Pentacle Version 1 by Ellie Poulin

FALL 2020 | Vol. 5

pentacle. THE ARCANE MADE ACCESSIBLE

Q&A: Exclusive interview with Stellan Moss

elemental Call on nature spirits to help your spells reach their full potential

Review Best Metaphysical Shops

Infographic Wicca by the Numbers

Editorial Witches in Literature pentacle. | FALL VOL. 5 | 1

CONTENTS

feature ELEMENTAL MAGIC Ieva Remmerte teaches us how working with nature spirits can aid magical workings

3 28 19

WHEEL OF THE YEAR: What you need to know about the major Wiccan holidays TOP TEN Must-have altar items—whether devotional or ritual, we’ve got you covered

q&a

STELLAN MOSS On his journey to from Christianity to Paganism

OUR FAVE metaphysical supply shops

by the numbers

editor's letter

OPINION the power of the witch in literature

editorial feature

FINAL WORD Author Deborah Blake weighs in

review

pentacle. FALL 2020 Vol. 5

EDITOR'S LETTER

This is a most special time of year, full of magick

“

The season marks...a time for reflection and learning

and mystery. The air is filled with excitement and energy as the holiday season approaches. I absolutely LOVE Autumn, the leaves crunching under my feet, the colors in the trees, the cooler temperatures, all leading up to the most magickal time of the year, Samhain—the Witches’ New Year. The season marks the descent into darkness, alongside a retreat within for communion with the spiritual realm, and for personal regeneration and growth, a time for reflection and learning. I have learned much this past year, especially when it comes to the world of trying to publish an on-line magazine. When I started this adventure, I was far from home and I wanted a way to keep my friends in touch. A way for us all to know what was happening in the Pagan community, a way that we could feel like we were all connected to something even if were separated by towns, states, and countries. My small “newsletter” has grown into a labor of love, a way to share stories, news, and the Craft as well as a calendar of local regional events. My goal is to have ALL the groups, no matter what path, feel free to advertise their events, share their views and tell their stories. Have a Happy and Safe Samhain! Blessings,

Maxine Arrow Editor

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pentacle. THE ARCANE MADE ACCESSIBLE

Maxine Arrow

editor in chief Brian Johnson

creative director Sara Elbert

executive editor Jennifer Buege

deputy editor Dana Raidt

senior editor Sydney Berry

senior writer

Andrew Zimmern

contributing editor Elizabeth Doyle

contributing fashion editor Allison Oleskey, Chelsea Yin, SHO & Company, Inc.

contributing bookings editors Jean Marie Hamilton

senior copy editor

1954

BY THE NUMBERS

GERALD GARDNER RELEASED HIS BOOK, WITCHCRAFT TODAY

the st &

1 th 9

WICCA IS ONE OF THE

FASTEST-GROWING RELIGIONS

AMENDMENTS PROTECT WICCA, NEO-PAGANISM, AND WITCHCRAFT

Edgar Rojas

spanish editor/translator

editorial interns

Amy Ballinger, Ted Rossiter

art director

Steve Mathewson, Bill Sympson

digital prepress group Frank Sisser

director of project management Jonathan Bernson

production manager Bea Jaegar

director of circulation Carin Russell

circulation manager Anna Buresh

circulation assistant Tim Mapes

chief marketing officer Julieta McDurry

director, u.s. marketing communications

200,000 & 1 MIL THERE ARE BETWEEN

Sabrina Badola, Rachel Guyah, Colin Miller

PAGAN BOOKSTORES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA

WICCAN ADHERENTS IN THE UNITED STATES

1800 ABOUT

ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS IDENTIFY AS WICCANS

REVIEW

OUR FAVE

metaphysical shops Whether you’re into crystals, tarot, Wicca or meditation, Los Angeles is one of the best places to visit to find alternative spiritual items and experiences. We’ve compiled a list of new age stores that are sure to help you get metaphysical. By Lo Brewer

The Green Man The Green Man boasts a staff of over 30 skilled practitioners who specialize in custom spellcrafting, psychic readings and spiritual advice. They have the usual candles, incense and crystals found in any new age store, but they also have a large inventory of over 500 apothecary items like herbs, oils and roots. They encourage patrons to touch and experience any and all items they’re considering for purchase.

