Under the Spell of Gerina Dunwich
By: Melanie Billings
Gerina Dunwich, prolific author of several books, is devoted to dispelling the common misconceptions surrounding witchcraft. She is a practicing witch and astrologer and is gifted in the art of Tarot, pendulum divination and face-scrying. She also founded the tradition of Bast-Wicca. Her published works include Candlelight Spells, The Secrets of Love Magick, and A Wiccan's Guide to Prophecy and Divination. Her newest book, A Witches Guide to Ghosts and the Supernatural is available now.
Mel: How were you first introduced to the art of Witchcraft?
Gerina: You might say that I was born with the “old ways” in my blood. I was greatly drawn to Witchcraft and the occult at an early age and I intuitively felt that I had existed in a past life as a person of magickal ability and had even been burned alive at the stake. This feeling grew stronger as I matured and even manifested itself in the form of dreams, but it was not a negative factor in my life. If anything, it gave me insight and served to strengthen my desire to re-connect with the Old Religion during this lifetime. I was also greatly influenced by the wonderful writings of Sybil Leek when I was growing up, and was first initiated into the Craft by one of my cousins who also introduced me to spiritualism.
Mel: What do you think is the biggest misconception the public has about Wicca and witchcraft in general?
Gerina: There are many misconceptions but the most popular one that many people continue to believe is that Witchcraft is linked to the worship of the Devil of the Christian religion. Actually, nothing could be farther from the truth! Witches are not in league with the Devil. Witches do not even believe in the Devil. He is not, and never has been, a part of the belief system of the Old Religion, which is pre-Christian (and pre-Devil).
And, believe it or not, I am frequently asked during radio interviews if Witches can really fly on broomsticks or turn people into toads. One listener of a Canadian radio show that I was on a few years back even called in to the station to express her concern that some Witches might be out to sacrifice newborn children and drink their blood! She obviously had a very negative view of Witches and it was no easy task convincing her that most Witches were decent law-abiding citizens who respected all life forms and would never dream of sacrificing a human life or even an animal for that matter. I admit that it’s disturbing whenever some misguided soul accuses me (or my sisters and brothers in the Craft) of committing unspeakable atrocities such as murdering and cannibalizing babies because they believe Witches to be evil and this is the sort of thing we do. But it’s precisely this kind of ignorance that motivates me to continue writing books with the intention to dispel the myths and misconceptions that surround Witches and Witchcraft.
Mel: Spell-casting is an extremely powerful tool that can be easily misused and abused. Could you explain the basic rules and proper method for casting spells and what precautions a person should take?
Gerina: Nearly anyone can cast a spell if they are able to focus and concentrate on an idea while raising and releasing energy. One basic rule that Wiccans have is “harm none.” Magick should always be used in positive and constructive ways, and not to harm others. There are many different ways to cast spells, but any herbs and gemstones (and so forth) that are employed should always correspond to the magickal intention. And to further increase the power of one’s spellwork, the proper lunar phase and planetary hour should also be observed. (More information about correspondences, lunar phases and planetary hours can be found in my book, “Exploring Spellcraft.”)
As for precautions, magicians and many Witches alike always work within the protective boundaries of a magick circle. Some individuals find it helpful to visualize being surrounded by a spiraling light of white, silver, or gold, and some pray to the god or goddess of their tradition before doing spellwork. Most of the magickal practitioners that I know also wear some kind of amuletic jewelry, be it a silver pentagram or a gemstone of some sort, to protect as well as to empower.
Mel: Can you explain the tradition of Bast-Wicca?
Gerina: I’ve been a cat lover all my life and always felt that cats possessed mystical qualities. The Bast-Wicca tradition began during the writing of my book, “Your Magickal Cat.” I was doing a great deal of research on the goddess Bast and the cat-worshipping cult that existed in ancient Egypt. I invoked Bast and She “spoke” to my soul. She has remained my patroness deity from that day forward. The Bast-Wicca tradition revolves around Bast and the art of feline magick. It celebrates cats and elevates them to a high spiritual level. Those who follow this path work with the magickal and divinatory energies inherent in felines and regard all cats as sacred animals.
Mel: What is "face-scrying' and how is it done?
Gerina: Face-scrying is a method of divination similar in many ways to crystal ball gazing. It is done simply by steadily gazing into a person’s eyes (usually by the light of a candle) and concentrating until the face before you begins to metamorphose, revealing a face from one of their past lives. I’ve been able to do this since childhood and grew up under the impression that it was something everybody did. I did not realize until I was older that this wasn’t the case. In fact I’ve only met one other Witch who practiced this art. But I’m sure there must be many others out there, and probably many persons not even aware that they possess the ability. In addition to face-scrying others, I’ve scryed my own reflection in a mirror on a number of occasions. I’ve also tried this method on faces in photographs, but with a lesser degree of success than when working with a living subject.
Mel: What is the importance of Wicca in the study of ghosts and haunting?
Gerina: The Wiccan religion, unlike Christianity and some other faiths, does not view ghosts and hauntings as being demonic or diabolical. Being a tradition that is both animistic and shamanistic in nature, it regards all living things as possessing a soul or a spirit. And it acknowledges that, upon death, a spirit may remain earthbound for any number of reasons, such as an unwillingness to accept death and move on. Or its purpose for remaining on earth may be for teaching and guiding those among the living.
