| |
| |
 |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|  
|
|
Welcome to newWitch #14. My name is Kenaz Filan, and I need your help. I suppose I'm being presumptuous. After all, you've already given me your attention and your time. Out of all the things you could be doing right now, you chose to peruse this magazine. (OK, so you're only reading newWitch because your roommate left it near the toilet. In any case, we're here. Work with me). And it's my job to see that you're entertained, educated, enthralled, and enlightened by our fair publication. But first things first. Right about now you're probably asking "Where's Dag - and who is this strange person who has replaced him?" I'm the author of The Haitian Vodou Handbook (Destiny Books, 2007). My column, "Rite Behavior" appears in PanGaia: I've also had numerous other articles in newWitch, PanGaia and other publications Pagan and otherwise. I was formerly known as Kevin Filan, but that was a new wardrobe and several doses of estrogen ago. This is my maiden voyage as newWitch's managing editor. And I've got some mighty big shoes to fill. Three years ago Dagonet Dewr burst onto newsstands like Captain Kirk chewing scenery and kicking Romulan ass. If PanGaia was the sweet bespectacled librarian and SageWoman the wise old Dianic priestess at the herb store, newWitch was the naughty teen with a sexy smile and intriguing piercings. Under Dag's watch newWitch was accessible but not fluffy: it was smart but never stodgy. It was a much-needed breath of fresh air in an all-too-often stuffy scene. Alas, Dag has headed off into retirement, a flask of Saurian brandy by his side and a green slave girl on each arm. In his place you've got me, Jean-Luc Picard in the continuing adventures of the starship newWitch. But there's no way I can pilot this vessel alone ... which is where you come in. This is a magazine about you. We want to give you information you can use and spells you can put into practice. We want to introduce you to great new artists and writers. We want to make you laugh and make you mad and make you think. Basically, we want to touch your lives. We're crazy enough to think we can change the world for the better and we want you to join us. We've got a few other mad visionaries on our voyage. Phil Brucato has brought us his thoughts on Black Metal and an interview with Australian siren and witch Wendy Rule. Those with tight schedules may benefit from reading Wendy Thurston's "So Many Rituals, So Little Time," while those planning to renovate their domiciles may want to read Leslie Ann Budewitz's "Bringing Harmony Home with Feng Shui." We've travelled to Egypt for Laura Hawbacker's "Nelly Weems, Come Home" and we've lured Dag Dewr out of syndication to give us a column on Progressive Rock. We're also joined on the bridge by author, Druid, curmudgeon, and new columnist Isaac Bonewits: we haven't yet decided whether he's going to be Data or Worf. Meanwhile old discussions continue while new ones are born in our "Rant" section. If you have something to say we want to hear it. We want to showcase your bands and your books in our review section; we want to highlight your products in our new "Cargo" section. We want to print your letters and we want to see your submissions. You're the reason we're here: we really couldn't do it without you. And so, without further ado, I give you newWitch #14. Have fun. You in the bathroom, don't steal your roommate's copy: get your own subscription!  Kenaz Filan |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
BBI Media, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