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5712 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood 818.985.2010

2 3

The Crystal Matrix Center Crystal Matrix, in Atwater Village, has one of the most extensive crystal and mineral collections in Los Angeles. They carry crystals in various forms, raw, crystal balls, polished rocks, and the like. They also offer classes in Reiki, faery shamanism, and meditation. 3215 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles 866.261.5510

Incense Route Established in 2009, Incense Route specializes in aromatherapy and beauty products. Located in the heart of Downtown L.A., they are the perfect place to shop for incense and burning oils. They also create private label fragrances in the Ayurvedic tradition. 560 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles 213.623.3348

Panpipes Magickal Marketplace Panpipes is a great retail location for those in the Wiccan and Pagan communities. They provide supplies for both old and new world practices including essential oils, candles and herbs. They also supply essentials for other new age practices like tarot cards, incense, and metaphysically inspired clothing and dĂŠcor.

Alexandria II Alexandria II has a large inventory of metaphysical books on everything from Wicca to reflexology and crystal healing. They have various types of tarot cards for demo and purchase, and their staff is knowledgeable and friendly. They have pagan meetups on the first Wednesday of every month.

1641 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles 323.462.7078

170 S Lake Ave, Pasadena 626.792.7885

F E AT U R E

elemental

magic

by Ieva Remmerte

working with nature spirits You’ve probably heard of the four elements found in nature—fire, water, earth, and air. But what you may not know is that there are also Elementals, or Nature Spirits, who can help enhance your magick spells. In this article you’ll find out who they are and how to work with them.

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» The idea of the four elements is not unique to

Wicca and Paganism. It can be found in various schools of thought worldwide. The ancient Babylonians knew of wind, fire, earth, sea and sky. The ancient Greeks believed in the existence of the four elements that we know today, plus another one called ‘aether’ (or spirit). These elements, they believed, existed in all matter, including humans. The Chinese added their own twist to this idea—they believed in the existence of the ‘five phases’ or Wu Xing, incorporating wood, water, earth, fire and metal. Ancient cultures in Babylonia, Japan, Tibet, and India had similar lists, sometimes referring in local languages to “air” as “wind” and the fifth element as “void.” Today, we generally accept the existence of four elements—fire, water, earth and air. And each of these elements has its corresponding Elementals or Nature Spirits. These

different cultures and even individual philosophers had widely varying explanations concerning their attributes and how they related to observable phenomena as well as cosmology. Sometimes these theories overlapped with mythology and were personified in deities. Paracelsus was a Swiss physician, alchemist and astrologer who wrote on the Elementals or Nature Spirits in his Liber de Nymphis, sylphis, pygmaeis et salamandris et de caeteris spiritibus, published in the 16th century. His aim for writing his book was to “describe the creatures that are outside the cognizance of the light of nature, how they are to be understood, what marvellous works God has created.” He identified four archetypal beings that represented each element. These were: Fire—Salamander; Water—Undine; Earth—Gnome; and Air—Sylph.

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F E AT U R E Bonfires are traditionally used to celebrate Beltane, the festival that celebrates the spring, the sun’s warmth and nature’s abundance.

fire

Fire is both destructive and nurturing—

it can warm one’s home but when it’s misused, it can burn the entire building down. As opposed to the other three elements, fire cannot exist by itself, but only when something is being burned or destroyed.

Fire is associated with the Sun, and it is no wonder that the Solar Plexus Chakra too is associated with this celestial body. The energy coming from fire is also associated with sexuality or creativity (or sexuality transformed). Fire illuminates, brightens and sparks passion within us. Equally, fire consumes, transforms and converts energy into different forms, such as ash, coals, light, smoke or heat. We all have reserves of fire energy within us. Suppressing your fire or burning everyone you meet can destroy you. However, unleashing your fire in a transformative or creative way can save you. The elemental weapon of fire is the Wand. Philosophus is the elemental grade attributed to fire; this grade is also attributed to tthe planet Venus. Each of the elements has several associated spiritual beings. The archangel of fire is Michael, the angel is Aral, the ruler is Seraph, the king is Djin, and the fire elementals (following Paracelsus) are called salamanders.Fire is considered to be active; it is represented by the symbol for Leo and it is referred to the lower right point of the

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pentacle in the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentacle. Fire in Tarot symbolizes conversion or passion. Many references to fire in tarot are related to the usage of fire in alchemy, in which the application of fire is a prime method of conversion, and everything that touches fire is changed, often beyond recognition. Fire is associated with the suit of rods/wands, and as such, represents passion from inspiration. As an element, fire has mixed symbolism because it represents energy, which can be helpful when controlled, but volatile if left unchecked. If you feel like you are ready for a transformation, of converting your past experiences into wisdom, or if you need the power and guidance from the Sun to attain your goals, then it may be time to call on the fire Elementals to come to your aid. tIn the esoteric tradition, it is believed that Salamanders work on an atomic level, infusing the tiniest molecules with crucial life force, the ‘fires of creation’ or the Spirit. Without this spark that the Salamanders help maintain and distribute, everything decays or disintegrates. Those who have seen Salamanders say that they take the shape of small balls of light or lizards, and are ruled, according to some by a flaming being called Djin. The Salamanders have a lot of large responsibilities on their small shoulders.

