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| Author: Posted: Sep. 8, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 7,124,317 |
Question of the Week: 94 - 1/13/2003 Who Would Make Your Pagan/Heathen Who’s Who List? If you were compiling the Pagan/Heathen equivalent of the famous ‘Who’s Who’ list of influential people, which Pagan or Heathen names would make it on your list? Why did you choose these people? Which non-Pagans, but still people who are/were influential in some way to issues important to Pagans, should be on the list? What qualities or accomplishments did you consider to be the most important in making your choices? Finally, which people of your own acquaintance would make your private ‘most influential people in my life’ list? |
| Reponses: There are 91 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| The Who Is Who On My List : | Jan 13th. at 11:05:50 pm EST |
| Gaia's Child kaT (Toronto) | Age: 33 - Email |
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I have chosen Scott Cunningham as a simple but precise man who wrote the basics on wicca and let his audience choose what THEY wanted, what THEY felt as right for THEM. Secondly I have chosen Jamie Sams for her life changing book ' Earth Medicine '. She is Native American and thus has those views so I placed her in this catagory. Wonderful book ; please read. Biggest influence in my life were my parents for they let me explore from a child every aspect of life. To this day I bless them both for letting me have my freedom without any judgement. kaT |
| What A Fantastic Question! | Jan 14th. at 12:24:28 am EST |
| Callen (Elgin, Illinois, USA) | Age: 34 - Email |
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There are so many women and men who have been influential in our community that I found it difficult to limit myself, but here goes: My big three: Scott Cunningham -- for his clear, uncompromising style and clarity of thought Starhawk -- as a gay male Witch, her work has been an inspiration, drawing me into deeper contemplation of the mysteries by her life and actions (and her writings alone would give her a place on any list). Margot Adler -- whatever one may think of her writing style, she has documented the 70's era of the revival with clarity and truth. There are others who also should be acknowledged: Ellen Cannon Reed -- Qabala is for Witches, too! Janet and Stewart Farrar -- great for covens, but plenty of influence on Solitaries world-wide. Dorothy Morrison -- clear, concise writing with a no-nonsense approach. Pauline and Dan Campanelli -- for their books with soul, beauty, and heart. Of the current leaders, aside from those above who are in a leadership position, I would add Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary (not far from my home, in fact). On a personal level, my parents would rank high -- while they may not *like* me being a Witch, they raised me with an unquenchable desire for knowledge and the realized promise of unconditional love. Also, my friend Marta -- the first real, live Witch I ever met -- her influence on my life is without bounds. Blessed Be! Callen |
| Family Heritage | Jan 14th. at 1:06:17 am EST |
| Denise (Bremerton,Wa) | Age: 40 - Email |
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My first chose and definant one at that is Sybil Leek.Sadly,she seems to be forgotton and ignored by modern day witches and pagans.I feel that she is very important because she comes from a family of witches and although that theme is quite popular in TV and movie gandra,she is the real thing.Her books are well written and she is serious in helping people get started on the right foot.Now true for individuals who want instant gratification,her books would be found a bit frustrating.But look at it from her perspective.She truly loved the Old Religion and saw it as part of her heritage,her culture.I feel that she had a particularly good understanding of the Old Religion because of this.It would be a great benefit to the Old Religion,if more people would realise that it is part of our ancestry and history.We talking about following the same religion and as much as possible the same customs as they did.For those who are interested can find Ms. Leeks books on Amazon.com as well as lucky finds in second-hand book stores and thrift stores.Among the many titles probably the most popular are "The complete Art of Witchcraft" and "Dairy of a Witch".It is well worth getting "Telepathy,the respectable phenomenon"'which Ms.Leek details devoloping the mental focus that helps in everyday life not just casting spells.I unreservidly recomend buying everyone of her books you can get your hands on.Being a familial witch what she writes about is tried and true methods and tradions,not something just made up and might not work.Much lest something that is a flight of fancy or worst an ego trip.While I perhaps seem a bit harsh,I feel that it is inperitive that we remember that the Old Religion is part of our heritage and our birthright. |
| For The Silent Professional's | Jan 14th. at 2:01:22 am EST |
| Ryan (ROK) | Age: 21 - Email |
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I have to nominate Dr. David L. Oringderff. As one of the founding members of the Sacred Well Congregation, Dr. Oringderff helped to creat a system which has worked harder and gone further then all others in ensuring that military Pagans have acess to their religious freedoms. |
| My List | Jan 14th. at 2:50:41 am EST |
| Robin Flipstick (Sherman, Texas, USA) | Age: 44 - Email |
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Starhawk, Doreen Valiente, Janet & Stewart Farrar, and Scott Cunningham for making basic teachings available. Gerald Gardner, of course. Aleiser Crowley for his exhaustive research and insights. Ellen Cannon Reed for her contributions to the tarot. Robert Graves for The White Goddess. The Witches' Voice for public education and bringing us into the 21st century. And Sylvan Woods for teaching me the Elements. |
| My Choices | Jan 14th. at 3:30:53 am EST |
| Texas whisper (Ft Worth, Texas) | Age: 41 - Email |
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I'd like to nominate Gavin and Yvonne Frost as some of the most influential witches. They are not well regarded by some, but their opinions do change. Don't we all change attitudes? They were the first to have a wiccan organization given tax free status more than thirty years ago. They have been physically attacked. Yes, they have been attacked in witch wars as well. Their school is tough, but they are "true believers." Some of their books are still in print. None of this "Martha Stewart" fluffy stuff from the Frosts. Another influental pair of witches are (were) the Ferrars. Great information for groups and solitaires. |
| Pagan Warriors? | Jan 14th. at 4:35:49 am EST |
| Araelus Stormwolf (England) | Age: 32 - Email |
