Dear Visitor,

This blog has 200+ interviews, reviews and other (hopefully) interesting blog articles dating from between 2000 and 2010.  The content here is an archive of material which was created originally for: Avalonia / WWL and the Esoteric Book Review.

Avalonia was a Pagan / Witchcraft resource website, which hosted an online community of around 1500 people during the same period, in two incarnations: Avalonia Forums, and WWL [Wiccans & Witches in London].  The community hosted monthly moots in London’s Bloomsbury; Summer Picnics in the Park; Creative Days and visits to Museums.  Lapis Companions, a monthly open ritual circle was also born from this community, and was hosted by Sorita d’Este and David Rankine between 2003-2006.

Sorita and David received a high volume of books for review as part of their work with the Avalonia online community, and it became increasingly difficult to manage by themselves.  Friends and other esoteric practitioners and scholars soon offered to take on some of the books and other interesting items which arrived and review them.

The old interviews and reviews were archived here, and the admin was handed to Nina Lazarus, an avid bookworm and academic who was keen to expand this project and make it a resource for the Pagan and Esoteric community.  Unfortunately, due to longterm illness Nina passed away soon after – and with her this project came to an abrupt end.

“And so when the first star of the night rises I honour you.  Mistress divine, Goddess of my sacred altar, with my naked body, I dance and sing… And when the offerings I make are accepted by your brilliance I know that I too am worthy of your love.  Worthy of your blessing. Queen of my beloved blood, I pour forth my life blood into your sacred stream, I lift my sword to the heavens and scream your name… And I honour you beloved of Zeus.

When every mortal man shuns your light and the women of the world fear your power, I shall remain standing and I shall remain the vessel for your holy blood.  When she who called your name in anger stands in fear, when they who speak your name without understanding no longer have your blessing, I shall speak words of encouragement and I shall give them pathways through which they can honour you.  Bright Goddess, do not strike the ignorant with Zeus’ thunderbolts, let them remain in the world of mortals for an eternity instead. Life upon life they will suffer amongst the mortals without knowing your true name, let them pretend, but Goddess I implore you to show me your true face so that my tongue may speak true words and my mind may find the pathways to wisdom and knowledge…  ”
– Dr. Nina Lazarus, in ‘Scary Dark Crone’, Hekate: Keys to the Crossroads, 2006

Thank you to David Rankine, Nina Lazarus, Kim Huggens, Payam Nabarz, Agrotera, Root Magician John and all the contributors who made this project possible.  Thank you to the publishers, authors and everyone else who encouraged us, and to all members of the WWL community who shared in a community spirit of learning, questioning and friendship based in knowledge, wisdom and creativity.

Many blessings on your respective paths, may we continue to know each other in friendship for the rest of this life,  Sorita d’Este