currently
has listed almost 60 officiants in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia. The website is both a work in
progress and a labor of love.

In her “spare” time, as the director of development for a worldwide non-profit organization dedicated to
helping low-income women transition into the workforce, Shira supports the growth and sustainability
of the organization and its affiliates around the globe.

It is Shira’s sincere hope that through all aspects of her work she can continue to make a positive,
magical difference in the lives of others. Shira lives with her loving husband and their two cats in
Westchester, New York. Shira can be reached at shira@handfastings.org.

Handfastings.org
Joining Hearts in Perfect Love™

The Siren’s Song of the Kongamato

by Administrator, posted in Creatures

Article by Rebecca
Image by Will Hobbs (www.sirwilliamwesley.com)

The swamps of Africa can easily be described as inaccessible. The ground is soft, and people sink trying walk. The area is layered with vines and brush, adding more difficulty to movement. There are disease-harboring insects, and the locals do not welcome strangers. Why would any man travel there? To answer the siren’s call of the kongamato.

The kongamato is sometimes referred to as “overwhelmer of boats.” It is a giant bird or bat-like thing that terrorizes the locals of the sub-Saharan continent of Africa. It is described as a sort of flying lizard, with a wingspan of 3-3 ½ feet. The kongamato is black or red, with a pointed snout, or beak, filled with sharp teeth. It’s frequently described as looking like a pterodactyl. This description occurs so often that some people toy with the idea that it is actually a surviving pterosaur, a class of prehistoric animals that includes the pterodactyl. Other people say that perhaps it’s a giant bat. Yet, more people suggest that the kongamato is actually a stork of some kind. Since many sightings occur at dusk, the light obviously effects how they perceive the creature. No matter what you say the kongamato is, it is safe to say “big flying thing.”

Now you may be asking, okay Rebecca, who answered the call of the kongamato? Not all of these people went out specifically looking for the creature, but once presented with the kongamato, it became what their trip was about.

The kongamato made its debut in Frank H. Melland’s 1923 book “Witchbound Africa”. He presented locals with a picture of a pterodactyl, which they immediately identified as the kongamato. In 1925 British journalist G. Ward Price and the future Duke of Windsor traveled to Southern Rhodesia. While there, they heard about local attacks made by the kongamato, stories that they shared upon their return to Britain. Captain Charles Pitman wrote in his 1942 book “A Game Warden Takes Stock” about a large pterodactyl-like creature that existed in the swamps. Dr. J.L.B. Smith investigated the kongamato in the 1950’s to include them in his book “Old Fourlegs” which was about flying dragons. In 1956 J.P.F. Brown, an engineer, reported that two prehistoric looking creatures were flying over head while he was in Northern Rhodesia. This was well publicized in the papers of the time. Obviously there have been more sightings and stories in and amongst all these times. That’s all history Rebecca, old news.

Well is 1988 recent enough for you? University of Chicago biologist Roy Mackal was so intrigued by the history of the kongamato that he packed up and headed to Nambia in the summer of ’88 to investigate. He collected many stories while he was there, but unfortunately left without seeing one. One member of his group stayed behind, and he did report that he saw a giant black glider.

After everything is said and done, there is no proof of the kongamato. No photos or specimens. Perhaps the kongamato is just a folk tale, something tribesmen tell each other about to keep them from wandering too close to the water at night. The African equivalent of the urban legend. It could be that it is, in fact, the lone surviving pterosaur. Will we ever know? Probably not. Will people keep looking? Yes, they will, and that, for me is the real story.

Magical Buffet Mythology: Pele

by Administrator, posted in Mythology

Article by Rebecca
Image by Will Hobbs (www.sirwilliamwesley.com)

Last month we talked about Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire and volcanoes, whose fires helped forge some of the greatest legendary items of all time. This month we’re discussing Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes who uses her fires to demonstrate her power and emotions.

Let me start out by saying that Pele is a beautiful woman. Sure most goddesses are attractive but Pele is beautiful and the bad girl diva of the Hawaiian pantheon. When Pele appears to mortals in human form and busts out the hula dance, of which she is one of the patrons of, hot times literally and figuratively occur! With that being said, now it should come as no surprise to learn that Pele ended up in Hawaii after fleeing her sister, Na-maka-o-kaha’I the Goddess of Water and Sea who was more than a little upset at Pele’s indiscretions with her husband. In fact, most stories about Pele involve her torrid affairs, generally with very handsome mortal chiefs.

