I think that it is pretty easy to see what the next Path for Pagan Publishing is likely to be, now that Pagans have really (really) got “How-To” Ritual Books down. As we can judge from the three notable works cited below, I believe that the Age of the Magickal Memoir or Biography is upon us.
Philip Heselton has been investigating Gerald Gardner’s backstory for the better part of the 2000s. His first two books definitively settled the question of “Did Gerald Gardner ‘make up’ Wicca” in favor of “From what source did he get it”? incredibly, in the 40-something years since Gardner’s death, there has not been a biography of the man credited with starting the Neo-Pagan movement- until Mr. Heselton’s game-changing Witchfather: A Life of Gerald Gardner. Not unusually (for a work with no real precedents) this will remain the sine qua non work on Gardner- until someone else comes along, to contribute another “take” of equal value (here’s the thing: Mr. Heselton has now raised the stakes kind of high in the field of Gardner biography). Volume I was reviewed here at the Juggler by Scott, who reviewed Volume II here.
As most things will in the world, Wicca and Neo-Paganism (once established) spread to New York City- where occult writer and publisher James Wasserman became enamored of the Thelemic Traditions of Aleister Crowley. His memoir of the Magickal Scene in New York in the ’70s and early ’80s In the Center of the Fire: A Memoir of the Occult 1966-1989 not only captures the spirit of the Occult Renaissance of the time, it covers the establishment of the Tahuti Lodge, one of the most prominent groups dedicated to Crowley’s work in the world. Other than in Drawing Down the Moon, the Magickal “Moveable Feast” in the Big Apple during this unique period of its history has not been touched upon, making this work a must-have for the library of any scholarly minded Pagan.
Of course, the scene in New York at the time was far too large and fertile, and the number of individuals involved too great, to be justly covered in one volume. All the more excellent, then, that Michael Lloyd’s Bull of Heaven: The Mythic Life of Eddie Buczynski and the Rise of the New York Pagan has just been released. Whereas Mr. Wasserman considers the Happening from his own Thelemic point-of-view, Mr. Lloyd researches the life of Eddie Buczynski, an important player in those days and the founder of the Minoan Brotherhood, a Magickal Tradition for Gay Men that continues to the present. I have not had the chance yet to read Mr. Lloyd’s work, but he provided a Guest Post at The Wild Hunt and was interviewed on the podcast Eat My Pagan Ass.
These works are important (hence my prediction that we will see more like them), because they establish our History- a significant thing for a new Movement. A People without a History are a People un-moored in Time.
I completely agree. But then, I don’t think I have ever disagreed with Zan!
The idea that “Age of the Magickal Memoir or Biography is upon us” makes a lot of sense. There’s a bunch of folks who’ve been part of the awakening to Paganism and they’re (we’re?) getting older. Looking back.
Spiral Dance was published more than 30 years ago. Church of All Worlds was founded 50 years ago. and those folks are still w/ us. Sharing memories makes a lot of sense…..that’s how they won’t get lost, the memories.
Hey Helen/Hawk- funny you should mention CAW, because I’ve been thinking (seriously), if Oberon Zell is smart, he will already have a special notebook, on which he will be jotting down notes, I remember this; I remember that (as of course I hope, will Ms. Starhawk).
Of course, it will all pale next to: STAR FOSTER: My Life in Pagan Blogging (THAT’S the memoir I want to read)!
Of course, I guess inevitably, it will come down to: Christian Day: My Life as a Salem Warlock (the memoir that everyone will read, to tear it apart).
But you are so correct (I love your phrase): it is establishing the History of the Modern Awakening (or the modern Re-Awakening) of Paganism and the Pagan (is it not?)
Zan,
Oberon has been working/reworking his autobiography for the past couple of years. It will be coming out through Llewellyn (I believe) sometime in the future. Ray Buckland is also working on his memoirs between steampunk novels. I’m looking forward to reading both works.
Incidentally, thank you for listing me amongst such prominent and established authors. Both Heselton and Wasserman provided valuable input to “Bull of Heaven,” and I greatly respect them.
Yea! Saw my first copy of Bull of Heaven tonight! All of the New York guys ordered copies immediately, and the first ones have arrived (I’m expecting mine over the weekend). Gary was showing off his to me, Cory, and Mojo over dinner: it’s very impressive; roughly Drawing Down the Moon size; approximately 600 pages, with some 100 pages of end-notes, and like twelve pages of Bibliography. It’s got two wonderful sections of photos, with shots of Magickal Childe and the original East Village Enchantments that bring back memories. Can’t wait to start reading my own!
On “Bull of Heaven”, my first response was something to the effect of ‘OMG, all the rarely seen photos of of NY Pagans back in the day’. I’m still reading the book but I loved the story of how Eddie’s Parents met, Leo Martello’s story makes me want to coordinate a Witch-in, and Herman Slater’s section makes me want to have been born 15 years earlier. Michael Lloyd writes history in a way that makes you want to read more. I wish I had more time to read but will savor each minute I can put aside for Bull of Heaven.