Isaac Bonewits facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Bonewits
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Isaac Bonewits in 2004
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| Born |
Phillip Emmons Isaac Bonewits
October 1, 1949 |
| Died | August 12, 2010 (aged 60) |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (B.A., Magic) |
| Occupation | Public speaker, liturgist, songwriter |
| Spouse(s) | Phaedra Bonewits (m. 2007) |
| Children | 1 |
Isaac Bonewits (born October 1, 1949 – died August 12, 2010) was an American writer and speaker. He was known for his work in Neopaganism, which includes modern spiritual paths inspired by ancient nature religions. Bonewits was especially involved in Neo-druidry, a modern form of Druidism.
He wrote several books about Neopaganism and magic. Bonewits was also a public speaker, a person who leads religious ceremonies (a liturgist), and a musician. He started two important Neopagan groups: Ár nDraíocht Féin and the Aquarian Anti-Defamation League. Bonewits was interested in occultism (hidden knowledge or practices) from a young age.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Isaac Bonewits was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, on October 1, 1949. He was the fourth of five children. His father was Presbyterian, and his mother was Catholic. He spent most of his childhood in Ferndale, Michigan.
When he was 12, his family moved to San Clemente, California. He briefly attended a Catholic high school. Later, he returned to public school and graduated a year early. In 1966, he started studying at UC Berkeley. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in magic in 1970. He might have been the first person to get a university degree in magic.
His Career and Work
Starting His Journey
In 1966, while at UC Berkeley, Bonewits joined a group called the Reformed Druids of North America (RDNA). He became a Neo-druid priest in 1969. This meant he was recognized as a leader in their spiritual practices.
Writing and Editing in the 1970s
Bonewits published his first book, Real Magic, in 1971. From 1973 to 1975, he worked as an editor for Gnostica magazine. This magazine was published by Llewellyn Publications.
He also helped create new Druid groups. One was the Schismatic Druids of North America. He also helped with the Hasidic Druids of North America. Bonewits also started the Aquarian Anti-Defamation League (AADL). This was one of the first groups to stand up for the civil rights of Pagans.
In 1976, Bonewits moved back to Berkeley. He rejoined his original Druid group, which was now part of the New Reformed Druids of North America (NRDNA). He was later chosen to be the Archdruid of the Berkeley Grove. An Archdruid is a main leader in a Druid group.
Founding Ár nDraíocht Féin in the 1980s
Bonewits was involved with different occult groups throughout his life. These included Gardnerian Wicca and the New Reformed Orthodox Order of the Golden Dawn. He often spoke at Neopagan events and festivals across the U.S. He also went to gaming conventions. He promoted his book Authentic Thaumaturgy to gamers. It helped them organize their Dungeons & Dragons games.
In 1983, Bonewits founded Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF). This group is also known as "A Druid Fellowship." It became a non-profit organization in 1990. Bonewits was the Archdruid of ADF until 1996. Even after he stepped down, he kept the special title of ADF Archdruid Emeritus for life.
Music and Activism
Bonewits was a talented songwriter, singer, and recording artist. He released two CDs of Pagan music. He also had many recorded lectures and discussions. These were shared by the Association for Consciousness Exploration. He lived in Rockland County, New York. He was also a member of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS).
Bonewits supported charity programs for older Neopagans. In 2006, he was a main speaker at a conference in Claremont, CA.
Personal Life
Isaac Bonewits was married five times. He was married to Rusty Elliot from 1973 to 1976. His second wife was Selene Kumin Vega. After that, he married Sally Eaton from 1980 to 1985. His fourth wife was the author Deborah Lipp, from 1988 to 1998.
On July 23, 2004, he had a handfasting ceremony with Phaedra Heyman Bonewits. A handfasting is a traditional Pagan wedding ceremony. They became legally married on December 31, 2007. Bonewits had one child, born in 1990 to Deborah Lipp.
Illness and Death
In 1990, Bonewits was diagnosed with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. This illness affected his health. It was one reason he eventually resigned as Archdruid of the ADF.
On October 25, 2009, Bonewits learned he had a rare type of colon cancer. He received treatment for it. He passed away at home on August 12, 2010. His family was with him.
His Impact on Neopaganism
In his book Real Magic (1971), Bonewits shared his "Laws of Magic." These "laws" combine ideas from many different belief systems. They help explain and organize magical beliefs in a clear way. This book was chosen for a special publishing project in the 1970s.
Bonewits also created many of the terms used today in the North American Neopagan community.
- He helped popularize terms like "thealogy" (the study of goddesses), "Paleo-Paganism" (ancient Paganism), and "Meso-Paganism" (Paganism from the Middle Ages).
- He might have created the term "Pagan Reconstructionism." This refers to efforts to rebuild ancient Pagan traditions.
- He founded Ar nDraiocht Fein, which became a non-profit organization in 1990.
- He developed a tool called the Advanced Bonewits Cult Danger Evaluation Frame (ABCDEF). This helped people evaluate if a group might be harmful.
- In Real Magic (1971), he introduced his ideas on the Laws of Magic. He later explained these more in his role-playing game guide, Authentic Thaumaturgy.
His Recordings
Music Albums
- Be Pagan Once Again! – Isaac Bonewits & Friends (CD) (ACE/ADF)
- Avalon is Rising! – Real Magic (CD)(ACE/ADF)
Spoken Word Recordings
- The Structure of Craft Ritual (ACE)
- A Magician Prepares (ACE)
- Programming Magical Ritual: Top-Down Liturgical Design (ACE)
- Druidism: Ancient & Modern (ACE)
- How Does Magic Work? (ACE)
- Rituals That Work (ACE)
- Making Fun of Religion (with Deborah Lipp) (ACE)
Panel Discussions
- The Magickal Movement: Present & Future (with Margot Adler, Selena Fox, and Robert Anton Wilson) (ACE)
- Magick Changing the World, the World Changing Magick (with AmyLee, Selena Fox, Jeff Rosenbaum and Robert Anton Wilson) (ACE)
Images for kids
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Isaac Bonewits in 2004
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Isaac Bonewits (right) at Camp Ramblewood.