There is one story I like about Pele that for once does not involve her totally dominating her potential partner. A demi-god named Kamapua’a proved to be quite the match for her. Where Pele would cover the land with lava creating barren landscapes, Kamapua’a would bring down torrents of rain to extinguish the fires and then since he was the God of Pigs, he would call wild boars to come and break up the earth so that seeds could be sown there. These two fought against each other for so long that eventually Pele’s brothers begged her to give him a chance. They feared Kamapua’a would make it rain so long that Pele may lose her abilities to even create fire! So at a place called Ka-lua-o-Pele, where the land appears to have been torn up, is where it is said that Kamapua’a finally caught and ravaged Pele. The two stayed lovers until a child was born, at which point he left and Pele went back on the prowl for another man. Moreover, much like our modern day tabloids, the volcanoes let people know what is going on in Pele’s love life. When there are squabbles, there are jets of steam and smoke, and when there are fights, there is lava.

In my opinion, not only is Pele an ancient goddess, but she is so potent that she crosses over to urban legend as well. Stories are told of Pele appearing as an old haggard woman asking strangers for food and drink. Those that help her are rewarded; those who do not are punished. What is noteworthy here is that these stories are not always ancient; there are modern tellings as well. In these more modern times, she sometimes is dressed in white and asks for a ride across the island. When the driver looks in his rearview mirror, she is gone. This bears some similarities to the woman in white stories that our urban legend fans will recognize. Another religious, yet urban folklore type thing is the removal of volcanic rock from the islands. Religiously speaking, should you take something of Pele’s without her express permission, a cavern of bubbling churning lava tells you the answer is a resounding “No!” When tourists started visiting the islands, and more specifically the volcanoes, park rangers would warn that removing volcanic rock would cause you to be cursed by Pele. Many say the park rangers made up this whole thing to keep people from removing mounds of volcanic rock from these historical landmarks, but that does not stop people from mailing volcanic rock back to the islands asking for forgiveness and for the curse to be lifted. If you want to learn more, or perhaps have some volcanic rock of your own to return, you should check out these guys: http://www.volcanogallery.com/lavarock.htm.

What is the appeal of Pele? Why after so much time is she still so relevant in the lives of people? For starters, as long as there are volcanoes in Hawaii, there is proof that Pele is around. In addition, I find Pele appealing because she embodies womanhood in a very true, if more exaggerated way. Pele’s blend of beauty, grace, sexuality, and desire for vengeance are always portrayed in very recognizable ways. In my opinion, as long as there are wild women, there will be a Pele for them to model themselves after.

What else can I say? Hawaii rocks! Want to learn more? Start here: www.gohawaii.com.

10 Questions with a Mentalist

by Administrator, posted in Interviews

1. What is a mentalist?
Someone who can create the effect of using mindpower by reading minds, moving objects from a distance, predicting the future, and more.

2. You’re a woman of many talents. When practicing your mentalist arts do you associate it with your stage magic, your fortune telling skills, or your abilities as an empath?
I use all three skills in combination to give a more in depth show.

3. Is mentalism a practice that can be taught?
Anyone can do what I do if they spent the same amount of time studying and practicing that I have. Anyone can do simple mentalism if they have the resources to learn.

4. How could someone learn more about mentalism?
They would need a strong desire to buy a mentalism books and read them until they understand what they are reading, and then finally find an effect that they have the courage enough to do. It’s not easy performing for others. I remember I was completely nervous the first time I read someone’s tarot cards.

5. Who is your favorite mentalist and why?
I LOVE Banachek. He is a great mentalism thinker, performer, and he actually fooled the scientists at Universities into believing his psychic powers when he was only a teenager. Not many teens can perform mentalism. It can be a dry study, but somehow he did it.

6. Zatanna, Samantha Stephens, or Circe?
I guess right now I relate to Zatanna because I’m a young magician in New York City having fun. I think when I’m married I will look forward to the family life of Samantha Stevens and do quiet spells in the suburbs to keep up the household chores and familial responsibilities.

