Sunfell

Sunfell is a TechMage and eclectic adept with nearly three decades of Pagan and magical experience. Or as she says:

"My basis of Path is Rosicrucian, with a nice mix of lineaged initiatory Alexandrian Witchcraft, Native American studies, British Spiritualism, Chaos and Discordianism, Thelema and 'old school' occultism. Some would call me hopelessly eclectic, but I've come to learn that this is actually a compliment. Eclecticism isn't spiritual 'attention deficit' as some would want to believe. Instead, eclecticism is the key to the Path to Adeptship, if respectfully followed. My Patroness is Sekhmet- she chose me 13 years ago at the British Museum. That's when I touched her Image, and she awoke me to our long history together."

The Second Circle: What is your background in Paganism? How long have you been practicing and what paths have you followed?

Sunfell: I've been on my Path since I was 12 or 13- in the early mid 70s. I felt a calling that was outside the Catholic Church, which I was raised in, and I paid attention to it. The first 7 years were difficult because I was at home, and there were no books to read, but once I left home at 19 and got through basic training and tech school, I quickly began devouring books. Starhawk's "Spiral Dance" and Adler's "Drawing Down the Moon" were published at the same time I left home, and they were early influences, along with the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, and the POW SIG of Mensa. I continued my studies when I was shipped to Germany, and was fortunate enough to run into a Teacher who was a lineaged Alexandrian Witch. She and her husband taught and initiated a group of about 7 of us. I also was part of a military group who managed to get Paganism and Wicca recognized as a legitimate faith – before that, it was very difficult for us. In fact, when someone (rarely) asks for 'proof' of my initiation and claim to my 'time in service' all I have to do is drag out the November 26, 1987 issue of "The Stars And Stripes" and show them the exclusive interview. The photo is me. So, I've been at it a while. My studies continued during my tour of England, where I met several wonderful people who became Teachers also. One was actor Patrick Stewart's childhood acting teacher, and we shared a wonderful series of visits and a correspondence during the last year of her life. She was a genuine old school traditionalist, full of light and wisdom. I miss her.

Of late, my studies have drifted away from Wicca and back to the Hermetic and Gnostic Western Mystery traditions of my earlier years, with the added spice of Discordianism, Chaos Magick, and Thelema. I like the Path of the TechMage, because it combines my love of technology and Magick. I've also been studying a lot of Franz Bardon's stuff, as well as the writings and philosophy of Manly P. Hall. And I've been reading material on the "Left Hand Path". Funny- some of it is remarkably similar to the "Right Hand Path", and I sense a 'spazz' (as my Thelemic friend Kalyx calls it) coming on to compare and contrast the two paths.

TSC: How do you feel Paganism has changed since you started out?

Sunfell: Paganism has changed quite a lot since I started out. When I was a sprout, Paganism was still quite deeply hidden, and the subject of the usual Halloween spookery coverage from the media. I did not dare admit that I was a Pagan or Witch- because the military was full of rather zealous Christians, who took delight in making my life a misery when they found out. In the early days, the zealous Christians and the general misunderstanding were the greatest problem. People who became Pagan were very serious about their Path- because they knew the risk to their jobs and even their lives.

Today, it is much different- for good and ill. Today's Pagans have each other to watch out for instead of Christians- the widely available material and cultural popularity of the Craft in its various iterations has flung the gates open for the less than stable sorts to come pouring in, claim grandiose titles and 'degrees', and wrack havoc in the communities they dwell in. When I was a pre-internet sprout, there were no such things as 'witch wars', and any arguments or disputes we had were more along the lines of idealism or details of history than the nasty trolling and power plays that destroy covens and communities today. The risk is lower, so the crazies and the unsuitable come flooding in.

TSC: What is one thing that, in your eyes, characterizes the advancing Pagan?

Sunfell: The advancing Pagan has a mixture of compassion and no-nonsense attitude, a wry sense of humor and a calm centeredness that reflects their confidence in their abilities. Zealots of any sort do not bother them- their inner confidence is the best 'shield' against the undermining tactics of both Evangelicals and Pagan bullies. Advancing Pagans understand the difference between 'power over' and 'power within' and have rejected the former for the latter.

