Phyllis Curott

Phyllis Curott in Palermo

Phyllis W. Curott (born February 8, 1954 ) with the witch name Aradia is an American Wicca priest, lawyer and book author.

biography

Curott grew up in Lynbrook, Long Island, USA. Her parents were agnostic-atheist, social-liberal intellectuals who encouraged them to make their own decisions about theology. Her father, who went to sea at the age of twelve, was a union officer, while her mother, who came from a wealthy and educated family, was a member of the civil rights movement for racial equality in the United States.

Curott graduated from Brown University with a bachelor's degree in philosophy before taking a doctorate in law from New York University School of Law.

Career and film

After graduating from law school, Curott worked as a lobbyist for Ralph Nader in Washington, DC. Upon her return to New York City, Curott practiced in employment law, media law and real estate law. She is also an outspoken advocate of religious freedom for Wiccans and other religious minorities. She gained the right as a wicca priestess to perform legally binding weddings and rituals in public parks.

Curott has produced several independent films, including "New Year's Day" directed by Henry Jaglom. “New Year's Day” was selected as a US contribution to the 1989 Venice Film Festival. Curott also played the role of a journalist in the US film "Venice Venice" in 1992.

Religious and mediating work

After graduating from law school, when Curott ran a rock band called The Dates, she befriended another manager who introduced Curott to Wicca. In 1981 Curott was initiated in Wicca and was given the witch name Aradia .

Curott is a Wiccan high priestess and the founder and president of the Temple of Ara, one of the oldest Wiccan communities in America. Curott is the age president of the Covenant of the Goddess (COG). She has also appeared frequently as a guest minister in the Unitarian Universalist Church and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Curott has lectured at the Learning Annex in New York and at neo-pagan and interfaith events. During her tenure as President of the COG, Curott was the focus of two controversies in the Parliament of the World Religions in Chicago in 1993. The delegations of the Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox boycotted the Parliament of the World Religions because Curott was allowed to speak. A request from COG to approve a ritual event in Grant Park was initially denied by the Chicago park administration. But after Archbishop Joseph Cardinal Bernadin of Chicago fought live on television for the Wicca's right to rituals in public parks, the park administration revised its refusal and Currot was able to perform a rite in honor of Mother Earth in Grant Park.

As a global, interfaith activist, Curott advocates women's spirituality and environmentally conscious religions. She spoke on this in the Parliament of the World Religions in 1993, 2004 and 2009 as the main speaker together with the Dalai Lama. She is an advisor to the Council for the Parliament of the World's Religions and works on the Executive Committee. November 2012, Curott was unanimously elected Vice-Chair of the Parliament of the World's Religions for 2013. Curott also served as a member of the Assembly of World Religious Leaders and as a clerical adviser to the Network of Spiritual Progressives. In 1999 Curott took part in the pluralism project "Consultation on Religious Discrimination and Understanding" at Harvard University. As a member of the United Nations NGO Committee on the Status of Women, Curott participated in the planning of the Beijing Forum on the Status of Women and worked on religion and the status of women. As Vice-Chair of the Parliament of the World's Religions, she also set up the Women's Task Force. She was named one of the ten bravest women by Jane magazine.

bibliography

Curott is the author of three books on modern witchcraft and goddess spirituality. Curott, in her memoir, Book of Shadows, chronicles her introduction to modern witchcraft through initiation as a Wicca priestess in an effort to dispel misconceptions about witches. Her work has been translated into Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German and Turkish.

• 1998 - Book of Shadows (biography) | Book of Shadows: A Modern Woman's Journey into the Wisdom of Witchcraft and the Magic of the Goddess (Broadway Books) ISBN 0-7679-0054-5
• 2001 - WitchCrafting: A Spiritual Guide to Making Magic (Broadway Books) ISBN 0-7679-0825-2
• 2004 - The Love Spell: An Erotic Memoir of Spiritual Awakening (Gotham Books / Penguin) ISBN 1-59240-097-3