“

unleashing your fire in a transformative or creative way can save you. Not only do they give us the life force—they also try to diffuse the negative energy that builds up every day. However, they can be childlike too—some say that they can’t perceive the full consequences of their actions, and therefore can be mischievous at times. Some accounts say that, just like fire itself, Djin can make a heart shudder in terror and inspire awe simultaneously.

How to work with fire elementals

» Absorbing energy from the sun

Spend some time connecting with the energy that comes from the sun during sunrise or sunset. Express your gratitude for the sun and the work of the Salamanders, and invite their energy to transform you and illuminate your path.

» Candle magick

Naturally, candles are a great way to work with the elementals of fire. Try some candle magick spells or write down your worries on a piece of paper and ask the Salamanders to consume them as you let the flame burn the piece of paper.

» Using herbs and gems that invoke fire

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Photo by Vlad Bagacian from Pexels

You can try placing some of these ‘fire herbs’ on your altar—basil, red poppy, cacti, chili peppers, cinnamon. Infuse your room with the fragrance of chamomile, patchouli, clove or bay leaves. You can also use gemstones that are associated with fire, such as Tiger’s eye, bloodstone or a volcanic rock. Thistles and coffee beans also correspond with fire.

F E AT U R E

water Before the Ancient Greeks agreed on the aforementioned five es-

sential elements, they believed that water was the one original element that everything else could be reduced to. In the Taoist tradition, water is seen as the element that appears to be weak, however has the power to rise up in floods and even move mountains over time. Water can overcome fire. Thus, water can soothe the flames of fire but also has the hidden force of destruction within it. In Wicca and magick, water is seen as the element that can purify and transfer energy. Water is used for cleansing and preparation in magick rituals, often in combination with salt. Water can be summoned to help induce spells of purification, psychic ability, dreams and sleep, peace, friendship, as well as love and understanding. In ancient Greek medicine, each of the four humours became associated with an element. Phlegm was the humor identified with water, since both

Alchemical Symbols

Alchemical symbols, originally devised as part of alchemy, were used to denote some elements and some compounds until the 18th century. The word alchemy comes from the Arabian al-kimia, referring to the preparation of "Elixir" or the "Stone" by the Egyptians. The Arabic kimia, in turn, comes from the Coptic khem, which referred to the fertile black Nile delta soil and also to the dark mystery of the primordial First Matter (the Khem). This is the origin of the word "chemistry." Although notation like this was mostly standardized, style and symbol varied between alchemists. The four elements were represented in alchemy by four | FALL VOL. 5 | triangular pentacle. symbols, shown here at the right.

fire

water

earth

air

were cold and wet. Other things associated with water and phlegm in ancient and medieval medicine included the season of Winter, since it increased the qualities of cold and moisture; the phlegmatic temperament, the feminine, the brain and the western point of the compass.

Friendly, open and emotional in nature, the Undines are believed to serve their ruler Necksa with love, devotion and honour.

In alchemy, the chemical element of mercury was often associated with water and its alchemical symbol was a downward-pointing triangle.

Next time you take a shower or have a bath, ask Undines to cleanse your energy of all negative imprints. Imagine the negative energy leaving your body as you physically cleanse yourself.

Water and the other Greek classical elements were incorporated into the Golden Dawn system.The elemental weapon of water is the cup. Each of the elements has several associated spiritual beings. The archangel of water is Gabriel, the angel is Taliahad, the ruler is Tharsis, the king is Nichsa and the water elementals are called Ondines. It is referred to the upper right point of the pentagram in the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram. Many of these associations have since spread throughout the occult community. Water is one of the five elements that appear in most Wiccan traditions. Wicca in particular was influenced by the Golden Dawn system of magic and Aleister Crowley’s mysticism, which was in turn inspired by the Golden Dawn.

Water elementals – undines The water Elementals or Undines come in many subgroups, and, as you may have guessed, they exist in everything that contains water, working with the vital essences with us and within animals and plants, as well as regulating the motion of water. Rivers, lakes, waterfalls, oceans, marshlands, fountains etc. all make a good home for the Undines. They cannot be seen by most people as they are etheric in nature. However, if someone is able to catch a glimpse of these creatures, they appear graceful, clothed in a substance that shimmers with all the colours of the sea, especially green.

Water signs, such as Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, are intuitive, senstive, and feel more intensley than other signs.

