{"id":707,"date":"2019-12-16T14:17:52","date_gmt":"2019-12-16T14:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/druidry.org\/\/?page_id=707"},"modified":"2023-12-04T23:35:18","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T23:35:18","slug":"the-influence-of-italy-on-wicca-and-druidry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/druid-way\/other-paths\/wicca-druidcraft\/the-influence-of-italy-on-wicca-and-druidry","title":{"rendered":"The Influence of Italy on Wicca and Druidry"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"707\" class=\"elementor elementor-707\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-81881c0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"81881c0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a22c631\" data-id=\"a22c631\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b556031 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b556031\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 30-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>I\u2019d like to start by dedicating this essay to my father, who now in his 84th year, can still remember swimming with both the protagonists of this talk, at a nudist resort in Hertfordshire \u2013 probably Five Acres, part-owned by Gardner and the site of the first shrine of Wicca, the witches\u2019 cottage where his coven meetings were held, or possibly Spielplatz, just nearby and the site of Britain\u2019s oldest Naturist Utopian community. He can\u2019t remember what the three of them talked about as they lay in the sun afterwards, but perhaps one day I\u2019ll ask him to be hypnotically regressed to recall the conversation.<\/p><p>There they were in the pale English sun: the editor of a history magazine and two of the key figures in the 20th century revival of European Paganism.<\/p><p>It was around 1954 or 1955 that this happened: a key time for the emergence of this phenomenon. The Witchcraft Act was repealed in Britain in 1951, and in 1954 Gardner\u2019s book \u2018Witchcraft Today\u2019, edited by Nichols, was published which began the process of popularization of witchcraft and the promotion of Wicca specifically as a religion or magical path.<\/p><p>The following year \u2013 1955 \u2013 was destined to be the year in which the worlds of opera and the inner mysteries of Paganism and specifically Druidry collided to produce a triad of unique and powerful manifestations: it was the year two of the greatest opera singers the world has ever known began their careers thanks in differing ways to the Druids.<\/p><p>Pavarotti\u2019s singing career was launched at the Llangollen eisteddfod in 1955 when he sung in a male choir from his town in Italy that won a prize. He returned to sing at Llangollen 40 years later in 1995. And Maria Callas\u2019 career was launched when she played the Druid priestess Norma in Bellini\u2019s opera that same year. And in the same year that these two stars began their extraordinary trajectories across the firmament of world opera, an opera \u2013 Michael Tippet\u2019s \u2018The Midsummer Marriage\u2019 \u2013 was performed for the first time in London that also owed its existence in a certain way to one of the inner mysteries of both Wicca and Druidism.<\/p><p>What on earth was going on? What were the stars doing in 1955? Let\u2019s home in on the details to look at the unfolding of this phenomenon more closely.<\/p><p>Let\u2019s go back to 1951 \u2013 the year the Witchcraft Act was repealed. Where were Nichols and Gardner that year? In Italy \u2013 and specifically at Pompeii. We do not know whether they were there together or independently.<\/p><p>Philip Heselton, biographer of Gardner, wrote to me saying: \u201cthey probably didn\u2019t go together. Gerald was always in the habit of \u201cwintering abroad\u201d for about two months each year, mostly January and February, to avoid the severity of the English winter, which did not suit him and brought on his asthma. In none of his letters does he mention Ross being with him. The most likely thing would perhaps be that Ross went to Pompeii some time during the summer of 1951 and told Gerald about what he had seen, which made Gerald curious to go and see it, perhaps even to choose Italy as the destination of his annual \u2018wintering abroad\u2019 trip.\u201d<\/p><p>Let me read you now an excerpt from Nichols\u2019 account of his visit, published in my father\u2019s history magazine\u00a0<em>Past and Future<\/em>\u00a0August 1960 and titled Extract from \u2018An English View of Italy \u2013 Pages from a Travel Diary in Holy Year 1951\u2019<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2064253 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2064253\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-02f3720\" data-id=\"02f3720\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca709bd elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"ca709bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"1772.339\" height=\"76.089\" viewBox=\"0 0 1772.339 76.089\"><g id=\"border1\" transform=\"translate(660.008 -245.772)\"><path id=\"Path_240\" data-name=\"Path 240\" d=\"M1112.347,332.952H-659.9V290.487c2.769-2.862,6.093-1.385,9.139-.923a60.008,60.008,0,0,0,20.309-.092c4.616-.831,9.508.185,13.939-1.754.646-.277,1.2-.646,1.846-.923a17.963,17.963,0,0,1,9.878-.092,20.525,20.525,0,0,0,12.647-.923c2.031-.738,4.062-1.108,6.093-1.754h0c4.062-.738,8.031-.831,12,1.015,2.216,1.015,4.8,2.123,7.385.831h0c5.17-2.4,10.432-3.231,15.97-1.292a6.98,6.98,0,0,0,6.185-.923c4.708-2.677,9.6-2.585,14.586-1.754a6.554,6.554,0,0,0,6.554-2.308c2.308-2.677,5.262-3.139,8.677-3.139,4.246,0,8.493,1.754,12.647-.185a13.811,13.811,0,0,1,9.416-.646,18.372,18.372,0,0,0,8.954,0h0c2.769-1.662,5.539,1.015,8.308,0h0a33.1,33.1,0,0,1,15.324-.646c2.585.462,5.262.646,7.57-.739,5.262-3.046,10.893-1.477,16.432-1.846.738-.092,1.569.092,2.216-.462h0c5.447-4.523,11.816-1.846,17.54-1.477,6.093.369,12.093-.462,18.186-.369,1.939.092,3.97,0,5.816.923a12.678,12.678,0,0,0,9.785,1.846c6.277-1.477,12.37-.462,18.37,1.569,2.585.831,4.8-.092,6.647-2.031,1.754-1.939,4.246-3.139,6.554-1.754,4.431,2.585,8.77.739,12.924-.277a30.227,30.227,0,0,1,8.031-1.2c7.385.185,14.77,0,21.878-1.846,4.708-1.2,9.785-1.939,13.939-5.17a4.183,4.183,0,0,1,4.708-.369c5.077,2.769,10.339,1.292,15.693,1.477,5.908.185,11.447-2.031,17.724-.092,5.723,1.846,12.462.462,18.74.462,5.539-1.2,11.078-2.769,16.8-1.292a1.573,1.573,0,0,0,.923,0c10.524-3.97,20.955-1.2,31.294.738a1.771,1.771,0,0,0,1.662-.369h0c3.046-1.108,6.185-1.477,9.231,0a21.079,21.079,0,0,0,12.185.185c2.216-.646,4.616-1.662,6.924.369a4.179,4.179,0,0,0,3.508.277c5.354-1.846,10.155.923,15.14,1.569,9.785,1.292,19.294,6.739,29.633,2.492,2.308-.923,5.077.369,7.754,1.2,4.893,1.477,9.97,3.323,15.416,2.492,4.431-.646,9.047,1.108,13.57-.185,4.246-2.4,8.862-1.569,13.386-1.385,2.769.646,5.447.738,7.939-.831a5.69,5.69,0,0,1,4.062-.554c7.293,1.569,14.77.185,22.155,1.939,4.708,1.108,9.878-.831,14.955-.923,2.216,0,4.523,1.015,6.739-.185h2.769c5.447,0,10.8.462,16.247.369,6.277-.092,12.37-.554,18.647-1.2,6.37-.739,12.739-1.477,19.017,1.292a13.044,13.044,0,0,0,11.539-.554,14.024,14.024,0,0,1,8.862,1.108,10.148,10.148,0,0,0,8.031.277c4.616-1.569,8.678-.277,12.739,1.569,5.262,1.754,10.432,4.062,16.063,1.292.369-.185,1.015-.462,1.292-.277,7.754,3.416,15.509-.646,23.263-.092,2.308.646,4.8.831,7.016,1.754a6.775,6.775,0,0,0,5.816-.369c3.323-1.754,7.108-1.662,10.524-2.585,6-1.569,11.355-.738,16.986,1.108,6.185,2.031,12.555,2.308,18.924,2.954a29.734,29.734,0,0,0,8.585.646c6.093-.277,12.278-1.292,17.909,2.677,1.754,1.2,4.154.739,6.277.462a21.665,21.665,0,0,1,7.662.738c3.416.923,6.739,1.846,10.155,2.769,4.8.554,9.416,1.569,13.662-2.123,2.216-1.846,5.723-1.939,8.493-3.231,2.308-.738,4.523.277,6.739.554,2.862.369,5.816.831,8.493-.831,2.677-3.231,5.816-4.616,9.785-2.493,3.785,3.416,8.862,2.769,12.924,2.308,4.8-.554,9.97.923,14.678-1.662,1.939-1.015,4.154,1.477,6.277,1.939,4.154,1.2,8.308,2.492,12.555,3.693,3.046.831,5.908-.277,8.216-1.754,3.785-2.4,8.031-2.862,12.185-3.6,3.231-.554,6.647-.277,9.785-1.846a3.73,3.73,0,0,1,3.139,0c5.539,3.323,10.893,1.108,16.34-.185,3.693-.923,7.016-1.292,9.324,2.954.646,1.292,2.769,1.754,4.154,2.585a26.41,26.41,0,0,0,16.524,2.123