Arthur C. Clarke once said that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
Perhaps that's why witches love the Web.
Pagan priestess Lunaea Weatherstone says that many members of the "Old Religion" have wholeheartedly embraced new technology.
"You can't swing a sacred temple cat without hitting a Pagan online," Weatherstone said.
Guy Vestal, CEO of Pagan Internet Industries Inc., agrees that the Web has a significant Pagan population.
His study of "pagan demographics" indicates there are roughly 3 million Pagan Internet users. And he suspects the actual total is much higher.
Pagans typically define themselves as followers of an earth-based religion with roots in the ancient practices of traditional tribal cultures.
Weatherstone suggests that many a Pagan's interest in technology is rooted in their fascination with science fiction.
"Sci-Fi is a modern type of mythology, and mythology is central to Paganism," Weatherstone said.
She also notes that connecting to community is very important to many Pagans, and technology provides a way to connect instantly.
"And there is something very magical about that invisible connection between me, alone here at my computer, and you, alone there at your computer," she said. "We are, in a way, both in a place between the worlds, having a conversation about spirituality in an ethereal temple that exists in a mutual vision."
Vestal sees the magical potential in the Internet as well. But he also saw an unorganized group of merchants who he felt were basically "beating their heads against the wall," trying to compete in the mainstream Internet market.
"Sites like Amazon and eBay were making money at the expense of our community, while never putting anything back in," Vestal said. "What if we as Pagans were to use these e-commerce giants as a template for success? Could we not have the same success, while at the same time furthering the cause of our own community?"
So Vestal launched "Pagan Internet Industries Inc." last September. The company website AriadneSpider hosts the same sorts of services as mainstream portal sites.
But AriadneSpider's offerings are geared specifically to Pagans, with a specialized occult-oriented search engine, a dating service for those who perhaps want to bolster the effects of their looking-for-love spells, free email with a witchy.com domain, and free server space for pages with Pagan content. It also offers website hosting, links, shopping, e-cards, and community forums.
Future plans include strategic partnerships with mainstream services customized to meet the needs of Pagans. One plan currently under consideration is an investment club, partnered with brokerage firms, that will give Pagans "the means to help shape today's marketplace to better serve our community as a whole," Vestal said.
Keeping Pagan business within the Pagan community is one of Vestal's top priorities.
"The ideas on the table are endless, the possibilities just as endless, and with a market that has never had a true attempt at organization, the potential is remarkable," Vestal said.
Vestal is also seriously considering taking the company public. An IPO is in the planning stages and is expected to be available by Yule 2000, a Pagan holy day also known as Winter Solstice.
Weatherstone's site has been up for three years. She dabbles a bit in commercial ventures, but also offers free mini-readings with cards from her original tarot deck and an online temple.
She values the connections made through her website, but warns that the Internet can be a "cold, addictive place." She believes that it is all too easy, especially for people who are psychically sensitive, to get sucked into living in a completely imaginary world.
"I would encourage all spiritual seekers to use the gifts of the Net wisely, as the magical tools they are, but know when it's time to walk away from the computer and out under the starry skies."
Ok let's talk about internet Pagans for a minute. I really have an issue with the amount of people who go online and say they are Pagan. I don't actually believe most of them, majority of them are underaged children who think witchcraft is "cool" and they are "pagen" because they "practice witchcraft". Don't get me wrong I have met a few kids who are truely interested in the Pagan side of things and really do study the deities and stuff, but majority of them can't tell the difference between a deity and Santa Claus.
"What is a deity?"
"Uhhh, isn't that the guy who sticks presents under your tree at Christmas time."
Then there are the ones who go into pagan chat's, and are just complete and utter twats. They talk a lot of crap, but when it comes to actually talking about Paganism, they either jump down your throat about bringing up the subject or they don't have a brain between the entire group of them to actually carry on a proper discussion. I am mostly talking about Yahoo American Chat right now. So those who read my blogs, it's not you, unless of course you are one of those yahoo frequenters, but if you are reading this I doubt you are.
Then there are the ones who know all there is to know on the internet about paganism, but the moment the computer goes off so does their religion.
People don't come online and claim to be pagan because they feel the internet is "indistinguishable from magic". First things first, not all Pagans practice magic, and majority of the people who claim to be pagan on the internet only do it because they think it is cool, not because they actually know what it is.
