Archive for the ‘Wicca Traditions’ Category

  Over the past week, millions of Potter fans bravely bid farewell to the final film of one of the most-record breaking franchises ever created. The new greatest story ever told, the legend of Harry Potter touched the world: defying age-barriers, nationalities, and religious conventions (Beach & Wilner 2002; Black 2003; Radigan 2001). It encouraged generations of children believed lost to the digital age to pick up books and read again. It encouraged them to use their imagination and believe in something more than the mundane. And most importantly in the context of this discussion, it challenged the world’s preconception of magick and magickal societies: evoking an unprecedented era of awareness and tolerance for occult paths.

  You may not have even realized that such a quiet revolution occurred, or even how extremely significant it is from an anthropological perspective. Yes, the past century has been a springboard for magickal faiths to take root, but never have magickal communities been as mainstream as they are at the moment. Numerous other supernatural pop culture venues from the classics like So I Married a Witch, Bewitched, and Bell Book and Candle to the more recent Charmed, laid significant groundwork for magickal tolerance. But it was Harry Potter who dashed boldly down the path they had laid out, entertainingly making the masses positively aware of the magickal cultures which have hitherto fore had to lurk in the shadows of typical every day society.

  Centuries ago, the word ‘witch’ was a condemnation. Twenty years ago, claiming the title ‘witch’ would still have the neighbors worried. But in the present day, the word ‘witch’ conjures up a multitude of more pleasant images and associations to the everyday laymen than ever before. And much of this shift is due to the ever-present popularity and acceptance of Harry Potter. Magickal terminology, once only known to those few in the world population engaged in occult studies is now commonplace. Again, courtesy in large part to Harry Potter ~whose familiar use of words like ‘charm,’ ‘divination,’ and ‘griffin’ (to name just a few) has increased the vocabulary of millions. Children grow up appreciating the idea of magick and the possibility of sorcery, rather than fearing it. They come to learn of the balance between light and dark not from dogmatic condemnations of the church, but from the saga of Harry. Children no longer dress as the witch- hag as a scary Halloween costume. Instead they dress as witch scholars: as students of the magickal school Hogwarts ~hoping to be trained in the magickal arts. Indeed, Harry Potter has encouraged not just positive awareness of the occult, but positive awareness of learning in general (Beaton 2006).

  No, admittedly Harry Potter has not accurately explored the magickal world of real-life Witches, Wiccans, Druids, or Neo-Pagans and their brethren. But the mythical magickal world it did explore provided a safe fantasy backdrop for mankind to begin to understand the purpose and functions of magick. Or at least to start believing in it, outside of the realm of superstition which has plagued the occult arts for millennia. Indeed those instances of right-wing disapproval from Christian conservatives and Muslim states ultimately only validated the idea of a belief in magick. For it was the type of sorcery practiced in the pages of Harry Potter, not the existence of magick itself which was at the heart of the majority of these debates (DeMitchell & Carney 2005; Hill 1999; Hill 2001; Kruk 2005). Harry Potter ushered in a new, more open age of man and womankind. One where the mysterious ‘other’ which magick has long represented is not feared and hidden away or dismissed as unbelievable, but is instead something in the public eye and which is accepted by all but the remaining, and ever decreasing number of conservative groups who ignorantly equate magickal practice with devil-worship.

  The shifting morals and scientific explorations of our time allow for tolerant investigation into questions of the mind, physics, and the natural world which have long been relegated to the realm of myth and defined as magick. Science, by any other name, is magick that has been more thoroughly explored than ever before (indeed, this was a much emphasized facet of the other magickal blockbuster of this summer: Paramount’s Thor). As we learned last week in Witches of Antiquity: The Magick of Alchemy ~ the initial Scientific Revolution was the result of magickal investigation and the two are intrinsically tied together. The only thing that has changed is the understanding of the terminology: which skeptically divided science from magick as it attempted to commonsensically divorce science from religion.

  The word ‘witch,’ too, has come a long way and meant many things throughout its usage. But with the worldwide familiarity of Harry Potter and the general acceptance for the witchcraft practiced therein, ‘Witch’ is no longer a word associated with fear and loathing. Now is a remarkable time to claim the title of witch, for it is the first in which it is culturally accepted and encouraged. And while some may worry that such openness may be dangerous to their craft, consider this: Harry Potter stringently emphasizes the idea of a magickal education before one can practice magick. It urges against the uninitiated blundering in or anyone ever taking up the Dark Arts. J.K. Rowling subtly points out that knowledge is power ~ Hermione (pictured at left) is proof positive of this ~ and is necessary before one delves deeper into magickal endeavors. And so while perhaps mainstream magick may mean that there are many more practitioners, they have already been cautioned via Harry Potter against ignorant use of magick; of following the darker paths; and they have been instructed to learn as much as they can. And really, are these not among some of the best tips which can be given to beginner witches?

