Hello and welcome to the February 2023 issue of ev0ke: witchcraft*paganism*lifestyle!
In conjunction with Black History Month (here in the United States) it had been our intention to feature African-American Pagans and polytheists — essayists, artists, poets, diviners, and more — and to focus on the African and African Diaspora contributions to modern Paganism. Unfortunately, our call for submissions went unanswered. We are a relatively new publication, unfamiliar and untried for many. While we are disappointed at our inability to fulfill our intended theme for this month, we take heart that we will hopefully attract enough of a following to repeat this theme with more success in 2024.
Additionally, the funds that would have gone towards paying guest contributors will, instead, go towards a cause of import to the African-American Pagan and polytheist community. It will be our pleasure to help support the Pagans of Color and Culture Suite at the upcoming Paganicon.
On to the issue!
In this month’s ev0king the Moon, guest columnist Ben H. Gagnon discusses “Swan Maidens and Cosmic Eggs: When Women Ruled the Afterlife” while our ev0king the Question delves into the matter of African Disaspora contributions to modern Paganism. In Lifestyle, Ashley Nicole Hunter looks at some of the practices that have spread from indigenous African polytheisms to western occultism and Paganism. She also offers the second in her on-going creation, The Writer’s Oracle Deck (this month, with quotes from notable writers of color). In Reviews, we look at “Endymion, Or The State of Entropy” by Kurt R. Ward; “Pagan Portals: Demeter” by Robin Corak; and “Soot and Slipper” by Kate Stradling.
Then it’s on to the Members Only section! In Columns, the Reverend Bill Duvendeck has a new installment of The Celestial Beacon and Laurelei Black delves into traditional African dishes in Chalk and Cheese. We also have a new column starting this month courtesy of Laurelei Black: Crooked House, in which she examines cunning craft for contemporary witches. In Faith and Fairy Tales, Rebecca Buchanan looks at the classic “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” while Ashley Nicole Hunter digs into the opportunities of reversed tarot cards in The Fool’s Journey. Sheldon Slinkard returns with the second in his ongoing series Intuition 101, while Laurelei Black steps up with another new column, Pandemos: Aphrodite for Everyone.
Finally, in Fiction, Rebecca Buchanan has the first installment in a new Painted Words series. “Rueppelli and Yerik in the Great Bazaar of Repet-Yark” will update every Wednesday for the rest of February.
Not a member? Not to worry. Just $3 gets you access to the entire issue!
As always, please feel free to leave any comments or questions, or email us at ev0kepublication@gmail.com. And enjoy!
— the ev0ke Folx
[Cover credit: Jennifer Marquez at Unsplash.]
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