c6.831-1.385,13.662-.831,20.494-1.662a181.412,181.412,0,0,1,27.417-.738c5.723.185,11.447,1.015,17.17,1.569,7.016.646,13.939,1.292,20.955-.092a19.274,19.274,0,0,1,9.97.646c9.508,4.523,19.109,4.339,28.617,0,6.554-.739,13.016.277,19.571.831,3.323.277,6.554,1.292,9.97,1.108,1.569-.277,3.046-.646,4.616-.923a27.451,27.451,0,0,1,11.632,0c4.062,1.015,8.493-.092,12.647-.554,5.908-.738,11.078,1.292,16.247,3.323a5.693,5.693,0,0,0,3.693.923c3.139,1.2,6.37,1.939,9.231,3.693h0a8.41,8.41,0,0,0,7.477-.831c3.877-2.585,8.308-2.031,12.185-3.508,7.662-2.954,15.324-2.677,23.263-2.585a40.729,40.729,0,0,0,13.2-1.569c4.8-.554,9.416.185,14.032,1.108h0c3.231,1.846,6.831,1.662,10.339,1.292a20.939,20.939,0,0,1,14.032,3.231,14.853,14.853,0,0,0,10.8,2.216,36.282,36.282,0,0,1,17.724,1.292c1.2.462,2.308.923,3.508.277,2.769-.277,5.447-1.385,8.308-.923a20.862,20.862,0,0,1,6.739-.923c1.108,0,2.4.369,3.139-.185,7.108-5.447,14.4-.646,21.6-.277a12.328,12.328,0,0,0,4.893-.277c8.4-3.231,16.8-2.123,25.2,0,2.492.646,5.077,1.385,7.57-.185,3.969-2.123,8.031-1.2,12,0,6,.277,11.816,2.4,17.724,2.492a103.333,103.333,0,0,0,18.463-1.108,54.431,54.431,0,0,0,6.462-3.508,11.72,11.72,0,0,1,8.4-1.292,23.776,23.776,0,0,0,12.185-.739c5.447-1.662,10.985-.369,16.432-.185,7.2.277,14.309,3.231,21.694,1.292,1.477-.369,3.323-.554,4.523.185,6.462,3.6,13.755,2.769,20.125,1.569,9.047-1.662,17.909,1.662,26.679-.923,11.078-3.416,22.063.462,33.141.092a7.477,7.477,0,0,1,3.877,1.292c.739.462,1.569,1.569,2.4,1.015,3.323-2.123,6.37-.185,9.508.277,5.17.831,9.97-1.015,14.863-2.4a24.5,24.5,0,0,1,6.277-1.292c4.154-.092,8.585-1.754,12.093,1.939.369.462,1.2.185,1.754-.092,4.339-2.308,8.954-.923,13.478-1.108,1.846-.092,3.785,0,5.447,1.754,2.031,2.123,4.893,1.108,7.385.923,1.016-.092,1.846-1.108,2.954-.277C1112.347,302.765,1112.347,317.812,1112.347,332.952Z\" transform=\"translate(-0.015 -11.091)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_241\" data-name=\"Path 241\" d=\"M1254.059,289.524c-4.431.923-8.4,1.569-13.016-1.292-3.231-1.939-8.308-1.108-12.555.092-3.046.831-5.816,1.846-8.954-1.015-2.492-2.216-5.816.738-8.862.277-4.616-1.2-8.585,1.385-12.739,2.308-5.17,1.2-9.878,1.569-14.032-2.308a8.149,8.149,0,0,1,9.6-1.477c4.523,2.216,8.493,1.385,12.278-1.385a5.045,5.045,0,0,1,4.8-.554c2.4.831,5.077,0,7.2.831,6.831,2.4,13.847.185,20.678,1.385,2.031.369,4.062.369,5.908,2.031,2.954,2.677,6.37.277,9.693.185C1254.059,288.878,1254.059,289.247,1254.059,289.524Z\" transform=\"translate(-141.727 -12.897)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_242\" data-name=\"Path 242\" d=\"M-616.52,289.841a3.352,3.352,0,0,1-2.862,1.292c-6.924-.092-13.755,1.477-20.771,1.846-6.647.369-13.2-1.754-19.848-.369V288c3.693-.185,7.385-.092,10.247,2.769a2.875,2.875,0,0,0,2.492.831c8.862-.369,17.817.092,26.586-1.569C-619.289,289.841-617.9,289.934-616.52,289.841Z\" transform=\"translate(-0.008 -13.215)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_243\" data-name=\"Path 243\" d=\"M1128.1,288.449c-5.723.738-11.355,1.015-16.986-.554a3.365,3.365,0,0,0-2.677,0c-7.385,4.523-15.509,1.939-22.8,1.108-13.755-1.569-27.51-2.123-41.264-3.139-4.523-.369-9.139.646-13.663,1.108-1.015.092-2.031.646-3.139.277a10.471,10.471,0,0,0-9.97,1.477,18.075,18.075,0,0,1-6.831,2.585c-.277-.185-.462-.369-.277-.646q.138-.277.277-.277c4.431-6.924,10.708-6.37,17.54-4.8,3.231.739,6.924.831,9.693-2.492,1.477-1.846,3.97-1.385,6-.462,4.893,2.123,9.97,1.015,14.955,1.385,1.2.092,2.4-.092,3.508.554a12.916,12.916,0,0,0,11.355,1.015c4.431-1.477,8.954-1.846,12.924,1.846,2.4,2.216,4.523.554,6.554-.831,3.877-2.769,8.216-5.539,12.832-3.046a59.368,59.368,0,0,0,8.4,3.416c3.416,1.2,6.646,1.2,9.047-2.031a6.264,6.264,0,0,1,5.724-2.4c4.431.462,9.047.369,13.293,2.308-1.939,1.754-4.431.923-6.647,1.108A14.842,14.842,0,0,0,1128.1,288.449Z\" transform=\"translate(-128.394 -12.745)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_244\" data-name=\"Path 244\" d=\"M119.551,269.538c-4.8,2.216-9.047,3.508-14.586.738-4.893-2.4-11.17-1.015-16.8-.554-6.831.554-13.386,2.123-20.4.923-4.431-.738-9.231,1.2-13.662-1.2,1.2-1.385,2.862-1.108,4.339-.831,5.354.831,10.708.185,15.97-.185,8.031-.646,16.247-.369,23.817-3.877,2.677-1.292,4.985-.185,7.57,1.477,3.785,2.4,7.847,5.354,12.924,3.508Q119.135,268.984,119.551,269.538Z\" transform=\"translate(-54.892 -11.374)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_245\" data-name=\"Path 245\" d=\"M302.7,280.92c-4.523-.185-9.416,1.385-13.57-.369a30.391,30.391,0,0,0-9.416-2.585c-5.908-.462-11.909,1.2-17.632-.831-6.185-1.2-12.555-1.385-18.647-3.323-5.354-1.662-10.708-3.416-16.432-2.216,4.708-4.523,8.4-4.8,13.2-1.015,2.677,2.031,5.539,2.862,8.493,1.2,4.523-2.585,8.031-1.292,11.447,2.123,3.046,3.046,6.831,3.231,10.524,1.477a5.207,5.207,0,0,1,4.8-.185,16.549,16.549,0,0,0,7.662,1.2c1.846-.092,3.508,0,4.893,1.754,1.108,1.477,2.954,1.754,4.985,1.292A12.366,12.366,0,0,1,302.7,280.92Z\" transform=\"translate(-68.181 -11.679)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_246\" data-name=\"Path 246\" d=\"M-151.12,262.506c-3.693,2.4-7.662.277-10.985-.462-4.985-1.015-10.062,1.292-14.77-1.292-.739-.462-1.754.277-2.492.923-2.492,2.677-5.908,2.308-8.585,1.385-3.785-1.292-7.016-1.2-10.339.738-1.292.739-2.308-.554-3.508-.369,2.585-1.846,5.816-1.846,8.678-2.308,3.6-.646,7.016-2.769,10.155-3.231,6.37-1.015,13.57-2.492,19.663.277C-159.428,259.921-155.274,261.029-151.12,262.506Z\" transform=\"translate(-35.224 -10.804)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_247\" data-name=\"Path 247\" d=\"M602.616,282.719c-5.631.185-11.262.369-16.986.646-8.77.554-17.632-.554-26.494-1.569-7.57-.831-15.232-1.385-22.894-.277a92.675,92.675,0,0,1-17.54.462,57.2,57.2,0,0,0-10.432,1.108c-5.724,1.015-11.262.092-16.8-.831-.554-.092-1.015-1.015-1.569-1.569a43.055,43.055,0,0,0,23.448.369,18.483,18.483,0,0,1,2.216-.369c13.109-.369,26.31-2.308,39.418-.739,8.4,1.015,16.893.185,25.2,2.308,4.154,1.015,8.216-.554,12.185-1.2C596.061,280.688,599.477,280.411,602.616,282.719Z\" transform=\"translate(-88.387 -12.554)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_248\" data-name=\"Path 248\" d=\"M1137.9,288.693c2.123-3.6,5.723-3.6,9.231-3.693h5.539c5.539.646,11.262-.369,16.8.831,2.308.554,4.8-.554,6.647,2.123,1.108,1.662,2.769-.369,4.246-.185,7.293,5.17,14.493,1.015,21.694-.277,1.754-.277,3.508-1.292,5.077.369-3.6-.185-6.831,1.569-10.247,2.4-5.262,1.292-10.339,2.862-15.324-.646-.092-.092-.369-.277-.369-.185-5.816,4.523-11.262-3.323-17.078-.369-2.308,1.2-3.877-1.015-6-1.385C1151.286,286.477,1144.639,287.216,1137.9,288.693Z\" transform=\"translate(-138.192 -12.989)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_249\" data-name=\"Path 249\" d=\"M870.312,292.239c-.554,1.015-1.292,2.031-2.492,1.477-6.924-3.231-14.032-2.123-21.232-1.754-3.231.185-6.739-1.108-9.785-2.862-3.508-2.031-6.924-3.693-11.447-2.769-3.785.831-8.308,1.846-11.355-2.4,6.185-2.216,12.462.831,18.832-.369,2.031-.369,5.262,1.108,6.924,3.785,1.846,3.046,4.431,3.693,7.847,2.308,3.508-1.385,7.57-.923,10.985-.554C862.373,289.562,866.711,289.746,870.312,292.239Z\" transform=\"translate(-113.297 -12.843)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_250\" data-name=\"Path 250\" d=\"M953.136,289.683c-1.385,2.492-3.416,1.754-5.631,1.385-9.416-1.477-18.74-3.416-28.433-.369-4.616,1.477-10.062.092-14.678-1.754-2.216-.831-4.431-.831-5.539.092-4.616,3.785-9.97,2.123-14.955,2.492a9.839,9.839,0,0,1,6-1.846c1.2,0,2.677.277,3.6-.369,7.108-4.431,14.216-1.292,21.232-.185a14.734,14.734,0,0,0,6.647-.554c6.924-1.846,14.032-4.154,21.048-1.477C946.027,288.483,949.258,290.145,953.136,289.683Z\" transform=\"translate(-118.67 -13.057)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_251\" data-name=\"Path 251\" d=\"M793.388,283.813c-5.17,1.015-10.524,2.769-15.693,1.662-7.662-1.662-14.586,1.015-21.786,2.4-3.323.646-6.554,1.292-9.416,3.877-2.308,2.123-5.631.646-8.493-.554a4.236,4.236,0,0,0,4.246-2.123c2.123-3.323,5.354-3.508,8.77-2.862,4.985.923,9.785.554,13.755-2.862a7.4,7.4,0,0,1,7.2-1.385c3.785,1.477,7.477.554,11.262.923A14.9,14.9,0,0,1,793.388,283.813Z\" transform=\"translate(-107.456 -12.725)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_252\" data-name=\"Path 