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In her notes for page 63 she laughs about how she called herself and the other coven members elders, although they were technically by CoG standards. She says "what this sentence brings home to me now is how few true elders we had to guide us". It's a talking point, really, comparing then to now, as there are still very few elders outside of specific coven traditions to guide new witches. The big famous names turn out to be nothing but overhyped windbags, from Starhawk herself (as I am currently discovering) to Oberon Zell-Ravenheart (I still keep wanting to call him "Otter") to... who is there, even? Bonewits is dead now, and he was one of the rarities who seemed a bit sensible. Buckland I just don't have time for. Cunningham was a sweet thing but, again, quite dead. Seriously, how many BNPs are there, really, who aren't twits or upstart Llewellyn authors?
Sensible authors tend to stay within one quite specific religion. I mean, I think I'd count Kveldulf Gundarsson, seeing as he seems sensible nowadays, he has a big voice in a Pagan organization and if I met him at a faire or something... well I'm shy so probably I wouldn't say anything. But I wouldn't imagine myself lobbing rotten fruit at his head either.
I think I'd shake my head at Janet and Stewart is dead. Who else. Vivianne Crowley? She seems relatively sensible, but also quite specific and to be honest I don't think enough people have read her for her to have the sort of leader role that Starhawk appeared to be suggesting.
Aside from individuals within your own covens, can you think of any pagan or craft elders?
(Personally when I hear the term "craft elder" I think "elder of this craft" not "elder of wider witchcraft" as that's the way I infer it being used within the context of Wicca.)
