News and Notes from the Editor-December 2nd-8th, 2024
Hello friends! This is a new column that we’re adding as we make some changes to our site.
I want to take this chance to introduce myself, although, you probably all know who I am by now! For those who don’t know who I am, they call me The Modern Merlin, and I have happily accepted an offer to be the Co-Editor of this wonderful E-Magazine! I’ve enjoyed writing with PaganPages.Org so much since I came on board in February of this year. I’ve met some amazing people, and have learned and grown as a person, and as a Pagan and Witch/Sorcerer. I give nothing but thanks to the Gods and my spirit allies for all of these wonderful opportunities that have come my way.
Changes Coming to PaganPages.Org
***Rest assured, PaganPages is staying 100% free***
Times change, and so should our ‘zine! We currently find ourselves in hectic, divided times; but that doesn’t mean that we as a publication have to play into the divisive rhetoric going on right now. Instead, we want to unify Pagans and Magickal Folks by giving everyone in the Pagan community a free, open platform. While the ‘zine stays politically neutral, our writers do not have to follow such rules, and are free to express their opinions on magick, the occult, paganism and even political and world events, so long as they pertain to the subject they’re writing on.
We’re also putting a firm stance in place against hate, hate speech, bigotry and the like. We will not tolerate such things from our writers in any form, and we extend those expectations to our readers, specifically when referencing anything related to PaganPages.Org, its posts, writers or contents, in any way, shape or form. That’s not what Paganism and Magick is about!
To further clarify what we mean by this:
What you do on your own personal posts is your business and your right, but please don’t involve us in any hateful rhetoric. We understand that this is probably an unspoken rule for most, but unfortunately given our social climate, we feel we need to state this in no uncertain terms. While we haven’t had any issues with this that I’m aware of, it’s better to be safe than sorry! We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.
Debbie downer statement aside…
We will also be rolling out an expanded Social Media presence-some of you I’m sure have noticed an increase in posts on our Facebook page, and this will soon be the case with Instagram and other socials. We will continue to use X/Twitter, but we will also be adding a BlueSky account, so that everyone can have access to our content, on any platform. We will be adding new writers, with varying paths and practices. We will also be re-branding to reflect these changes, with a new logo, a mission statement, and site overhaul. These changes are set to go into effect in late December and Early January. Please bear with us during any hiccups and pardon our mess as we optimize our content and site for our wonderful readers.
New Columns coming from The Modern Merlin (your new Co-Editor)
I personally have taken on a few new columns, with different subjects I’m well versed in, but have written very little, if at all, on the subjects. These new columns will be in addition to the column I’ve been writing, The Modern Merlin’s Corner. I’m excited to expand my writing contribution and share more material with you all. I sincerely hope you all enjoy it. My goal is to publish one column entry a week, along with weekly or bi-weekly editorials. So I will be writing at least one entry per week (on average, not a set rule), excluding reviews. It’s a lot, but I’m positive that our readers, and myself, will enjoy this expansion. While I ask for your graciousness with us as a publication, I’m also asking for your lenience with me as I learn the in’s and out’s of running our site, formatting our website, and also writing on new subjects. As a thank you in advance, I’ll spoil you all with a little sneak peek at these new topics:
- Cannabis, Psychedelics and Poisons in Witchcraft, Sorcery, Mysticism and Magick
- Paranormal/Ghosts/UFO/Extraterrestrials/Cryptids, Folklore and Mythology
- An Astrology Column with instructional posts, current transit posts (my Survival guides and such), and a few little tidbits or observations peppered in here and there.
- These new “Note and News from the Editor” posts
Making the Editor More “Real”
I realize that with my pseudonym, many may feel as though I’m lofty, perhaps even out of reach. I promise that’s not the case; I chose to write under a pseudonym, at least originally, because that’s the name I also give spiritual services with. The inspiration for the name came to me during an interesting experience with a blend of amanita muscaria and amanita pantherina ground up and put into capsules. All while listening to The Hurdy Gurdy Man by Donovan. That was a wild experience!
“The Veil lifts, slowly, and ever so slightly…behind it, a figure appears. A silhouette; a man exuding magickal energy from times when mankind had no empires, no machines. A magick bestowed upon man from the Gods brave enough to share it, even in defiance of their own respective hierarchies. Wisdom seeping out of his aura, the shadows still conceal him, but remove the mysteries of the veil itself.”
-Excerpt from The Modern Merlin’s magickal journal, recording a vision during trance state
Alas, I feel it would be unfair of me to not at least tell you a little bit about myself, as I’ve taken on this new role here.
My given name is Sean, and I just turned 31 in November. I love music (especially Rock), football, reading and hanging out with my cats in my downtime. I grew up in a fairly strict, “New-Age Baptist” (non-denominational) home, but found my truth and my path within the beauty of Paganism and Magick at the age of 15. After years of “being in the broom closet” so to speak, I told my family and friends about this part of me over time, to mixed reactions. Although it feels like a distant memory, I can still remember hiding my pentagram necklaces when around family. In reality, I’ve only been so bold since I moved out on my own when I was in my early-mid 20’s. It’s a fine and sometimes blurry line we walk as magickal beings, isn’t it?