252\" d=\"M225,271.857c4.523-1.846,8.678-2.954,13.2.646,2.123,1.662,5.816,2.123,8.77,1.939,4.8-.277,8.77,1.754,13.109,2.954-8.954.462-17.54-1.754-25.848-4.708a5.361,5.361,0,0,0-3.97,0,14.729,14.729,0,0,1-6.277,1.015c-3.046-.092-5.816,0-8.585,2.216a7.625,7.625,0,0,1-9.508.092c-1.477-1.2-3.6-.831-4.893-2.308,2.585,0,5.077.185,7.293-1.662a4.279,4.279,0,0,1,3.416-.738C216.14,273.611,220.663,271.395,225,271.857Z\" transform=\"translate(-66.183 -11.846)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_253\" data-name=\"Path 253\" d=\"M-494.28,277.863c-3.785,1.939-7.847.646-11.724.831-3.508.277-6.831.185-9.324,3.6-1.2,1.754-3.877,2.123-6.37,1.662-4.339-.831-8.585-1.662-12.647,1.569-1.662,1.292-5.077,1.939-7.016,1.108-6.093-2.677-11.724-.739-17.54.369,4.431-3.969,9.693-3.046,14.77-2.216,2.492.369,4.616.369,6.924-1.015a13.784,13.784,0,0,1,10.985-1.754c3.877,1.015,7.385.831,10.616-3.046,3.416-4.062,8.678-2.677,13.293-1.754a49.645,49.645,0,0,0,6.37.646Q-495.249,277.033-494.28,277.863Z\" transform=\"translate(-7.778 -12.314)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_254\" data-name=\"Path 254\" d=\"M-418.366,272.87c-2.769,1.385-5.447,2.308-8.77,1.292-2.954-.831-5.816.369-8.308,1.754a12.142,12.142,0,0,1-8.493,1.477c-5.354-1.2-10.708-.646-16.063-.831,2.031-1.2,4.246-1.939,6.093-3.6,3.139-2.585,7.108-1.108,9.878.369,3.877,2.123,7.293.831,10.339-.554,2.954-1.292,5.17-2.308,8.4-.462C-423.351,273.424-420.674,272.778-418.366,272.87Z\" transform=\"translate(-15.379 -11.937)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_255\" data-name=\"Path 255\" d=\"M46.4,269.726c-3.693,1.2-7.477,2.585-11.447,1.2-1.2-.462-2.4,0-3.6.185-3.97.646-7.939.092-11.816.092-7.754-.092-15.509-2.4-23.263.185-1.569.554-3.693.831-5.17-.738,1.385-1.108,3.231.185,4.616-.923.923-.277,1.846-.646,2.769-.923,4.154.277,7.57-3.785,12-1.846h0c1.015,1.015,2.492,1.2,3.693,1.846,5.539-1.015,10.893,2.216,16.524.923.554-.092,1.477.277,1.846-.092C37.165,265.571,41.78,269.449,46.4,269.726Z\" transform=\"translate(-50.05 -11.562)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_256\" data-name=\"Path 256\" d=\"M720.618,286.367c-8.031-3.6-16.432-1.477-24.648-1.754-5.354-.185-10.616-1.569-15.97-1.015,2.585-1.2,5.724-2.677,8.216-1.569,4.339,1.939,7.477.923,10.616-2.031a3.842,3.842,0,0,1,4.246-.923C708.71,281.936,715.264,282.674,720.618,286.367Z\" transform=\"translate(-102.998 -12.509)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_257\" data-name=\"Path 257\" d=\"M370.205,276.568c-3.508-1.477-6.462-.185-9.231,1.846-.277-.185-.369-.369-.277-.646q.138-.277.277-.277c-.554-3.508.831-4.893,4.523-4.708,3.231.092,7.016,2.308,9.785-1.292.092-.185.831-.092.831,0,2.123,4.616,7.662,2.308,10.708,5.17-2.216,2.031-4.339,2.492-7.754,1.846C376.114,277.953,372.975,278.507,370.205,276.568Z\" transform=\"translate(-78.454 -11.943)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_258\" data-name=\"Path 258\" d=\"M-582.283,285.8c-7.2,3.6-14.493,6.277-22.709,3.139-1.754-.646-3.969-.277-5.908-.369,1.754-1.292,3.785-1.846,5.539-3.6,2.585-2.492,6.924-1.662,9.324.277,3.416,2.769,6.277,2.123,9.693.831A19.166,19.166,0,0,1-582.283,285.8Z\" transform=\"translate(-3.781 -12.868)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_259\" data-name=\"Path 259\" d=\"M-373.359,271.688c-9.139,0-18.186.646-27.325.646-4.708,0-9.508-1.569-14.216.277,4.246-4.339,9.231-6,14.863-3.508,6.739,3.046,13.57.369,20.309.646C-377.42,269.934-375.02,269.657-373.359,271.688Z\" transform=\"translate(-18.846 -11.678)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_260\" data-name=\"Path 260\" d=\"M1007.9,290.7v.923a118.916,118.916,0,0,1-19.848,1.385c-5.724,0-10.893-1.754-16.155-3.231.646-.092,1.385.185,1.754-.185,4.8-4.339,9.139-2.4,13.293,1.015a6.024,6.024,0,0,0,5.631.923C997.748,290.146,1002.918,291.53,1007.9,290.7Z\" transform=\"translate(-125.433 -13.15)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_261\" data-name=\"Path 261\" d=\"M672.541,284.54c-2.862,1.754-5.908,1.015-8.862.738-6.923-.646-13.755-1.662-20.678-2.585,1.385-1.477,3.139-.738,4.8-.923,1.2-.092,2.862.369,3.6-.277,5.816-5.077,10.524-1.2,15.6,1.385C668.571,283.8,670.6,283.986,672.541,284.54Z\" transform=\"translate(-100.154 -12.529)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_262\" data-name=\"Path 262\" d=\"M371,276.722c5.539,1.662,11.078,2.308,16.617,0h.923c2.492,1.108,4.431.185,6.185-1.477a5.758,5.758,0,0,1,6.739-1.292c2.123.831,1.846,3.6,3.693,4.616-5.816-2.585-11.724,2.677-17.54.092-3.508,3.139-7.477-.277-11.17.738A4.89,4.89,0,0,1,371,276.722Z\" transform=\"translate(-79.249 -12.096)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_263\" data-name=\"Path 263\" d=\"M124.923,269.872H124c3.508-.923,6.924-3.139,10.339.369a3.189,3.189,0,0,0,3.877.185c6.093-3.785,11.17-1.015,16.247,2.216-4.154-.923-8.124-1.569-12.462-.185-4.154,1.292-8.4-1.015-12.555-1.939A18.454,18.454,0,0,0,124.923,269.872Z\" transform=\"translate(-60.265 -11.708)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_264\" data-name=\"Path 264\" d=\"M358.771,277.9v.923c-3.231,3.046-7.108,1.939-10.8,1.385a29.251,29.251,0,0,0-4.893-.462c-3.877,1.385-7.57,1.477-11.078-.923,5.816-.277,11.355-4.246,17.54-.646C352.217,279.744,355.725,279.283,358.771,277.9Z\" transform=\"translate(-76.251 -12.349)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_265\" data-name=\"Path 265\" d=\"M331.078,279c3.693-.185,7.293,1.477,11.078.923-7.016,3.231-13.755,7.847-22.155,4.616a53.591,53.591,0,0,1,5.447,0C329.693,285.092,331.816,283.43,331.078,279Z\" transform=\"translate(-75.329 -12.527)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_266\" data-name=\"Path 266\" d=\"M797.155,283.788c-3.416,0-6.739-1.477-10.155-.923,8.4-1.662,16.709-2.954,24.925.923Z\" transform=\"translate(-111.222 -12.701)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_267\" data-name=\"Path 267\" d=\"M-560.514,287.754c-2.123,1.754-4.339.923-6.462.092a28.161,28.161,0,0,0-12.924-1.939,14.63,14.63,0,0,1,11.816.277A15.32,15.32,0,0,0-560.514,287.754Z\" transform=\"translate(-6.164 -12.974)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_268\" data-name=\"Path 268\" d=\"M-5.537,269.949c-1.292,1.569-3.046.738-4.616.923-4.616.185-9.324-.646-13.847.923,2.862-3.323,7.016-2.308,10.431-2.308C-10.984,269.488-8.214,269.765-5.537,269.949Z\" transform=\"translate(-48.89 -11.786)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_269\" data-name=\"Path 269\" d=\"M-489.054,277.83H-490.9c3.139-2.492,6.924-2.216,10.431-1.662a71.136,71.136,0,0,0,9.878.739c-2.585,1.754-5.631,1.2-8.308.646A18.932,18.932,0,0,0-489.054,277.83Z\" transform=\"translate(-13.004 -12.282)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_270\" data-name=\"Path 270\" d=\"M402.924,273.9c-2.308-.092-4.616-.092-6.185,2.031-1.939,2.585-4.246,2.492-6.739.738,2.492.185,4.246-1.2,6.093-2.585C398.308,272.42,400.616,272.051,402.924,273.9Z\" transform=\"translate(-80.709 -12.041)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_271\" data-name=\"Path 271\" d=\"M737.231,291.693c-3.6.092-6.37-1.939-9.231-3.693C731.323,288.462,735.108,288,737.231,291.693Z\" transform=\"translate(-106.687 -13.22)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_272\" data-name=\"Path 272\" d=\"M11,266.9c-4.246-.831-7.754,3.046-12,1.846C2.97,267.919,6.477,263.765,11,266.9Z\" transform=\"translate(-50.657 -11.509)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_273\" data-name=\"Path 273\" d=\"M-137.669,262.826H-146.9C-143.854,260.518-140.807,259.595-137.669,262.826Z\" transform=\"translate(-39.444 -11.124)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_274\" data-name=\"Path 274\" d=\"M-460.592,276.916c-2.769,2.216-5.539-1.015-8.308,0C-466.131,274.885-463.361,276.454-460.592,276.916Z\" transform=\"translate(-14.695 -12.29)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1b8cc9a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1b8cc9a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-388659d\" data-id=\"388659d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d69ab6f elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"d69ab6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"639\" height=\"600\" viewBox=\"0 0 639 600\"><title>Spiral triskelion (formed from mathematical Archimedean spirals), occasionally used as a Christian Trinitarian symbol<\/title><path