Syncretism demands that we uphold the ethics of integrity, that we abide by the laws of congruence rather than conformity, and that we honor and revel in the infinite realms of possibility as our primal foundation rather than as a transcendent ideal. A true eclectic, as Christopher Penczak postulates in his Living Temple books (Llewellyn), should aspire to know and experience all the manifold sources and streams that inspire and stimulate the mind, heart, soul, and body. As always, there is a fine line between spiritual syncretism and eclecticism. Journey well and blessed be.
Gede Parma is a Witch, initiated Priest, and award-winning author. He is an initiate and teacher of the WildWood Tradition of witchcraft, a hereditary healer and seer with Balinese-Celtic ancestry, and an enthusiastic writer. Gede is a keen student of natural health therapies with a deep interest in herbal healing and nutrition. He is currently pursuing a bachelor of health science degree in these fields. He is the proud partner of a beautiful Virgo man and the devoted priest of the goddesses Persephone, Aphrodite, and Hekate. His spiritual path is highly syncretic and incorporates elements of traditional shamanism, Balinese Hinduism, British-Celtic witchcraft, Stregheria, Greek Paganism, Feri, Reclaiming, and WildWood witchcraft. You can visit Gede at www.gedeparma.com.
Illustrator: Christa Marquez
* Serapis was a king-force who held within himself the glorious lineage of Hades, King of the Underworld and collector of souls, and the multiple and diverse strengths and aspects of the native rising-dying deities. This was a God who had existed in many times and places prior to his birth in Alexandrian Egypt, but who became something apart from and autonomous within himself.
† My Gods of Breath/Spirit are those beings which I relate to on levels which aren’t immediately apparent and are not directly related to my genetic ancestry. I tend to experience my Gods of Breath as karmic (e.g. past lives and devotions, etc.).
‡ This is the word I use to signify the spiritual significance of the connections and relationships we forge with the beings in the living world of which we are wholly a part.
But, You Don’t Look
Like a Witch
Mickie Mueller
I made my way through the city streets of St. Louis on my way to drop off a proof sheet and a disk of art files to one of our printers. You know, boring industry stuff for my day job. I could have passed for anyone in the pre-press business, wearing slacks, a conservative top with cardigan (perish the thought), and jewelry you can buy at any department store. No witchy boots on my feet nor pointy hat atop my auburn locks. So what’s a nice witch like me doing in a getup like that? I had to ask myself, am I any less of a witch in my casual work attire, without even a small pentacle tucked inside my blouse?
Ok, all of us know that real witches don’t have green skin, warts and wear pointy hats, right? Well, that old Halloween witch stereotype used to be what everyone in the mainstream world believed witches looked like. So are there new stereotypes of what witches should look like? And if so, where do these stereotypes come from, and are you “witchy enough” for your fellow witches? Do you lose your power without your pentagram on?
There are some in the Pagan community who seem very concerned about who looks witchy enough, or the importance of wearing your magical jewelry to every occasion, magical or mundane. Some people wear “witchy” garb everywhere they go, and kudos to those who can and do. There are also those in the community who—because of regional, work, family, or other reasons—are in no position to realistically go about in a swoosh of black with a big pentagram. For example, I would love to have a real estate agent who is also a witch, but I probably wouldn’t want her wearing a flowing black cape and a pentagram the size of a hubcap while showing my home to a potential buyer. Why? I live in the real world, where a buyer might not be sympathetic to my personal religious choices. Those prejudices could make it hard for me to get my house sold, which could hurt my family and well-being. As a witch, my real estate agent might have plenty of magic tricks up her sleeve to help sell my house, and she doesn’t need her best gothic gear to do it either.
I know a witch who works at a funky clothing boutique, and she dresses up everyday for work, and it’s never a problem. But for her sister’s baby shower, she toned it down. She wore nice casual clothing and left the witch-specific jewelry at home, because the
