By Gregory Michael Brewer (AutTumn)
Hello Paul and merry meet. We thank you so much for doing this interview. For those in our reading audience who may not be familiar with you and your work, could you please give a bit of information about yourself, such as how many books you have written and if you have any new material soon to be released?
Thank you, Gregory. It’s an honor. Long, long ago I attended the early Pan Pagan Festivals sponsored by the Midwest Pagan Council and spent time in Chicago.
My studies began (formally) in 1973. As a child on a farm in Wisconsin I was ‘the one’ who dowsed water with a forked willow branch and had precognitive dreams, but it took nearly 30 years for me to know that I could take those unfocused abilities and hone them into that which would help me follow my yearning for knowledge of the Universe. I met my first High Priest in 1975 and completed my formal study and was initiated in February of 1977. The original coven collapsed (the High Priest and High Priestess ended their relationship) and they continued as my teachers for some years.
My intent was to begin a mail-order herbal business but that catalog and subsequent mailing evolved in three months into the newsletter, The Unicorn, still published as a print newsletter, 33 years later. The classes I was teaching developed a strong following and The Rowan Tree Church received its corporate recognition as a Wiccan Church in February, 1980.
Today, at the age of 65, I’ve been Wiccan (formally) for 35 years. As an author (with nine books in print as author and two as editor) I am best known for The Master Book of Herbalism, still selling strong after 26 years in print! My remedial work has expanded into a Master Herbalist Certification program for both local and distance learning, which is the equivalent of a master’s degree (about 25% of the students are Registered Nurses). The magickal aspect of that book grew into the work published as A Compendium of Herbal Magick published in 1996. I specialize in the ritual and magickal use of herbs in all cultures, but it must be documented and authentic. The Compendium covered 330 herbs. Today, having had access to ethnobotanical scholarship from cultures as diverse as the Zulu of southern African countries and a Hindu ethnobotanical work from northern India, as well as the comprehensive work by Daniel Moerman of North American first peoples, I have information on nearly 2000 different species.
I was placed on a journey in 1990 which took me from Minneapolis (where I’d lived as an adult for 25 years) through Dallas and Los Angeles where I taught large numbers of wonderful students, and then to the eastern Puget Sound where we now have a 45,000 square foot private botanical garden with ritual sites upon it, known as The Hermit’s Grove.
The Rowan Tree Church remains strong, with Members both local and scattered all about the United States and I teach both in the cozy classroom we have at The Hermit’s Grove and at area Community Colleges. I’ve worked as a part-time Wiccan Chaplain and sponsor at several prisons in Washington and have had a wonderful life since Wicca changed the course (and ethics) of my life.
I am curious as to which of your great passions came first, herbology, or Wiccan/Pagan religion, and what initially drew you to your path?
I grew up on a dairy farm in central Wisconsin, deeply loving Nature. My most memorable times were in the woods, among the green things, times with trees, and just a general love of Nature…
In an agrarian region of second- and third-generation (mostly German) European immigrants, it was common for a family to have one person more precognitive (in various ways by different names) and for us, it was me. I began dowsing water at an early age, often knew who had died… My dreams in life were to publish a neighborhood newspaper, be a chemist, play piano and write music, be a Priest, write books, … and live in a little house near a woodland. All of which is how I live today, although I have retired from a 20+ year career as a professional musician.
I tried to set aside these abilities and also rejected the formal religion of my parents. In my twenties I was a successful “profound agnostic.” I didn’t believe in god, but I believed in something. Following the role models of my youth, I couldn’t go to India, but I did experiment and also began reading about how to live in the here and now… which led to a study of Aldous Huxley’s conversion (as Sybille Bedford called it). Her biography if his life took me to the Bhagbavad Gita, the Tibetan Book of the Dead (The Bardo Thödol), the Tao, and much more. All of this led me to my first attempt at living near the woods in a small house in northern Minnesota, but “when the student’s ready the teacher appears” and there would be no teacher to be found in Kettle River!