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I nominate Kerr Cuhulain, (I'm not sure if that's the correct spelling, Goddess forgive me, I read his stuff almost daily.) It's good to have someone who stands up to the Fundementalist Christian right. Remember if it wasn't for people like him making it his business to stand up and speak out, We could all be put back on the ducking stool, or hung up to dry, or even roasted like a chestnut on an open fire. I also like Raymond Buckland, for his insights into Gypsy Magic. And just to put the Witche's cat well and truly among the pidgeons Aliester Crowly, who may have been a few spells short of a Book of Shadows, but he did it his bit. To all those others who try and bring a little of the Goddess's light to the World, Blessed be Stormwolf Out. . . |
| Who Cares Whos Whos? | Jan 14th. at 4:45:41 am EST |
| Dazie Childs (WI/MN) | Age: 23 - Email |
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Ok i will admit that there are alot of wonderful people doing alot of great work in the pagan community and that they should be recognized and supported by the community but do we really need a whos who? I strive to tell people when they are doing good things that i acknowledge and appreciate them. If we need to start doing hollywood style whos whos, maybe we as a community need to try to appreciate people more on the spot. I dont mean to sound rough or snotty about it but i realized when i read the questions that all of the people who have had an effect in my life were people that very few would know. peace dc |
| I Would Choose | Jan 14th. at 5:39:06 am EST |
| Starlight Bunnybutt (FL, USA) | Age: 26 - Email |
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The most influential people I can think of for modern Paganism are Scott Cunningham and Alice Walker. Cunningham's humor and common sense inspire me every day to explore the world with new eyes. I don't always agree with him, but he helps me define what I do believe when I diverge from his beliefs. I truly wish I'd had a chance to meet him while he was alive. Alice Walker first inspired me when I read "The Color Purple". The raw painful climb her characters made to describe themselves spiritually touched me very deeply. When Shug begins telling Celie that the being she thinks of as "God" isn't some old white guy with a long beard but herself and everything around her, when I read that part it was like a kick in the head. I love Walker's work because not only does she speak to women about finding their own visions of the divine (instead of using the ones the men have put in place) but she also talks right to African Americans about reclaiming their own spirituality and wresting it from the ideals that white affluent men have placed upon it. "You have to git man off your eyeball, before you can see anything a'tall." In her essay "The Only Reason You Want to Go to Heaven Is That You Have Been Driven Out of Your Mind (Off Your Land and Out of Your Lover's Arms)" [Anything We Love Can be Saved, 1997 Random House] Walker outlines reasons why African Americans and Native Americans should return to their ancestral Pagan worships. She states many things from ecological ideals to healing the psychic breach that patriarchies have imposed on the human spirit. While she uses the much disputed 9 million deaths during the inquisition figure, her writing is textured and moving and a very compelling argument for all people, no matter what race, to explore their own spirituality apart from the collective ideals of society. We have a beautiful mother her green lap immense her brown embrace eternal her blue body everything we know. - from the poem We Have a Beautiful Mother |
| Not Many Leaders Really | Jan 14th. at 7:01:58 am EST |
| Sam (Holyoke, Mass) | Age: 49 - Email |
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A whos who is a classic idea, but sady I know too many of our famous pagans and with extremely rare exception none of them are worthy of much acclaim. We do need leaders and I don't consider someone that gets a book contract a leader or even 'wiser than others' . - Authors are typically just another pagan with an opinion that gets a contract, THAT in itself doesn't elevate them to me. there is no real standard for being a Pagan author. If I see wise words on the net or a piece that makes me think... THAT I give respect to. Personally I like the non who's who folks... people like Fritz and Wren that JUST do the work and could give a rats ass about the fame. They speak with their work and not BS PR. My who's who would consist of local folks that do the work for the community. You won't know their names but those in western mass do. they are considered friends, not celebs. |
| You Never Know... | Jan 14th. at 7:14:24 am EST |
| jade (canada) | Age: 16 - Email |
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i can't really say who specifically. i have learned so much from so many different people. i didn't really discover any authors, or anybody else like that until a few years ago. i was raised a pagan, and the most influential people in my life are probably my grand parents, they taught me to nurture myself, and nature. other than them, a lot of people are very influential to me. i can be reading a book, an article, or anything, and the writer says something that totally changes the way i look at things, or they broaden my knowledge. you never know when this sort of eye-opener will happen, and it's not just witches and pagans that are capable to do this. my life is full of amazing people, they all have a different purpose in my life. honestly, nobody is more influential to me than those i love. |
| Motherly Love | Jan 14th. at 9:07:59 am EST |
| Lady Garnet Redstone (Charlotte, NC) | Age: 46 - Email - Web |
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The one person who has had the most influence on my life and spiritual path would be my mother, Mary Greene Powell. She, more than anyone else that comes to my mind, deserves to be on the Who's Who list! My mother taught me to respect life in all its aspects; to love even those that did not love us or believe the way we do. She taught me what she believed with all her heart, even though my father told her to put away her beliefs and to never practice them in their home. She taught me to be honest...to always be fair and true. She taught me to have an open mind and a love for learning. She taught me that wealth does not come from money, but from the love and devotion of all around you. I would also add Wren Walker, Fritz Jung and the rest of the Witches' Voice staff. Their selfless work, giving of their time and energy to help the Pagans of the world find each other and educate themselves, need to be recognized and commended! Last but not least, my Coven mates! Without them, there would be no Sacred Oak Grove Coven! Each and everyone gives their all to make our group a loving family. My husband, Lord Grian Redlion, who is also my High Priest, my lover, my very best friend, along with all of the Coven, work so hard to help everyone they can, in any way they can, showing what a Witch truly should be! |
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