ORF and the Occult
The Ohio Renaissance Festival and the Occult
There is a popular web service called Answer Bag which attempts to answer as many questions as possible about the world in which we live. One question in particular addresses the subject of this blog entry.
Question: “How to Hire Entertainers for a Renaissance Fair?”
Part of the answer: “Visit local occult shoppes for people interested in tarot reading or crystal ball scrying. These individuals usually fashion magical amulets, trinkets and other mystical crafts.”
http://www.answerbag.com/articles/How-to-Hire-Entertainers-for-a-Renaissance-Fair/a879d7d6-304a-2b5a-2cdf-fb23392098dd
Indeed, the connection between renaissance fairs and the occult is part of popular culture. Episode #54 (titled Fairway to Heaven) of the popular TV show Dharma and Greg features Dharma’s mother (a witch and coven leader) and father ready their booth at their local Renaissance Fair
http://henryherman.com/dharma/complete.html
The Ohio Renaissance Festival is no exception to this stereotype. In fact, I have met many pagans, heathens, Wiccans, Asatru, and other like minded folk there. A quick search of the internet and you will even find a connection between the Ohio Renaissance Festival and one of the occult communities better kept secrets; The Church and School of Wicca.
The following links are a few in which a woman by the name of Penny Good uses her references from both he Ohio Renaissance Festival and the Church and School of Wicca. Not only is she a member of the Church and School of Wicca, she is an “established board member”.
http://www.harmonytribe.org/shf2006/shf2006.html
http://www.rosencomet.com/starwood/2001/g-l.html
http://rosencomet.com/starwood/2003/sw03book.pdf
http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=385909524
Perhaps best known for its promotion of what most people consider pedophilic rituals which involved the ritualistic deflowering of virgin boys and girls. Insinuations of animal sacrifice and mutilation have also been made against his organization although those claims have not been substantiated.
http://petercarrollisanasshole.com/2008/05/14/orf-penny-good-a-pedophilic-cult/
Fortunately, most people who are involved in this alternative community do not practice what is preached in the initial instructions of the Church and School of Wicca. This is why I continue to have an open mind when interacting with members of differing religions. I can not hold all Catholics accountable for the actions of a few individuals.
“What about your store in Columbus, OH?”
That would be one of the questions nearly shouted at me during a business meeting with the owner and staff of the Ohio Renaissance Festival. Previous to the meeting, I owned an operated a metaphysical / new age store in Columbus, OH. Just why was that question being screamed at me across a large conference table?
During a previous conversation with Jim and Marlena Walls (former craft coordinators of the Ohio Renaissance Fair) I was advised rather clearly that Peter Carroll has a hatred for all things Wiccan, Pagan, Heathen, or in any other way Occult. If that is true, why is it the fair is filled with pentagrams and other symbols of the occult? Why is it I have witnessed pagan rituals being conducted in and next to the sanctified Christian church which is on the property of the Ohio Renaissance Festival.
On occasion, I have even walked by in the dead of night to observe a couple having sex on its altar.
Now please do not construe any of this entry as a stand against any person’s religion or the conducting of that religion. Although I do think a person who is going to involve sex in their religion should do so in their own church rather than use the church of a religion which might be upset by such behavior, when it comes to religious views I am a live and let live sort of person.
What I do not like is two faced bastards. Frankly, I think that about sums up what Peter Carroll and the Ohio Renaissance Festival addresses the occult community at their event. The pagan, heathen, and occult symbols are everywhere because they make money. Not because they have anything to do with sixteenth century England which was governed by the Church of England during a time when Witchcraft was illegal. They are there because they make money.
On one hand, merchants who sell occult goods have been solicited by folk who I believe stand rather strongly against the practice of their religion. Why? Because doing so makes money for Peter Carroll. On the other hand, it seems Christian Churches, Schools, and in particular home schools are solicited to attend with the assurance that there is no connection between the Ohio Renaissance Festival and occult practices. Why? Because doing so makes money for Peter Carroll.
Most merchants will be rather open about their religious preferences and opinions. Just ask. You might not always hear the word pagan or heathen, but you will hear a description of the movement rather often. Hint: Listen for words like “the Goddess”.
Many patrons will be rather open about their religious preferences and opinions. Just ask them. Ask them on home school day and you will note a distinct difference.
Why can’t Peter Carroll and the Ohio Renaissance Festival be as open as merchant and patrons? If he is going to welcome members of the occult community, he should be clear about this. Say that he will not discriminate against Witches, Wiccans, pagans, heathens, and the likes. If he is going to discriminate against them, why not just explain to them that they are not welcome. Why not stop being two faced on the issue and come forward?