One of the significant links between Wicca and ghosts can be found in the annual October 31st Witches’ Sabbat of Halloween (also known as Samhain to Pagans of the Celtic traditions). This is the time of year when the veil between the spirit world and the mortal world is said to be at its thinnest, allowing for easier communication between the living and the dead. In addition to holding séances and using various methods to make contact with spirits, many Wiccans hold special rituals at this time of the year to honor and bless those among the deceased.
Mel: Halloween has deep roots in Pagan tradition. Can you give us a brief history of Halloween and explain the true meaning of some of the most common aspects of the holiday, such as black cats and Jack-O-Lanterns?
Gerina: Halloween originated in Ireland thousands of years ago. Known then as Samhain, it marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter, and was seen as a time when spirits freely roamed the earth and the fairy folk (both good and malevolent) became the most active. The Druid priests also regarded it as a time for interpreting omens for the coming year. The Catholic Church, in their attempt to Christianize the old Pagan festival of the dead, officially declared November 1st to be All Hallows’ Day and October 31st thus became All Hallows’ Eve (which later evolved into the word, Halloween). In the 19th century, Irish immigrants brought many of the old customs and legends associated with Halloween to the United States.
Black cats and jack-o’-lanterns are two of Halloween’s most popular symbols. The black cat is the traditional Witch’s familiar, and the bringer of either good or bad luck (depending on which country you’re from). The origin of the jack-o’-lantern can be traced back to Ireland where hollowed-out turnips, rather than pumpkins, were used as hand-held lanterns to scare away any evil ghosts that might be lurking in the shadows at Halloween time. The jack-o’-lantern is also a relic from the days when food offerings were made to the spirits of the dead. Ghosts, skulls, and skeletons are also significant Halloween symbols as they communicate this ancient holiday’s link to the cycle of death and rebirth.
Mel: You are quite a prolific writer. Do you have a special method for writing, such as a certain time of day or certain place?
Gerina: I normally write either very early in the morning or very late at night when it’s quiet and I’m all by myself. Sometimes I meditate for a while before I sit down to work on a chapter, especially whenever “writer’s block” rears its ugly head. Meditation relaxes me and helps me to become more focused.
Mel: Tell us about your newest book, A Witch's Guide to Ghosts and the Supernatural.
Gerina: I’ve included many of my true personal experiences with ghosts and hauntings in “A Witch’s Guide to Ghosts and the Supernatural.” I have had the good fortune to live in three different haunted houses during my lifetime, and my experiences with each are chronicled in the book. There are also true ghost stories contributed by authors Tamara Thorne, Karri Ann Allrich, Sirona Knight, and others. In addition to the ghost stories, the book is filled with many practical things such as spells to conjure, banish, and protect against the spirits of the dead, resources listing paranormal investigators and websites, and instructions for holding a séance, properly using a Ouija board, and conducting a ghost hunt like the professionals. It was a fun book to put together, and out of all the ones I’ve written so far, it’s probably the one I’m most partial to.
Phantom Felines and Other Ghostly Animals
Have you ever had a personal encounter with the ghostly
apparition of a cat, dog, or other animal? If the answer to this question is a
yes, then this invitation is for you.
Gerina Dunwich (best-selling author of A Witch's Guide to Ghosts and the
Supernatural) is putting together a new book about animal apparitions and
hauntings, and is currently seeking true stories to be included in it.
Especially wanted are stories about the ghosts of family pets and other animals,
buildings and places where animal apparitions have been sighted, and local
legends about animals returning from the dead.
The book, tentatively titled Phantom Felines and Other Ghostly Animals, will be
published by Citadel Press (an imprint of Kensington Books, New York) and will
be available in bookstores in the fall of 2006, just in time for Halloween!
All contributors will receive a byline and a bio, as well as the opportunity to
share their true stories with thousands of readers. But most importantly, their
written contributions to this project will help to prove the theory that all
cats and other animals, just like their human counterparts, each possess a
spirit. And sometimes, for reasons often unknown, these spirits remain
earthbound.
GUIDELINES
Stories can be chilling, sad, heartwarming, or humorous. They can be about a
personal experience, a local legend, or a documented haunting, as long as it
involves an animal spirit. Please give as many details as possible. You may
submit as many different stories as you wish.
Previously unpublished stories written in either first person or third person
are preferred. Each story should be between 300 and 1000 words, and may be
submitted via Microsoft Word or typed within the body of an e-mail and sent
to: gerinadunwich@yahoo.com Be sure
to include your name, bio, and mailing address with each submission. (Your
mailing address will not be published.) If you wish to submit a digital photo
with your story, please make sure it is high resolution (minimum of 300 DPI)
and include the name of the photographer so that he or she can be given proper
credit if the photo is used in the book. If your story is accepted for
publication in the book, you will be required to sign a standard publishing
agreement that gives the author and publisher permission to use your story. All
stories are subject to editing. Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2005.
Please feel free to post this announcement online and/or forward it to those who
might be interested in participating in this project. Thanks!