When I’m an old sorceress, I’ll probably move to some chic city or island somewhere in the world, and open up a Tarot reading parlour with a rear secret entrance to my magic den. When I’m not at my Tarot reading parlour, I look forward to enchanting young men to my yacht to swim and then having them for breakfast. But that’s just between you and me.

7. When I checked out Wikipedia to read about mentalism there were over 15 noteworthy mentalists listed, and they were all men! Where are all the female mentalists at?
Mentalism like magic is still a male dominated art and can be intimidating for many women. I’m a pretty brash, loud, strong, opinionated person who had to develop a high tolerance for locker room antics of my colleagues, just to be accepted in the fold. I think that is slowly changing, but that is my explanation for the lack of women in the field at the moment.

8. I’m thinking of a number, what is it?
Would you like fries with that? This is not McDonalds! Mentalists hate being ordered around.

9. Is there anything else about mentalism or being a mentalist that you would like to share with us?
It can be a lonely field with a lot of secrets. I find it’s best to have a close friendship with at least one mentalist who also understands the art of divination and the occult and who has a good sense of humor about it.

10. Parting shot! Ask us here at The Magical Buffet any one question!
What is the top branch of the occult that everyone practices on the Magical Buffet, aka, is it Wicca, nothing in particular, Satan, Misc Goth, fan of occult, Santaria, Voodoo, etc…

It’s an interesting question you pose. I would say that over half of our readers would identify themselves as some variety of Wiccan or Pagan. As for me, I’m a hopeless dabbler, cursed to wander the occult landscape. When it comes to personal practice, I probably fall into line most with the chaos magic movement that is out there, but I have huge amounts of respect for the ceremonial practioners. I wish I had their level of discipline. Of course, now that I said all of THAT, I have to say that the more I learn about witchcraft the more I like it. And Voodoo, I’ve been learning about Voodoo as of late and that kicks butt! I think we’re all figuring out Rebecca’s problem here.

Maritess Zurbano redefines the traditional rabbit-out-of-the-hat magic show with enthralling illusions and play-with-your-mind feats of mentalism. Forget balloon animals, vapid-minded female assistants, bad jokes and showy Vegas acts, The Amazing Maritess tackles the male-dominated world of magical feats and shows what a Filipina-American from the Chicago suburbs can accomplish.
As the only female Asian Mentalist in history, and one of the few professional female magicians in the world, Maritess combines dramatic monologue with internationally award-winning sleight-of-hand, mind reading and illusions.
Maritess Zurbano has performed at every major casino in Las Vegas, and toured with her illusion show throughout Asia and Europe. She was nominated for competition in the Federacion Internacionale Des Societe Magique 2000, considered the Olympics of magic. Jane magazine, NHK Japan, Lifetime Television, VH1, Yolk Magazine, The Philippine News, and NYC Newsday love her show.

"Maritess is urban sophistication with an edge"
…New York Newsday

"With her street-smart stage presence, dazzlingillusions, and great sense of humor, Maritessredefines magic for a hip new multicultural age."
…David Henry Hwang

Visit her Website at www.maritess.com

Profile: Avalon Center for Druidic Studies

by Administrator, posted in Organizations

Article Provided by Alferian Gwydion MacLir

Avalon Center for Druidic Studies was founded in 2005 as an institution of higher learning based in Druidic philosophy. The Druids were, of old, the judges, wizards, and priests of the ancient Celts and the modern Druidic revival is inspired by the Romantic image of priests of nature, wise men of the oaks and the sacred groves. To the antiquarians of the 18th century, such as William Stukeley, and the Romantic poets, such as William Blake, the ancient Bards and Druids became symbols of a native British spiritual tradition, one in tune with the land itself, not based on worldwide conquest and conversion or notions of orthodoxy and conformity. Today’s druids are inspired by that tradition, creating the modern Druidic philosophy as an earth-based spiritual path, a pagan religion, based in the love of the Earth and the respect for all species. Modern Druid philosophy forms the basis of Avalon Center’s approach to education – a philosophy that acknowledges the validity of both spirit and science.

