Coven Oldenwilde

"Carla interviews a High Priestess of a coven — Queen Lady Passion of Coven Oldenwilde (think Jessica Lange's character in American Horror Story: Coven).

"In the spirit of Halloween (* Samhain) we dive into all things witch learning what happens on Samhain, examples of BEGINNER magic tricks and ADVANCED magic tricks and where the cape and the pointy hat come from. Do ladies zap each other in the coven? What does Lady Passion think of Harry Potter? Has she ever done a spell that went awry? What she has in common with Jim Henson's 'The Dark Crystal' and sooo much more!

"Lady Passion's magical specialties include healer, herbal medicine maker and creator of elaborate rituals for thousands.

"Born Dixie Deerman, she's a fierce advocate for the planet, women's rights and witches' rights. She helped overturn an antiquated divination law (one that made it illegal to practice tarot in public) and has taught hundreds the practice of witchcraft.

"Lady Passion has written 12 books about magic including: Candle Magic, Ask-A-Priestess: Wise Answers From a Real Witch and The Goodly SpellBook."

Lady Passion and *Diuvei describe how they became Witches, and why they are Gardnerians who don't believe Gerald Gardner "made it all up". While discussing their soon-to-be-published books — tentatively titled Candle Magic and Rituals & Sabbats — they urge Pagans to delve deeper into magical ethics than superficial debates about cursing, and describe how the Four Witch Powers oft summoned at the beginning of a ritual (the "Eko Ekos") correspond to a neglected Pagan moral compass, the Four Cardinal Virtues (three of which still appear in most Tarot decks' Major Arcana).

"Witchcraft in 2016: Warren will be joined by Queen Lady Passion and *Diuvei, High Priestess and High Priest of Coven Oldenwilde in Asheville, North Carolina.

"Have you felt the WEIRD energy in the world right now? They will explain what's happening. AND what makes a spell effective for you?

"PLUS, we'll dive into their work defeating North Carolina's anti-fortune-telling law, their experiments with The Wishing Machine, helping prisoners find a new path, and much more."

— From SpeakingOfStrange.com

NOTE: Sound quality improves after the first segment of this 47-minute broadcast.

"12-4-10 Show: The Witches! This coming week, Warren's new Museum finally opens. One of the exhibits features the saga of Lady Passion and Diuvei of Coven Ovenwilde. Against all odds, they fought to preserve the Old Jail Building, below the Magnolia tree, that now houses Warren's Museum. [UPDATE: The Asheville Mystery Museum is now housed in the basement of the Masonic Temple, 60 Broadway.]

"Lady Passion and Diuvei will be LIVE in the studio to tell us their personal stories, and how the power of Wiccan magic made the 'impossible possible.' They will also share some spells YOU can use at home tonight!"

— From SpeakingOfStrange.com

Interview (three .mp3 files):

• Hour 1 (intro)
• Hour 2 (interview)
• Hour 3 (interview)

• Asheville's Planning and Zoning Commission — now up for a possible membership turnover — is the most powerful appointed board in city government, with more potential to affect the quality of your life than even City Council. But you in turn can affect them more than you may know, even if you're not a wealthy developer, asserts community activist and Making Progress guest co-host Steve Rasmussen.
• Following co-host David Lynch's review of the current nationwide police-militarization trend, David, Steve, and Barry recall the days when they first met and worked together — March 19th, 2003. We were all protesting the beginning of the invasion of Iraq, and Steve, Barry, Lady Passion, and 30 other peaceful protesters were arrested by the Asheville Police Dept. in an action which caused outrage and controversy. It was also the beginning of the organization Asheville Justice Watch. Along with many other local activists, we worked to try to create a Citizen Review Board for the APD.
• Video of the 2003 Asheville Iraq War protest and arrests by Shane Perlowin.
• Asheville Justice Watch 2005 report on APD
• See more links on plice militarization at Making Progress: News for a Change program page

• The world's first religion was Paganism, which is why adherents call it "the Olde Religion." How was magic forced underground?
• In one traditional Book of Shadows, Witches are called "the Hidden Children." Is a history of persecution the reason why many feel compelled to keep their magic secret?
• Versions of old Craft "laws" posted online also urge Pagans to deny their identity. Times have changed since they were written down. So what should Witches keep secret today, and why?
• Proof of magic's antiquity and continual popularity abounds. For instance, the Vatican confiscated thousands of magic books over the centuries. So how does Craft secrecy encourage some writers and detractors to label Wicca modern, a neo-Pagan invention of the 1950s?
• Despite millennia of persecuting heathens — and contrary to their assertion — monotheists (Christians, Jews, and Muslims) not only don't dominate the planet, they're loosing believers in droves. Factoring billions of Hindus, polytheists outnumber monotheists around the globe — so how are they reacting to this?
• As of this year, Paganism is believed to be the 3rd largest religion in the U.S., U.K., and elsewhere. How do people and the planet benefit from Witches being public?