7 Comments to “ORF and the Occult” »
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August 27th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
come on everyone knows the score. all the people working there are pagn all the people running the place r christian. this is a surprise? peter hates pagans, gays, anything that isn’t peter and I think he hates him too.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Ok you say you hate two faced bastards read your own blog!! first you start off saying that the fair is full of people who promote pedophilic rituals since they are pagan, wiccan or heathens as you put it then say when it comes to religious views I am a live and let live sort of person. obviously you are not. if you knew anything about these religions and not just what your right winged conservative religious leaders tell you to make you think of us as the boogymen of religion, you would realize that we are not the satan worshipers and pedophiles that you make us out to be. look to your own mainstream catholic religions for that. if you don’t like what is at the faire then here is your answer DON”T GO!!!!! if you think it is funding occult and immoral things…DON”T GO!!! don;t sit here and bash something you a)no nothing about and b) is one of the best and most loving homes that some people will ever have. yes i am a former cast performer who left for personal reasons such as college and further job options but i am a full supporter of the faire and the people in it. Peter Carrol may be alot of things and many people may not like him and that is their opinion but he is a successful business man to have operated this faire for as long as he had and still have people flock to it every year and for that fact every weekend it is open. so if you don;t want to spend your money there and no be offeneded by it’s happenings then you should stay away and not ruin it for those of us who consider it a second home!!!
September 6th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Still a Rennie – I did not say the fair was full of pedophilic rituals. Nor did I associate pedophilic rituals with anything heathen. Wicca and thus the larger pagan community of which Wicca belongs, does have a church called the Church of Wicca whose founding documents include pedophilic rituals. One individual who is a member of the board of that church uses the Ohio Renaissance Festival as her credentials. I would no more condemn all rennies or all Wiccans than I would condemn all Catholics for the actions of a few priests.
You sound a lot like the Catholics who get all defensive when a person talks about the problems in their church.
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Me again (see ding-dong, the witch is dead) the owner/operator of the MiRF in Holly, Michigan, a rich SOB named Jim Peterson (owns 5 other shows), made the commment, in public, that the way to make money in “this business” was to “squeeze the satanists dry, hire 16-year olds with their tits hanging out to serve beer, and pack ‘em in like sardines.” I was on cast for 4 years and they put a ban on cast wearing crosses or talking about the renaissance and religion. So, I think there’s some definate truth in this issue. I played a catholic german duchess and got told to “leave the crosses at home.” I told my former costume director to kiss my a@@ and quit.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
FormerMichiganRenfestCastmember
Thank you for not immediately thinking I was attacking either Christians, Pagans, Wiccans or any other religious group. It seems the minute you point out something wrong with a portion of a religion, folk immediately think you are somehow a bigot against that religion. Wiccans have a serious problem (The Church and School of Wicca). Catholics have a serious problem (covering up molestations). All religions have serious problems. Hell, I think circumcision is a rather cruel thing to do to a baby but I still think Judaism is a beautiful religion, partly due to the belief that every child is sacred because s/he could be the next savior. Religion in and of itself is a beautiful thing. Forcing your religious views on others (or those not old enough to know any better) is an ugly thing.
One of the things that I despise about Renaissance Festivals is the common hostility between festivals and local churches. For some reason, Churches tend to associate festivals with the game Dungeons and Dragons. Not that I have a problem with such games, but Dragons, Demons, and other fantasy characters were not a part of the European Renaissance any more than they are a part of any other time period.
In the case of England, the Renaissance came about when the Queen of England ushered in an age of open mindedness. Prior to Queen Elizabeth, basically the only permissible religion was the Church of England (basically a Catholic knock off). Prior to the inception of the C of E, the only real choice was the Catholic Church. With no offence intended towards these present day religions, in the time of which we speak the churches were basically little more than oppressive power structures.
With the seating of Queen Elizabeth, the English Renaissance was set ablaze, fueled by a resurgence of the human spirit to explore, develop and build. Things which were previously surprised by the various power structures. It is from this time period that individuals were made free to think as they will, to explore spirituality, science and the arts. It was the renaissance that allowed virtually all modern day religions to develop and exist in Europe. Prior to that time, the only acceptable religions were the ones dictated by the Church State government.
Christians, Pagans, Muslims, and Jews should rejoice in the Renaissance, as should members of any religion. After all, who would want to return to the Dark Ages when religions sought to kill each other in the many holly wars? Oh ye, Rev. Fred Phelps.
July 24th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
As an atheist, I am neither Christian nor Pagan. I do have an interest in Renaissance history and the card games for which Tarot cards were originally created. From what I’ve seen, especially on the subject of Tarot, is that RenFaires are twisting actual history to pander to the interests of those who expect eout-of-period practices such as Tarot divination. There is no record of Tarot cards being used for Tarot card reading prior to the 18th century and there is no record of the Wiccan religion prior to the mid-20 century. It’s not that I disapprove of divination, occultism or any religious practices but I do wish actual history was treated with more respect. I know my comments on this matter are a nearly a year late. I also would like to mention that there is a group in Ohio playing Tarot/Tarocchi card games. Has anyone in the Ohio Ren community thought of having Tarot game playing at these events? I think it would be good if more RenFaires would hav Tournament Of Tarochi activities as it is a more authentically period use of these cards.
July 27th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Jim: I would argue that the first instance of the word Wicca being used to denote a ‘religion’ or a person following a ’specific religion’ would be with Charles Leeland during the late 19th century. But it wasn’t till the mid 20th century that it was marketed well. Folk don’t know much about Leeland because he wasn’t well promoted.
Prior to that, the word did exist but only to denote a male witch without respect to witchcraft as any particular religion or religion at all.
I have absolutely no problem with Wicca or the Pagan movement any more than I have a problem with Christianity. It is the Wiccans, Pagans, and Christians that bug me. In each case, I beg God keep me from your followers.