Do you feel that Harry Potter positively or negatively impacted the real magickal community?

Are you a Potter fan? How do you feel about the new, latest and last movie in the saga?

Partial Bibliography

Beach, S.A. and Willner, E.H., 2002. The Power of Harry Potter: the Impact of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Books on Young Readers. World Literature Today. 76(1), 102-106.

Beaton, T., 2006. Taking Time: Harry Potter as a Context for Interdisciplinary Studies. The English Journal 95(3), 100-103.

Black, S., 2003. Harry Potter: A Prescription for just about Anyone. Journal of Adult and Adolescent Literacy 46(7), 540-544.

Carney, J.J. and DeMitchell, T.A. 2005. Harry Potter and the Public Library. Phi Delta Kappan 87(2).

Hill, R., 2001. Potter’s Darker Side. Fortnight. 401, 22-23.

Hill, N., 1999. Harry Potter and Other Evils, or How to Read from the Right. The Personalist Forum 15(2), 413-423.

Kruk, R., 2005. Harry Potter in the Gulf: Contemporary Islam and the Occult. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. 32(1), 47-73.

Radigan, W.M., 2001. Connecting the Generations: Memory, Magic, and Harry Potter. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 44(8).

In one of those rare confluences of the natural world, the cusp between December 20th, 2010 and December 21st, 2010 will hold special magickal significance.

Tomorrow, as many of you may well know, is the Winter Solstice. It is the shortest day of the year and its longest night. Traditionally it is a time of celebration, of rebirth; as winter fully begins within the grand circle of life, we honor the transition between the seasons. From time immemorial, man and womankind has commemorated both the astronomical event it represents and the symbolism inherent of the occasion. Life and Death, Spring and Winter: the turning of the clock and the changing of the season are inevitabilities we have charted and attempted to understand. We have built stone clocks and viewing points to witness the transition. Neolithic monuments like Newgrange, Ireland and the infamous Stonehenge; as well as modern viewing points like the Sunstones atop the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley display the actual moment of the Solstice as the sun reaches its lowest yearly high in the sky. The parties and festivals to celebrate the Solstice have traditionally lasted much longer than that single moment in time: anywhere from a night of partying to several weeks of merriment. Often several festivals would take place at the same time. In ancient Rome, the Saturnalia, the Festival of Invictus Sol (itself an accumulation of several festivals to many sun deities), and the more ancient Brumalia were celebrated all together. Today the Germanic Yule and the Celtic Midwinter Grianstadh an Gheimhridh still compete alongside the more mainstream Christmas and Hannukah, when really, they too are celebrating that same winter solstice in disguise. At the time of the world’s greatest darkness, we are all working together to celebrate the light.

Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s take a look at today’s tarot card-The Tower. I am using the Rider-Waite/Smith deck today. There is a tower that is being struck by lightning from above. Flames are shooting out from the top of the tower as well as coming out from it’s windows. There are two people falling down from the tower with a look of fright on their faces. At the very top of this card, there is a crown that looks as if the lightning bolt knocked it off the tower and is in the process of falling down.

How does this card apply to me today? What can I learn from it’s messages?

I look at the bolt of lightning, and I think “ego”. Sometimes ones ego needs to be knocked down a notch or two. Lets look at the fire that is so prevalent in this card. Fire is about transformation and cleansing. When a forest burns down, the growth is cleared away for new growth! What needs to cleared out of your life? What changes do you need to make now, not later?

Maybe your in a relationship that really needs to end now. Is it really fulfilling to you?  Do you find that you or your partner tend to be volatile?  Do you tend to argue all the time?

Read the rest of this entry »

INTERVIEW WITH RAVEN DIGITALIS

Bernadette: I am very interested in your tradition-Opus Aima Obscuræ, can you tell me more about it?