How to work with water elementals

» Turn shower time into a ritual

» Preparing for a ritual

Use water to prepare for a ritual or before casting a magick spell. Cleanse your hands in a bowl of water, induced with salt. You can also cleanse the entire ritual area, sprinkling the room, your tools or the people participating in your ritual with a dash of water, asking the Undines to assist you.

» Using water herbs and gems

Try adding some apple, seaweed, water lily, spearmint or aloe vera to your altar when you work with the elementals of water.

You can also add some gemstones like rose quartz, opal, pearl, amethyst or aquamarine to create a more pleasant atmosphere for the Undines.

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water can soothe the flames of fire but also has the hidden force of destruction within it pentacle. | FALL VOL. 5 | 13

F E AT U R E

“

Earth helps to balance negative and positive energies

earth

When you hear the word ‘earth’ you probably think

of being grounded. The image of someone standing tall, with their feet firmly rooted in the ground like the roots of a tree, usually comes up. According to Witchipedia, Plato associated earth with ‘darkness, thickness and quietness.’ In magick, the element of earth refers to stability, a firm grounding, as well as prosperity and wealth. Witches often evoke the element of earth when they practice knot magic, or want to do some spellwork to iron out any issues at home, or when they seek security (both in the home and at work). Earth is a good element to evoke before any magick practice as it helps to balance negative and positive energies within the person who is performing the magick rituals. Earth and the other Greek

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Photo by Juraj Masar from Pexels

Goddesses associated with Earth include: Ceres, Demeter, Gaea, Mah, Nephtys, Persephone, and Rhea.

classical elements were incorporated into the Golden Dawn system. Zelator is the elemental grade attributed to earth; this grade is also attributed to the Qabbalistic sphere Malkuth. The elemental weapon of earth is the Pentacle. Each of the elements has several associated spiritual beings. The archangel of earth is Uriel, the angel is Phorlakh, the ruler is Kerub, the king is Ghob, and the earth elementals are called gnomes. Earth is considered to be passive; it is represented by the symbol for Taurus, and it is referred to the lower left point of the pentagram in the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram. Many of these associations have since spread throughout the occult community. It is sometimes represented by its Tattva or by a downward pointing triangle with a horizontal line through it.

Earth elementals – gnomes Like the Undines, the Gnomes too have their own subcategories, and each of these is responsible for a different area. Some Celtic magic practitioners believe that the Gnomes are trying to communicate with many of us, since much of their habitat has become unusable since the industrial revolution. Back in the olden days, people were more in touch with the ‘patch of land’ that they owned and they heeded to the call they heard from the

Earth or sometimes from the Gnomes. It helped them work their land better and create good conditions for the Gnomes. However, since globalization, people have been out of sync with their land. Some people believe that this has forced the Gnomes to retreat underground, when they’d much rather stay on the surface of the Earth. To read their full message, head over here.

How to work with earth elementals

» Preparing for a ritual

You can evoke the elementals of earth when preparing for a magick ritual by sprinkling a bit of salt on your altar, or placing a small bowl with soil on your altar.

» Create a Gnome Station

According to some practitioners, the Gnomes are trying to send out a plea to humankind, asking people to create little Gnome stations where they can safely come and live. If you have a garden, plant wildflowers or place some bunched flowers there – Gnomes love being near flowers! Mark the space – leave crystals or figurines of Gnomes to say that it’s safe for them to live there. And make it cat-proof – the Gnomes don’t enjoy being chased by cats!

» Connect with the Gnome assigned to you

According to some, we each have a personal Gnome assigned to us. Working with the solid materials, they work with our bones, structure and stones found in organs. Do a quiet meditation, inviting your Gnome to help you heal your body and reconnect with their warmth and healing powers. Equally, offer to aid their healing.

» Using earth herbs, symbols and crystals

Naturally, plants are associated with Mother Earth and her element. Therefore, placing some pot plants on the altar may help induce her powers and make the space more inviting for your personal Gnome.

You can also place some grains, red poppy or an earthy vegetable like potato on your altar. You can also use gemstones such as onyx, fluorite or jade – but a sprinkling of soil will do just fine.

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F E AT U R E

air According to many astrologists and

New-age spiritualists, we are currently on the cusp of a new age in Earth’s history – the age of Aquarius. But don’t let the name mislead you – Aquarius is actually ruled by the element of air, so it’s good to get accustomed to it. Despite some negative connotations in our culture, such as ‘air-head’, in spirituality air is associated with divination (i.e. observing the patterns of the sky and the winds in nature) and teaching. Air also helps generate new ideas, improve communication and help cooperate with others. It stimulates mental capacity, helps generate good luck and forge exciting travel plans. Like the other elements, air can certainly be a destructive force, shaking up our lives and leaving only rabble behind. But in that rabble is a seedling for growth and change. Air makes the change happen when you may be reluctant to taking action. Working with the element of air will help you stop battling the storms of your life when they arise, feel more at ease and be more open to receiving messages from your Higher Self.

