From: Raven <JSINGLE@MUSIC.LIB.MATC.EDU>
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: BOOK:  Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca
Date: 08 OCT 94 19:21:25 EST

When fighting all the fallacies and falsehoods about pagans, the
rumors about "cult crimes", and particularly the mistaken ideas spread
by fundamentalists and conspiracy buffs into the police community, it
might help a lot to have copies of this book handy.  Give them to your
local police.  Refer to it in arguments.  Point at relevant paragraphs
when talking to someone who doubts you.

Kerr Cuhulain, LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE TO WICCA.  (1989, revised 1992.)
ISBN 0-9696066-0-5.  44 pages, paperbound (8.5" x 11").
(No price marked; I paid a dealer at a convention $7.00 for my copy.)

Available from either:
Horned Owl Publishing, 3906 Cadboro Bay Rd, Victoria, B.C. V8N 4G6
CANADA,  Telephone (604) 477-8488
   -- or --
Wiccan Information Network, Box 2422, Main Post Office, Vancouver,
B.C. V6B 3W7   CANADA.

The author (clearly using a pen name here) is an active police
officer, writing a guide for use by other police officers.  He
addresses their law enforcement concern: how to deal with issues that
may have puzzled or even frightened them, do the job they have to do,
and not violate the citizens' freedom of religion.  In the process, he
provides a good general summary of common Wiccan practices (while
noting these vary), debunks a lot of misinformation, and gives pages
of reference material that investigators might need, including
vocabulary, assorted alphabets (such as Theban, Celestial, Runic,
Ogham, even Tolkien's Angerthas), and over three pages of bibliography
for further study if needed.

Part 1, "What Wicca Is", shows Bonewits's "Witch" categories
(Classical, Gothic, Feminist, and Pagan or Neopagan); the "Principles
of Belief" of the Council of American Witches (declared at its first
and only meeting -- he mentions its breakup too); the Sabbat dates and
meanings; the most common symbols and their meanings; basic coven,
festival, and ritual information.

Part 2, "What Wicca Isn't", tackles the "cult crime" issues, the
"WICCA Letters" hoax, the bogus "gods" "Samhain" and "Muck-Olla", and
so forth.

The Appendices take up almost the last half of the book, pages 25-43.

You might want a copy just for your own purely personal use.

-- Raven (JSingle@Music.Lib.MATC.Edu).  [All standard disclaimers apply]