Raven: Certainly. We are a group of practitioners who consist of an Inner Circle (training group) and an Outer Circle (public participants). We run an intricate training structure designed to train people to be eventual Priests and Priestesses. We term our training system “disciplined eclectic” and “Eastern Hellenistic Neopaganism.” The definitions of these terms can be found on the OAO Facebook and Myspace profiles. We also perform public and private rituals that average once weekly – quite a large load! We celebrate the Full Moons, New (Dark) Moons and Sabbats, as well as what we call the “Full Suns” and “New (Dark) Suns.” These are the masculine counterparts to the feminine Full and Dark Moons; the Full Sun occurs when the Sun is at his 15-degree astrological apex in any particular sign, while the Dark or New Sun occurs when the Sun transitions zodiac signs. We also host numerous Cottage Craft or Hedgecraft events for the community, along with multicultural celebrations such as the Hindu fesival Diwali (Festival of Lights) and ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi, seeing as we all identify with Hinduism – one of the most longstanding, preserved and developed Pagan traditions in the world!

Bernadette: We spoke before about craft history. Why do you think it’s important that today’s Witches/Pagans understand about our roots?

Raven: believe that it’s vitally important for people to have a realistic and educated understanding of their historical roots. Numerous Christians, to give one example, understand very little about their religious history, including the difference between politics and religion, the evolution of Scripture, and so on, which actually serves to be a damaging and dangerous force. When objective understanding is cultivated, one gains perspective, which I believe is immensely important. For us Witches, it’s easy to accept what we’re told, namely the faerie tales concerning an ancient Age of the Goddess, or Wicca being a preserved Pagan religion of the British Isles, or the existance of “family traditions” before 1950 – these things are idealistic and untrue, but are so tempting to believe. Once a person digs a bit deeper, things come into focus a bit more, and we can more objectively see who we are as magicians and spiritual pathwalkers.

Bernadette: Why do you use the Thoth deck as opposed to any other in your tradition?

Raven: Well, OAO’s structure is based primarily upon the alignments of the Thoth deck because we realize the immense amount of study, art, channeling and brilliancy that went into creating the deck. It took years and years, and was Aleister Crowley and Lady Freda Harris’s artistic/magical magnum opus. I believe that there is no Tarot deck more perfect in the world. Its alignments are so precise that even the most unequipped person can gain accurate insight from even the simplest reading, provided they (at least) first study the small booklet(s) that accompany the deck. The deck is enchanted – quite literally – the cards are living and conscious. I’ve never interacted with a deck like this in all my life. For the longest time I avoided the deck because of its scientific and ceremonial intricacies, but now that I have chosen to delve into them, I realize how non-scary they really are. And once I began to understand simple symbolism’s (nevermind the Qabalistic, elemental and planetary alignments), my readings became clear. What a blessing! Because of these alignments and numerous others, we at OAO use it as our primary foundation for occult mysticism and the orginazation of the Wheel of the Year, as aligned to the zodiac.

Bernadette: You mention having been trained in the Georgian tradition.  Can you tell a little about it?  (I bring this up so that any newbies, who may be reading this, can learn and understand the article, in its entirety)

Raven: Sure! I was trained by Zanoni Silverknife in the Georgian tradition when I was 16 years old. Thank goodness she was there to provide me with accurate and loving training when I was blooming into the magickal arts; I am very grateful for the lessons and for the lifelong friends cultivated as a result! In order to explain Georgian Witchcraft, I think it’s easier for me to recite information found on the main website, www.georgianwicca.com, which is as follows: The Georgian Tradition was founded in 1970 by George (Pat) Patterson, Zanoni Silverknife and Tanith. It began as a small coven in Pat�s home, in Bakersfield, CA. Georgian Wicca is similar to Alexandrian and Gardnerian practice, in that it is an initiatory line and oath-bound. Many of the rituals are similar to those published in various books on what is sometimes called “British Traditional Wicca” (BTW), such as the Farrar’s Eight Sabbats for Witches and The Witches’ Way, as well as the privately distributed version of what was later published as Ed Fitch’s Grimoire of the Shadows. Georgian Wicca, however, is not a recognized member of the BTW, as it lacks an important requirement – initiatory lineage back to one of the BTW covens in England. Therefore, it is considered BTW-derived.

Bernadette: What inspired you to write “Planetary Spells & Rituals: Practicing Dark & Light Magick Aligned with the Cosmic Bodies” and what separates this work from other books on magick? I am reading this new book on my kindle!

Raven: Thanks for your readership! My main inspiration in writing that book was due to many of my readers mentioning to me the fact that I don’t include much hands-on, how-to spells or written rituals in my books (aside from meditations), so I decided to compile this collection. I aimed to include a hefty amount of alignments, and ceremonial rituals, having to do with common (and some uncommon) spellcraft needs. I personally use it as a reference book in my own life, which was another part of its written purpose! In the future, it will be followed with Zodiacal Spells & Rituals.