Contributions

• 1995 - Sourcebook of the World's Religions: an Interfaith Guide to Religion and Spirituality edited by Joel Diederik Beversluis (Sourcebook Project) ISBN 0-9637897-1-6 , ISBN 978-0-9637897-1-6
• 1995 - People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out (reissued as: Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans, and Witches Today ) by Ellen Evert Hopman & Lawrence Bond (Inner Traditions) ISBN 0-89281-559-0 , ISBN 978 -0-89281-559-3
• 2002 - Wiccan Wisdom Keepers: Modern Day Witches Speak on Environmentalism, Feminism, Motherhood, Wiccan Lore, and More by Sally Griffyn (Samuel Weiser) ISBN 1578632579 , ISBN 978-1578632572
• 2004 - Pop! Goes the Witch: The Disinformation Guide to 21st Century Witchcraft by Fiona Horne (contributor) (The Disinformation Company) ISBN 0-9729529-5-0 , ISBN 978-0-9729529-5-8
• 2005 - Cakes and Ale for the Pagan Soul: Spells, Recipes, and Reflections from Neopagan Elders and Teachers by Patricia Telesco (Crossing Press) ISBN 1-58091-164-1 , ISBN 978-1-58091-164-1
• 2012- Women, Spirituality, and Transformative Leadership: Where Grace Meets Power edited by Kathe Shaaf et al. (SkyLight Paths Publishing) ISBN 978-1-59473-313-0

Recommended reading

• Bond, Lawrence & Ellen Evert Hopman (1996) People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out (reissued as Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans & Witches Today in 2002 Destiny Books ISBN 0-89281-904-9 ) Interview.
• Horne, Fiona (2004) Pop! Goes the Witch: The Disinformation Guide to 21st Century Witchcraft (The Disinformation Company) ISBN 0-9729529-5-0 , ISBN 978-0-9729529-5-8
• Krassner, Paul The Blame Game in The Huffington Post , August 26, 2005.
• Krassner, Paul Life Among the Neo-Pagans The Nation Aug 24, 2005
• Lewis, James R. (1999) Witchcraft Today: an Encyclopedia of Wiccan and Neopagan Traditions (ABC-CLIO) ISBN 1-57607-134-0 , ISBN 978-1-57607-134-2

