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by Bronwynn Torgerson
I went with an axe to grind. Midway through my reading of his book Wiccan Warrior (Llewellyn, 2000), I felt that author Kerr Cuhulain had shifted his target audience from empowering Wiccans in general to stiffening the spines of women in particular. At least, this woman's hackles had risen. So what would he say for himself?
The book as a whole I had enjoyed, seeing the wisdom in many of Kerr's suggestions, such as choosing battles one could not lose by exploring thoroughly the issue or terrain before entering into the fray. I also found invaluable his suggestion of using cord magick to free oneself or another from a harmful or restrictive situation.
Vancouver's Kitsilano Branch Library auditorium was packed on the evening of October 5. Some guests wore pentacles; others brought note pads; a few were scholarly seekers. Folks gathered up flyers and handouts on the library's "Paths to Truth" series, which featured such diverse spiritual approaches as Sufism, Native American beliefs and numerology. While printed material was available on the rest of the series' segments, it was noticeably lacking on Wicca.
Kerr Cuhulain was introduced and began to speak. Not what I had expected, this soft-spoken salt-and-pepper-haired off-duty cop, who had many tales to tell. A police officer for more than 20 years, Cuhulain came out of the broom closet several years ago.
Oftimes, to his chagrin, he became also "an expert on the occult." He told of a time a frantic caller swore that a church had been "taken over by Satanists," and that "oddly dressed people were coming and going, tiptoeing around at all hours of the day and night." Cuhulain ascertained that the former church building had been sold - to a ballet studio! Another time, a fellow officer questioned whether a circle of wooden poles down by the bay had been constructed for arcane use. Nope, just a creation of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Cuhulain, who discovered the Craft when he was a teen, stated that he has been a Witch for over 31 years. He credits his background of meditation and open-mindedness with honing his intuition, a skill that has come in handy with police work many times. Kerr shared with listeners the tale of how a man had been apprehended who was carrying on his person presumably stolen identification belonging to an unknown female. A year later, the same guy was busted again, same ID still in tow. Upon attempting to find the rightful owner, another officer glanced at the corrected address on the back of the license, which indicated the lady had moved. No, Cuhulain insisted, they would find her at the original location on the license front. The woman herself opened the door - she had moved away, and due to personal circumstances, moved right back again.
Sometimes, Cuhulain acknowledged, public officials did not know how to treat practitioners of the Craft. He cited as example the fact that right after going public with his beliefs, he was required to go to court, where he requested an affirmation instead of the traditional "hand on the Bible" swearing in. Canada's Oath Act is designed to address the theologies of many cultures. As options, Cuhulain said there was a "paper oath" during which a sacred text was held between the hands of the witness taking oath, as well as a "dish oath," where a plate was sworn upon then ceremonially broken. The list of possible choices even included a "chicken oath," in which a fowl was brought into the courtroom and ritually slain. Cuhulain said that the last time the chicken oath was requested was about 75 years ago, before a horrified judge! Kerr joked that just before his retirement from the force, he was going to pick the chicken oath for his own farewell performance.
Cuhulain gave his audience a brief overview of the Wiccan belief system, values and holidays, interjecting his opinion that Wicca, unlike other theologies, is not a "revealed" religion. In other words, while many feel inspired by an aspect of Deity, there is no elite handful of chosen prophets. Rather, all have access to the Divine. He also emphasized that Wicca is a religion of practice rather than doctrine, as we continually recreate and refine what we believe, shaping our worship to fit our lives and needs.
Interesting points were made, such as Candlemas being called such because in olden days, the Church then ceremonially blessed all the candles it would use throughout the coming year. Jack-o-lanterns were once called "punkeys" in England, similar to our word pumpkins today.
Cuhulain, a child abuse investigator, stated that the fluctuations and increase in crime during full moon phases have made it necessary that he curtail circle participation sometimes, but he is still actively involved in Wicca and does take occasional students.
And what of that empowerment issue in Wiccan Warrior, I asked, when the lecturer paused for questions. Cuhulain, who is married to Wiccan author Phoenix McFarland, replied that he had never meant to limit his approach solely to women or to imply that they alone were in need of strength or resolve. However, he perceived that in some ways women were still coming up from behind, and that if his book could provide one more tool, that was a good thing indeed.
Kerr made complimentary copies of his book The Law Enforcement Guide to Wicca available after his presentation and promised to rectify the missing Wiccan bibliography and reading materials list for any who stayed behind and asked. A great turn-out, an amiable author, and plenty of food for thought.
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