Copper Moon E-zine

Interview with Katalin Koda author of Fire of the Goddess

Fire of the Goddess is a beautiful goddess-centric guidebook by Katalin Koda. With myths, exercises and ritual tips, Fire of the Goddess is a spiritual guide that offers words of wisdom, courage and kindness. Copper Moon E-zine is lucky to have had the opportunity to interview Katalin Koda regarding this latest work!

Can you tell us about Fire of the Goddess and how the idea developed? 

  I had been working directly with the goddess and sacred feminine for about fifteen years. I was first introduced to the goddess through Wicca, then later while living in India and studying Yoga, Tantric texts and Vajrayana Buddhism. I lived with my husband in India for seven years and our daughter was born in Kerala. There, I found myself surrounded by women who were immersed in a different kind of relationship with the divine feminine, one that had many faces, moods and qualities. When we left India, I was contemplating a book on the sacred feminine and in one moment, this list of archetypes emerged during one of my evening meditations. Then I began researching the goddess much more in depth, really seeking out stories and myths and the evolution of the sacred feminine. Then my family moved to the Big Island of Hawaii where I was introduced to Pele, the goddess of the volcano and the rich stories of Hawaiian mythology and culture. That was a huge turning point, to be able to feel the presence of the sacred feminine beyond India, and in relation to the land even more deeply. All of this inspired me to create a way for women to access archetypes beyond maiden, mother and crone, something more complex. During the writing of Fire of the Goddess I co-taught a women’s group on Power, Love and Wisdom of the sacred feminine which corroborated with my research and I used those as the themes for my book.

 

The book begins with the Fire Bearer and the Initiate. These two archetype themes at first seem dark in nature but have purpose. Why did you start out with such intense archetypes ?

I feel a sort of urgency right now to reclaim ‘darkness’ which for me is actually the indigenous heart and connection to the earth. In order for us to do this, it seems imperative to face things as they really are, to face our own rage, fear, sorrow, loss and allow those things to be there and then learn to accept them, thus creating space for dissolution. To me, this is true power and I don’t know how far we can progress if we do not first begin to interact with our inner power. I find in many spiritual traditions, there is first the work on quieting the mind and building compassion in the heart and these are essential of course, but often these spiritual traditions are born out of male lineages AND are from eastern cultures. Although in essence, we are all the same mind, still women, western women have specific cultural and gender issues which I feel must be dealt with before we can really cultivate this quiet mind and compassionate heart. It is as if thousands of years of subjugation lives in our DNA even, dominating earth, women, fear of birth, menses and death, racial slaughter, the list goes on. And my method is to get in there and start digging around, unearth, get that soreness out to the light, so we can examine it and begin to build our power, which is really an aspect of deep self love. I feel that by connecting with our inner fire first, gives us the strength to face the darkness revealed by the initiate and allows us the ground to reclaim our specific traumas around our first menses, rape, molestation, or simply feeling lesser for being a woman. Then the healing process arises naturally and we are better able to grow in a loving manner without suppressing these parts of us that are yearning to be heard.

Interview with Kyrja, Author of The Rupert Series

Kyrja is the author of the Rupert's Tales series of books. The author has generously agreed to share some insight into her world and the creation energy behind Rupert and his stories. This popular pagan centered children's book series has been published by Schiffer Publishing.

Can you tell us about Rupert's Tales and how the idea developed? Where did you draw your inspiration from?
Rupert’s Tales started because I first wrote “The Monster Got Mom.” My family was gathered for one holiday or another, with my brothers reminiscing about their childhood adventures in seeking out a monster in the dead of the night. They claimed they were up because they heard some scary sounds. Everyone was delighted with their silly stories. But then it happened - one relative laughed, saying “Someone should write a book about that!” Another said, “Kyrja, you’re the writer in the family ....” So that’s what I did. Like Rupert’s Tales, it rhymes all the way through and is delightfully ridiculous to read – with a surprise ending.