The element of air is represented in ritual magick by various tools (censer, sword, wand) as well as by wind instruments such as the flute.

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The ancient Greeks used two words for air: aer meant the dim lower atmosphere, and aether meant the bright upper atmosphere above the clouds. Plato, for instance writes that "So it is with air: there is the brightest variety which we call aether, the muddiest which we call mist and darkness, and other kinds for which we have no name...." In ancient Greek medicine, each of the four humours became associated with an element. Blood was the humor identified with air, since both were hot and wet. Other things associated with air and blood in ancient and medieval medicine included the season of spring, since it increased the qualities of heat

and moisture; the sanguine temperament (of a person dominated by the blood humour); hermaphrodite (combining the masculine quality of heat with the feminine quality of moisture); and the northern point of the compass. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, founded in 1888, incorporates air and the other Greek classical elements into its teachings.The elemental weapon of air is the dagger which must be painted yellow with magical names and sigils written upon it in violet. Each of the elements has several associated spiritual beings. The archangel of air is Raphael, the angel is Chassan, the ruler is Aral, the king is Paralda, and the air elementals (following Paracelsus) are called sylphs. Air is considerable and it is referred to the upper left point of the pentagram in the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram. Many of these associations have since spread throughout the occult community. In the Golden Dawn and many other magical systems, each element is associated with one of the cardinal points and is placed under the care of guardian Watchtowers. Air is associated with the east, which is guarded by the First Watchtower.

Air elementals – sylphs Being the elementals of air, Sylphs love people who use their minds or work in the creative arts, bringing inspiration to those at work. Air has the highest vibratory rate, and Sylphs never seem to grow old, even though they live to the grand old age of a millennia. Sometimes they take on the appearance of a human but only for a brief period of time – like their element, they are ever-changing, ever-coming and ever-going. Paralda, the leader of the Sylphs, is believed to dwell on the top of the highest mountain on Earth.

How to work with air elementals

» Acknowledge the presence of the Sylphs:

Sylphs communicate with us in a number of ways, and you can start working with them by being conscious of their presence. Ever hear the sound of leaves rustling, when a sudden gust of wind stirs them up? Or have you seen a flock of birds gravitate from one rooftop to the next, seemingly aimlessly? There may be Sylphs at work. Acknowledge and thank them for their presence.

» Meditate to clear your mental capacity:

Do you ever feel a tingling between your eyebrows, or find that you can’t think straight? It may mean that your Ajna chakra is blocked. Next time this happens, sit down in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. Picture a purple ball in between your eyebrows, spinning fast as it clears all that mental junk. Doing this regularly will help clear your third eye, so that one day you can perceive the Sylphs and other Spirit Guides easier.

» Using air herbs and gemstones:

Photo by Ithalu Dominguez from Pexels

Although plants and herbs seem to be more akin to the element of earth, there are still certain herbs that can help you connect with air. These include primrose, violet, lemongrass, birch and cedar. You can also burn some frankincense or myrrh. When it comes to welcoming the air elementals with gemstones, the blue aventurine, citrine and moonstone are a good bet, especially for those of you born under the sign of an Air Element (Aquarius, Libra, Gemini) as these stones help induce clarity, lucidity and the ability to have spiritual visions.

Ieva Remmerte enjoys writing about philosophy, spirituality,

Photo Mojomade.blogspot.com

“

Air helps generate new ideas, improve communication, and helps us cooperate with others

Astrology and the Elements Each of the four elements is associated with 3 signs of the Zodiac which are always located exactly 120 degrees away from each other and said to be in trine with one another. Most modern astrologers use the four classical elements extensively, and indeed it is still viewed as a critical part of interpreting the astrological chart. The chart begins with the first sign, Aries, which is a Fire sign. The next in line, Taurus, is an Earth sign; then we move to Gemini which is an Air sign, and finally to Cancer, a Water sign. This cycle continues on twice more and ends with the twelfth and final astrological sign, Pisces.

Fire

Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

hot, dry, ardent

Earth

Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

heavy, cold, dry

Air

Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

light, hot, wet

Water

Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

cold, wet, soft

ancient practices and general fiction, and holds holds an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. You can find her on her website: wholistically.me.

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Q&A

stellan moss

STELLAN IS A PAGAN WRITER, BLOGGER, AND LECTURER,

and an initiated Wiccan. In addition to writing for the Opinion Syndicate and at Patheos, he is active on the Pagan lecture circuit. Stellan grew up just outside of Nashville Tennessee, and was president of his Methodist Church Youth Group there. He converted to Paganism at age 21 and has been involved with that ever since.