I moved back to Minneapolis, got a job with the largest bank, and within weeks was introduced to the teachers of the coven, who provided me with my education as a Wiccan, an astrologer and in the Tarot. The concepts and practices were so suited for all aspects of my life and interests.
How long have you been involved in the Wiccan community?
I have been actively involved in the larger Wiccan community for more than 34 years.
In addition to writing, and amongst other projects, you are also a college professor. Could you please share with us a brief description of the courses you teach?
I’m not a college professor. I have taught through the non-credit programs of several area Community Colleges. I now only teach at Seattle Central Community College (where I started teaching in 1996). I have also taught at Cascadia and Bellevue Community Colleges as well as worked as a Chaplain (part time 12 hours a month) for four years at Stafford Creek Correctional.
Kidney cancer and three grueling surgeries in 2008 caused me to adjust my schedule.
Could you please tell us a bit about The Rowan Tree Church and The Hermit’s Grove?
The Rowan Tree Church is the legal organization - as a Church recognized by Federal and State governments - which is the legal entity within which is The Tradition of Lothloriën - the Wiccan Tradition I founded 30-35 years ago.
The organizational structure is one that has grown slowly - like a tree - pursuing quality over the size of one’s roster. We average about 50 households with Members in Canada and the U.S., typically a significant percentage living in the same region as the home offices (once in Minneapolis, now on the Eastside of Seattle).
I was initiated by a Priest and Priestess of a teaching coven and, when their romance relationship collapsed and I asked them what to do with the students coming to me, I was then an Initiate and they told me I was ready to teach. The Unicorn and the classes I was teaching (astrology, tarot, herbal medicine) had led to a solid community and, advised by an attorney, I filed the paperwork that led to The Rowan Tree Church.
We have an extensive educational program (The Mystery School was founded about 28 years ago,) a huge Book of Shadows and function as a Mystery Tradition. perhaps 20% of our Members have been with The Rowan Tree Church for 10-25 years, indicative of our inner strengths. There is extensive information in the book A Wiccan Bardo, Revisited.
Originally, The Hermit’s Grove was to be the organization within which my non-Wiccan teaching was legally protected but over time it also came to refer to the actual 45,000 square foot botanical and ritual gardens which are The Rowan Tree Church’s home land. In the sense of real estate, The Hermit’s Grove refers to the gardens, buildings and the home we think of as the ‘caretaker’s cottage’ which includes a small classroom.
The Hermit’s Grove has educational programs which include advanced research and studies in gems and minerals; tarot; astrology; and the primary program is a masters program in botanical medicine, with 15-20% of the students and certified Master Herbalists who were working Registered Nurses when they found us.
It has been said that Wicca began as a Magick based religion, but in the 70’s and 80’s shifted to a nature based religion. Do you agree with this, what is your opinion on the matter?
What an excellent question! When I began studying in Minneapolis I was looking for some teachers in my pursuit of ‘enlightenment’ - that hippy-era goal of the 1970s. Early on I recall the High Priest referring to Witchcraft as ‘religion,’ and thought that a bit foreign to me. The original coven was, upon reflection, Magick-based.
I like the reality of Wicca, today, being clearly a religion and having that recognition from so much of modern society.
For many years now, I myself have had a continuously growing passion for trees, and sometimes joke around that there is a tree growing inside of me. However, from time I time I come across a tree that I am unable to identify. Does this ever happen to you and if so, what steps do you take to properly identify the specimen if books are unclear?
This happens to me as well, although far more as other species. We have a very large research library with a few hundred books simply for identification yet, even with those, I would not feel that a species would be fully identified based upon a book. Most genera have dozens (sometimes hundreds) of species within a genus and, nearly always, it takes laboratory analysis to be able to have certainty. I often hear people who speak glowingly of wild-crafting, for example, talk of harvesting species which clearly do not grow in the wild but certainly look a whole lot like species which do.
Does your practice of Wicca include a regular group or do you practice solitary? What are your opinions of solitary vs. group practice/study?
One of the skills required of a Novice before considered ready for Initiation is experience and comfort with both solitary and group practice. They are different and I do not see them as one being better than another.
