While I identify as Pagan, and more specifically as Hellenistai, I also fall into the category generally defined as "devotional polytheist." For me, the Gods are at the center of my spiritual practice. I write poetry and short stories and essays in their honor, meditate and go on trance journeys, and endlessly discuss their natures and myths and influence upon the world. As such, theophanies -- manifestations of the Gods, personal encounters with them -- are of particular interest to me. I love to read of others' encounters with Gods and Goddesses and spirits of all sorts, from every tradition, new and old.
Additionally, not all theophanies are ... well ... I have found some passages in works of fiction to be as profoundly moving and insightful as any (nonfiction) work. It leads me to wonder if the authors have either coded their true encounters, changing bits here and there to include them in novels and short stories; or if the authors have some intuitive understanding of the Gods and spirits and the world beyond the mundane.
A few days ago, I learned that one of the devotional anthologies published by Bibliotheca Alexandrina had been pirated. Digital copies of Guardian of the Road: A Devotional Anthology in Honor Hermes were being offered -- without BA's consent or knowledge -- through an occult website in exchange for a "donation." The proprietor of the site boasted that he legally purchased the books from Amazon, then converted them into .pdfs to give to anyone who wanted them. And he was open to suggestions as to other books which should be made available through his "catalog."
I immediately emailed the proprietor, identified myself as the editor-in-chief of BA, and ordered him to cease and desist, and remove Guardian of the Road from his site. He responded relatively quickly with a note that the book had been taken down. He then followed that up with a rude demand that I prove that I was, in fact, who I said I was. I put on my Snark Hat, asked if he would prefer my birth certificate or my social security card, and then advised him to take down the entire site immediately, as word of his illegal actions were spreading quickly through the Pagan community. (Us Pagan and polytheist and magickal authors? Yeah, we talk to each other.)
I suspect there may be a certain type of gallows humor for someone stealing something created in honor of a patron of thieves.
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