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pa·gan·ism a modern religious movement incorporating beliefs or practices from outside the main world religions, especially nature worship.

Q: To start, we're interested in your conversation story. What led you from your Methodist upbringing to paganism? A: My childhood was spent mostly in the Midwest, while my junior high and high school years were spent in Gallatin Tennessee, just north of Nashville. During my teenage years I was a conservative Republican and heavily involved in the Methodist Church. I was even President of my church youth group and gave a sermon at an Easter Sunrise Service. By the time I was in the second grade, I was extremely interested in other religions and various mythologies. I consumed Greek myth like it was going out of style. As a spiritual person, I’m looking to connect with deity. I very rarely felt connected to deity sitting in a pew listening to someone talk about God. I wanted to experience God.

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I practice Wicca (one of several Modern Paganisms), and Wicca’s ritual framework allows me to have that experience with deity that I often felt was missing as a Christian. There’s not a series of complicated rules separating me from the divine; I felt complete and whole the first time I prayed to The Goddess.

Q: How would you define the word pagan? I feel like the answer to this question is essential for us to understand what's actually being discussed. A: It’s my belief that there are several different definitions of the word “pagan.” For a long time, the most common definition of the word pagan read something like this "anyone who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew." This definition is still used by a lot of people, and when those people stumble upon a faith outside of the Abrahamic Tradition they label it "pagan" by default. The original meaning of the word pagan means "country dweller," and comes from the Latin word "paganus." There are a lot of holiday customs which are also referred to as pagan. Q: Do you represent any kind of pagan orthodoxy? Is there such a thing? A: Paganism is an umbrella term, encompassing dozens of varying belief systems. As a result, there is no “Pagan Orthodoxy,” but certain traditions could be said to possess an orthodoxy. Gardnerian Wicca is an initiatory, oathbound practice with certain rules and a consistent ritual structure. If you were to practice it in a way that violated its structure and teachings that could be considered a violation of orthodoxy. What makes Paganism unique is that we acknowledge that there are hundreds of ways to practice it, and as long as you doing at least a few of the things I outlined above, the rest of us are fine with you standing under the umbrella. Modern Paganism might have very well started as a reaction to the industrial revolution. A lot of the language found in Modern Paganism can be traced back to the English Poetry of the Romantic Era, an era where poets like Keats, Shelley, and

Byron were lamenting the loss of the eternal English countryside. Becoming a Pagan means acknowledging a different path, but it doesn’t mean paving over the old one. Today though, it’s not the loss of the countryside that unites most Pagans, but a deep love of the Earth and a desire to see that creation as sacred, which means maybe we haven’t changed much at all.

Q: I read on your website that you practice spells. Is there really such a thing as black magic? What does that entail? Are there certain rituals that are strictly off limits? A: I hate the word “spell” because I don’t think it accurately reflects what we do. For most Pagans, magic is simply the manipulation of energy, an energy that’s already around us. Have you ever gone to church and been in the middle of a really moving service and felt a heaviness in the air? My favorite example is probably the “electricity” in the air at a major sporting event, there’s something there that you can feel while not being able to touch it. Those things are representations of energy. Pagans generally just direct that energy towards specific goals or purposes. Let’s say I need a job, I could gather up that energy and direct it towards me finding employment. In a lot of ways, magic is a lot like prayer, just minus the middleman. Instead of having to seek someone’s approval to change a certain circumstance, we just try to change the circumstance. If my Dad were to have surgery on his heart, I wouldn’t ask deity to make sure he’s OK; I’d try to direct energy towards him to make sure everything turned out alright. That doesn’t mean I think that magic (energy) can cure cancer, but

“

I consumed Greek myth like it was going out of style.

it might help alleviate suffering or provide enough oomph to get someone through another day.

Q: From what little I have seen of Pagan art, imagery, ritual, ect, it appears there is a sincere honoring of both the male and the female energies. Am I correct? A: One of the things that separates Modern Paganism from most other Western Religions is how much emphasis we place on The Lady. Though there aren’t any hard or fast numbers, it’s my belief that more people have come to Modern Paganism through The Goddess than any other factor. Along with nature, she’s the beating heart of our movement. My own personal beliefs are a reflection of the balance I see between Lady and Lord, but there are a lot of Pagans who worship a Goddess (or goddesses) exclusively. I still think they are a part of our tribe. Blessed be, Stellan Moss

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Press to hear the motor start.

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The line between power and reason blurs.

