May 7th, 2024
It’s the 1970s and New York City’s queer scene is vibrant and organizing itself after the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Meanwhile, Wicca — a form of contemporary witchcraft — is gaining traction as the new religious movement of the hour. Edmund Buczynski is a Seeker of initiatory witchcraft but is denied time and again, often due to homophobia and heterosexism. But Eddie is charismatic and inspired by magic and mythology. He won’t be stopped – even if he has to create his own witchcraft tradition.
Featuring Thumper Forge, Michael Lloyd, and Matthew Sawicki.
FEATURING
3* Gardnerian, 2* Minoan, and Author
Thumper Forge is a Gardnerian High Priest, an initiate of the Minoan Brotherhood, a Discordian chaplain, an irreverent blogger, and a notary public from Houston, Texas. His first book, Virgo Witch: Divining the Details was co-authored with Ivo Dominguez, Jr. and was released by Llewellyn Publications in November 2023, and his essays have previously appeared in The Gorgon’s Guide to Magical Resistance (Revelore Press, 2022) and Modern Witchcraft with the Greek Gods: History, Insights & Magickal Practice (Llewellyn Publications, 2022). Thumper’s writings can also be found on Patheos.com.
Biographer of Eddie Buczynski and Eponymous Archon of The Temple of Dionysos; retired 3° Minoan High Priest
Michael Lloyd is a chemical engineer whose career has spanned the fields of risk management, emergency management, and security/anti-terrorism work. He's a co-founder and former co-facilitator (2002-2011) of the Between the Worlds Men's Gathering, a spiritual retreat for men who love men, and author of "Bull of Heaven: The Mythic Life of Eddie Buczynski and the Rise of the New York Pagan" (Asphodel Press, 2012). He is currently a practitioner of Orphic polytheism.
Apothecary and Witch High Priest, owner of Witch & Famous Apothecary, SpellCaster Ceramics, and Datura Design
Matthew has been studying and practicing Witchcraft for over 30 years and is an initiate of four different traditions of Witchcraft. He is the High Priest of The Eldridge Coven of the NY Wica Tradition and holds the sword for that tradition in New York. He also is the Minos (High Priest) of Temenos Satyros Grove- a coven of the Minoan Brotherhood as well as an inductee of two other Traditional Craft (non-Wiccan) groups. He teaches classes and leads rituals at various public gatherings, and works with his covens in the Hudson Valley in New York. He is an artist and designer with a focus on botanicals, textiles, and ceramics and holds a BS from Syracuse University.
CREDITS
Host: Heather Freeman; Producer: Amber Walker; Editor: Lucy Perkins; Associate Producer: Noor Gill; Sound Design: Jennie Cataldo; Fact Checker: Dania Suleman; Executive Producer for PRX Productions: Jocelyn Gonzales; Music: APM Music and Epidemic Sound; Project Managers: Edwin Ochoa and Morgan Church; Advisors: Helen Berger, Chaz Clifton, and Thorn Mooney; Guests: Thumper Forge, Michael Lloyd and Matthew Sawicki; Additional thanks: Carole Bulzone and Lady Rhea; Funding and Support: The National Endowment for the Humanities and The University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
TRANSCRIPT
LEARN MORE
Historic audio of Eddie Buczynski talking about Traditionalist Gwyddoniaid as part of the ‘Pagan Way’ lecture series. Held in November 1972, First Unitarian Church of Brooklyn Heights. https://youtu.be/c3pAdu1YQaw?si=hIBtDfzCHfuqPQaI
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Adler, M. (2006). Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America. Penguin Books.
Clifton, C. (2006). Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca And Paganism in America. AltaMira Press.
Hutton, R. (2021). The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Oxford University Press.
Lloyd, M. Bull of Heaven: The Mythic Life of Eddie Buczynski and the Rise of the New York Pagan. Asphodel Press.
Note: This book’s research and bibliography are extensive and highly recommended for this particular episode.
Moreno, M. (2024, February 14) “Researchers find 1 in 3 Americans suffer from religious trauma, many in LGBTQ+ community.” The Wild Hunt.