An Interview with
Mynie Geldenhuys

Pagan Wiccan and Secretary of the Pagan Federation of South Africa

Q. How did you 'come home' - personally come to embracing Paganism?

As a young girl, I questioned the dogma and veracity of the information my parents and their choice of path suggested to be fact. This came about at an early age and being a little above average in curiosity and with a deep knowledge that there had to be ‘more’ I began to investigate alternatives to the suggested norms of my upbringing. So my journey was initiated. By the time I had passed through puberty, I had concluded that mainstream was not satisfying me on a very fundamental level and entered a period of intense study at the Buddhist Retreat at Ixopo in Natal. Although they taught me much discipline and technique, I was not satisfied. I moved on.

Finally in 1975 I found a book on Wicca and as I read, I felt myself become enervated by the synergy of the author with my own secret thoughts and feelings. Barely had I finished, when my first rather nervous circle was cast. As I stood within it, I knew I had indeed ‘come home’. I have continued to study other Paths, but have always remained with Wicca regardless.

Q. What do you do for a living?

I am a Teacher and Reverend of Wicca. Sharing the knowledge I have gained with others is my greatest pleasure.

Q. Would you tell us about your involvement with the Pagan Federation?

Certainly – I was lonely and by pure chance came across the P.F.S.A. website. Looking for like-minded folk in Natal had proved extremely difficult and this seemed like a Blessing to say the least. We contacted the person designated for Natal and met him within days. On learning of the aims and objectives of the P.F.S.A., it seemed to resonate with my own and I could not do otherwise. I joined, together with my husband in June 1997. So began my involvement.

Q. Do you follow a chosen tradition? (Celtic/Teutonic etc?)

My journey into Wicca has always been Syncretic in the sense that I do not feel particularly drawn to any one cultural way. However, given my bloodline and familial roots, the Celtic Way is the more appealing of the Traditions.

Q. Do you cast your circle clockwise or deosil?

Very early on, before my involvement with others, I discarded Northern Hemisphere casting directions, as it did not feel comfortable for me. I cast Widdershins or anti-clockwise. To me, this is Deosil as it is ‘sun wise’ in the Southern Hemisphere.

Q. Does the Pagan Federation approach ritual eclectically or do you follow a specific tradition within the Federation?

The Pagan Federation dictates no Path and has no Tradition. They work by mutual agreement in an open and eclectic ritual format only when gathered together for the purpose of ritual. The diversity of its members is vast and covers the entire spectrum of Paganism. To avoid confusion an “eclectic Wiccanesque” style has been adopted by mutual agreement. Individual members who follow specific Traditions or other Paths all have equal input.

Q. How many members does the Federation have at present?

The numbers are never static and can vary from year to year. Some like myself have been members for many years and continue to enjoy the challenges and benefits. I would not care to hazard a guess at this stage. Many choose not to become members, but will support or serve when requests for aid or a gathering is sent out.

Q. Would you hazard a guess at how many Pagans there are in South Africa today?

This is a question I am often asked and I do not know the answer. At a conservative guess I would say between 60 and 70 thousand. This is however mere speculation on my part.

Q. How would you define your role in the Pagan Community?

My role is one of service. I work for Pagan rights in South Africa, network Pagans from all Paths, run a training coven, hold rituals and workshops with the aim to educate and demystify Wicca for both Pagans and public. Rites of passage are important to the human psyche for the naming of their children, handfastings and death rites and I facilitate these. It was to fill this need in the community that I chose to study a Tradition and attain the Degrees that go with that Path.

Q. How may prospective members join the Federation and what will be required of them?

There is no way to tell how many will join. We get up to 5 requests for information about the aims of the P.F.S.A. almost every week. It remains a choice each individual makes for himself or herself. The P.F.S.A. expects nothing from any member other than their support for the aims and objectives of the organization. There are those who wish to be networked and seek companionship with like-minded souls. There are those that seek teachers, covens and groups. We fill these needs with the permission and information supplied by the members, putting people in touch with those suited to their need. There are those that wish to work for the community and we give them a platform from which to do so. All gatherings and calls for support to promote the aims and objectives are on a volunteer basis and it is left up to the individual to choose what he or she feels they wish to contribute and are comfortable with.

Contact the Pagan Federation of South Africa (PFSA)

The Pagan Federation of South Africa

The Pagan Federation was formed in 1996 to act as an administrative body for the purpose of “facilitating and providing information, expertise and a more formalized financial infrastructure to all interested persons striving towards a Pagan lifestyle”. The objectives of the P.F.S.A. are achieved through providing information pertinent to Paganism in various publications, and through facilitating networking between individual Pagans and affiliated organizations.