Perhaps that's why witches love the Web.
Pagan priestess Lunaea Weatherstone says that many members of the "Old Religion" have wholeheartedly embraced new technology.
"You can't swing a sacred temple cat without hitting a Pagan online," Weatherstone said.
Guy Vestal, CEO of Pagan Internet Industries Inc., agrees that the Web has a significant Pagan population.
His study of "pagan demographics" indicates there are roughly 3 million Pagan Internet users. And he suspects the actual total is much higher.
Pagans typically define themselves as followers of an earth-based religion with roots in the ancient practices of traditional tribal cultures.
Weatherstone suggests that many a Pagan's interest in technology is rooted in their fascination with science fiction.
"Sci-Fi is a modern type of mythology, and mythology is central to Paganism," Weatherstone said.
She also notes that connecting to community is very important to many Pagans, and technology provides a way to connect instantly.
"And there is something very magical about that invisible connection between me, alone here at my computer, and you, alone there at your computer," she said. "We are, in a way, both in a place between the worlds, having a conversation about spirituality in an ethereal temple that exists in a mutual vision."
Vestal sees the magical potential in the Internet as well. But he also saw an unorganized group of merchants who he felt were basically "beating their heads against the wall," trying to compete in the mainstream Internet market.
"Sites like Amazon and eBay were making money at the expense of our community, while never putting anything back in," Vestal said. "What if we as Pagans were to use these e-commerce giants as a template for success? Could we not have the same success, while at the same time furthering the cause of our own community?"
So Vestal launched "Pagan Internet Industries Inc." last September. The company website AriadneSpider hosts the same sorts of services as mainstream portal sites.
But AriadneSpider's offerings are geared specifically to Pagans, with a specialized occult-oriented search engine, a dating service for those who perhaps want to bolster the effects of their looking-for-love spells, free email with a witchy.com domain, and free server space for pages with Pagan content. It also offers website hosting, links, shopping, e-cards, and community forums.
Future plans include strategic partnerships with mainstream services customized to meet the needs of Pagans. One plan currently under consideration is an investment club, partnered with brokerage firms, that will give Pagans "the means to help shape today's marketplace to better serve our community as a whole," Vestal said.
Keeping Pagan business within the Pagan community is one of Vestal's top priorities.
"The ideas on the table are endless, the possibilities just as endless, and with a market that has never had a true attempt at organization, the potential is remarkable," Vestal said.
Vestal is also seriously considering taking the company public. An IPO is in the planning stages and is expected to be available by Yule 2000, a Pagan holy day also known as Winter Solstice.
Weatherstone's site has been up for three years. She dabbles a bit in commercial ventures, but also offers free mini-readings with cards from her original tarot deck and an online temple.
She values the connections made through her website, but warns that the Internet can be a "cold, addictive place." She believes that it is all too easy, especially for people who are psychically sensitive, to get sucked into living in a completely imaginary world.
"I would encourage all spiritual seekers to use the gifts of the Net wisely, as the magical tools they are, but know when it's time to walk away from the computer and out under the starry skies."
Ok let's talk about internet Pagans for a minute. I really have an issue with the amount of people who go online and say they are Pagan. I don't actually believe most of them, majority of them are underaged children who think witchcraft is "cool" and they are "pagen" because they "practice witchcraft". Don't get me wrong I have met a few kids who are truely interested in the Pagan side of things and really do study the deities and stuff, but majority of them can't tell the difference between a deity and Santa Claus.
"What is a deity?"
"Uhhh, isn't that the guy who sticks presents under your tree at Christmas time."
Then there are the ones who go into pagan chat's, and are just complete and utter twats. They talk a lot of crap, but when it comes to actually talking about Paganism, they either jump down your throat about bringing up the subject or they don't have a brain between the entire group of them to actually carry on a proper discussion. I am mostly talking about Yahoo American Chat right now. So those who read my blogs, it's not you, unless of course you are one of those yahoo frequenters, but if you are reading this I doubt you are.
Then there are the ones who know all there is to know on the internet about paganism, but the moment the computer goes off so does their religion.
People don't come online and claim to be pagan because they feel the internet is "indistinguishable from magic". First things first, not all Pagans practice magic, and majority of the people who claim to be pagan on the internet only do it because they think it is cool, not because they actually know what it is.
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