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EDITORIAL

The Magical Roots of Feminism in Literature Utter the word “witch” and you might conjure up comical images of crooked-nose hags plagued by warts, creating deadly concoctions over their cauldrons. Or perhaps the word “witch” contains another definition: a sparkling wand and a pliant, nurturing nature, a motherfigure with just a touch of magic. By Jessica Toomer

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EDITORIAL

» Utter the word “witch” and you might conjure

up comical images of crooked-nose hags plagued by warts, creating deadly concoctions over their cauldrons. Or perhaps the word “witch” contains another definition: a sparkling wand and a pliant, nurturing nature, a mother-figure with just a touch of magic. Over the years society has given us more than a few versions of the witch to choose from — the rebel, the bitch, the sexually deviant, the old woman, the innocent youth — but in 2018, the witch took on a new label. She became the symbol of a worldwide resistance, and she did it with a bit of help from pop culture. The witch has always been synonymous with feminism, even before the term was even coined. Long before Twitter trolls were issuing death threats over DMs, misogynists were using the word “witch” to hunt, torture, and kill women for being “other.” An unhealthy amount of superstition mixed with a fear of women gaining bodily-autonomy and a sense of self-worth created the first image of the “witch.” She was a woman who couldn’t be controlled, who defied explanation, who rebelled, experimented, and who wouldn’t conform. Hell,

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she might’ve cast spells, but that offense was less-concerning than her contrary nature. Eventually, people stopped burning women, but the witch survived and reappeared during the suffragette movement, when an author and abolitionist known as Matilda Joslyn Gage correctly labeled the witch hunts of the past for what they were, an attempt by society to police women — their sexuality, their reproductive rights, and their bodies. Fast forward another hundred or so years, and pop culture decided to revive the caricature of the witch, this time on film. The Wizard of Oz was probably the first look many of us had at witches on the big screen. The MGM classic defined how we viewed the concept by giving us two very different interpretations. She could be wicked, with green skin (read: ugly and difficult) or she could be

“

The witch survived and reappeared during the

suffragette movement blonde, gracious, soft-spoken and good-hearted (i.e., the “preferred” woman). As dogmatic as these two forms of the witch were, they at least presented the duality of women. We all know by now that, like men, women can be both good and bad, light and dark. They’re complicat-

ed, layered individuals. It took film a while to catch up to that fact, and even longer for Hollywood to start giving the “witch” her due. Continuing this trend in recent years, J.K. Rowling approached the witch archetype in her Harry Potter series with reverence for the scholarship required to be a practicing witch, defying stereotypes in her nuanced representation of Hermione Granger. Similarly, Sleeping Beauty was updated to humanize the story of its witch antagonist in a 2014 adaptation.

» I grew up watching witches on the big and small

screen. When I was young, reruns of the classic TV sitcom Bewitched were my regular diet. Sure, Samantha Stephens was all things a “good” witch, and a “preferred” woman should be. She was blonde, funny, likable, and a housewife, but she had an ace up her sleeve, a way to quietly rebel against her husband Darren, who was, let’s be honest, a bit of an assh*le. Magic was Samantha’s own form of resistance, something her husband couldn’t control, a physical entity that represented her intangible struggle. At the time, I just appreciated that she could wiggle her nose and dirty dishes would disappear — my own mother couldn’t do that after all — but even that trick was a bit of feminism at work. Housework, or “women’s work” just wasn’t a concern for a witch, and so, 10-year-old me was sold. With the '90s and early aughts, the idea of witches morphed from the lazy glamour of the '60s and '70s to something a bit darker, more dangerous and, perhaps, a bit more real. The Craft imagined the witch as a teenage girl, a frightening enough character the film would have us believe, but one made more menacing with magic at her fingertips. Though in hindsight that movie was more than a bit problematic for how it portrayed women,

Character Gap Academics from universities of Illinois and California at Berkeley used an algorithm to examine 104,000 works of fiction dating from 1780 to 2007, which identified both author and character genders. The academics expected to see an increase in the prominence of female characters in literature across the two centuries. Instead, they found the opposite, and were surprised by these findings, “in the very period when we might expect to see the effects of first-wave feminism," that they suspected an error. As well as the drop in women characters, they also found a decline in books written by women.

EDITORIAL

it didn’t get it all wrong. The girls of The Craft were outsiders; they dressed and behaved in a way that set them apart from their peers. Some came from troubled homes or battled inner demons and they used witchcraft to fight back against the stereotypes that plagued them at school, racist bullies and abusive parents. The film’s watered-down message was that witchcraft allowed them to take control of their lives, but eventually, it gave them too much power, making them dangerous. It’s an apt metaphor for the struggle of women, one that still feels relevant today.