The Avalon Center takes its name from the Isle of Avalon, so prominent in Welsh myth and the Arthurian legends. Avalon is the Otherworld, the world of the dead and the world of Faerie and for us it signifies the Druid devotion to the Ancestors and to the non-human spirits of Nature. The Center is inspired by the Bardic Colleges of old, where the Welsh, Irish, and Scots bards once learned the complex poetic forms of their language and the mysteries hidden in the poetic triads and visionary verse of such legendary figures as Taliesin and Merlin. The bardic ideal is founded in the idea that knowledge may be pursued through imagination as well as reason. Music, poetry, literature, myth, studio arts, and drama are at the core of Avalon Center’s curriculum. Magical arts, divination, energetic healing, and herbalism coexist as disciplines alongside natural history, philosophy, history, legal studies, and Celtic languages. The Center is embarking on a five year program of course development to create college-level courses in all of these subjects and programs of study that are inspired by the traditional Druidic grades of bard, ovate, and druid. In addition, the Center offers an introductory study program called the Awenydd program, named with the Welsh word meaning “one blessed with inspiration.” The Awen, is one of modern Druidry’s key concepts: the inspiration that links each of us to the Divine Imagination.

Avalon Center is committed to representing Druidry, or draiocht, as it is in Irish Gaelic, as a field of knowledge and practice, not as narrowly defined doctrines of any single “tradition” within paganism or occultism. In Irish draiocht can be translated simply as wizardry or magic, and at Avalon we interpret that in the broadest way, seeking to create a college of Druidry that can include lore from magical traditions across the world. It is the hope of the Governors and Faculty of Avalon that the Western magical tradition will come into open dialog with Eastern traditions and spiritual traditions from all nations. Taoism, Shinto, Buddhism, Hinduism, Native American traditions, African and Oceanic traditions all share common roots with Druidry in the human interconnection to the land, water, sky, and energies of the Earth, and the respect accorded to the spirits of place. These spiritual beings include the various beings commonly referred to as Faerie folk in the British tradition, but known by other names in almost all human cultures. They are beings of the land and of the elements. In modern Druidry such a animistic view is coupled to modern scientific explanations for natural phenomenon, and both ways of seeing are held as equally true in their own ways, not inimical to each other.

Pagan and magical education has been carried on for generations in secret, either in Wiccan covens, Druid orders and groves, or magical lodges. Secrecy has long been a part of this tradition of training and for initiatory orders and covens, this will undoubtedly continue to be the case. However, it is my hope, as Chancellor of Avalon Center, that the pagan community is ready to develop its own institutions of higher learning. Largely excluded from mainstream academia which sees magical philosophy as incompatible with scientific thought, the lore of wizards and witches, magicians and druids, has been forced into the margins, moved underground, and adopted by various counter-cultural movements. Avalon Center is founded in the hope that magical folk and those moved by a spirituality of Nature, can take the next step “out of the broom closet” and out of the margins of our culture.

Of course, there are many among both fundamentalist Christians and orthodox scientists who reject the idea of magic and divination. This is one reason pagans need their own institutions and academic standards applied to areas of knowledge that are typically rejected as superstition or delusion at best, devilry at worst. Because of this, Avalon Center is founded on the principles of religious tolerance and open discourse. Members of the Avalon Center faculty come from all philosophical backgrounds, including skeptics and atheists as well as witches and Druids of various theological opinions – pantheist, polytheist, panentheist, Gnostic, and agnostic. While we do cater to modern pagans, we also offer courses of study that will benefit students of other paths, or who are seeking their path. The Center’s history courses and proposed language and mythology courses will interest students whose principal desire is to discover their Celtic heritage. There is ever-increasing interest among those of Irish, Welsh, and Scottish descent in the study and revival of the native Celtic languages of Gael and Briton. Those not of direct Celtic descent will also find great rewards in the study of this almost lost culture that once dominated Northern Europe and extended from Iberia to Anatolia. A culture very different from that of Rome and Greece, which are so often thought to be the foundations of Western civilization. It might be said, that we represent the “barbarians.” But what is revealed is a complex culture that was rejected by the Romans in the same way that many other tribal cultures were, in the 18th and 19th centuries rejected by European imperialism. In the twentieth century and the twenty-first we have come to understand the value of these so-called “primitive” cultures and the hubris that drove the European empires that inherited the mantle of Rome.

