The video is filmed at their home in Ireland, right inside their own house and with many beautiful location shots highlighting their local countryside.
In the video, we are introduced to a new student (an artist whose work appears on the video's sleeve) who is about to embark along the Craft path. The material is presented to us just as it is to the student. The film provides an overview, but make no mistake, the depth of the discussions and the information presented are profound and detailed.
This movie is for the serious practitioner. It was particularly interesting to me to contrast some of the "Stewart" tradition with my own practices. I found much more in common than I had thought I would from reading their books. Yet, as they point out in the video, the books are peoples' ideas and should be taken as guidelines only. Sitting around the kitchen table, Gavin Bone remarks, "Once one has the information one needs, the rest flows from the heart naturally, which is the art of ritual."
When Gavin demonstrated spiritual, energetic healing, I believe I could catch a bit of auric energy picked up in the film. As a matter of fact, that was one of the things that got to me the most while watching it. Janet and Stewart and Gavin are real people and it shows.
I really enjoyed those moments where, sitting in her "peacock-back" wicker chair, Janet Farrar offered her valuable insight on several topics. I have two chairs of this style myself, so I really felt like she was sitting right there in the room with me having tea and this conversation. She spoke of the history of the craft as an Old Religion and it's relationship to the Christian church. She also dispelled many "popular" misconceptions about ritual nudity, drug use, and sexuality in ritual, among other subjects.
Stewart Farrar spoke of deity: "If there is an ultimate creator, there could only be one. But we like to split this into its respective polarities in the God and the Goddess. Like the two poles of a battery, you've got to have two equal and complementary polarities or no current flows".
After many key points and scenes, climaxing in the students' dedication rite, the film wrapped up with a powerful rendition of Doreen Valiente's "Charge of the Goddess". Janet's experience showed as her presentation was stunning and powerful. I have watched the video several times, and have to admit that this part brought tears to my eyes.
The Craft seems to be a very literary field. Use of the video medium is refreshing. Putting a face on the authors, seeing the green hills of Ireland, all of this imagery makes an indelible imprint on one's psyche.
On a larger perspective, I feel, greater use of video can help build a diverse, yet united pagan community. I am thrilled to have a copy of this video and highly recommend it to all.
Orders of the video can be taken at Sothis Films, www.sothisfilms.com or write, Celtic Marketplace, PO Box #729, Pismo Beach, CA 93448; fax/voice: (805) 474-1414; E-mail: sales@sothisfilms.com; Price: $29.95
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