Bernadette: I love the fact that you also speak of history in this book, “Shadow Magick Compendium: Exploring Darker Aspects of Magickal Spirituality”. Can you explain what the “Shadow” is to you and why it is so important to understand how to work with “the Shadow” or “The Shadow self”?

Raven: The shadow is part of who we are; it’s the balance. I feel that the Craft community and magickal community is starting to reject those “everything is love and light” ideas and are replacing those perceptions with a more balanced view on the world and oneself. We must know our light and dark sides, and those of the world, in order to fully embrace Reality for the profound experience it is – and in order to influence accurate and ethical change through our experience. Witches and magicians help people; it’s our spiritual duty. In order to help others and ourselves, we must recognize all aspects of our personalities and must be able and willing to work with them in other people just the same. There is nothing strictly defined in “dark” and “light,” because the terms are highly interpretive – that’s part of the beauty of life: nothing is entirely “this” or entirely “that.”

Bernadette: In Goth Craft: The Magickal Side of Dark Culture , you speak of the convergence of the two lifestyles, Witch and Goth. I was very much a part of the Goth/Punk/Industrial/Metal scene, growing up in NYC. I saw the melding of these lifestyles early on (the 80′s and the 90′s), in dress, music, make-up and what I call “gender attitude”. How has this scene progressed over these years? I knew many pagans then, who where very much a part of this scene (I am definitely dating myself here!) I used to hang out in the village! I also see that we like a lot of the same music! Oh yea…thank the Gods for that!

Raven: That’s fantastic! I’m glad you could be part of the movement from its “roots.” Always refreshing to hear! Admittedly, I am currently jaded and dissatisfied with the “scene” aspects of those cultures, and am choosing not to fully identify with them – I love the art, but not the common attitude. I think these subcultures should be personal and emotional, artistic experiences rather than ego-based, bitter “scenes,” but it’s really a mixed bag, just like any culture, subculture or counterculture! For now, I’ll just remain on the outskirts of the “scene” and keep focused on my occultism!

Bernadette: What do you see happening in today’s pagan community? What do you think is needed? What would you like to see happen?

Raven: I would like to see a greater focus on the “bigger picture,” and an immediate cease of infighting and superficiality. At the same time, I see people yearning to grow deeper in connection to the cosmos and the earth, and I’m glad to see so many people doing the Great Work around the world, helping guide others to their individual paths. Love is the key!

Bernadette: Do you have any book tours/signing coming up? What’s on the agenda for you? Any upcoming projects?

Raven: No tours or signings as of yet, but that is subject to change! My current project is a book on Empathy and Magick, for which I am incredibly excited. It’s coming to me now, and so I must dedicate myself to catching up with my emails and fan mail (yeah right! Slacker space-cadet here!), and buckling down to write another tome. I hope you like it! Namaste.

MINI BIO:

Raven Digitalis (Missoula, MT) is the author of “Planetary Spells & Rituals,” “Shadow Magick Compendium,” and “Goth Craft”, all on Llewellyn. He is a Neopagan Priest and cofounder of the “disciplined eclectic” or “Eastern Hellenistic” tradition and training coven Opus Aima Obscuræ, and is a radio and club DJ of Gothic and industrial music. Also trained in Georgian Witchcraft and Buddhist philosophy, Raven has been a Witch since 1999 and a Priest since 2003, and an Empath all of his life. Raven holds a degree in anthropology from the University of Montana and is also an animal rights activist, black-and-white photographic artist, Tarot reader, and is the co-owner of Twigs & Brews Herbs, specializing in bath salts, herbal blends, essential oils, soaps, candles and incenses. He has appeared on the cover of newWitch magazine and Spellcraft magazine (Australia) and has been featured on MTV News and CBS PsychicRadio.

Goth Craft

An interview with Kenny Klein!

We now continue with on with our series of interviews with influential pagan authors, teachers, musicians and leaders.

Kenny Klein has been a part of our pagan community for many years now. He gives lectures, sings, plays the fiddle, a great photographer, an author, and a writer. I have had the pleasure of meeting and seeing Kenny perform a few times at the Starwood festival. It’s always a pleasure to talk to Kenny and to hear what he has to say!

Bernadette:
Kenny, congratulations on your new book “Through The Faerie Glass“, can you tell me a bit of what it’s about?