TSC: What advice would you give those who are just now leaving their beginning stage and looking to advance?

Sunfell: Understand that there will be periods of frantic activity where you are in 'sponge mode', and there will also be periods of reflectivity, where you must digest what you've learned and apply it to your practice. Do not force these things- drift and digest when you need to, and learn and grow when that time is ripe. You will not fall behind. Also, it is OK to get bored with the same old same old. This is generally a signal that you are approaching the next growth spike.

TSC: If you could go back in time and speak with yourself in your first year as a Pagan, what advice would you give to you?

Sunfell: Stay the Path, and trust your guts. I think I did tell myself that in some way, because I distinctly remember being told in dreams that I was on the right Path, in spite of things around me seeming to fall apart.

TSC: What are the challenges you face as a more experienced Pagan? How do you meet those challenges?

Sunfell: I think the same challenges as an experienced Pagan are the same ones I am facing as I enter middle age: keeping the cynicism at a minimal level, and the gentle humor, love of learning, curiosity and wisdom at a maximum level. Try not to be a blustery old bore, but also understand that the newbies are starving for spiritual food. And try to be patient and civil with them- they sometimes have some outrageous demands. Suddenly I am the wise Master Adept teaching my young and impatient apprentices the same 'wax on, wax off' exercises as I was taught. I recognize the wisdom of my own Teachers now- suddenly I am in their shoes.

The biggest challenge is trying not to laugh out loud at some of the outrageous questions or demands I get. Spell requests, especially. I don't do spells. I do let them know in a sometimes not-so-subtle manner that making such requests is very poor manners, and that only losers or wannabes ask for such things. It sorts the losers from the choosers. Yes, my own teachers embarrassed me in the same manner.

TSC: Do you have any rules or maxims that you follow? If so, what are they?

Sunfell: The only absolute 'rule' I follow is that I take a few minutes each day to perform my "Rite of Gratitude". It is a simple offering of a stick of incense to my Patroness, and I've been doing it without a break for nearly 8 years.

I also follow the TechMage Rule:
"Nine Words suit
The TechMage best:
Keep what works
Fix what's broke
Ditch the rest."

TSC: What are your primary areas of focus, spiritually speaking? If you are active in your local Pagan community, in what capacity do you see yourself working?

Sunfell: I write. I teach workshops, and am in demand for writing rituals for various groups. (I haven't yet done a full initiate level Drawing Down and prophesy Circle in my community- no one is yet at that level of knowledge). Mostly, I am something like an Elder in many ways- people come to me for advice, guidance, and experience. I try to help them as best I can. My main duty seems to be that of a Guardian Adept or Watcher- my Warrior background seems to be the primary reason for that. I keep the bullies, charlatans, fakes, and trolls away. I am the one who demands proof when a 'Lord or Lady Muckamuck' suddenly appears and starts soliciting for people to join their group. I can smell a fake a mile away, and I 'out' them and run them off- and keep them away. I don't do 'rescues' though- sometimes baby Pagans need to be 'snakebit' to learn the difference between a real Teacher and a false troll. It happened to me, but I really don't like trying to clean up after such people- the walking wounded they leave behind can take years to heal. Some never do, and 'run screaming back to Jesus', as a country colleague of mine likes to say. So, I walk a fine line between being vigilant and over protective. I must respect the autonomy of my peers.

TSC: Where do you see your Pagan path heading next? What goals or plans do you have for the future?

Sunfell: There's a book in me, and a Pagan corporation, too, it seems. We may be proud individualists, but we also need community as well. I want to create a system for Pagans to use that will help them to organize and care for themselves while maintaining their autonomy. Again, it is a fine line, and I am years away from an optimal solution. We need filters in place to keep out the trolls and charlatans- that is another project of mine- creating a means to maintain a viable Council of Elders, and a seminary for the various Paths clergy to gain credible qualifications from. There are several already in action- Cherry Hill is the most promising.