So, one may well ask: What does an academic institution look like that is founded on the culture of barbarians and which embraces non-conformity and free-thought rather than conformity and orthodoxy? The Awenydd program in effect asks and addresses this very question, opening up students to dialogue about the nature of magical philosophy and of the spiritual ideas if the Celts and the Germanic tribes of Northern Europe.

The Center’s advanced study programs go beyond an introduction to magical philosophy and Celtic history. The Magister of Bardic Arts program interprets the role of the modern bard broadly. While revering the training of the ancient bard or filid of Celtica as poet and musician, we recognize that the core of bardic work is Awen, inspiration, and that creative expression and the preservation of myth and lore may take many forms. The required courses of the program focus on history and literature, myth, and lore. Through electives each bard can pursue artistic expression in music, poetry, prose, drama, or studio arts. In addition bards may choose to focus on the magical and divinatory arts.

The Magister of Ovate Studies program includes many electives to permit students to concentrate in areas such as healing, divination, magical arts, or natural history. The ovates of old were seers and diviners, often conducting the blood sacrifices and reading of entrails that were the stock in trade of the Iron Age. In our modern information age, it is the hope of the Center’s governors and Faculty that ovates will bring together such modern forms of augury as statistics and the ancient arts of intuition to follow their professional interests and healers, diviners, mages, or scientists. Avalon Center is unique at the present moment in developing an academic environment in which the intuitive and the empirical sciences can both be studied hand-in-hand.

For students who have achieve one or both of the Magister’s diplomas, further study is available at what is intended to be a doctoral level. The Ollamh of Druidic Studies program provides advanced students with training to become teachers of Ovates and Bards, to assume leadership roles as Druids within their local groves and Druid orders, and also to fulfill the role of pagan clergy, mentors, and counselors. Ollamh is an Irish Gaelic word that refers to non-medical doctors and was more anciently the title given to the highest rank among poets. In addition to courses in leadership and advanced meditation, students are expected to work closely with their dissertation adviser to write a substantial thesis of high scholarly merit on an appropriate topic, approved by the student’s dissertation committee.

At each level of study, the work is treated not as the pursuit of initiatory degrees, as such, but rather as work which can lead to traditional academic degrees. Once its curriculum is fully developed, Avalon Center intends to pursue registration as a college of higher learning in the State of Minnesota and accreditation by the regional accrediting body. This is a long and difficult process and it may prove that a pagan school will never be able to satisfy the standards which have been built up around modern research universities and financially well-endowed private colleges. There is talk among the heads of several pagan schools and seminaries to form a professional association that might further lead to the establishment of an accreditation system within the pagan community.

Now, some modern Pagans find the idea of pagan credentials to be almost a contradiction in terms. Many pursue the path out of a counter-cultural urge to reject both the Christian and the scientific Establishment. The desire to define oneself a pagan comes from a desire for simplicity and authentic living. It is a way of life, a way of living in Nature, not something that can be reduced to degrees and diplomas. Some Wiccans and druids object to the idea just as strenuously even where those traditions acknowledge degrees and titles of initiation. The very real objection lies in the feeling that initiation and esoteric knowledge cannot be measured by academic standards and that academia has, historically, focused on the teaching of dogma. I do not disagree with these objections. However, the Avalon Center is not setting out to issue credentials in Paganism – or for that matter in Druidry or Wicca as religions. Rather it is founded on the ideals of the cutting edge of educational thought today, which seeks to break away from the dogmatism and “correct answers” of the past. It sets out to offer, not a religious eduction, but study programs that are challenging and thorough, and which some individuals may enjoy for the love of learning. The pleasure of pursuing a course of study, carrying on discussions with like-minded (or different-minded) fellow students and teachers, of writing papers and even passing exams in a subject leading at last to a diploma – this is a particular pleasure enjoyed by some and not by others. It is by no means for everyone and it certainly should not imply that one is a “better” person, pagan or otherwise. A diploma merely signifies a certain achievement of serious study and writing or other creative work.

