 The
Warren of Witches
Magic and merriment fill the air
as a Wiccan group celebrates one of the Craft's most important
occasions - full moon.
"Full moon or Esbat rituals are the best." Says
Rainstorm, the 36-year-old computer programming buff who is one
of the first to arrive for tonight's rituals. "They are all
about love, light and happiness - a really positive time for
us." At first only a few witches mill about the
Johannesburg northern suburbs house of Reverend Donna Darkwolf
Vos, High Priestess of Kali, under whose guidance the coven
convenes.
Then, like magic, the place is
thronging with them - successful business and professional
people in their 30s and 40s, consultants, marketing and
management bigwigs and IT experts, all of whom belong to private
covens, but meet for working circles on nights like this.
"We meet for esbats, sabats
(seasonal celebrations) or whenever someone in the group has the
need," says Kerry/Seventh Hawk, 44. "For example,
we'll meet again tomorrow night for Sharon/Waterstar's
'house-warming' where we'll cleanse and bless her new
home."
Glasses of wine circulate and
the atmosphere in Donna's house is jovial and relaxed. She is
hasty to point out that: "The most important rule in Wicca
is that you harm nothing and no one, including yourself."
 The
group moves to the garage where an altar and cauldron gleam in
the candlelight. Then the ceremony begins with Cajun/Amazon
Wolfe, casting the circle, waving a blazing sword around the 11
witches as she circles them, chanting.
"When you step into a
circle that's been cast, you step into your own magical
persona," says Cajun. "You leave everything else
behind and focus completely on the reason you're there - whether
it be for celebration or ritual magic."
Although she's only 23, Amazon
Wolfe, as she's known in the Craft, is considered an elder.
"I don't really remember when my interest in Wicca began -
it's always been a part of me," says Cajun who's
transformed herself into a feline through make-up and costume.
"It's good to be with like-minded people who understand
you, and working in a group has a different energy to working
alone. It's important to be with people you know and trust for
serious spell work."
The evening is well planned.
After calling the four circles and using a chalice and sword to
invoke the god and goddess, the witches get down to the business
of spell-making.
"Wicca is a part of
everyone's life, says Kerry. "But this has a label - and
people go for labels." Yogi, 23, an artist, agrees.
"Some call it magic, others call it miracles. They're just
different names for the same thing. They pray, we make
spells."
Tonight's agenda includes a
spell for a couple who've been separated by circumstance but are
still in love. Two red poppet dolls filled with herbs are passed
around the circle to be bound with red ribbon by each witch
while the spell is cast through vocal incantations. Later, Donna
will bury the poppets in the garden to complete the magic.
Now Cajun starts a chant,
beating on a drum; voices get louder, hands clap faster and the
beat grows to an explosive crescendo. Then, at Donna's swift
signal, everyone ceases with one collective big breath. Each
participant comes out of the meditative state in her own time,
and it's time for the cakes and ale that signify the bonding of
the circle's members.
The night winds down towards
witching hour. And, while some of the Wiccan working circle
members trudge home wearily, following the slow descent of old
mother moon, for others, the festivities have just begun.
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