COMMON SOCIAL wisdom tells us that witches are ugly, cackling, large-nosed females who fly, brew bizarre toad- infused concoctions in large cauldrons, hate children and cast evil spells. They also indulge in orgiastic rites when they worship. But if local witch Samuel Wagar had his way, the negative images attached to his spiritual self would go the way of the magic broomstick. Wagar is the minister and elder of the Covenant of the Goddess Church in North Vancouver. There is no church per se. Rather, the pagan organization is a loose af- filiation of male and female wit- ches who share in a number of common pre-Christian values. The Covenant of the Goddess Church was founded in the United States during the late 1960s. The church is currently expanding across Canada. Two Canadian congregations are affiliated with the American church. Another five are trying to set up a Canadian church. According to the 1981 na- tional census, there were 2,400 pagans and witches in Canada. Wagar estimates that number stands at about 6,000 or 7,000 to- day, with about a third of those in Wagar’s coven numbers five — himself and four women. The local coven meets at Wagar’s house. Most covens worship inside a circle drawn on a floor. Many worship nude, nudity being a symbol of in- nocence. The goddes: and god are an inch in width —any length! 5FOR EXAMPLE: 76”°x84” 76”x $1.99 = 151.24 News Reporter asked for blessing, the witches share food and drink and, accord- ing to Wagar, work towards engendering ‘‘ecstatic states of one sort or another.”’ Reduced to its essentials, Wagar’s world of witchcraft is peopled by men and women who might most concisely be labelled as feminist naturalists. The North Shore News recently interviewed Wagar about his dveliefs. NSN: Who is the Great Mother Goddess? The divine is seen as being a necessary part of existence. Rather than being a deity who created everything, it is a deity who is everything. We see that the pro- cesses by which things come into being are a lot more like giving birth rather than a creation. The fundamental principle is more fe- male than male. Most witches are also polytheistic. You can name the divine in a number of different ways. Although we are goddess- primary, many of us see male parts See Witches Pags 41 i BETTER 39 - Sunday, October 29, 1989 - North Shore News teens honored PAGE 44 ee sees MODERN WITCHCRAFT TIED TO FEMINISM x 2 . Pras NEWS photos Mike Wakefteid SAMUEL WAGAR, minister and elder of the Covenant of the Goddess Church, sits in the worship room where members share common pre-Christian values. Birds of Paradise — Exotic GER Tuber Roses 6 INCH ASSORTED Tropicals 222