The Yew Tree

PAGAN IDENTITY

How would you describe your spiritual path?

Polytheist Wiccan - lover of landscape, nature and wild things

How did you get involved with this path? What's your 'history'? How did your personal background influence this?

I realised I was a Pagan aged 17, when I realised that it was an apt "umbrella term" to cover all my various views about the nature of deity, humanity's relationship to the cosmos, and the sacredness of pleasure. At that time I thought I was the only one, until I joined a re-enactment society and started meeting other Pagans there. I had always been interested in witchcraft, as a result of reading a book by Cynthia Harnett. My interest in Paganism, apart from being based in my interest in nature and the landscape, stemmed from reading Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling. Eventually, after leaving university, I met a suitable Gardnerian Wiccan group and was initiated. I was lucky enough to find a coven who were also interested in our connection to the land and local deities and spirits. My current coven also have a similar spirituality, and we work in a very egalitarian way.

Have you always felt the same way about your spirituality, or have there been changes? If so, when, and how?

I was originally brought up as a Christian (in the Plymouth Brethren, something I have in common with Aleister Crowley) but fortunately my parents left that organisation when I was 9. Around the age of 14 I had a bout of Christianity, but recovered from that when I realised that my Christian friends disapproved of gay people - my best friend was (still is) gay, and he is one of the most spiritual and kind and wonderful people I have ever met, so I could not understand how Christianity could be against him, and decided it was a choice between Christianity and my friend. I chose my friend. So that was the first major change in my spirituality. I became an atheist for a while, looked into various paths (Hinduism, Buddhism etc) but decided I wanted a path that celebrated the joys of sexuality and physical existence - so Paganism seemed the obvious choice. Since then I have travelled along the path of Paganism in much the same direction, and have always been polytheist, believed in nature spirits and many gods and goddesses, and felt attracted to nature and the landscape.

HOW PAGANISM FITS INTO YOUR LIFE

What do you do for a living? Is there any conflict between your work life and your spirituality?

I'm a Web Developer. I'm out of the broom closet at work, and as I work for a University and am very keen on equal opportunities and diversity, and ensuring my websites are accessible, I feel this fits in well with my Pagan path.

What are your hobbies and interests?

Hobbies: Walking, reading, writing poetry, books, and articles, blogging, posting on mailing lists and the Pagan Network forums, going to films (sometimes theatre and opera), eating, cooking.

Interests: history, archaeology, anthropology, science fiction, folklore, mythology, Wicca (of course), folktales, storytelling, folk magic, botany.

BELIEFS

Do you believe in the existence of a 'deity'? If so, have you ever had any divine experiences?

I believe in many gods and goddesses. I have encountered some of them and have a particular relationship with a few from different pantheons, whom I consider to be my "household gods".

Do you believe in the existence of 'spirits' ? human or non-human? Have you ever had any experiences of 'spirit'?

Yes

Do you believe in the existence of magic? As a believer, how would you explain it?

Yes, I believe in magic. I think it is something to do with the fact (now confirmed by quantum physics, string theory, etc.) that everything in the universe is connected to (perhaps even next to) everything else, and that the universe is permeated with consciousness.

Do you practice your spirituality alone, in a group, or both? Was this a deliberate decision or a necessity?

Both. I like the group work for the resonance and companionship of the group, and the fact that it makes you look at issues you might otherwise not look at, and individual work for the opportunity to do whatever you feel like.

If you've done both, which do you prefer?

I like them both equally.

ACTIVITIES

What practices are regularly incorporated in your spiritual life?

Ritual, magic, visualisations, energy work.

What festivals, holy days, special occasions etc do you mark as part of your spirituality?

The eight festivals of the Wiccan wheel of the year. Plough Monday. Anything else we feel like at the time.

Have you ever done magic to get something and did it work?

Yes and yes.

Do you spend much time in nature, in the wild? Do you spend enough time out there?

Yes, a lot, but probably not enough. I go a bit crazy if I don't get to see lots of trees at least once a week. I also really love the sea.

Do you think paganism works better in the country than in the city? Why?

See my article, I'm the Urban Pagan, Baby.

IDENTITY ONLINE

Where do you go to regularly on the web (especially pagan / Wicca / magic-related)?

Pagan Network, Britpoly (a Yahoo group for British polytheists) and Hexengeflüster (a Yahoo group for German Pagans).

How do you define the term 'Wiccan'? How do you feel about the idea that 'Wiccans' are people who have been initiated into a lineaged Wiccan coven?

I think we need a new term to indicate initiated Wiccans (e.g. "initiated Wiccans"), as the term is now widely understood to include non-initiates. But that's fine.

Is Wicca and paganism generally too 'fluffy'?

Some people are a bit fluffy but I think the trend is generally moving away from that towards a deeper engagement with reality on all levels.

How involved are you with the Pagan 'scene'? What are your views on the Pagan community - its strengths, weaknesses and any issues facing it?

Some Pagans can be too consumerist, self-centred, and think it's all about rebelling against authority for the its own sake. I think we need to address this.

Does British Traditional Witchcraft represent a real surviving ancient form of witchcraft pre-existing Gardnerian Wicca?

It can't be proved either way. I suspect there were isolated pockets of witchiness, but nothing that amounted to a full-blown tradition.

Are there any other things about your path that you would like to share?

The source of my religion is my feeling for the Earth and the landscape, but mythology gives it form. Then I can express it through Ritual. Magic is part of my praktice. For me, religion is a connection with other people who have a similar spirituality. Magic is a practice whereby one can come nearer to gods and goddesses.

I am a polytheist, that is, I believe that deities are individuals in the same way as humans and other people. They can interact and even be interpermeable with us and with each other, and with the underlying patterns of energy or wyrd; they are not merely aspects of some great nebulous divine unity, rather they are distinct identities. I am also an animist, that is, I believe that everything has spirit, and that spirit is interpermeable with matter. I am neither a holist nor a rationalist, preferring a middle way, where diversity, multiplicity and incompleteness are welcomed.

(Questions by Telesilla)

See the actual interview at Pagan Network

See also: Interview with me at Avalonia.co.uk (July 2005)