If you’re a writer, perhaps you know the feeling of the “pressure” you get when one of the voices in your head is wriggling more than the others. The story (or parts of it) pops up through the whirling chaos of creativity more and more often, until you simply have to stop what you’re doing to listen. That’s what happened with Rupert. I’d been getting glimpses of him off and on – and I still had all this rhyming stuff in my head. At the time, I was working as a laborer and heavy equipment operator in the construction industry. I had been at work for two hours one morning, when I knew I could stand no more. I told my foreman I had to go home to write. He was probably the best foreman anyone ever had anywhere, so he let me go. I wrote “Rupert’s First Beltane” that day. Then created a series of Rupert’s Tales by writing another story about our furry friend for each Sabbat that followed. It has been impossible not to keep writing them.

My inspiration for Rupert and what he will learn next is derived from my own life; how I understand and celebrate the sabbats, what things are important to me, and the desire to share the wonder of life and magick with others.

 

What age group is Rupert's Tales created for? Who can be a Friend of Rupert?
As far as I am concerned, Rupert’s Tales are for everyone, from cradle to grave. These are the stories you wish you would have had as a kid, because you can pull them out each and every sabbat to find out how Rupert celebrates, and what he learned this time. They are specific enough to be useful, while general enough to allow for a wide variety of traditions. One of the most-important things about Rupert’s Tales is that they make a point of saying there are many ways to celebrate – and they rhyme; making them a lot of fun to read out loud.

What I envision is parents reading to their children, then they read the stories for themselves, as they grow older. As a child becomes more aware of the world at-large, and their own path in particular, the lessons Rupert learns in his tales become the child’s own lessons. They provide a beginning place for discussion and education. A parent might say, “This is how Rupert celebrates, but we do something a little different.”

I think it is very, very important to include children from the earliest moments in life in our celebrations and in our everyday magickal workings. Rupert can help, but if parents want their children to have choices, then they must teach their little ones what their own choices are.

Everyone can be a Friend of Rupert! While the first two books are about the eight sabbats of the Wheel of the Year, you do not have to be a Pagan to be enchanted by Rupert and the magick found in his tales. All knowledge is worth having.

 

Interview with Gede Parma author of Spirited: Taking Paganism Beyond the Circle

Interviewed by Gwinevere Rain

Can you explain the central concept behind your book Spirited? Why did you decide to address the social aspects of the path rather than tackle a basic 101 format? 
 
In the foreword of my book I explain briefly how I came to be inspired to write Spirited in the first place. I was frustrated and disappointed at the lack of valuable intermediate and 'beyond' Pagan reading material and so I decided to write the book I craved. Quite a few authors find this type of situation to be stimulating to the literary genius! In a nutshell there are a vast quantity of great 101 books out there - I didn't need to write another. Thus 'Spirited: Taking Paganism Beyond the Circle' was birthed.

In Chapter 3: Schooling Pagans, you discussed young pagans at school. You even mentioned Christian students became aware of your path. What advice do you have for a teen weighing the option of "coming out" at school?

Coming out as Pagan, whatever your path/tradition, at school is always a tough choice to make - especially when you may end up sacrificing friendships in the long-run. If anyone at all is considering the options in regards to this issue one really needs to be level-headed, grounded and open to the wisdom of the Gods at all times.

I explain in the Schooling Pagans chapter how I never intended to 'come out' when I did; it was discovered that I was Pagan when a Christian student noticed my pentagram and asked about its significance. I explained to her the symbolism of the pentagram as any Pagan worth their maypole would, and yet the information just seemed to go in one ear and out the other. Immediately the satanic remarks and stereotypes surfaced. The whole encounter actually caused quite a bit of emotional unrest in my life. The moral of this story I believe is that one needs to be absolutely 100 percent certain of who, when, why and how they will 'come out'.

Coming out is such a big issue for so many minority groups in this world. It's a strange and often unwelcome fact that people find they have to come out as anything in the 21st century. Everything is questioned - sexuality, religion, ethnicity, creed, political preference. Questioning is great! However when the motive is to draw lines and imprison people via labels questioning becomes a relic of the various Inquisitions that plagued Europe back in the day. We should all be proud heretics (those who choose)! I think ultimately the (Neo)Pagan community can gain a lot from observing and interfacing with the GBLTIQ (Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgender, Intersex, Queer) community in that the Queer community embraces 'Pride' as our avenue towards greater freedom of expression - freedom of being! I am Pagan and I am proud - once you reach that point, coming out becomes more of a right rather than a privelege.