I have been known to joke (but based upon many threads of reality) that The Rowan Tree Church is a group of solitaries who enjoy working together. We truly do have a wonderful sense of family.
For those of the Wiccan/Pagan faith who don’t seem to have a great passion for nature, plants, trees, and flowers, have you found a way to inspire people to take interest? If so, please do share.
When teaching in the public level (Community Colleges, public speaking) it is my passion and enthusiasm which seem to inspire people to see themselves as fully connected with the living world of other species. Primarily, however, it is watching people explore our botanical garden. The paths meander, there are nearly 600 different species, all with weatherproof botanical markers with common and botanical names as well as indicating indigenous species or the source (most of our species come from reputable growers from Oregon to North Carolina).
Paul, it has been an honor, and as I know you are very busy, I will conclude with one last question. Do you have any last bits of wisdom or advice for those who are embarking upon the path of Wicca and/or herbology?
If we, as Wiccans, claim to be an Earth Religion, then we must treat the Earth as sacred. This means things as uncomfortable as making certain we do not pollute with poorly-maintained vehicles or contribute to the decimation of elephants and gorillas which is taking place in Africa for the mining of the metals used in cell phones.
If someone is an herbalist, then I urge you to determine whether you are a hobbyist or seek to be a health care professional. If the former, then be cautious about the manner in which you dispense advice. I find that the beginners are so often the quickest to want to tell people what herbs to take for various conditions. That is risky business! If you wish to seriously pursue herbal work as a vocation, then hold your standards of education as high as comparable professions. An herbalist must have an extensive knowledge of anatomy, pathology, herbal chemistry, botany, history, government regulations, and the like … but, well balanced with the historical wisdom of Europe, China, North American First Peoples, India, etc. Embrace science. Many Wiccans will believe (faithfully!) what a hobbyist says but distrust a trained doctor
Heart of the Morrighan Community Interfaith Temple
The Passing of a Modern Druid: Isaac Bonewits (1949-2010)
By: Alan Salmi
I turned 50 this past March and have been faced with the reality that as one grows older, one has to face death much more frequently. The passing of a friend last year, alone in his apartment, probably from the flu, had an effect on me of jarring me into an awareness of my own mortality. Today, another friend has passed, although he was in better circumstances with friends, family and loved ones all around him.
Isaac Bonewits wasn’t a name know to most Americans, but to some on the fringes of mainstream religion, he was a pioneer, scholar, ritualist, writer and vehement opponent of sloppy thinking. He first became famous for graduating with a degree in Magic from the University of California – Berkeley. I vaguely remember a mention of this in the paper, it got enough publicity such that the University no longer allows self declared majors in any esoteric area, but it launched his career.
Bonewits explored many areas of the occult: Santeria, various form of Druidism (founding one of the major Druid groups in the world, ADF), Wicca and even spent a short time as a Satanist. His “Satanic Adventure” was written up in an amusing but informative article which foreshadowed his continued outspoken work against forming alliances between mainstream occultists and Satanists for the rest of life.
Shortly after graduation, his first book: Real Magic was published, with a shadowy photo of himself on the cover, smoking a classic, elaborate looking pipe. The book was, in some circles, an instant success and a source of controversy with some occultists stating that he gave away too many secrets, others applauding him for making clear statements about the meaning of religious and magickal experience. He followed this with a work on using magick in role play gaming situations, based on his “Laws of Magic” the theoretical work for which he is most known.
He edited one of the top occult newsletters of the time and then some time later became active on the festival circuit of NeoPagan gatherings. His workshops were often on the areas of magickal theory: guides to constructing ritual, how to use computer metaphors (top down design) to plan for magickal acts, use of the Laws of Magic in ritual. He was also noted for workshops where he spoke on group dynamics, specifically on those individuals who come into groups and end up causing internal strife and mayhem due to their own pathology. He was an advocate for a book that, oddly enough, was mostly found in Christian bookstores: Antagonists in the Church, which educated people on the red flags to spotting these people and what to do with them once they were in your group.