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Phyllis Curott, (1998) Book of Shadows: A Modern Women's Journey into the Wisdom of Witchcraft and the Magic of the Goddess Broadway Books
2. ^ Charles W. Bell, "A Witch Explains Her Craft," New York Daily News, October 31, 1998, p. 21st
3. ^ Charles W. Bell, "A Witch Explains Her Craft," New York Daily News, October 31, 1998, p. 21st
4. ↑ Larissa MacFarquhar, id = ROMCAAAAMBAJ & printsec = frontcover & lr = & rview = 1 # v = onepage & q & f = false "Get Smart" , New York Magazine, vol. 28, No. 31, Aug. 7, 1995, p. 48
5. ^ Doreen Carvajal, "Better Living Through Sorcery: New Broom Sweeps Witches' World," New York Times, Oct. 26, 1998, p. B1
6. ↑ Michael Kilian, "Bewitching Hour: Late '90s See a Revival in Goddess Worship," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 12, 1998, p. 10B
7. ^ Mary Rourke, "She's Got That Old Time Religion: Witchcraft; A Premonition Led a Lawyer to Find Her Calling as a High Priestess of Witchcraft," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 3, 1998, p. E1
8. ↑ Michael Kilian, "Bewitching Hour: Late '90s See a Revival in Goddess Worship," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 12, 1998, p. 10B
9. ^ Charles W. Bell, "A Witch Explains Her Craft," New York Daily News, October 31, 1998, p. 21>
10. ↑ Michael Kilian, "Bewitching Hour: Late '90s See a Revival in Goddess Worship," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 12, 1998, p. 10B
11. ↑ Mary Rourke, RKE & pub = Los + Angeles + Times & desc = She% 27s + Got + That + Old-Time + Religion% 3A + Witchcraft% 3B + A + Premonition + Led + a + Lawye "She's Got That Old Time Religion: Witchcraft ; A Premonition Led a Lawyer to Find Her Calling as a High Priestess of Witchcraft, " Los Angeles Times, Sept. 3, 1998, p. E1
12. ^ Robert Walters, "Feds Fail to Police the Unions," Waycross Journal-Herald (GA), Nov. 11, 1980, p.3
13. ^ "A Newfound Religious Freedom at the City Clerk's Office" New York Magazine May 27, 1985 p. 14th
14. ↑ James R. Lewis [1] , ABC-CLIO, (Santa Barbara, CA), 1999, p. 66
15. ↑ Laura Williams, “The Fair Witch Project: High Priestess Out to Clean Up Frightful Image,” New York Post, Oct. 31, 1999, p. 5
16. ↑ Larissa MacFarquhar, "Get Smart" New York Magazine, vol. 28 No. 31, Aug 7, 1995, p. 48
17. ↑ Don Lattin, “'Pagans' At Parliament Irk Orthodox” , Spartanburg Herald-Journal (SC), Sept. 3, 1993
18. ↑ James R. Lewis msl28 & hl = en & sa = X & ei = cbelUJQEp4_RAZWtgOgJ & ved = 0CEcQ6AEwBTgK # v = onepage & q & f = false “Witchcraft Today: An Encyclopedia of Wiccan and Neopagan Traditions” , 1999, ABC-CLIO, (Santa Barbara 66
19. ^ David Friedman "That Old Time Religion With a Drop of Oil and a Kiss on the Cheek, a Coven of New Yorkers Regularly Enters the" Sacred Space 'of Modern Witchery " , Newsday, Oct. 10, 1991, p. 92.
20. ↑ Kevin Thomas, “Jaglom Caps Decade of Romantic Fear With 'New Year's Day'” Los Angeles Times, December 13, 1989
21. ↑ Michael Wilmington, “Life Invades a Film Festival in Jaglom's 'Venice': Shooting Once Again on a Near Shoestring, the Director Constructs an Unusually Lush Imaginary Cinematic Diary,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 9, 1992
22. ↑ "Turner Movie Classics"
23. ↑ David Friedman, “That Old Time Religion With a Drop of Oil and a Kiss on the Cheek, a Coven of New Yorkers Regularly Enters the Sacred Space 'of Modern Witchery,” Newsday, Oct. 10, 1991, p. 92.
24. ↑ David Friedman, “That Old Time Religion With a Drop of Oil and a Kiss on the Cheek, a Coven of New Yorkers Regularly Enters the Sacred Space 'of Modern Witchery,” Newsday, Oct. 10, 1991, p. 92.
25. ^ Charles W. Bell, "A Witch Explains Her Craft," New York Daily News, October 31, 1998, p. 21st
26. ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original from April 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Story "Temple of Ara official website 
27. ^ Doreen Carvajal, "Better Living Through Sorcery: New Broom Sweeps Witches' World," New York Times, Oct. 26, 1998, p. B1
28. ^ Charles W. Bell, "A Witch Explains Her Craft," New York Daily News, October 31, 1998, p. 21st
29. ^ "Talk of the Nation," NPR, Oct. 29, 1998 (transcript # 98102902-211)
30. ↑ Michael Kilian, "Bewitching Hour: Late '90s See a Revival in Goddess Worship," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 12, 1998, p. 10B
31. ^ Mary Rourke, "She's Got That Old Time Religion: Witchcraft; A Premonition Led a Lawyer to Find Her Calling as a High Priestess of Witchcraft," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 3, 1998, p. E1
32. ^ Molly O'Neill, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Solstice," NY Times, Dec. 19, 1993
33. ^ Mary Rourke, "She's Got That Old Time Religion: Witchcraft; A Premonition Led a Lawyer to Find Her Calling as a High Priestess of Witchcraft," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 3, 1998, p. E1
34. ↑ Larissa MacFarquhar, "Get Smart" New York Magazine, vol. 28 No. 31, Aug 7, 1995, p. 48
35. ↑ Don Lattin, “'Pagans' At Parliament Irk Orthodox” , Spartanburg Herald-Journal (SC), Sept. 3, 1993
36. ↑ Don Lattin, “'Pagans' At Parliament Irk Orthodox” , Spartanburg Herald-Journal (SC), Sept. 3, 1993
37. ↑ James R. Lewis "Witchcraft Today: An Encyclopedia of Wiccan and Neopagan Traditions," ABC-CLIO, (Santa Barbara, CA), 1999, p. 66
38. ↑ “The Parliament Board Reaffirms its Direction” ( Memento of the original dated November 16, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
39. ↑ Consultation on Religious Discrimination and Accommodation - The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
40. ^ Grove Harris, "Priestesses of the Goddess," The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
41. ↑ “Women's Task Force at the Parliament of the World's Religions” ( Memento of the original from November 4, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
42. ↑ Making Love in Public: An Interview with Author Phyllis Curott by Allyson E. Peltier - Absolute Write Website ( Memento of the original from May 21, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
43. ^ Doreen Carvajal, "Better Living Through Sorcery: New Broom Sweeps Witches' World," New York Times, Oct. 26, 1998, p. B1
44. ↑ Linda Drogin, "The Witches of New York," Spotlight Magazine, vol. 23, No. 10, Oct. 1999 p. 32.

Web links

• Phyllis Curott's website in English