You seem to have a very close group of pagan friends and community. Some even wrote passages enclosed in spirited. Have you ever had infighting? How do you address squabbles between individuals?

Interview with Author Dianne Sylvan

Dianne Sylvan is the author of The Circle Within and The Body Sacred. She graciously agreed to participate in an interview with Copper Moon E-zine. We discussed concepts featured in both books, her blog and grabbed some great advice in the process!

1. What motivated you to start writing about your religious path?

Well, I’m a writer, and I’m religious.  It seemed like a natural segue.  Really, though, back when I first got the itch to write The Circle Within, there was a glut of Wicca 101 material on the market and very little of it dealt directly the spiritual aspects of Wicca.  It was mostly “you need x and y tools, stand here, wave your arms like this, memorize these words, here are your correspondence tables.”  By that time I’d already been practicing for years and I was looking for more.  I decided that instead of complaining about the lack of more spiritually in-depth material I would contribute some of my own.  You know what they say:  if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.  

2. In your book The Circle Within, you write about what you call "Wiccan Graces." Can you describe the meaning behind this term and provide an example?

Wiccan Graces is a pretty term to describe a fairly mundane concept:  virtues.  You can take several virtues from the “Charge of the Goddess,” for example:  mirth and reverence, et cetera, and use them as guideposts for self-improvement.  That’s a much healthier way to grow, in my opinion, than a punishment/reward model as many other religions have.  Virtue-based ethics allows for more freedom of choice, and it puts the responsibility on the individual.  The list of Graces I detail in The Circle Within includes virtues like love, integrity, and gratitude, but I also say that each person has to come up with her own set to go by.  Even in the years since I wrote the book my own personal Graces have evolved a little, but that’s the beauty of Wicca:  it’s an organic religion that has plenty of room to grow, if we’ll let it.

3. Often advice for new Wiccans is read, read, read. What do you suggest intermediate Wiccans do to revive a stale practice?

Go outside.  Don’t just meditate on the Elements, go out and feel them squish between your toes.  Meet the Goddess where She lives, in nature, and while you’re at it revive your own self-care practices; eat better, exercise, get enough rest and enough play.  Live fully in your body and in the world.  And above all, keep showing up. 

Interview with Sandra Kynes author of Your Altar

For this week's feature we have a fantastic interview with Sandra Kynes author of Your Altar. Please enjoy and feel free to leave comments below!

Is Your Altar specifically for Wiccan/Pagan people? Or can anyone read the book?

This book is for anyone interested in altars and spirituality – it’s an interfaith exploration about the use of the altar as a tool for meditation. It draws from Christian, Pagan, Buddhist and other traditions, as well as non-religious concepts such as the principles of Reiki and even our five senses.

What inspired you to write Your Altar? How long was the writing process?

It took me about two years to put it together. I was inspired by the power that an altar holds. It occurred to me that an altar is more than a place to put a candle or other objects for meditation or worship. Over time we build up a lot of energy with our altars and they become places that are separate from and yet important to our everyday lives.

Author Arin Murphy-Hiscock

For this edition of Copper Moon E-zine, we interviewed Arin Murphy-Hiscock, author of SOLITARY WICCA FOR LIFE and POWER SPELLCRAFT FOR LIFE. She discusses her initial exposure to Wicca, her fantastic books, offers advice for teens and much more!

Can you tell us about your journey into Wicca?  How did it alter your original perceptions of religion?
I found out about Wicca while doing research for a character over ten years ago, and while reading about it I realized that I identified with a lot of the precepts and beliefs. . . .

Interview with Laurie Faria Stolarz YA Fiction author

Archive: December 2006

Laurie Faria Stolarz agreed to answer questions about her books, her writing and offers advice for aspiring novelists. She is the author of Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, Red is for Rememberance and an upcoming YA novel called Bleed. Here is the interview . . .

What inspired you to write this series?

I first started Blue is for Nightmares in an adolescent fiction writing workshop at Emerson College. I knew I wanted to write a mystery/thriller. I loved suspense novels as a young adult and I really wanted to write something that would have appealed to me at that age, adding in elements of humor, romance, and drama. I wanted my main character to be relatable for teens; I wanted her to be flawed, to have secrets, and to have lots of opportunity for growth.