Kenny:
Well, in a nutshell, it’s an examination of how Faeries are viewed in traditional folklore, especially ages old songs from Britain and other parts of Europe. Our modern culture tends to view “fairies” as Tinker Bell, cute little flitting creatures who dance on flowers. But folklore paints a very different story. These are nasty, creepy, sexual creatures whose dealings with humans often goes very badly for the human!

Bernadette:
It’s a much “darker” aspect of fairies. What inspired you to write this book?

Kenny:
In general I’ve been singing the traditional songs and telling the stories all my life. I’ve known the presence of Faeries all that time as well. I grew up in mid-state New York, which is a very enchanted area. Washington Irving and Poe both wrote about the magic of that area, along the Hudson River and in the Palisades. It’s a creepy, eerie, spooky environment dripping with very tangible enchantment, and I do not use the word enchantment in the Disney sense!

In specific, i was at a Pagan festival in Canada a few years ago, and as part of my schedule at that festival I did a workshop on Faerie lore. A young woman approached me and said “I’ve studied Faeries all my life, and you know more than anyone I’ve ever met! You have to write a book.” I’d thought many times about writing a book, but somehow this woman saying that was the catalyst. Just a few months later I ran into Elysia Gallo from Llewellyn, and mentioned that I’d been writing this book, and she got very excited. It was the right book at the right time for the right publisher, one of those magical things that just happens.

Bernadette:
Can you tell us about “The Flowering Rod“?

The Flowering Rod is as book about the role of men in Paganism, and especially in Wicca. I wrote the book in the early ’90s, when there were many books written about women in Paganism and magick, but few to none about men. Unfortunately the publisher went out of business about a minute after the book came out, so it was out of print for years. It’s finally back in print, and available on Amazon and a few other sites.

One thing I loved about writing The Flowering Rod was that I could write rituals for groups of men or groups of men and women to perform. I’ve since seen several groups use my material in their rituals. It’s very rewarding.

Bernadette:
What projects do you have coming up?

Kenny:
Right now I’m finishing up a tour that has already taken me to ten or twelve states (of the United States—there have been many more states of mind during the tour than just that). I have about a month to go, then I head home for a while, though I plan to move to a completely different home in the next few months, so the move may be a huge project for me. I will spend the winter working on collectible dolls, recording a new CD, and continuing to write a novel based on the Faerie lore in my books. I’m also finishing my next book for Llewellyn, which is a similar treatment to Faerie Glass, but focuses on the Grimms fairy Tales. There will be a ritual or a spell for each of the tales the books looks at. That book is slated to be out in May of 2011. I’m pretty excited about it.

Bernadette:
You have contributed much to our pagan community. Can you tell us what you think of the state of our pagan community today? What differences to you see as compared to what is was in the 1980′s?

Kenny:
Oh gosh what a loaded question!!! Well certainly the Internet has had a huge impact on the Pagan community. We’re seeing two extremes because of technology: people finding it much easier to locate other Pagans than thirty years ago (in the ’80s you had to skulk around metaphysical bookstores hoping someone would notice you and invite you to join a group); and paradoxically, many more Pagans practicing “solitary.” I think there are pros and cons to both. While there are many very excellent groups out there, there are as many charlatans pretending to teach the craft as an excuse to promote their own agenda (manipulation, sex, control). So for many people joining a group is a challenge, despite the technology that makes finding groups so much easier. On the other hand, when one learns and practices alone, there is no one to fill in gaps, push one to strive for greater learning and experience, or steer one in the right direction. Self taught Pagans often have huge gaps in their knowledge of the religion and its traditions.

As a community, we have not yet arrived at anything like a happy medium. I will say that I encourage all Pagans to attend Pagan festivals (days long and week long camping events, like PSG, Free Spirit Gathering, Rites of Spring, Starwood, Sirius Rising and Wisteria Summer Solstice, all as opposed to one day events like a Pagan Pride day). these festivals expose Pagans to experienced teachers, various traditions, a wealth of ritual styles, and the sheer hedonistic joy of bonfire dancing, drumming, concerts and Pagan community and companionship. Many web sites list a multitude of Pagan festivals. they are worth investigating.

Bernadette:
I have been doing a lot of research lately into The Blue Star Tradition. Can you tell us a bit about Blue Star? Why do you think it it appealed to so many people? How has it evolved over the years? Do you still teach?

Kenny:
Blue Star is, I think, the oldest American born Wiccan tradition. Meaning, most of our traditional Wicca was born in England. Blue Star was created in Philadelphia.