transform=\"translate(-5.5,710.5) scale(0.1065,-0.1065)\" fill=\"currentColor\" stroke=\"none\" d=\"M4627.24,2660.02C4616.31,2659.45,4603.39,2662.26,4593.62,2667.17C4583.19,2672.4,4572.73,2681.72,4565.98,2691.23C4558.47,2701.82,4552.82,2716.23,4550.6,2729.02C4548.08,2743.56,4548.95,2760.98,4552.35,2775.34C4556.23,2791.71,4564.57,2809.64,4574.13,2823.48C4584.97,2839.19,4600.9,2854.91,4616.44,2865.99C4633.96,2878.47,4656.66,2889.24,4677.27,2895.39C4700.28,2902.26,4728.08,2905.67,4752.09,2905.05C4778.67,2904.36,4809.11,2898.59,4834.25,2889.93C4861.88,2880.41,4891.92,2864.46,4915.53,2847.24C4941.3,2828.45,4967.6,2802.29,4986.86,2776.87C5007.75,2749.29,5026.97,2713.98,5039.17,2681.61C5052.34,2646.69,5061.5,2604.32,5064.35,2567.11C5067.4,2527.17,5064.19,2480.76,5056.04,2441.54C5047.32,2399.62,5030.33,2352.9,5010.42,2315C4989.22,2274.65,4958.21,2231.78,4926.79,2198.75C4893.45,2163.71,4849.42,2128.91,4807.82,2104.25C4763.82,2078.16,4709.03,2055.34,4659.62,2042.12C4607.51,2028.17,4545.39,2020.57,4491.45,2021.17C4434.7,2021.79,4369.62,2031.63,4315.12,2047.45C4257.93,2064.06,4194.88,2092.28,4144.21,2123.56C4091.15,2156.33,4035.41,2202.42,3992.99,2248.14C3948.67,2295.92,3905.33,2357.85,3875.31,2415.7C3843.99,2476.06,3817.56,2550.34,3803.37,2616.84C3788.59,2686.1,3782.55,2768,3786.64,2838.69C3790.9,2912.21,3807.36,2996,3830.9,3065.77C3855.35,3138.23,3894.81,3217.62,3937.51,3281.06C3981.79,3346.84,4042.97,3415.46,4103.02,3467.24C4165.22,3520.87,4245.06,3572.74,4319.19,3608.1C4395.87,3644.69,4489.67,3674.73,4573.27,3689.86C4659.66,3705.49,4761.33,3709.97,4848.79,3702.36C4939.08,3694.5,5041.57,3671.41,5126.63,3640.13C5214.35,3607.86,5310.1,3557.16,5386.28,3503.03C5464.79,3447.24,5546.3,3370.97,5607.43,3296.57C5670.38,3219.97,5730.79,3122.22,5771.48,3031.81C5813.33,2938.81,5846.99,2825.5,5863.04,2724.79C5879.54,2621.27,5882.47,2499.81,5871.32,2395.58C5859.87,2288.53,5830.15,2167.33,5791.12,2067C5751.05,1964.01,5689.1,1851.91,5623.52,1762.97C5556.24,1671.74,5464.88,1577.34,5376.12,1506.85C5285.13,1434.59,5169.46,1365.63,5062.76,1319.63C4953.45,1272.5,4820.62,1235.22,4702.8,1218.25C4582.16,1200.87,4440.91,1199.5,4319.92,1214.2C4196.1,1229.23,4056.19,1265.57,3940.58,1312.37C3822.33,1360.24,3693.86,1433.43,3592.18,1510.47C3488.22,1589.23,3380.93,1695.69,3301.09,1798.81C3219.51,1904.19,3142,2037.77,3090.69,2160.77C3038.28,2286.38,2997.38,2438.73,2979.5,2573.67C2962.84,2685.78,2926.76,2812.11,2881.4,2915.98C2837.17,3017.25,2771.05,3126.95,2701.9,3213.14C2634.53,3297.12,2544.42,3383.45,2457.44,3446.89C2372.75,3508.66,2266.1,3566.86,2168.2,3604.32C2072.96,3640.78,1957.99,3668.28,1856.53,3678.54C1757.89,3688.51,1643.03,3685.06,1545.22,3668.85C1450.21,3653.11,1343.41,3620.65,1255.85,3580.56C1170.87,3541.65,1079.08,3484.08,1007.28,3424.24C937.663,3366.22,866.424,3289.01,814.473,3214.75C764.148,3142.81,717.195,3052.51,687.537,2969.88C658.836,2889.92,637.957,2793.66,631.296,2708.97C624.858,2627.09,629.862,2532.01,645.206,2451.33C660.022,2373.43,688.862,2286.14,723.688,2214.9C757.272,2146.2,806.298,2072.33,856.825,2014.93C905.485,1959.66,969.812,1903.51,1031.35,1863.06C1090.53,1824.17,1164.48,1788.46,1231.84,1766.62C1296.53,1745.66,1374.08,1731.41,1442.01,1728.36C1507.12,1725.43,1582.42,1732,1645.97,1746.49C1706.77,1760.36,1774.55,1785.59,1829.46,1815.16C1881.89,1843.4,1937.85,1883.89,1980.83,1925.12C2021.78,1964.4,2062.84,2015.85,2091.75,2064.68C2119.24,2111.1,2143.72,2168.7,2157.7,2220.8C2170.95,2270.2,2178.58,2329.06,2177.99,2380.21C2177.43,2428.57,2169.31,2484.1,2155.63,2530.49C2142.74,2574.21,2121.12,2622.51,2096.78,2661.04C2073.91,2697.24,2041.94,2735.31,2010,2763.81C1980.11,2790.48,1941.52,2816.47,1905.4,2833.8C1871.76,2849.94,1830.48,2863.19,1793.66,2869.24C1759.52,2874.86,1719.33,2875.87,1685,2871.57C1653.36,2867.6,1617.55,2857.91,1588.4,2844.98C1561.68,2833.14,1532.84,2815.11,1510.78,2795.94C1490.71,2778.49,1470.5,2755.02,1456.61,2732.34C1444.07,2711.86,1433.12,2686.07,1427.57,2662.71C1422.59,2641.79,1420.56,2616.74,1422.62,2595.34C1424.44,2576.34,1430.09,2554.69,1438.27,2537.44C1445.48,2522.24,1456.84,2506.05,1469.08,2494.51C1479.81,2484.39,1494.46,2474.92,1508.31,2469.84C1520.5,2465.36,1535.8,2463.05,1548.73,2464.26C1560.34,2465.35,1573.64,2469.75,1583.39,2476.16C1592.53,2482.17,1601.42,2491.96,1606.39,2501.7C1611.35,2511.45,1620.25,2521.24,1629.39,2527.25C1639.13,2533.66,1652.43,2538.06,1664.05,2539.15C1676.98,2540.36,1692.27,2538.04,1704.46,2533.57C1718.31,2528.49,1732.97,2519.02,1743.7,2508.9C1755.94,2497.36,1767.3,2481.17,1774.51,2465.97C1782.69,2448.72,1788.33,2427.07,1790.16,2408.07C1792.21,2386.66,1790.18,2361.61,1785.21,2340.7C1779.65,2317.33,1768.7,2291.55,1756.16,2271.07C1742.28,2248.39,1722.06,2224.92,1701.99,2207.47C1679.93,2188.3,1651.09,2170.27,1624.38,2158.43C1595.22,2145.5,1559.42,2135.81,1527.77,2131.84C1493.45,2127.54,1453.25,2128.55,1419.12,2134.16C1382.29,2140.22,1341.02,2153.47,1307.37,2169.61C1271.25,2186.94,1232.67,2212.93,1202.78,2239.6C1170.83,2268.1,1138.87,2306.17,1116,2342.37C1091.65,2380.9,1070.03,2429.2,1057.14,2472.92C1043.46,2519.31,1035.34,2574.84,1034.78,2623.2C1034.19,2674.35,1041.82,2733.21,1055.08,2782.61C1069.06,2834.71,1093.53,2892.31,1121.02,2938.73C1149.94,2987.56,1191,3039,1231.95,3078.29C1274.92,3119.52,1330.88,3160.01,1383.32,3188.25C1438.22,3217.82,1506.01,3243.05,1566.81,3256.92C1630.35,3271.41,1705.65,3277.98,1770.77,3275.05C1838.7,3272,1916.24,3257.75,1980.93,3236.78C2048.3,3214.95,2122.24,3179.24,2181.42,3140.34C2242.96,3099.9,2307.29,3043.75,2355.95,2988.48C2406.48,2931.08,2455.5,2857.21,2489.09,2788.51C2523.91,2717.27,2552.75,2629.98,2567.57,2552.08C2582.91,2471.4,2587.92,2376.32,2581.48,2294.44C2574.82,2209.74,2553.94,2113.49,2525.24,2033.53C2495.58,1950.89,2448.63,1860.6,2398.3,1788.66C2346.35,1714.4,2275.11,1637.19,2205.49,1579.17C2133.69,1519.33,2041.91,1461.76,1956.93,1422.85C1869.37,1382.76,1762.56,1350.3,1667.55,1334.56C1569.75,1318.35,1454.88,1314.9,1356.24,1324.87C1254.78,1335.13,1139.82,1362.63,1044.57,1399.08C946.677,1436.55,840.025,1494.75,755.337,1556.52C668.353,1619.96,578.248,1706.29,510.874,1790.27C441.721,1876.46,375.607,1986.16,331.377,2087.43C286.01,2191.3,249.937,2317.63,233.272,2429.74C216.188,2544.67,214.3,2679.33,227.811,2794.73C241.652,2912.96,275.784,3046.63,319.997,3157.15C365.266,3270.31,434.706,3393.33,507.926,3490.76C582.856,3590.47,684.283,3693.47,782.62,3770.19C883.201,3848.67,1010.82,3923.33,1128.38,3972.87C1248.56,4023.52,1394.4,4063.21,1523.63,4080.79C1655.68,4098.75,1810.13,4099.08,1942.29,4082.02C2077.29,4064.6,2229.67,4023.84,2355.47,3971.86C2460.9,3930.24,2588.33,3898.32,2700.97,3885.67C2810.79,3873.34,2938.84,3875.75,3048.07,3892.54C3154.48,3908.9,3274.3,3943.76,3372.73,3987.37C3468.57,4029.83,3572.3,4093.1,3653.69,4159.14C3732.88,4223.4,3814.19,4309.21,3873.8,4391.95C3931.75,4472.39,3986.2,4573.59,4021.07,4666.4C4054.93,4756.55,4080.23,4865.27,4089.29,4961.15C4098.08,5054.2,4094.12,5162.47,4078.2,5254.57C4062.76,5343.87,4031.51,5444.17,3993.17,5526.29C3956.04,5605.85,3901.31,5691.66,3844.58,5758.66C3789.68,5823.49,3716.76,5889.7,3646.74,5937.82C3579.06,5984.33,3494.21,6027.54,3416.67,6054.59C3341.8,6080.71,3251.78,6099.38,3172.67,6104.84C3096.38,6110.1,3007.9,6104.58,2932.93,6089.52C2860.73,6075.02,2779.94,6047.39,2714.14,6014.31C2650.87,5982.51,2582.97,5936.33,2530.38,5888.9C2479.88,5843.36,2428.76,5783.33,2392.15,5726.03C2357.07,5671.1,2325.1,5602.61,2305.88,5540.33C2287.49,5480.74,2275.44,5409.42,2273.6,5347.08C2271.85,5287.56,2278.93,5218.85,2293.15,5161.02C2306.69,5105.91,2330.72,5044.63,2358.54,4995.17C2385,4948.16,2422.64,4898.16,2460.78,4860C2496.93,4823.82,2544.09,4787.78,2588.68,4762.72C2630.84,4739.03,2683,4718.29,2730.01,4706.94C2774.32,4696.25,2826.95,4690.82,2872.5,4692.64C2915.28,4694.35,2964.23,4702.99,3004.89,4716.41C3042.93,4728.96,3084.73,4749.38,3117.8,4771.99C3148.6,4793.06,3180.71,4822.19,3204.37,4851.05C3226.3,4877.8,3247.27,4912.1,3260.7,4943.98C3273.09,4973.37,3282.6,5009.22,3285.99,5040.94C3289.09,5070,3287.89,5103.99,3282.32,5132.67C3277.24,5158.78,3267.02,5188.02,3254.33,5211.39C3242.86,5232.49,3226,5254.86,3208.55,5271.35C3192.92,5286.12,3172.24,5300.41,3152.68,5309.33C3135.31,5317.25,3113.74,5323.19,3094.71,5324.72C3077.95,5326.08,3058.24,5324.34,3042.13,5319.51C3028,5315.28,3012.47,5307.32,3001.14,5297.87C2991.17,5289.55,2981.52,5277.46,2976.11,5265.65C2971.24,5255.05,2