When I started the novel, I had no idea I would delve into the world of magic and witchcraft. That is until I did a free-writing exercise in my workshop class. I had no idea what I wanted Stacey, my main character to do, so I had her meditating in front of a blue candle, looking for answers. Because I had made Stacey originally from Salem, MA, like me, people in my writers group made the witchcraft connection with the candle. They encouraged me to go in that direction. That one scene ended up being the inspiration for the novel and now the series.

Even though I grew up in Salem, I didn’t know too much about the formal practice of the Craft, though I had heard growing up that my grandmother had experience with the sixth sense. I started doing research and asking lots of questions. I learned a lot this way. I learned of passed down home remedies, interesting family superstitions, tea readings, card readings, and specific experiences with the sixth sense, some of which find themselves in the novel.

I also researched the more formal practices of Witchcraft and Wicca, as well as other folk magical practice/home remedies that pass down within families. Having done this research and seeing the way that Witchcraft is so often negatively portrayed in the media, I wanted to show the true peaceful nature of this earth-based religion, without the hocus-pocus. I wanted to weave an education into the story, using Stacey Brown as a reflective, self-empowering young woman.

After writing Blue is for Nightmares, I knew I wanted to create a trilogy, which I did, however, I also knew that the ending of Silver is for Secrets begged for a sequel. That is how Red is for Remembrance came to be.

Interview with Jason Miller author of Protection & Reversal Magick

Archive: July 2006

Jason Miller, author of Protection & Reversal Magick: A Witch's Defense Manual, New Page Books. For those people who haven’t read the book yet, Mr. Miller goes in depth about different kinds of magical attack from people and spirits and how to defend yourself against these attacks.

What inspired you to write a book about Protection & Reversal Magick?

It’s just not something that has been covered very well yet in my opinion. Even books that do cover protection
Magick tend to shy away from Reversals or Counter-Magick because these types of spells can potentially cause harm to another person, which is something that most publishers in the Pagan and Magickal press are not willing to print. Magick of this type however has been an integral part of witchcraft historically and should not be overlooked simply to appeal to people that would prefer to view the craft as all sweetness and light.

For some reason this type of work seems to be a strong part of my karma. Even before offering my services to the public I found myself called upon to defend myself and others. I have also launched a curse or two in my time, so I know the role of attacker as well. I saw that there was a need for a book like this and I wanted to write one that told the truth of how it is and not hold anything back.

Interview with Kristin Madden author of Magickal Crafts

Archive May 2006

Author Kristin Madden joins us to discuss her latest book, Magickal Crafts which she co-author with Liz Roberts. Kristin discusses her favorite crafts, writing and how she feels being called the "Pagan Martha Stewart." Here is our interview . . .

What inspired you to develop the concept of Magickal Crafts?
Liz and my son really inspired the creation of this book. Liz and I develop a great many art projects for the kids to complement homeschooling and what they learn about our spiritual paths plus we love to craft our own sacred objects. She kept telling me that we needed to put it all into a book. In addition, my son started his own business a few years ago and named it Magical Crafts. He has also been telling me to write a crafts book and he kindly allowed us to use the name from his business.

Dotti Enderle author of The Fortune Tellers Club series!

Archive: Winter 2005

About the FTC from the inside back cover: "Follow Juniper, Anne and Gena - the founding members of the Fortune Tellers Club as they use Tarot cards, crystal balls and other cool fortune telling tools to solve mysteries and save lives."

Books from the Fortune Tellers Club Series: The Lost Girl, Playing with Fire, The Magic Shades, Secrets of the Lost Arrow, Hand of Fate, Mirror, Mirror, The Burning Pendulum.

How did you initially come up with the idea of the Fortune Tellers Club series?
The series is based on my own childhood, and my two best friends, Pamela and Debbie. We spent hours and hours playing with the Ouija board and any other forms of divination we could comprehend. Our goal was to divine the future of course, wanting to know which movie star we’d marry or which romantic foreign country we’d travel to first. We didn’t solve any mysteries, but we probably would have had it occurred to us to try.