Beginning a New Era

editorial

by Sylvana SilverWitch

It has been almost ten years since we sat down at the computer and put together the very first Widdershins -- an o6ayk effort considering all the things that went wrong that issue. It's gotten better and better over the years, and with the skill and knowledge of a few select people it has become quite a well-respected pagan publication. We have streamlined the process since then, and it no longer takes days of "around the clock" work for two or three of us, but it is still a considerable task.

One person does not make it happen alone. There are actually several of us working on it, but one person has put her time, energy, money and yes considerable hard work into the paper for all of those nine plus years. One woman has been Widdershins co-mom. She has carried the paper when it would have fallen by the wayside, and she (and her husband) have financed not only printing costs -- but equipment like computers and printers, scanners, paper and much more. Thank you will never be enough.

That marvelous woman, Melanie Fire Salamander, leaves us this issue, saying goodbye to her editor-in-chief position. I have mixed feelings about her departure. On the one hand I wish her well in her writing and all of her other endeavors... but I will miss her greatly, and the paper will surely not be the same without her. Her insight, humor and dogged dedication to excellence will continue to inspire, and hopefully we'll be able to live up to her standards into the future.

Melanie goes to pursue other avenues of creativity and to do some more of the things that she's wanted to do: concentrate on her coven, and maybe that book will finally see print? I wish her all the best blessings from her favorite gods and goddesses and hope that all of her dreams do come true. Be truly happy, Melanie, I love you!

Thea also moves from her awesome job of writing the fabulous astrological column and copyediting to acting as editor-in-chief. She will take over some of the many duties formerly handled so well by Melanie. Thea has many years experience as an editor to bring to bear on our future efforts. We trust that the quality of the writing and editing will not suffer.

Freya also picks up the reins of the managing editor position; she will assume Melanie's other tasks of amazing organization. It's good to have her steady at the fore with two of us Pisces girls swimming amuck. All of these women are consummate professionals and they have made the transition so much easier than I ever would have thought possible.

Change can be hard for all of us sometimes. And I am not any different. A creature of habit, I have learned to live with change, but a good deal of the time I am uncomfortable at best. With this Lammas issue we face a lot of changes. Some are hard to take and others are joyous celebrations. We say goodbye to an era and hello to new beginnings as we step through this door into the future.