Blue Star is a very traditional Wiccan path, with set rituals that vary very little from time to time (other than the specific work of that time of the year or the moon); we worship the old Gods/Goddesses of Europe (I am very staid in the notion that Wicca is European Paganism only, and if one is worshiping Egyptian, Chinese, American Indian or African deities, while it is powerful Paganism, it is not Wicca); we have a very set syllabus of teaching that involves experiential learning as well as reading and classes (most of what we teach is transmitted orally; very few books contain what we teach).

It’s serious, but fun too. We eat a lot!!!!

Bernadette:
Where do you see our pagan community going these days, as compared to when you first started?

Kenny:
Another loaded question… I think the Pagan music scene is in amazing shape compared to when I entered it. In the ’80s most Pagan music was being made by hobby musicians, who loved the Craft but had limited musical skills. Now I see bands like the Gypsy Nomads, Lunar Fore and Incus who are skilled professional musicians, and who tour the Pagan festival circuit (as I have done for three decades now…wow, I hate saying that!). Unfortunately I think these amazing Pagan musicians are under-appreciated by the community in general. Few Pagans seem to realize that there are “out” Pagans playing Pagan music for Pagans; many still refer to Stevie Nicks and Loreena McKennitt as Pagan music—both superb musicians and performers, but not “out” pagans playing music for a targeted Pagan audience.

In terms of knowledge, I think we are seeing a generation of experienced teachers fading away (we just lost a great teacher and scholar, Isaac Bonewits), and very few younger teachers of their caliber stepping into their shoes. Jason Mankey is a rising star, and a few others stand out, but there will be a sad vacuum in a few years. This concerns me deeply.

I hope to see more Pagans taking advantage of Pagan festivals and gatherings. They are great ways to connect to knowledge, experience and community. We now have several facilities that host various week-long Pagan events: the best of them are Wisteria, Brushwood, Diana’s Grove and Camp Gaia.

Bernadette:
Can you tell me more about your work with “Blythe” dolls? What attracted you to them and how do you customize them?

Kenny:
Blythe dolls are collectible dolls that first appeared as children’s toys in 1972, and through the efforts of a woman named Gina Garan became an iconic collectible doll (www.thisisblythe.com). I fell in love with Blythe in 2000 when I saw Gina’s photographs of her in a gallery in Los Angeles. In the last year I’ve gotten involved with the art project of creating unique customized Blythe dolls (www.kennyklein.net/dolls.html). I take commissions for custom work. I also love my girls and talk to them. I’m a little weird I guess.

Bernadette:
Music has and always will change. You had roots in the punk scene (just like I did!)-did this influence you in the music that you do today? What do you listen too? What can we expect from Kenny Klein in the future?

Kenny:
In my most active Punk years I was very excited about the British New Romantics movement, and listened to bands like Bow Wow Wow, Adam and the Ants, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and ska bands like Madness and the Specials. I still listen to these bands. I also bonded with my friends in the East Village: the Bad Brains (who lived in my kitchen for a while), the Cro Mags, the Undead, Agnostic Front, the Lunachicks, the Beastie Boys and Luscious Jackson. I still see some of these people from time to time.

Some of that music made its way into my playing and recording, most notably on my CD The Fairy Queen, which has a good deal of Dark Wave music on it (I did that CD with singing partner Lori Watley, who has a great Siouxsie-esque voice). But I’m also influenced by British Folk, Americana, Delta Blues and contemporary singer-songwriters like Tori Amos, Poe, Richard Thompson, Rasputina’s Melora Creager and the Ditty Bops to name a tiny few. My next recorded music project will be a follow up to my CD “Meet Me In The Shade Of The Maple Tree,” which is the world’s first CD of Pagan Bluegrass music: it will be the world’s first CD of Pagan Delta Blues and Jugband music.

The following was written by Kenny Klein for a memorial to Isaac Bonewits, in Orange County, NY.

Verses for Isaac
Kenny Klein, 8/25/10

Many see the stars above us
Few the sparkle there
Inscrib’d wi’ the spear and torc
Of mighty Gods, and fair

Those that stand to light the way
Bright lanterns in the mire
Let them be immortalized
Though time may still their fire

Here now lieth such a one
A pilgrim of the path
Whose flame that lit the mighty cliff
did many seek to grasp

Let all imbued with true desire
To know the Gods of old
Hallow he interr’d here
A heart of faith, and gold

Suggested links:

Kenny Klein
www.kennyklein.net

The Gypsy Nomads
www.thegypsynomads.com

Jason Mankey
www.panmankey.com

Gina Garan
www.thisisblythe.com

Incus
www.incus.net