June 14, 1999: Wicca - Hilly Rose & Lady Amber Maeve
The Art Bell Archive · Arthur William Bell III
June 28, 20243h 22m
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Show Notes
Guest host Hilly Rose welcomes the Reverend Lady Amber Maeve Shemansky, High Priestess of the Grove of the Winged Scarab and public information officer for the Covenant of the Goddess, to explore the rapidly growing Wiccan religion. With witchcraft ranking as the number one interest among teenage girls in a recent poll of 60 topics, and the U.S. Army now sanctioning Wiccan practice at multiple bases including Fort Hood and Fort Polk, Hilly digs into what this ancient faith actually teaches.
Amber explains that the word witch derives from an Anglo-Saxon term meaning "wise one" and that Wicca is a pre-Judeo-Christian, nature-based religion centered on the balance of male and female energies. She describes the faith as matriarchal, empowering women to stand on their own while maintaining balance with their male counterparts. The discussion covers rituals, the use of ceremonial blades called athames, and the Wiccan Rede's central command to harm none. Amber firmly distinguishes Wiccans from Satanists and Goths, calling the Church of Satan a reverse Christianity that defiles all spiritual belief.
Hilly presses Amber on Congressman Bob Barr's objections to military Wiccans and asks how practitioners reconcile their faith with combat duty. Amber cites the self-defense provision within Wiccan law and describes her unsuccessful attempts to secure a meeting with Barr. Callers weigh in with curiosity and concern as Amber directs seekers to metaphysical bookstores and community resources for further exploration.
Amber explains that the word witch derives from an Anglo-Saxon term meaning "wise one" and that Wicca is a pre-Judeo-Christian, nature-based religion centered on the balance of male and female energies. She describes the faith as matriarchal, empowering women to stand on their own while maintaining balance with their male counterparts. The discussion covers rituals, the use of ceremonial blades called athames, and the Wiccan Rede's central command to harm none. Amber firmly distinguishes Wiccans from Satanists and Goths, calling the Church of Satan a reverse Christianity that defiles all spiritual belief.
Hilly presses Amber on Congressman Bob Barr's objections to military Wiccans and asks how practitioners reconcile their faith with combat duty. Amber cites the self-defense provision within Wiccan law and describes her unsuccessful attempts to secure a meeting with Barr. Callers weigh in with curiosity and concern as Amber directs seekers to metaphysical bookstores and community resources for further exploration.