Monday, August 16, 2010

Memorials for former CoG member - Isaac Bonewits

Philip Emmons Isaac Bonewits, October 1, 1949 – August 12, 2010

Pagan theologian, author, Druid leader, and bard - Isaac Bonewits passed away on the morning of August 12, after fighting a rare form of colon cancer.

 Among the memorials to be held in the next few days are - Isaac's family memorial and remembrance on August 21st at the First Unitarian Society of Rockland County (FUSRC) in Pomona, NY.

Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF) is also holding a memorial service for Isaac on August 19th at the Summerland Festival near Yellow Springs, OH

Issac was a valued member of Covenant of the Goddess beginning in 1981 as a member of Coven Firestar from the Northern California Local Council.  His membership lasted until 1983 when he moved to the East Coast with his then wife, Sally Eaton.

Here are some statements about Issac from his many friends and family:

From the official obituary from Isaac’s family:

"Philip Emmons Isaac Bonewits, founder and Archdruid Emeritus of of Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship, one of North America’s leading experts on ancient and modern Druidism, Witchcraft, magic and the occult, and the rapidly growing Earth Religions movement, died today after a short struggle with cancer.

Mr. Bonewits first came into the public eye when he graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Magic and Thaumaturgy (1970). During his tenure there, Mr. Bonewits worked with many renowned professors including Nobel Prize Laureate Owen Chamberlain. The work he did for that degree became his first book, Real Magic: An Introductory Treatise on the Basic Principles of Yellow Magic (1971)."  ...(Cont.)...

From CoG member - Margot Adler, a National Public Radio reporter.  Here is her report on Issac for  NPR's "All Things Considered":

"...Bonewits was an expert on ancient and modern Druidism as well as an author, lecturer and songwriter.

He also had a sardonic wit. Bonewits' first book, Real Magic: An Introductory Treatise on the Basic Principles of Yellow Magic, included his diploma from the University of California, Berkeley on the back cover. It read: "A major in magic," and his diploma was signed as all Berkeley diplomas were in 1970 by Gov. Ronald Reagan."  ...(Cont.)...

From Ian Corrigan of the  Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF):

"...Isaac was a man of ideas, especially as concerned practical spiritual and magical art and religion. At heart Isaac was a Pagan – a lover of nature in all its forms, including human nature, he loved the Old Gods and the Old Ways. He was not only a freethinker and an experimental occultist, but was always concerned to bring back the worship of the Gods in modern times. This troubled him through his interaction with the various RDNAs, which included many secularists and universalists. Isaac's determination led him to produce several variations on his idea of Neopagan Druidism, and when his ideas finally met the emergent Pagan festival culture they found fertile ground at last in Ar nDraiocht Fein." ...(Cont.)...

From Cherry Hill Seminary:

"...Isaac’s passion for learning and scholarship was an inspiration to many of us. His willingness to challenge, explore, question and learn leave a legacy which is an example for all of us in the years to come.

We extend to his loved ones a heartfelt wish for healing and peace." ...(Cont.)...

 From Deborah Lipp:

"Isaac sits with the Shining Ones and eats from Dagda’s Cauldron. The mortal world is a poorer place without him.

There will never be another Isaac. Those of us who knew him well could easily think of him as just Isaac: Character, goofball, ladies man, punster, life of the party, pain in the neck, singer, priest, friend and ex-husband (in my case). But Isaac was so much more than that." ...(Cont.)...

There are many others.

From Isaac Bonewits:

Web pageNeopagan Net
Books by Isaac and Phaedra Bonewits
CD's and Tapes by Isaac Bonewits
Welcome to Isaac Bonewits' Graphic Designs!

Some of Isaac's many articles:
The Advanced Bonewits’ Cult Danger Evaluation Frame
“Anti-Christianity” and Who-Hates-Who?
The Aquarian Manifesto
Defining Paganism: Paleo-, Meso-, and Neo-
Classifying Witchcrafts
The Impact of Scientism on Competing Faiths
My Satanic Adventure
Spells for Democracy
Adopt an Elder!
The Real Origins of Halloween
Indo-European Caste Systems and Cosmologies
Irish and Other Celtic Pagan Songs

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