Will Avalon Center diplomas be acknowledged by employers or other institutions? Will they, in short, mean anything to anyone but the students and faculty of Avalon itself? That is something that must unfold naturally in time, as with all institutions that issue diplomas or degrees. Standards are set by a community and within a culture more broadly, and programs are evaluated for their merit. I fully suspect it will be a long time before pagan education is acknowledged outside of the pagan community. The idea of applying an academic model to magical philosophy is new. There might have been philosophical schools and even Druidic or Bardic colleges in the ancient world, but of course they were not structured like modern academia with its departments and disciplines.

Avalon Center does not embrace the modern academic model uncritically and indeed mainstream academia is breaking down the divisions of knowledge into “disciplines” in order to promote trans-disciplinary studies and collaborative work from experts in different fields. From the standpoint of Druidic philosophy, as I see it, the reunion of the sciences and the humanities is crucial, and both must be linked together through an understanding of the integral relationship between Nature and human beings. Unfortunately, as the last sentence illustrates, our separation of “us” and “Nature” is so built into our language that it is hard to even express the connectedness without reinforcing the duality. In Druidic philosophy (if one can generalize), human beings are seen to be part of Nature, not distinct from it. We do not have a god-given right to master and subdue Nature, as is expressed in the Biblical traditions. Rather, we are Nature and in this way Naturalism and Humanism merge, so that human nature and the human soul are the expressions of natural phenomena. The reverse is also true: natural phenomena are not soulless mechanisms which we can objectify and reify into “things” apart from ourselves. Natural phenomena are intimately implicated in the human mind and human imagination at all levels.

Such a philosophy is in keeping with the view of many traditional tribal cultures which have survived the attempts by Christianized Europe to “civilize” and “correct” them. What was a hundred years ago still regarded as “barbarism” is now accepted as a type of culture that is not inferior to European modern civilization, but simply different. Druids today, like many pagans, do not uncritically embrace the ideology of the machine which sees progress and “advancement” in purely technological terms. Increased power over Nature, power to change or tamper with nature is not seen as always “improvement.” Similarly, the notion of a landowner “improving” his or her property is not accepted in the typical sense. Nature does not need improving and it may well be that human beings would be more improved by adapting to Nature’s ways than by seeking to strip and cultivate and exploit the land, water, trees, and animals through technology.

Avalon Center intends to embark on a major fundraising campaign once our tax-exempt status has been secured. This campaign will allow us to acquire farmland in rural Minnesota suitable for residential study. On a small and intimate campus, students will be able to work directly with the land, trees, herbs, animals and their spirits. They will be able to take classes in a physical classroom as well as online, and work with teachers and mentors on their chosen academic quest for knowledge and understanding. We plan to engage in cultural education, showing how our Iron Age and Stone Age ancestors may have lived, as well as open community lectures intended to dispel the myths surrounding the practice of magic and its history. It is worth noting that no one at Avalon considers the practice of magic to be in opposition to the practice of religion. Indeed history suggests that the two expressions of human relatedness to the cosmos have always gone hand-in-hand. On the other hand, one may come to Avalon to study merely the magic of music and drama, history and literature and not pursue the magical arts or divination at all. Magic is essentially wonder, and that takes many forms.

Avalon requires students to seek admission to study with our faculty and the application process is made as painless as possible in order to encourage students of all ages and backgrounds to give it a try. Once enrolled, students are given guidance by an academic advisor as well as by individual instructors. Our goal is to support every student to do their very best and succeed in their studies. Online classes are especially challenging because they require so much self-discipline and time management. Courses taken at a physical campus where you have to show up at a particular time and place each week, provide a good deal of structure that is lost in the environment of cyberspace. However, when the challenge is met, one can engage in stimulating discussions with fellow students and teachers in the online classroom as well as in a material space. In time, we plan to offer both options and a fluid combination of the two, utilizing modern web-based technology. It will be a long and gradual process to build this institution, probably covering generations. No college was ever build entirely overnight. But as we druids say, we are growing at oak-speed.

It is my sincere hope that you will visit Avalon Center at www.avaloncollege.org and look at our cyber-classrooms and message board, which we fondly call AvalOnline. Come join us and contribute to the dream of a magical school, a place truly filled with the wonder we bring to our love of Nature and of Spirit.