968.4,5241.33,2969.08,5229.69C2969.72,5218.77,2973.74,5206.17,2979.7,5197C2985.66,5187.82,2989.69,5175.23,2990.33,5164.3C2991,5152.66,2988.16,5138.94,2983.3,5128.34C2977.89,5116.54,2968.23,5104.45,2958.26,5096.13C2946.94,5086.67,2931.41,5078.72,2917.28,5074.48C2901.17,5069.66,2881.46,5067.91,2864.7,5069.27C2845.67,5070.81,2824.1,5076.74,2806.73,5084.67C2787.16,5093.59,2766.48,5107.87,2750.86,5122.64C2733.4,5139.13,2716.55,5161.51,2705.08,5182.6C2692.38,5205.97,2682.16,5235.22,2677.09,5261.32C2671.51,5290.01,2670.32,5324,2673.42,5353.06C2676.81,5384.77,2686.32,5420.62,2698.7,5450.01C2712.14,5481.89,2733.11,5516.2,2755.04,5542.95C2778.7,5571.81,2810.81,5600.93,2841.61,5622C2874.67,5644.62,2916.48,5665.04,2954.52,5677.59C2995.18,5691,3044.13,5699.65,3086.91,5701.35C3132.46,5703.17,3185.09,5697.75,3229.4,5687.05C3276.41,5675.7,3328.57,5654.97,3370.73,5631.27C3415.32,5606.21,3462.47,5570.17,3498.63,5533.99C3536.76,5495.83,3574.41,5445.84,3600.86,5398.82C3628.69,5349.37,3652.71,5288.08,3666.26,5232.98C3680.48,5175.15,3687.56,5106.44,3685.8,5046.91C3683.96,4984.57,3671.92,4913.26,3653.53,4853.67C3634.31,4791.39,3602.34,4722.89,3567.25,4667.97C3530.65,4610.66,3479.53,4550.63,3429.03,4505.09C3376.44,4457.67,3308.54,4411.49,3245.26,4379.68C3179.47,4346.61,3098.68,4318.97,3026.48,4304.47C2951.51,4289.41,2863.02,4283.89,2786.74,4289.15C2707.63,4294.61,2617.61,4313.28,2542.74,4339.4C2465.19,4366.46,2380.35,4409.66,2312.66,4456.18C2242.64,4504.29,2169.73,4570.5,2114.82,4635.34C2058.09,4702.34,2003.37,4788.15,1966.23,4867.7C1927.9,4949.82,1896.65,5050.12,1881.21,5139.43C1865.29,5231.53,1861.33,5339.8,1870.12,5432.85C1879.18,5528.72,1904.47,5637.45,1938.34,5727.6C1973.21,5820.41,2027.65,5921.61,2085.61,6002.05C2145.22,6084.79,2226.52,6170.59,2305.71,6234.85C2387.11,6300.9,2490.83,6364.16,2586.67,6406.62C2685.11,6450.23,2804.93,6485.1,2911.34,6501.46C3020.56,6518.25,3148.62,6520.66,3258.44,6508.33C3371.08,6495.68,3498.51,6463.76,3603.94,6422.13C3712.01,6379.46,3829.57,6313.77,3922.76,6244.37C4018.23,6173.27,4116.93,6076.87,4190.53,5983.32C4265.9,5887.53,4337.71,5765.89,4385.48,5653.76C4434.37,5539.02,4472.85,5399.68,4490.13,5276.16C4507.8,5149.81,4508.65,5001.96,4492.78,4875.38C4476.55,4745.98,4438,4599.83,4388.61,4479.12C4338.14,4355.79,4261.2,4221.87,4180.35,4115.93C4097.76,4007.74,3986.27,3896.15,3878.36,3813.19C3789.6,3742.7,3698.23,3648.3,3630.96,3557.07C3565.38,3468.14,3503.43,3356.03,3463.36,3253.05C3424.32,3152.71,3394.61,3031.51,3383.16,2924.46C3372.01,2820.23,3374.93,2698.77,3391.43,2595.25C3407.49,2494.55,3441.15,2381.23,3483,2288.23C3523.68,2197.83,3584.1,2100.07,3647.04,2023.47C3708.18,1949.07,3789.69,1872.8,3868.19,1817.02C3944.38,1762.88,4040.13,1712.18,4127.85,1679.91C4212.91,1648.63,4315.4,1625.54,4405.68,1617.68C4493.15,1610.07,4594.82,1614.55,4681.21,1630.18C4764.81,1645.31,4858.61,1675.36,4935.29,1711.94C5009.41,1747.3,5089.25,1799.17,5151.45,1852.8C5211.51,1904.58,5272.69,1973.2,5316.97,2038.98C5359.67,2102.42,5399.13,2181.81,5423.58,2254.27C5447.12,2324.04,5463.58,2407.83,5467.83,2481.35C5471.93,2552.05,5465.88,2633.94,5451.11,2703.2C5436.92,2769.7,5410.49,2843.98,5379.17,2904.34C5349.14,2962.19,5305.81,3024.12,5261.48,3071.9C5219.07,3117.62,5163.33,3163.72,5110.27,3196.48C5059.59,3227.76,4996.55,3255.99,4939.36,3272.59C4884.86,3288.41,4819.77,3298.25,4763.03,3298.87C4709.09,3299.47,4646.97,3291.87,4594.86,3277.92C4545.44,3264.7,4490.66,3241.88,4446.66,3215.79C4405.06,3191.13,4361.02,3156.33,4327.69,3121.29C4296.27,3088.26,4265.25,3045.4,4244.05,3005.04C4224.14,2967.14,4207.15,2920.42,4198.44,2878.5C4190.29,2839.28,4187.07,2792.87,4190.13,2752.93C4192.98,2715.72,4202.14,2673.35,4215.3,2638.43C4227.51,2606.06,4246.73,2570.75,4267.62,2543.17C4286.88,2517.75,4313.17,2491.59,4338.95,2472.8C4362.56,2455.58,4392.6,2439.63,4420.23,2430.11C4445.37,2421.45,4475.81,2415.68,4502.39,2414.99C4526.4,2414.38,4554.2,2417.79,4577.21,2424.65C4597.82,2430.8,4620.52,2441.57,4638.03,2454.05C4653.58,2465.14,4669.5,2480.85,4680.35,2496.56C4689.91,2510.4,4698.25,2528.34,4702.13,2544.7C4705.53,2559.06,4706.4,2576.48,4703.88,2591.02C4701.65,2603.81,4696.01,2618.22,4688.5,2628.81C4681.74,2638.32,4671.28,2647.64,4660.86,2652.87C4651.08,2657.78,4638.17,2660.59,4627.24,2660.02Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-191dd27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"191dd27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 30-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Italy - Initiation at Pompeii<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-715a4aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"715a4aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>At Pompeii too graves and darkness dominated. One wanders for hours; everywhere there is the scent of thyme in the quiet air, the ancient shops, the runnel-like streets with stepping-stones, the school and gymnastic ground, the forum, the town\u2019s temples, administrative offices and public lavatories, all stand in a silence of sunlight.<\/em><\/p><p>And amid this sunlight the darkest thing was the most impressive, that dim Villa of the Mysteries of Isis or Orpheus. Large painted rooms of initiation and instruction; the mother Isis, Silenus and his masks, Bacchus, the little cupid, the bride prepared for the mystic marriage, the child being instructed in the scripture of the legend. These realistic-imaginative paintings, with their background of heavy red, make a concrete impact on the mind as the reconstructed shops, the statues and the wall inscriptions, somehow do not. Some great emotional discharge had occurred here, an untold story wished to be heard from the pictures. What was it that these walls wanted to say?<\/p><p>Some message of discovery of a truth, some deep conviction of the oneness of spirit with flesh, of old Silenus ridiculed with masks, of Venus as a young woman whispering her secrets into the ears of the young bride-to-be with a curved veil\u2026 and the young lad being taught from the book, what is he learning? That the mysticism of the flesh is the way of life? I cannot accept that this may be merely a normal villa with eccentric d\u00e9cor, merely because it is not built in temple fashion; nobody really knows, but I feel that this was a place of enlightenment. This \u2018villa\u2019 was most probably a temple for initiations into the women\u2019s part of an Orphic cult, exempt from interference, run by an emperor\u2019s sister.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>An excerpt by Ross Nichols from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/store.druidry.org\/products\/journeys-of-the-soul-the-life-legacy-of-a-druid-chief-by-philip-carr-gomm?_pos=2&amp;_sid=438c5dac5&amp;_ss=r\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Journeys of the Soul<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d14e5d7 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"d14e5d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"1772.339\" height=\"76.089\" viewBox=\"0 0 1772.339 76.089\"><g id=\"border1\" transform=\"translate(660.008 -245.772)\"><path id=\"Path_240\" data-name=\"Path 