Widdershins

Widdershins, a Pagan periodical that serves the northwest Pagan and Wiccan community, is a tabloid newspaper distributed without cost in the states of Washington and Oregon. It is unique, as most Pagan publications have attempted to transform from informal newsletters into newsstand magazines. In contrast, Widdershins has adopted a popular format that has proved successful in the New Age community.

Each issue of Widdershins includes several longer articles of interest to Neo-Pagans, with special attention to themes that are common to all of the variety within the larger world of contemporary Paganism and Witchcraft. The publication also attempts to introduce non-Pagan readers with the essentials of Pagan spirituality and practice, while emphasizing those concerns of common interest with the larger New Age community such as ecology, attention to the changing seasons, and feminism.

Neo-Pagans, still a miniscule minority largely invisible within the larger culture, also have a need for communication among its far-flung groups, the covens and groves, most of whom meet in private homes.

Widdershins carries notices of pubic Pagan events and of individuals and groups that are open to contact. Advertising carries notices of Pagan business, especially stores that carry Pagan and Wiccan books and supplies (candles, incense, and ritual implements).

Widdershins is published eight times annually, its appearance following the eight major Pagan festivals that are spread evenly throughout the year. It is published by Emerald City/Silver Moon Productions, 12345 Lake City Way NE, Ste. 268, Seattle, WA 98125. While distributed free throughout the Seattle and Portland metropolitan regions, it is also available by subscription for delivery to individual addresses. It maintains a Web presence at http://www.widdershins.org/. As many Pagans still do not feel comfortable with identifying themselves openly, most of the editors and writers for Widdershins are listed by their first names only.

Sources:

Widdershins. Seattle, Wash., n.d.

Widdershins. http://www.widdershins.org/. May 1, 2000.

widdershins in a direction contrary to the sun's course, considered as unlucky; anticlockwise. The term is recorded from the early 16th century, chiefly in Scottish sources, and comes ultimately from Middle High German widersinnes, from wider ‘against’ + sin ‘direction’; the second element was associated with Scots sin ‘sun’.

widdershins var. of WITHERSHINS.