Bonewits was heavily influenced by his study of Indo-European culture and the common roots of that culture in language, myth and religion. His understanding of those roots led him to found ADF (an acronym for the Gaelic phrase “our own druidism”) on the idea that all the pantheons of the Indo-Europeans were appropriate for inclusion in and study by, a Druid group. He served as the first Arch Druid of the group until his health forced him to step down and turn the leadership over to others that he had prepared.
After a period of writer’s block and once his health was somewhat restored, he started to write again, producing books on modern Druidism, Witchcraft, the experience of being a Pagan male and ritual design. He co-wrote a book with his wife, Phaedra, on the use of psychic energy, patterning the title Real Energy on his famous first book.
In keeping with the musical tradition of the Druid path, he also cut albums of Pagan songs, at times even using a chorus of children in the background of one song to emphasize the community calling people to “Be Pagan Once Again”. That song in particular was his solution to the Irish “troubles”, calling the Irish to quit their squabbling that was a result of Christian differences and unite in their common backgrounds in ancient religion.
My first encounter with him was through his first book which had a profound effect on me. Since the 6th grade, I was fascinated by the question of religion. Why were there so many faiths? How was it that so many people believed so many different things but with equal zeal? What was it that continued those faiths and how were “miracles” attributed to each one? Bonewits’ book gave me the answers in his “Laws of Magic” chapter, showing a possible mechanism for belief and how it worked on both a psychic level and a social level to maintain and grow followers for certain concepts. The act of prayer was redefined as another form of “spellcraft”, with laws showing how both could be improved upon. It started me into an investigation of the whole area of esoteric, hidden knowledge that I continue to this day.
When I first met Isaac, I greeted him with the light hearted statement that “your book changed my life, brought me to these great festivals and got me more sex than I thought possible”. While the latter was clearly an exaggeration, he took it in stride and replied “greater praise has an author never had” and it led to continued friendship over email and festivals for some years to come. It was also at a festival that I introduced Phaedra, my friend to him, since she had previously read his book. Little did I know that years later, they would re-connect, eventually marrying and creating a tight partnership in both work and life.
Isaac was clever, often wickedly so, especially in argument with sloppy thinkers or with Satanists. He also understood that being in the position of a leader opened you up to a lot of criticism. I remember the time I visited him at a booth at a festival where he was selling his books and an odd looking T-shirt with concentric circles with the phrase “Pagan Leader” underneath. I realized it was a Bulls-eye! He also had shirts with his “Laws of Magic” diagram on it and various stickers and shirts proclaiming freedom of religion for all religions.
Isaac coined or popularized a lot of terms in the Pagan community, some caught on, some didn’t. His classification of various groups into Paleo/Meso and NeoPagan is one example. I don’t get the sense that many scholars use the terms, but they are easily understandable and helpful in looking at the history of the faith. He also invented a classification system using subjective experience to rate how “cult” like an organization was.
His columns on magic for magazines spoke of the problems of Christian dualism infecting Pagan worldviews and bemoaned the lack of training and ability to perform actual solid magickal acts. The latter he saw as an example of the emphasis on magick as a spiritual tool for evolution, forgetting the “wonder working” aspect of the art, perhaps out of fear of failure and/or the historical fear of having kindling stacked around oneself!
One of his anecdotes is very telling about the use of magic to actually change something. As he related it to me, it involved a member of his group who was a bagpipe player who had his car engine blow up in his face. He ended up in the hospital with the doctors saying that his burns were bad enough that he may not be able to play again. He was in the intensive care unit when they decided to do a magickal working. Since the injured musician was connected to the Celtic path, they made a sacred space with three harps, calling in the Goddess Bridget. She was particularly helpful since she was a fire goddess as well as a goddess of music and healing.
The Priestess invoked her in the little modern Irish that she knew but then it happened: a distinct feeling enveloped the room, her demeanor changed and in ancient Irish she asked why she was called! They explained that a bard who was wounded by fire lay in a nearby house of healing and needed her assistance. She said she would do something about it, whereupon the atmosphere changed once again. The Priestess remembered nothing of the block of time just previously passed and the ritual was completed with everyone thinking that “something happened”.