240\" d=\"M1112.347,332.952H-659.9V290.487c2.769-2.862,6.093-1.385,9.139-.923a60.008,60.008,0,0,0,20.309-.092c4.616-.831,9.508.185,13.939-1.754.646-.277,1.2-.646,1.846-.923a17.963,17.963,0,0,1,9.878-.092,20.525,20.525,0,0,0,12.647-.923c2.031-.738,4.062-1.108,6.093-1.754h0c4.062-.738,8.031-.831,12,1.015,2.216,1.015,4.8,2.123,7.385.831h0c5.17-2.4,10.432-3.231,15.97-1.292a6.98,6.98,0,0,0,6.185-.923c4.708-2.677,9.6-2.585,14.586-1.754a6.554,6.554,0,0,0,6.554-2.308c2.308-2.677,5.262-3.139,8.677-3.139,4.246,0,8.493,1.754,12.647-.185a13.811,13.811,0,0,1,9.416-.646,18.372,18.372,0,0,0,8.954,0h0c2.769-1.662,5.539,1.015,8.308,0h0a33.1,33.1,0,0,1,15.324-.646c2.585.462,5.262.646,7.57-.739,5.262-3.046,10.893-1.477,16.432-1.846.738-.092,1.569.092,2.216-.462h0c5.447-4.523,11.816-1.846,17.54-1.477,6.093.369,12.093-.462,18.186-.369,1.939.092,3.97,0,5.816.923a12.678,12.678,0,0,0,9.785,1.846c6.277-1.477,12.37-.462,18.37,1.569,2.585.831,4.8-.092,6.647-2.031,1.754-1.939,4.246-3.139,6.554-1.754,4.431,2.585,8.77.739,12.924-.277a30.227,30.227,0,0,1,8.031-1.2c7.385.185,14.77,0,21.878-1.846,4.708-1.2,9.785-1.939,13.939-5.17a4.183,4.183,0,0,1,4.708-.369c5.077,2.769,10.339,1.292,15.693,1.477,5.908.185,11.447-2.031,17.724-.092,5.723,1.846,12.462.462,18.74.462,5.539-1.2,11.078-2.769,16.8-1.292a1.573,1.573,0,0,0,.923,0c10.524-3.97,20.955-1.2,31.294.738a1.771,1.771,0,0,0,1.662-.369h0c3.046-1.108,6.185-1.477,9.231,0a21.079,21.079,0,0,0,12.185.185c2.216-.646,4.616-1.662,6.924.369a4.179,4.179,0,0,0,3.508.277c5.354-1.846,10.155.923,15.14,1.569,9.785,1.292,19.294,6.739,29.633,2.492,2.308-.923,5.077.369,7.754,1.2,4.893,1.477,9.97,3.323,15.416,2.492,4.431-.646,9.047,1.108,13.57-.185,4.246-2.4,8.862-1.569,13.386-1.385,2.769.646,5.447.738,7.939-.831a5.69,5.69,0,0,1,4.062-.554c7.293,1.569,14.77.185,22.155,1.939,4.708,1.108,9.878-.831,14.955-.923,2.216,0,4.523,1.015,6.739-.185h2.769c5.447,0,10.8.462,16.247.369,6.277-.092,12.37-.554,18.647-1.2,6.37-.739,12.739-1.477,19.017,1.292a13.044,13.044,0,0,0,11.539-.554,14.024,14.024,0,0,1,8.862,1.108,10.148,10.148,0,0,0,8.031.277c4.616-1.569,8.678-.277,12.739,1.569,5.262,1.754,10.432,4.062,16.063,1.292.369-.185,1.015-.462,1.292-.277,7.754,3.416,15.509-.646,23.263-.092,2.308.646,4.8.831,7.016,1.754a6.775,6.775,0,0,0,5.816-.369c3.323-1.754,7.108-1.662,10.524-2.585,6-1.569,11.355-.738,16.986,1.108,6.185,2.031,12.555,2.308,18.924,2.954a29.734,29.734,0,0,0,8.585.646c6.093-.277,12.278-1.292,17.909,2.677,1.754,1.2,4.154.739,6.277.462a21.665,21.665,0,0,1,7.662.738c3.416.923,6.739,1.846,10.155,2.769,4.8.554,9.416,1.569,13.662-2.123,2.216-1.846,5.723-1.939,8.493-3.231,2.308-.738,4.523.277,6.739.554,2.862.369,5.816.831,8.493-.831,2.677-3.231,5.816-4.616,9.785-2.493,3.785,3.416,8.862,2.769,12.924,2.308,4.8-.554,9.97.923,14.678-1.662,1.939-1.015,4.154,1.477,6.277,1.939,4.154,1.2,8.308,2.492,12.555,3.693,3.046.831,5.908-.277,8.216-1.754,3.785-2.4,8.031-2.862,12.185-3.6,3.231-.554,6.647-.277,9.785-1.846a3.73,3.73,0,0,1,3.139,0c5.539,3.323,10.893,1.108,16.34-.185,3.693-.923,7.016-1.292,9.324,2.954.646,1.292,2.769,1.754,4.154,2.585a26.41,26.41,0,0,0,16.524,2.123c6.831-1.385,13.662-.831,20.494-1.662a181.412,181.412,0,0,1,27.417-.738c5.723.185,11.447,1.015,17.17,1.569,7.016.646,13.939,1.292,20.955-.092a19.274,19.274,0,0,1,9.97.646c9.508,4.523,19.109,4.339,28.617,0,6.554-.739,13.016.277,19.571.831,3.323.277,6.554,1.292,9.97,1.108,1.569-.277,3.046-.646,4.616-.923a27.451,27.451,0,0,1,11.632,0c4.062,1.015,8.493-.092,12.647-.554,5.908-.738,11.078,1.292,16.247,3.323a5.693,5.693,0,0,0,3.693.923c3.139,1.2,6.37,1.939,9.231,3.693h0a8.41,8.41,0,0,0,7.477-.831c3.877-2.585,8.308-2.031,12.185-3.508,7.662-2.954,15.324-2.677,23.263-2.585a40.729,40.729,0,0,0,13.2-1.569c4.8-.554,9.416.185,14.032,1.108h0c3.231,1.846,6.831,1.662,10.339,1.292a20.939,20.939,0,0,1,14.032,3.231,14.853,14.853,0,0,0,10.8,2.216,36.282,36.282,0,0,1,17.724,1.292c1.2.462,2.308.923,3.508.277,2.769-.277,5.447-1.385,8.308-.923a20.862,20.862,0,0,1,6.739-.923c1.108,0,2.4.369,3.139-.185,7.108-5.447,14.4-.646,21.6-.277a12.328,12.328,0,0,0,4.893-.277c8.4-3.231,16.8-2.123,25.2,0,2.492.646,5.077,1.385,7.57-.185,3.969-2.123,8.031-1.2,12,0,6,.277,11.816,2.4,17.724,2.492a103.333,103.333,0,0,0,18.463-1.108,54.431,54.431,0,0,0,6.462-3.508,11.72,11.72,0,0,1,8.4-1.292,23.776,23.776,0,0,0,12.185-.739c5.447-1.662,10.985-.369,16.432-.185,7.2.277,14.309,3.231,21.694,1.292,1.477-.369,3.323-.554,4.523.185,6.462,3.6,13.755,2.769,20.125,1.569,9.047-1.662,17.909,1.662,26.679-.923,11.078-3.416,22.063.462,33.141.092a7.477,7.477,0,0,1,3.877,1.292c.739.462,1.569,1.569,2.4,1.015,3.323-2.123,6.37-.185,9.508.277,5.17.831,9.97-1.015,14.863-2.4a24.5,24.5,0,0,1,6.277-1.292c4.154-.092,8.585-1.754,12.093,1.939.369.462,1.2.185,1.754-.092,4.339-2.308,8.954-.923,13.478-1.108,1.846-.092,3.785,0,5.447,1.754,2.031,2.123,4.893,1.108,7.385.923,1.016-.092,1.846-1.108,2.954-.277C1112.347,302.765,1112.347,317.812,1112.347,332.952Z\" transform=\"translate(-0.015 -11.091)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_241\" data-name=\"Path 241\" d=\"M1254.059,289.524c-4.431.923-8.4,1.569-13.016-1.292-3.231-1.939-8.308-1.108-12.555.092-3.046.831-5.816,1.846-8.954-1.015-2.492-2.216-5.816.738-8.862.277-4.616-1.2-8.585,1.385-12.739,2.308-5.17,1.2-9.878,1.569-14.032-2.308a8.149,8.149,0,0,1,9.6-1.477c4.523,2.216,8.493,1.385,12.278-1.385a5.045,5.045,0,0,1,4.8-.554c2.4.831,5.077,0,7.2.831,6.831,2.4,13.847.185,20.678,1.385,2.031.369,4.062.369,5.908,2.031,2.954,2.677,6.37.277,9.693.185C1254.059,288.878,1254.059,289.247,1254.059,289.524Z\" transform=\"translate(-141.727 -12.897)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_242\" data-name=\"Path 242\" d=\"M-616.52,289.841a3.352,3.352,0,0,1-2.862,1.292c-6.924-.092-13.755,1.477-20.771,1.846-6.647.369-13.2-1.754-19.848-.369V288c3.693-.185,7.385-.092,10.247,2.769a2.875,2.875,0,0,0,2.492.831c8.862-.369,17.817.092,26.586-1.569C-619.289,289.841-617.9,289.934-616.52,289.841Z\" transform=\"translate(-0.008 -13.215)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_243\" data-name=\"Path 243\" d=\"M1128.1,288.449c-5.723.738-11.355,1.015-16.986-.554a3.365,3.365,0,0,0-2.677,0c-7.385,4.523-15.509,1.939-22.8,1.108-13.755-1.569-27.51-2.123-41.264-3.139-4.523-.369-9.139.646-13.663,1.108-1.015.092-2.031.646-3.139.277a10.471,10.471,0,0,0-9.97,1.477,18.075,18.075,0,0,1-6.831,2.585c-.277-.185-.462-.369-.277-.646q.138-.277.277-.277c4.431-6.924,10.708-6.37,17.54-4.8,3.231.739,6.924.831,9.693-2.492,1.477-1.846,3.97-1.385,6-.462,4.893,2.123,9.97,1.015,14.955,1.385,1.2.092,2.4-.092,3.508.554a12.916,12.916,0,0,0,11.355,1.015c4.431-1.477,8.954-1.846,12.924,1.846,2.4,2.216,4.523.554,6.554-.831,3.877-2.769,8.216-5.539,12.832-3.046a59.368,59.368,0,0,0,8.4,3.416c3.416,1.2,6.646,1.2,9.047-2.031a6.264,6.264,0,0,1,5.724-2.4c4.431.462,9.047.369,13.293,2.308-1.939,1.754-4.431.923-6.647,1.108A14.842,14.842,0,0,0,1128.1,288.449Z\" transform=\"translate(-128.394 -12.745)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_244\" data-name=\"Path 244\" d=\"M119.551,269.538c-4.8,2.216-9.047,3.508-14.586.738-4.893-2.4-11.17-1.015-16.8-.554-6.831.554-13.386,2.123-20.4.923-4.431-.738-9.231,1.2-13.662-1.2,1.2-1.385,2.862-1.108,4.339-.831,5.354.831,10.708.185,15.97-.185,8.031-.646,16.247-.369,23.817-3.877,2.677-1.292,4.985-.185,7.57,1.477,3.785,2.4,7.847,5.354,12.924,3.508Q119.135,268.984,119.551,269.538Z\" transform=\"translate(-54.892 -11.374)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_245\" data-name=\"Path 245\" d=\"M302.7,280.92c-4.523-.185-9.416,1.385-13.57-.369a30.391,30.391,0,0,0-9.416-2.585c-5.908-.462-11.909,1.2-17.632-.831-6.185-1.2-12.555-1.385-18.647-3.323-5.354-1.662-10.708-3.416-16.432-2.216,4.708-4.523,8.4-4.8,13.2-1.015,2.677,2.031,5.539,2.862,8.493,1.2,4.523-2.585,8.031-1.292,11.447,2.123,3.046,3.046,6.831,3.231,10.524,1.477a5.207,5.207,0,0,1,4.8-.185,16.549,16.549,0,0,0,7.662,1.2c1.846-.092,3.508,0,4.893,1.754,1.108,1.477,2.954,1.754,4.985,1.292A12.366,12.366,0,0,1,302.7,280.92Z\" transform=\"translate(-68.181 -11.679)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_246\" data-name=\"Path 246\" d=\"M-151.12,262.506c-3.693,2.4-7.662.277-10.985-.462-4.985-1.015-10.062,1.292-14.77-1.292-.739-.462-1.754.277-2.492.923-2.492,2.677-5.908,2.308-8.585,1.385-3.785-1.292-7.016-1.2-10.339.738-1.292.739-2.308-.554-3.508-.369,2.585-1.846,5.816-1.846,8.678-2.308,3.6-.646,7.016-2.769,10.155-3.231,6.37-1.015,13.57-2.492,19.663.277C-159.428,259.921-155.274,261.029-151.12,262.506Z\" transform=\"translate(-35.224 -10.804)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_247\" data-name=\"Path 247\" d=\"M602.616,282.719c-5.631.185-11.262.369-16.986.646-8.77.554-17.632-.554-26.494-1.569-7.57-.831-15.232-1.385-22.894-.277a92.675,92.675,0,0,1-17.54.462,57.2,57.2,0,0,0-10.432,1.108c-5.724,1.015-11.262.092-16.8-.831-.554-.092-1.015-1.015-1.569-1.569a43.055,43.055,0,0,0,23.448.369,18.483,18.483,0,0,1,2.216-.369c13.109-.369,26.31-2.308,39.418-.739,8.4,1.015,16.893.185,25.2,2.308,4.154,1.015,8.216-.554,12.185-1.2C596.061,280.688,599.477,280.411,602.616,282.719Z\" transform=\"translate(-88.387 -12.554)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_248\" data-name=\"Path 