Without getting anymore philosophical on you, here’s some fun (and magickal) facts about me:
- I was born during a New Moon in Scorpio
- My birth rune is Hagalaz (H, hail/storm). Remind me to tell you how that ties into my first birthday; it’s actually quite magickal!
- I am a clairvoyant psychic and have been seeing and communicating with spirits since I was a child; I’ve finely tuned those gifts now and do my best to use them wisely.
- I have always had a natural ability to communicate psychically/telepathically with animals. I’m an animal lover and have had pets since I was 5 years old.
- The first spiritual philosophy I truly embodied was Taoism; I still find beauty in the teachings of the Tao, and it has heavily influenced my personal and spiritual philosophies
- I began my journey by exploring different paranormal and psychic phenomena as well as divination before I got into magick, witchcraft and the occult; although, it didn’t take very long for me to find my way there!
- My favorite witchy authors are Nigel Pennick, Coby Michael and Jason Miller
This is by no means comprehensive to who I am, but these are some fun facts about me that I’m willing to share! After all, I wouldn’t be true Scorpio without a little mystery hehe 😉
Re-Defining the Mission
When I was asked by our founder, Jenn, to come on as Co-Editor, I was honestly a little shocked. I’ve never been in this kind of role before, but I’m happy I accepted. I love PaganPages. I support independent, open, and free publishing platforms in the Pagan community, and to be part of one, is a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to write and contribute to the greater lore and knowledge in our community. This came with a task that I felt was mandated by the Gods, however: re-defining our purpose, our mission and our goals as a publication. This is in no way easy, especially in today’s world.
I felt that we needed to take some kind of stance, but I didn’t want to alienate others, and neither did Jenn. So we decided that we would reach more readers by remaining neutral as a publication, and our writers can add their opinions. After all, that’s what a column is, right? Like I said before, as long as there’s no hate or bigotry, we’re fine with any and all views expressed by our writers (and readers). This task required a statement of intent and mission, and it wasn’t necessarily easy coming up with, either. To be honest, it’s still in its draft form, but the basics of it are nailed down. Now, it’s just to adjust the verbiage and make it look pretty for publishing. That new mission statement will be available soon, most likely alongside our re-brand and re-design.
The Re-Brand: What our Readers Need to Know
The Re-Brand shouldn’t affect site accessibility, nor should it make it any harder to navigate. Of course, with construction comes a mess, and we’re in the thick of Mercury retrograde and its shadow period until later this month/January 2025. That’s why we’ve planned to roll out these changes formally at a later time, despite us brimming with excitement to roll them out now. Sometimes, patience really is a virtue. We only ask our readers, and writers, to bear with us as we change our ‘zine to make it more eye-appealing, and as we add new categories, columns and writers. When the Re-Brand is rolled out, I will most likely explain the logo choice and design elements, as they’re highly symbolic of this (somewhat) new direction we’re heading in as a publication. Long story short, our readers won’t really be affected, other than having more great, free content at their fingertips!
To close this inaugural editorial, I want to again express my gratitude to all of our readers and writers. You make us possible. Did you know we’ve been hovering in the top 3 spots on Feedspot, based on number of hits? That’s amazing, even with limited submissions from other writers for the past few months! Imagine what the Re-Brand and some new writers will do! Thank you for that, and please keep supporting us, reading our content and interacting with us on social media! If you’re able, donations are always accepted, and we even have merch on our site! 100% of these proceeds go to keeping our lights on and help us continue giving you free, amazing content. Wishing our readers a lovely close to the work week, and a wonderful weekend. Keep an eye out for another Editorial next week!
~The Modern Merlin
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Author Bio:
The Modern Merlin has been a Polytheist and Animist Pagan, Witch, Sorcerer, Wizard, Druid, Mystic, Ceremonial Magician, Occultist, Shaman, Seer and Soothsayer for 15 years, worshipping and casting magick with deities and spirits from many cultures, including Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse & Germanic, Celtic, Egyptian, Sumerian, as well as many Faeries, Nymphs, Dryads, Ancestors and other nature and land spirits and spirits of place. He is a Priest of Hecate, Diana, Hades, Lilith and Persephone. He has experience in the Left and Right Hand Paths, working with both hands as needed. He currently practices Necromancy and Deathwalking, as well as Traditional Witchcraft, Druidry, Hellenism and Ceremonial Magick, incorporating all of them into a cohesive practice, with some shamanic touches. He studies and practices Astrology as well as Tarot and other forms of divination such as Runes, Palmistry and Ogham. He is the Co-Editor of PaganPages.Org and he has a personal blog where he shares Astrological, Pagan, and other magickal wisdom for free! He gives readings and other spiritual services on his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see!
