As my publisher and his wife, Sandra and Bruce Rogers, joined me on the long and winding road through the tree-laden mountains of Woodford, we mused that we really were, “Off to see the Wonderful Wizards of Oz”!
When dusk fell upon the wooded glen on the night of the launch, the re-enactment of the Isis legend began ( Isis being a key figure among the Wiccan Deities). A group of around two hundred Witches and Wizards gathered at the entrance of a 135 acre property, in front of a prime time television camera crew, to commence a truly spectacular procession.
Kim Walker and Shayne Hall narrated the event, as the breathtakingly beautiful Sara (aka “Tinker Elf”) took center stage as the Egyptian Goddess, Isis.
Sara
as Isis with her hand-maidens
The quest ensued, seeing the full procession march its way down to our facsimile of the River Nile (the creek that runs through the Woodford property). I’ll save the incredible images from that scene for the TV exclusive that’s coming, but the candle-lined, smoke-filled “River Nile” discovery of Osiris’s coffin was quite a scene, I can assure you.
With the campfire burning it was time – time to finally initiate the worldwide launch of Professor Midnight .
I took the stage with Anthorr, past High Priest of Oberon Zell-Ravenheart’s Church of All Worlds in Australia, reminding everyone that the concept of Professor Midnight (although written by me) was created by Peter Andrew Wright, whose health prevented him from being present.
Professor Midnight has been Peter’s lifelong dream, and it’s been both my honor and my privilege to bring it to life for him. In recognizing Peter I asked that everyone spend a minute sending all the loving, healing energy they could spare towards Peter, so he might know that we were thinking of him on this special night.
That done, it was time for the fun! Enjoying a special brew called “Cleopatra’s Kiss” (a passionate fruit beer, brought to us by “The Belching Banshee Bar Elves”!) we reveled in the special company of new friends at “Ze Kasbah” as the rest of Samhain played out.
Samhain is one of the high Holy days in the Wiccan calendar, and a date of direct relevance to the Professor Midnight story, for it is on this night that Vincent, aka Professor Midnight discovers his true destiny. As Wiccan festivals are based on the seasons, in the Southern Hemisphere Samhain (otherwise known as Halloween) falls on the 30 th April, when Australia enters its winter months. It is on this night that the veil between realms is said to be at its thinnest. It’s a time for honoring ones’ ancestors and communicating with those past over.
When Peter Andrew Wright first came to me with the concept of Professor Midnight I saw a wonderful opportunity to combine my lifelong campaign to raise awareness about the plight of the wildlife and wildernesses of the world with a another interest of mine – the world of the metaphysical. No one could have imagined then that it would become the astonishing story that it has, capturing the imagination of not only the global Wiccan/Pagan community, but also the heart of Hollywood .
I’ve made some amazing and wonderful new friends as I’ve researched this project, which saw me looking into the history of the Oracle of Adelphi, through to the Aquarian Age, and the emergence of the Indigo and Crystal children in this exciting new era.
Professor Midnight combines the light and fight for right of Luke Skywalker, with the dark passion of The Phantom of the Opera, woven through a wonderful plot of ancient legend and modern Witchcraft, which honors the old ways and positively represents the Craft as it is practiced today. That Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, who many see as a founding father of Paganism in the modern world, has taken a personal interest in this book is perhaps a testament to the power of this story.
Sandra, Bruce and I had no idea of what to expect at the Woodford Festival. All we knew was that we were privileged to have been allowed into this very closed-shop gathering of the faithful to the ancient ways. This was the first time that Woodford had ever allowed a book launch at its event, and the first time that main stream media had been allowed in to film it. Too many people, it seems, still hold onto ridiculous and completely inaccurate notions of what Witchcraft really is. Those who still follow this oldest of faiths and traditions respect all living things, and live by the most sacred of Wiccan Redes: “Harm none”.
Of course over the years there have inevitably been those in society who have seen a way to gather notoriety for themselves by pandering to the images of Witches dancing naked around tombstones, and sacrificing virgins (or other rare animals) at midnight while worshipping the devil. This is not Witchcraft – this is a lunatic fringe distorting a little knowledge with a lot of twisted evil intent to achieve their own misguided ends. Sadly these are the images that the media, and the Church, have pounced upon and consequently tarred everyone who follows the faith with the same brush.
Contrary to what many might have expected, there were no dope-smoking hippie types at this festival, no tree-huggers, and no “flower power” throw backs to the seventies. The Witches and Wizards of Woodford (who had gathered from all over Australia ) were real people, with real jobs, who all shared a common belief in honoring the ancient ways. There were medical doctors, clinical psychologists, even customs officials (not to mention an author and a publisher!). People came from a range of professions that crossed the spectrum. I couldn’t help noticing that something else they all shared in common (aside from their faith) was clear skin, bright eyes, and stress-free faces. No one asked for money. No one tried to convert anyone. They were all very comfortable in what they believed, and what anyone else chose to believe was up to them.
The very idea that these people worship the devil is utter nonsense. There was no concept of the devil before the Church created it, and Witchcraft had existed for millennia prior to that. It’s all about control, responsibility, and fear of the unknown. True followers of Witchcraft know they have control over their own destiny, they take full responsibility for their actions, and they do not fear for they understand the greater powers that work with us and around us.
Even though television cameras were present from one of the highest-rating and most respected shows on Australian TV, no one played up to the cameras, nor did they shy away from them.
On 24th July, 2005, The Sunday Program aired a major cover story on
'The Wizards of Oz' featuring the launch of this book, which is now selling off the shelves thanks to the fact that the Anglican Church has come out and openly condemned it. We are in good company - the Pope also banned 'Harry Potter' so I can only hope the public at large take to this special story with the same passion."
PROFESSOR MIDNIGHT IS AVAILABLE NOW at: www.zeus-publications.com/midnight.htm
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