248\" d=\"M1137.9,288.693c2.123-3.6,5.723-3.6,9.231-3.693h5.539c5.539.646,11.262-.369,16.8.831,2.308.554,4.8-.554,6.647,2.123,1.108,1.662,2.769-.369,4.246-.185,7.293,5.17,14.493,1.015,21.694-.277,1.754-.277,3.508-1.292,5.077.369-3.6-.185-6.831,1.569-10.247,2.4-5.262,1.292-10.339,2.862-15.324-.646-.092-.092-.369-.277-.369-.185-5.816,4.523-11.262-3.323-17.078-.369-2.308,1.2-3.877-1.015-6-1.385C1151.286,286.477,1144.639,287.216,1137.9,288.693Z\" transform=\"translate(-138.192 -12.989)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_249\" data-name=\"Path 249\" d=\"M870.312,292.239c-.554,1.015-1.292,2.031-2.492,1.477-6.924-3.231-14.032-2.123-21.232-1.754-3.231.185-6.739-1.108-9.785-2.862-3.508-2.031-6.924-3.693-11.447-2.769-3.785.831-8.308,1.846-11.355-2.4,6.185-2.216,12.462.831,18.832-.369,2.031-.369,5.262,1.108,6.924,3.785,1.846,3.046,4.431,3.693,7.847,2.308,3.508-1.385,7.57-.923,10.985-.554C862.373,289.562,866.711,289.746,870.312,292.239Z\" transform=\"translate(-113.297 -12.843)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_250\" data-name=\"Path 250\" d=\"M953.136,289.683c-1.385,2.492-3.416,1.754-5.631,1.385-9.416-1.477-18.74-3.416-28.433-.369-4.616,1.477-10.062.092-14.678-1.754-2.216-.831-4.431-.831-5.539.092-4.616,3.785-9.97,2.123-14.955,2.492a9.839,9.839,0,0,1,6-1.846c1.2,0,2.677.277,3.6-.369,7.108-4.431,14.216-1.292,21.232-.185a14.734,14.734,0,0,0,6.647-.554c6.924-1.846,14.032-4.154,21.048-1.477C946.027,288.483,949.258,290.145,953.136,289.683Z\" transform=\"translate(-118.67 -13.057)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_251\" data-name=\"Path 251\" d=\"M793.388,283.813c-5.17,1.015-10.524,2.769-15.693,1.662-7.662-1.662-14.586,1.015-21.786,2.4-3.323.646-6.554,1.292-9.416,3.877-2.308,2.123-5.631.646-8.493-.554a4.236,4.236,0,0,0,4.246-2.123c2.123-3.323,5.354-3.508,8.77-2.862,4.985.923,9.785.554,13.755-2.862a7.4,7.4,0,0,1,7.2-1.385c3.785,1.477,7.477.554,11.262.923A14.9,14.9,0,0,1,793.388,283.813Z\" transform=\"translate(-107.456 -12.725)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_252\" data-name=\"Path 252\" d=\"M225,271.857c4.523-1.846,8.678-2.954,13.2.646,2.123,1.662,5.816,2.123,8.77,1.939,4.8-.277,8.77,1.754,13.109,2.954-8.954.462-17.54-1.754-25.848-4.708a5.361,5.361,0,0,0-3.97,0,14.729,14.729,0,0,1-6.277,1.015c-3.046-.092-5.816,0-8.585,2.216a7.625,7.625,0,0,1-9.508.092c-1.477-1.2-3.6-.831-4.893-2.308,2.585,0,5.077.185,7.293-1.662a4.279,4.279,0,0,1,3.416-.738C216.14,273.611,220.663,271.395,225,271.857Z\" transform=\"translate(-66.183 -11.846)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_253\" data-name=\"Path 253\" d=\"M-494.28,277.863c-3.785,1.939-7.847.646-11.724.831-3.508.277-6.831.185-9.324,3.6-1.2,1.754-3.877,2.123-6.37,1.662-4.339-.831-8.585-1.662-12.647,1.569-1.662,1.292-5.077,1.939-7.016,1.108-6.093-2.677-11.724-.739-17.54.369,4.431-3.969,9.693-3.046,14.77-2.216,2.492.369,4.616.369,6.924-1.015a13.784,13.784,0,0,1,10.985-1.754c3.877,1.015,7.385.831,10.616-3.046,3.416-4.062,8.678-2.677,13.293-1.754a49.645,49.645,0,0,0,6.37.646Q-495.249,277.033-494.28,277.863Z\" transform=\"translate(-7.778 -12.314)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_254\" data-name=\"Path 254\" d=\"M-418.366,272.87c-2.769,1.385-5.447,2.308-8.77,1.292-2.954-.831-5.816.369-8.308,1.754a12.142,12.142,0,0,1-8.493,1.477c-5.354-1.2-10.708-.646-16.063-.831,2.031-1.2,4.246-1.939,6.093-3.6,3.139-2.585,7.108-1.108,9.878.369,3.877,2.123,7.293.831,10.339-.554,2.954-1.292,5.17-2.308,8.4-.462C-423.351,273.424-420.674,272.778-418.366,272.87Z\" transform=\"translate(-15.379 -11.937)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_255\" data-name=\"Path 255\" d=\"M46.4,269.726c-3.693,1.2-7.477,2.585-11.447,1.2-1.2-.462-2.4,0-3.6.185-3.97.646-7.939.092-11.816.092-7.754-.092-15.509-2.4-23.263.185-1.569.554-3.693.831-5.17-.738,1.385-1.108,3.231.185,4.616-.923.923-.277,1.846-.646,2.769-.923,4.154.277,7.57-3.785,12-1.846h0c1.015,1.015,2.492,1.2,3.693,1.846,5.539-1.015,10.893,2.216,16.524.923.554-.092,1.477.277,1.846-.092C37.165,265.571,41.78,269.449,46.4,269.726Z\" transform=\"translate(-50.05 -11.562)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_256\" data-name=\"Path 256\" d=\"M720.618,286.367c-8.031-3.6-16.432-1.477-24.648-1.754-5.354-.185-10.616-1.569-15.97-1.015,2.585-1.2,5.724-2.677,8.216-1.569,4.339,1.939,7.477.923,10.616-2.031a3.842,3.842,0,0,1,4.246-.923C708.71,281.936,715.264,282.674,720.618,286.367Z\" transform=\"translate(-102.998 -12.509)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_257\" data-name=\"Path 257\" d=\"M370.205,276.568c-3.508-1.477-6.462-.185-9.231,1.846-.277-.185-.369-.369-.277-.646q.138-.277.277-.277c-.554-3.508.831-4.893,4.523-4.708,3.231.092,7.016,2.308,9.785-1.292.092-.185.831-.092.831,0,2.123,4.616,7.662,2.308,10.708,5.17-2.216,2.031-4.339,2.492-7.754,1.846C376.114,277.953,372.975,278.507,370.205,276.568Z\" transform=\"translate(-78.454 -11.943)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_258\" data-name=\"Path 258\" d=\"M-582.283,285.8c-7.2,3.6-14.493,6.277-22.709,3.139-1.754-.646-3.969-.277-5.908-.369,1.754-1.292,3.785-1.846,5.539-3.6,2.585-2.492,6.924-1.662,9.324.277,3.416,2.769,6.277,2.123,9.693.831A19.166,19.166,0,0,1-582.283,285.8Z\" transform=\"translate(-3.781 -12.868)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_259\" data-name=\"Path 259\" d=\"M-373.359,271.688c-9.139,0-18.186.646-27.325.646-4.708,0-9.508-1.569-14.216.277,4.246-4.339,9.231-6,14.863-3.508,6.739,3.046,13.57.369,20.309.646C-377.42,269.934-375.02,269.657-373.359,271.688Z\" transform=\"translate(-18.846 -11.678)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_260\" data-name=\"Path 260\" d=\"M1007.9,290.7v.923a118.916,118.916,0,0,1-19.848,1.385c-5.724,0-10.893-1.754-16.155-3.231.646-.092,1.385.185,1.754-.185,4.8-4.339,9.139-2.4,13.293,1.015a6.024,6.024,0,0,0,5.631.923C997.748,290.146,1002.918,291.53,1007.9,290.7Z\" transform=\"translate(-125.433 -13.15)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_261\" data-name=\"Path 261\" d=\"M672.541,284.54c-2.862,1.754-5.908,1.015-8.862.738-6.923-.646-13.755-1.662-20.678-2.585,1.385-1.477,3.139-.738,4.8-.923,1.2-.092,2.862.369,3.6-.277,5.816-5.077,10.524-1.2,15.6,1.385C668.571,283.8,670.6,283.986,672.541,284.54Z\" transform=\"translate(-100.154 -12.529)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_262\" data-name=\"Path 262\" d=\"M371,276.722c5.539,1.662,11.078,2.308,16.617,0h.923c2.492,1.108,4.431.185,6.185-1.477a5.758,5.758,0,0,1,6.739-1.292c2.123.831,1.846,3.6,3.693,4.616-5.816-2.585-11.724,2.677-17.54.092-3.508,3.139-7.477-.277-11.17.738A4.89,4.89,0,0,1,371,276.722Z\" transform=\"translate(-79.249 -12.096)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_263\" data-name=\"Path 263\" d=\"M124.923,269.872H124c3.508-.923,6.924-3.139,10.339.369a3.189,3.189,0,0,0,3.877.185c6.093-3.785,11.17-1.015,16.247,2.216-4.154-.923-8.124-1.569-12.462-.185-4.154,1.292-8.4-1.015-12.555-1.939A18.454,18.454,0,0,0,124.923,269.872Z\" transform=\"translate(-60.265 -11.708)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_264\" data-name=\"Path 264\" d=\"M358.771,277.9v.923c-3.231,3.046-7.108,1.939-10.8,1.385a29.251,29.251,0,0,0-4.893-.462c-3.877,1.385-7.57,1.477-11.078-.923,5.816-.277,11.355-4.246,17.54-.646C352.217,279.744,355.725,279.283,358.771,277.9Z\" transform=\"translate(-76.251 -12.349)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_265\" data-name=\"Path 265\" d=\"M331.078,279c3.693-.185,7.293,1.477,11.078.923-7.016,3.231-13.755,7.847-22.155,4.616a53.591,53.591,0,0,1,5.447,0C329.693,285.092,331.816,283.43,331.078,279Z\" transform=\"translate(-75.329 -12.527)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_266\" data-name=\"Path 266\" d=\"M797.155,283.788c-3.416,0-6.739-1.477-10.155-.923,8.4-1.662,16.709-2.954,24.925.923Z\" transform=\"translate(-111.222 -12.701)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_267\" data-name=\"Path 267\" d=\"M-560.514,287.754c-2.123,1.754-4.339.923-6.462.092a28.161,28.161,0,0,0-12.924-1.939,14.63,14.63,0,0,1,11.816.277A15.32,15.32,0,0,0-560.514,287.754Z\" transform=\"translate(-6.164 -12.974)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_268\" data-name=\"Path 268\" d=\"M-5.537,269.949c-1.292,1.569-3.046.738-4.616.923-4.616.185-9.324-.646-13.847.923,2.862-3.323,7.016-2.308,10.431-2.308C-10.984,269.488-8.214,269.765-5.537,269.949Z\" transform=\"translate(-48.89 -11.786)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_269\" data-name=\"Path 