An Interview with
Savant

Initiate of the House of Ouroborus

I am 18 years old with an Aquarius sun, Gemini moon and Libra rising. So that just about explains who I am. (I’m kidding.) I was born in Cape Town and have been living here all my life. I was brought up Anglican, but my immediate family has never been excessively religious, and I’ve been taught to find what is most comfortable for me. When I was twelve my parents separated and I lived with my mom. We’re very close, her and I. She is generally open-minded and accepts me for who I am. She has given me the space to grow and find myself as best as she possibly can. She once said to me: ‘If you’re happy, then I am happy.’ She has been the greatest pillar to my life.

I’d like to call myself an open-minded Pagan. I began practicing Paganism through Wicca and have subsequently brought into my spiritual life different facets of many religions and philosophies, specifically Buddhism. Rather than being dogmatic about one single practice, I prefer to take the lessons from many walks of life. I guess that would make me eclectic. I’ve been told that I’m the only one who will admit that I stumbled onto Paganism through the movie The Craft. When I was twelve, after watching The Craft on a weekend, I saw an episode of the television show J.A.G. in which the characters were investigating a Wiccan coven on one of the air-bases. The ‘cool-factor’ in The Craft combined with the realistic approach in J.A.G. interested me and I began researching on the internet. Of course on the internet one gets flooded with information, a lot of which does not correspond. There was also a lot of ‘fluffy bunny’ things and I wanted substance and to study. After two years of solitary practice I eventually made contact with the lady, Arias, whom I met for coffee one evening and we had a splendid time sharing knowledge. A couple months later she contacted me, saying that she was starting a study group and asked if I was interested. Of course I was, and so continued my education.

My inspiration comes simply from what I have experienced in walking my path. I am inspired by emotions, love, happiness, respect and awareness that I have learnt while practicing Paganism, respect and awareness of the world around me, of the people, and of myself. I am inspired by the people who have entered my life and shared in it. Of course it is not always perfect and beautiful. There has been struggling and suffering as there is in all of life, and I have chosen to grow from it. Unfortunately, if I had to tell you anything about the House of Ouroborus, I would have to kill you. (I’m kidding.) The House of Ouroborus was created in South Africa in 2002 by its founder, Lady Epona Moondancer. Born of Wiccan origins, it has grown to embrace many different Pagan paths. It offers a very well organized course in paganism. My involvement with the House began a number of years before. I was studying my 1st Degree under Lady Arias Indlovu, who studied under Lady Epona. We were doing a Wiccan course through the Correlian Tradition of America. Because of certain events we, as a group under Lady Epona, decided to leave the Correlians and so the Ouroborian Tradition was created. I then completed my 1st Degree within the House of Ouroborus.

I completed my matric at the end of last year and began studying a BA general degree at UCT this year in February. I soon found that I wasn’t happy where I was and put my studies on hold. I worked in a bookstore until the beginning of October while making plans to travel overseas. I leave for London on the 26th October on a work-travel holiday for two years. I am open about being Pagan in my local community. My immediate family is aware of my practice, as are all my friends. I may not wear a sign on my forehead reading ‘I’m a witch’, but I certainly do not hide that fact. A friend commented once that I’m the only person he knows who would have a book entitled Wicca Covens – How to Start and Organize your own (by Judy Harrow) sitting on my bedside table. My friends and family respond well. They ask questions rather than criticize and are usually very supportive. These days, to have a witch as a friend is quite a fashionable commodity. I am not as active in my community as I would like to be or perhaps as much as I should be. My main involvement in the community is through the House of Ouroborus which helps in projects such as Pagan Freedom Day and the Pagan Guild. I also help in teaching parts of the course that the House offers. Otherwise I simply do my best to bring happiness to those who I am close to.

To the Pagan community I would like to say that although I am not keen on Pagan- politics, I do understand that it has a place if we are to try and maintain and develop the Pagan community. However, politics is not an excuse for corruption. Let the community be built on a foundation of respect and compassion rather than on one of abuse. We, as the South African Pagan community, have so much to offer to each other and so much to learn from one another. We are deeply enriched with diversity of culture and religion. It is our responsibility to nurture that diversity.