» Of course, there are other representations

still see the witch as other, but we’re taught that might be a good thing — or at least something to galvanize the rest of us, to get us into the fight. The witch, with her intuitive powers, her uncontrollable nature, and her lack of desire to conform, seems the perfect symbol to build a resistance behind. She threatens the ego and the fragility of a misogynist patriarchy and challenges prescribed molds of womanhood. She’s on T-shirts and protest signs. She’s been meme-d and gif-ed all over social media. She’s finally becoming intersectional, with shows like the CW’s upcoming Charmed reboot giving us witches of color at a time when the oppression of minorities feels particularly frightening.

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of witches on screen. Horror flicks like The Witch do a bang-up job of representing 18th-century Puritan beliefs about witchcraft and how a woman’s worth is wrapped up in disturbing beliefs about sexuality. Practical Magic, a '90s film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, showed the witch as other but also built on the bonds of sisterhood that are created when women stand up for themselves and each other, as did Witches of Eastwick, a film that imagined three women sharing the same man before casting a spell to rid themselves of his overbearing influence.

The witch…seems

And as we continue to claim magical lineage as marching chants, to boldly accept the label “witch” and turn it from a misogynistic slur into a rallying cry, it’s important to remember how TV, film, books, and pop culture at large have defined and redefined our idea of what a witch is so that, five or ten years down the line, when that definition changes yet again, we don’t forget the spirit and the meaning behind the symbol. But as witchcraft becomes more popular, we have to be wary of who gets to tell witches’ stories: those who know firsthand about these centuries-old traditions, or people who are still afraid, and let their prejudices influence what they think it means to be magic. If the witch has become a symbol of female power in the media, even it is not immune from the beauty bias, which describes a cul

the perfect symbol to build a

resistance behind.

Episodes of popular TV shows like The Simpsons and Broad City have also imagined modern witchcraft, the idea of coven life and female empowerment and casting spells against carrot-colored tyrants. Today, film and TV

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EDITORIAL

“

Now more than ever, ture where conventionally beautiful people are seen as being more trustworthy and generally better than their “unattractive” counterparts, and rewarded accordingly. The specter of the witch haunts both fact and fiction. What’s more, it seems that witches in media open a window to how the patriarchy measures women’s virtue, worth, and morality. Witches in media certainly do get to be good, strong, and independent, but only if they fit within certain guidelines. Fall outside the criteria of young, sexually available, and white and you risk being cast as a very wicked witch indeed.

» If pop culture holds a mirror up to the values

we express as a larger culture, then what Hollywood seems to be saying is that only people of a certain class, appearance, age, and race get to exist and be good in that society. Yet that fundamentally misunderstands what witchcraft is about. There’s a lot that witches can teach us that goes beyond what you think a spell is: Good or bad cannot be determined from appearance alone; deviation from the norm is a powerful thing; and age is natural, and can bring both wisdom and ignorance. But as witchcraft becomes more popular, we have to be wary of who gets to tell witches’ stories: those who know firsthand about these centuries-old traditions, or people who are still afraid, and let their prejudices influence what they think it means to be magic. Originating in the Mesopotamian myths of Inanna, in the Hindu stories of Kali, and in the Greek tales of Hecate, the legacy of the witch stretches back thousands of years. These goddesses had the ability to give life and to take it away, and they were worshipped for it. Although female generative capabilities have always been suspect, once monotheistic religions gained greater prominencewomen were cast more frequently as “other." She is all at once wizened hag, learned spinster, and enchanting seductress with A hypnotic stare. Although she may inhabit

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witches are symbols of women rising up against the odds

the same pop culture pantheon as vampires, zombies, and werewolves, the witch has long been a symbol of fear not because she can harness forces that transcend this mortal coil, but because she embodies the a powerful femininity free from male influence or ownership. Indeed throughout history the figure of the witch has both challenged and reflected patriarchal narratives about female power, making her one of the most enduring feminist icons of all time. Granted, contemporary television and film still employ dangerous clichés about femininity to sell a less political and more palatable version of the witch, but the rise of feminism in popular culture has made these choices less viable. From The Witches Of Eastwick and Buffy The Vampire Slayer to Penny Dreadful and American Horror Story: Coven, depictions of the witch have simultaneously opened old wounds of female oppression. Accusations of witchcraft were once used to police female behavior (and still are in a staggering number of countries around the world), but now more than ever, witches have become symbols of women rising up against the odds. As long as reproductive rights, wage equality, sexual freedom and sexual assault remain major issues in feminist struggle, the witch will remain an archetypal expression of our frustrations and of our strides for power beyond patriarchy. For now, though, when it comes to film and TV, we’re in the season of the witch. Let’s enjoy it.

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