269\" d=\"M-489.054,277.83H-490.9c3.139-2.492,6.924-2.216,10.431-1.662a71.136,71.136,0,0,0,9.878.739c-2.585,1.754-5.631,1.2-8.308.646A18.932,18.932,0,0,0-489.054,277.83Z\" transform=\"translate(-13.004 -12.282)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_270\" data-name=\"Path 270\" d=\"M402.924,273.9c-2.308-.092-4.616-.092-6.185,2.031-1.939,2.585-4.246,2.492-6.739.738,2.492.185,4.246-1.2,6.093-2.585C398.308,272.42,400.616,272.051,402.924,273.9Z\" transform=\"translate(-80.709 -12.041)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_271\" data-name=\"Path 271\" d=\"M737.231,291.693c-3.6.092-6.37-1.939-9.231-3.693C731.323,288.462,735.108,288,737.231,291.693Z\" transform=\"translate(-106.687 -13.22)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_272\" data-name=\"Path 272\" d=\"M11,266.9c-4.246-.831-7.754,3.046-12,1.846C2.97,267.919,6.477,263.765,11,266.9Z\" transform=\"translate(-50.657 -11.509)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_273\" data-name=\"Path 273\" d=\"M-137.669,262.826H-146.9C-143.854,260.518-140.807,259.595-137.669,262.826Z\" transform=\"translate(-39.444 -11.124)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_274\" data-name=\"Path 274\" d=\"M-460.592,276.916c-2.769,2.216-5.539-1.015-8.308,0C-466.131,274.885-463.361,276.454-460.592,276.916Z\" transform=\"translate(-14.695 -12.29)\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-763a905 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"763a905\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ddbe32e\" data-id=\"ddbe32e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a35438f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a35438f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure id=\"attachment_7355\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7355\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7355 lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Maddalena_of_Florence-itokAvCHRcL8.jpg\" alt=\", .\" width=\"289\" height=\"408\" data-src=\"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Maddalena_of_Florence-itokAvCHRcL8.jpg\" data- title=\"\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7355\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maddalena of Florence<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Italy exerted a powerful influence on the development of modern Wicca through the work of Charles Leland, which influenced Gardner and those around him such as Doreen Valiente. The Charge of the Goddess is probably the single most influential piece of writing that \u2018sets the tone\u2019 and attracts people to Wicca. Although it has often been re-worked \u2013 by Valiente, Starhawk and others \u2013 it is the Italian material recorded by Maddelena and translated by Leland, that lies at the heart of the Charge, and I think it is important to recognise the importance of this contribution of Italy to the core vibration or essence of Wicca.<\/p><p>So here these two Englishmen were in Pompeii absorbing the influence of the Goddess, of \u201cVenus as a young woman whispering her secrets \u2026That the mysticism of the flesh is the way of life\u2026\u201d<\/p><p>My proposal here is that they both metaphorically drunk from the cauldron of the goddess \u2013 from the well of her inspiration, in Italy but also elsewhere, and that they then mediated the inspiration they received in different ways that resulted in the two most vibrant expressions we have of paganism today: Druidry and Wicca.<\/p><p>They returned to England and over the next few years cooperated on the book that was to launch Wicca into the world. As a \u2018sign that they were free\u2019 they met together at the two naturist resorts I mentioned. In fact they had probably begun meeting, first at Spielplatz and then at Five Acres, during the war.<\/p><p>Here we have the wonderful image of two men sitting naked on a lawn in Hertfordshire talking about the subjects that fascinated them \u2013 religion, paganism, history, magic \u2013 while German bombs rained down on London. One \u2013 Gardner \u2013 in his fifties, the other in his thirties.<\/p><p>Both men realized that the world needed a return to a spirituality based upon a love of the Earth and her Seasons \u2013 the ravages of war and industrialization made it obvious. Both men had drunk from the same well, but different hands had cupped the water \u2013 so let\u2019s see how different, and yet how similar they were:<\/p><p>Both men never had children, were asthmatics, keen nudists, and well-traveled. They both became ordained as Christian ministers in obscure unorthodox churches. They both became Druids \u2013 Gardner at least eight years before Nichols, who joined the Ancient Druid Order in 1954. And they both had significant help in their work from formidable female companions \u2013 Doreen Valiente for Gardner and Vera Chapman for Nichols.<\/p><p>But there were critical differences between the two men \u2013 Gardner was married, Nichols a life-long bachelor. Gardner was self-educated (he managed to avoid school altogether) while Nichols was a Cambridge Academic. Gardner was a hedonist, Nichols an ascetic. Gardner was a maverick and politically conservative, while Nichols was keen to be accepted by society and was a socialist.<\/p><p>The result of their being so different \u2013 almost polarized one could say \u2013 was that the inspiration of the Goddess, the need in the World Soul for a new religious impulse, flowed into two complementary channels. The flamboyant maverick Gardner developed a religion that was sensual and worked practical magic, the more restrained and cerebral Nichols threw his energy into promoting an approach that was more intellectual and was concerned with the magic of artistry, of bardistry, more than with the magic of spell-making.<\/p><p>Half a century later, we can see how much the two different paths Gardner and Nichols chose to promote have flourished as a result of their involvement. Just as the two key proponents of Druidry and Wicca in the modern era were united in many ways, so are these two paths, with their (usually) threefold initiation systems, their use of the circle, the directions and the elements, and their 8-fold cycle of seasonal celebrations. But they are also as different as were those two men.<\/p><p>Many people find them sufficient paths on their own, but many also find the two paths work well together. If Nichols and Gardner were alive today, many of us would want to hear them speak at the same conferences, teach beside the same well.<\/p><p>Comparing the differences between them and the gifts they gave to the world shows how creativity can arise from the meeting of complementaries \u2013 how diversity and difference rather than conformity and unanimity fosters creativity.<\/p><p>And if they were alive today I\u2019m sure both of them would be delighted to tell us of the story of their travels in Italy \u2013 and of how they were inspired by the Charge of the Goddess, whose resounding words \u2018And so ye shall be free in everything\u2019 echoed through their lives, inspiring them to foster two extraordinary paths of freedom.<\/p><p><em>Philip Carr-Gomm, from a talk given at a conference on Wicca &amp; Druidry, Biela, Italy, 200<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019d like to start by dedicating this essay to my father, who now in his 84th year, can still remember swimming with both the protagonists of this talk, at a nudist resort in Hertfordshire \u2013 probably Five Acres, part-owned by Gardner and the site of the first shrine of Wicca, the witches\u2019 cottage where his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":5087,"parent":455,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Order of Bards, Ovates &amp; Druids","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/druidry.org","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/707"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=707"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15730,"href":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/707\/revisions\/15730"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/druidry.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}