Sir, As a pagan, I am pleased to see that pagan events are reported in The Times (“Urban pagans mark solstice with marriage of city, country and me”, June 21), but I detect a jocular tone approaching mockery.
Some points seem meaningless, even bizarre. For instance, it is not explained why the male priest is termed a priestess, or why he only “describes himself” as a pagan. Is he not really a pagan? Is he not trained as a priest? It took me four years to train for the pagan priesthood, which is not something anyone would undertake lightly. Even stranger, it is not clear whether Mary Bowers is herself a pagan. If not, why is she undergoing a handfasting? She seems to think that because the union lasts only “a year and a half” (should that not be a year and a day?) then it is not to be taken seriously; but in Scotland, handfasting is a legally binding ceremony, as valid as any other form of marriage, and in any case should not be entered into frivolously. The sacred vows are supposed to be uttered with a view to renewing them after the trial period is over.
That pagans celebrate joyously and lightheartedly should not be taken to indicate that we do not have deeply held and sincere religious beliefs.
Dr Jocelyn Almond
Archpriestess-Hierophant, Fellowship of Isis
London WC1