So tonight on Haunted Cornwall FM (www.hauntedcornwallFM.com) we hope to speak to Kevin Carlyon – the High Priest of British White Witches.
For once I’m not sure where to start with this one.
I’m not really sure how to ‘take’ this guy.
I met him several years ago. We are of a similar vintage and have walked some very similar paths. He will not remember me because then, like now, I’m not one of the ‘important people to know’ and I think for Kevin even in those early days that was important.
I followed, at a distance, his early break with the formalised systems of Alexandrian and Gardnerian Wicca, and was interested in what he started to call the Covenant of Earth Magic. Perhaps it was upon the death of Alex Sanders (the last self-professed King of Witches) that Kevin saw the gap and ‘went for it’.
Let’s stop hare and think for a moment. The title High Priest of (all) British Witches and, for that matter, King of the Witches, is about as meaningful as saying that I am :Lord Archbishop of the TeaPot People…. It has no real meaning outside of my personal reality. Yes, I’m saying that Kevins title has no real meaning outside of his own reality.
Formalised Wicca in this country has a rather particular hierarchy which is generally restricted to particular ‘covens’ of groups of ‘covens’ that owe their lineage to a particular system or training group. Like all religions there are various ‘flavours’ and ‘ideological differences’ – thankfully not as embedded as within the Christian Church BUT in places and between some groups there is disharmony. Hence to claim to be the HEAD or KING of HIGH PRIEST of ALL BRITISH WITCHES is not an honest one, and the pagan movement continues to challenge Kevins right to claim that he speaks for all Witches.
See the petition against him here: http://www.petitiononline.com/kev0/petition.html
Kevin does make some interesting claims to title…
“I had pleasure in meeting many of my Scottish Witches (I stress here not those who adhere to the Wiccan path) and supporters, including business people, from whom I accepted the gracious title of THE OFFICIAL PROTECTOR AND HIGH PRIEST OF LOCH NESS which is a life time honour and it may last longer than that if I decide to have my ashes scattered on the Loch after my death.”
Well by that thinking I’m claiming now my title of Arch Druid of Cornwall and Druid Protector of Falmouth
Not to mention my High Priest status and Reverend Status from the Church of the Seven Planes….
It is this aspect of Kevins claims that seem to alienate the vast majority of pagan folk I talk too.
However is he really serious?
I mean this photo of him with is coven for example
Yes, it does look like Kevin photoshopped into a scene from the original Wicker Man (and I believe the coven in question in that film was Alex Sanders’)
In response to his critics Kevin has said..
Hi
I love it when so called White Witches alow me to use their negativity to gain power. It would seem that most who oppose me do so out of fear and as I have a sense of humour nothing I like better is a good windup which others seem not to be able to handle
I love it when so called White Witches alow me to use their negativity to gain power. It would seem that most who oppose me do so out of fear and as I have a sense of humour nothing I like better is a good windup which others seem not to be able to handle
Wind Up or Witch Witch (yes know there are issues there too)
Well tonight I hope we will find out…
Haunted Cornwall FM 8pm – 10pm GMT + 1