It was later found that the injured piper had a vision of the Goddess, was shortly out of the ICU and, within weeks, back to playing his pipes! Those students of Bonewits will notice several of the “Law of Magic” in play here, certainly creating the intended effect and making for a grand example of causing real change in the world.
Such stories, interwoven with an understanding of his principles are a strong part of his legacy. His books, songs and recorded lectures will continue to influence generations of occultists, his Druid organization will continue training people in the path of Indo-European scholarship and faith. His memory as one of the founders of the revival of magickal religion will be maintained as long as there are those who continue to practice the art and science of magic. I am happy and proud to have known him as a teacher, friend and colleague on the path of wisdom, scholarship and faith.
Chicago Pagan Pride
By Maria Alioto
We held our Pagan Pride day on Saturday August 14th this year. It was a huge success. We did have a wonderful day. It started out rainy and dreary but the skies cleared up and the sun came out. It was a bit hot for the day. We had about 500 people in attendance this year and raised about 600 pounds of food which went to Southwest Chicago PADS, a homeless shelter on the southwest side of Chicago. They were thrilled to get so much food. They usually only receive small amounts at one time. We raised $189 for Connections for Abused Women and their children. (CAWC)
We were very blessed to have two rituals this year. Rosina performed the Blessing ritual at noon. She had her portal up with a gorgeous dragon tapestry and conducted a wonderful ritual that left people with a great feeling for the day. The Brotherhood of the Phoenix concluded the day with their Energy Ritual.
We had lots of wonderful vendors and merchants, including lots of local people and several who traveled several hours to participate in this year's event. It is really amazing to have so many talented people in one spot. Everyone's stuff was great. We had lovely prizes donated for the silent auction and the raffle. We also had quite a few community booths this year. Different organizations set up booths so that they can connect with people and they can learn a bit more about the different temples, groups and traditions.
We had some lovely additions to our spa center this year, we had a braider and a henna artist in addition to reiki and massage. We had several very gifted readers who came out for the day.
We also had a record number of workshops this year. We have received great feedback about the workshops and hope to have such and outstanding line up again next year.
We were also blessed wonderful entertainers who made a huge impact on the day. Terra Mysterium and David Spellsinger, Amy Christenson and Devona Ankhsunamon came out to perform. A special thanks to DJ JanderVK for spending the day in the sun keeping everyone entertained. We even had a special performance from Shibaten, a visiting Shaman from Japan.
We were going to write an article on Isaac Bonewits who passed away August 12t 2010, just two days before Chicago Pagan Pride. We set up a small memorial as we had a very short time to prepare for a memorial service. AutTumn brought one of Isaac Bonewits books and we made an area for a memorial for him. at one point during the day a man walked up to me and thanked us for remembering his friend Isaac. We proceeded to talk and and he told me how he had met Isaac Bonewits and he in fact was a dear friend of Pheandra and had in fact introduced them to one another. He told me of the tribute he had written about Isaac and he offered to let us publish it. Once you read it you will feel far more connected to Isaac.
I got the chance to connect and visit with some old friends, and see people from previous events and got to make some new friends also and meet many many new people.
All in all it was a great day. If you have not attended a Pagan Pride day event you really must. The energy that is raised from having that many pagans in one area is amazing. We do get lots of non pagan's too as we are in a public park. This is a great way to connect with other pagans and for anyone who has wondered what paganism is all about to come out and see for themselves. They can get a good idea of what goes on and meet people who can help them on their path if they so choose to follow the pagan path.
Lastly we cannot forget all of our awesome volunteers who gave 110% to the day to make things run so smoothly and help make sure everyone was assisted and had a great time.
I can't wait for next year's event.
Many Bright Blessings to you all.
Maria
Volunteer Corner
By Maria Alioto
Merry Meet,
We just want to give all of our wonderful volunteers a huge thank you for such a wonderful job at this year's event. So many of you gave 110% on this day to make it such a huge success. We all thank you.
Blessed Be
Maria Alioto
Chicago Pagan Pride 2010
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Blessed Be,
Maria, Gregory(AutTumn) and Sherry
Chicago Pagan Pride 2010 leadership committee
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