Executive Summary and Main Facts
As the wheel of the year turns toward late autumn, contemporary Neopagan communities are preparing for Samhain, one of the most spiritually significant observances in the Celtic calendar. Marking the boundary between the light and dark halves of the year, this transitional period corresponds with the lunar cycle known in traditional Ogham lore as the "Ivy Month" or Gort (pronounced "GO-ert").
Alongside these seasonal observations, independent Neopagan media outlets are reaching major milestones. Pagan Pages, a longstanding digital publication dedicated to Pagan spirituality, folklore, and lifestyle, has officially observed over two decades of continuous publication. The anniversary highlights the durability of niche spiritual journalism in an increasingly shifting digital landscape.
Recent coverage from independent Neopagan commentators has highlighted several intersecting themes across seasonal spiritual practices, pop culture representations of witchery, folk music heritage, and broadcast media:
- Botanical and Magical Lore of Ivy (Gort): Traditional practices associate ivy with banishing negative energies, spiritual protection, healing, cooperation, and binding rituals. Its botanical resilience—notably its ability to outlive host trees once established—serves as a central metaphor for psychological endurance.
- Media and Pop Culture Archetypes: Cinema continues to serve as an entry point for modern Pagan identity. The iconic portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz remains a touchstone for female empowerment and agency within the community. Regional broadcasts, such as those on MeTV’s Svengoolie, continue to bring these classic representations to wide audiences.
- Mythological Folk Traditions: Folk music adaptations, including Damh the Bard’s rendition of "The Cutty Wren," continue to preserve ancient avian fables regarding cleverness, power dynamics, and sovereignty.
- Broadcast Journalism and Archival Accuracy: A recent editorial clarification regarding horror television programming highlighted the distinction between original classic films and late-twentieth-century cinematic remakes, specifically concerning broadcasts on Svengoolie and its spin-off, House of Svengoolie.
Chronology: From Celtic Calendars to Modern Broadcasts
Understanding the convergence of ancient seasonal markers and contemporary Neopagan practice requires tracking both historical cycles and modern media schedules.
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| TIMELINE OF EVENTS |
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| Ancient Celtic Era : Establishment of the Ogham alphabet; Gort (Ivy) designates |
| the threshold period preceding Samhain. |
| |
| October 1939 : The Wizard of Oz premieres, establishing the Wicked Witch |
| as an enduring cultural archetype of female power. |
| |
| October 1968 : Release of Night of the Living Dead, redefining modern |
| cinematic horror. |
| |
| October 1990 : Release of the Night of the Living Dead remake, directed |
| by Tom Savini. |
| |
| Early 2000s : Launch of Pagan Pages, initiating over 20 years of digital |
| neopagan journalism and community outreach. |
| |
| Early October : Scheduled broadcasts of The Wizard of Oz on MeTV (including |
| Svengoolie) and publication of seasonal educational guides. |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+The Ogham Cycle and Samhain Prep
In traditional Celtic tree calendars, Gort represents the period when ivy blooms—one of the few flora active during late autumn. This month functions as a spiritual clean-up phase, advising practitioners to purge stagnant or harmful energies before Samhain, which typically takes place on the night of October 31 through November 1.
Decades of Neopagan Publishing
Over the past twenty years, Pagan Pages has chronicled changing attitudes toward Paganism, esoteric arts, and earth-based religions. Established during the early era of digital webzines, the platform has maintained continuous monthly output, providing resources on herbalism, deity devotion, film critique, and music appreciation.
Seasonal Broadcast Programming
Broadcast schedules during early October reflect a convergence of mainstream nostalgia and horror fandom:
- Friday, October 2 (7:00 PM – 9:30 PM EST): Airing of The Wizard of Oz on regional MeTV networks (New York City market).
- Saturday, October 3 (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM EST): Presentation of The Wizard of Oz on MeTV’s Svengoolie, hosted by Rich Koz, providing commentary on the film’s production and cultural legacy.
Botanical and Mythological Supporting Data
The Ecological and Spiritual Significance of Ivy (Gort)
In traditional European folklore and modern Wiccan practice, Hedera helix (English Ivy) occupies a unique ecological and symbolic niche. Unlike deciduous plants that shed leaves in autumn, ivy thrives in cool conditions, producing late-season nectar for pollinators before bearing winter berries.
[ IVY (GORT) MAGICAL & BOTANICAL ATTRIBUTES ]
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[ Protection & Banishing ] [ Psychological Resilience ] [ Ritual Applications ]
- Wards off negativity - Outlives host plants - Binding contracts
- Shields home thresholds - Deeply rooted system - Healing & cooperationBotanical observations confirm that once an ivy vine establishes its own root infrastructure, it can survive independently of its supporting structure, outliving the trees it climbs. Neopagan writers frequently utilize this biological reality as an allegory for personal resilience ("resilience in the face of adversity").
Spiritually, ivy is integrated into several distinct magical practices:
- Protection: Hung above doorways or grown along exterior walls to absorb negative Intent.
- Cooperation and Healing: Utilized in group rituals to foster unity and shared purpose among practitioners.
- Binding and Handfasting: Incorporated into handfasting cords to symbolize enduring commitment. Modern practitioners often stress ethical boundaries (such as adhering to the Wiccan Rede, "An it harm none, do what ye will") when performing binding work, emphasizing consent and mutual communication between partners.
Mythological Origins of "The Cutty Wren"
Music remains a primary vessel for transmitting Neopagan folklore. The traditional folk song "The Cutty Wren," arranged and recorded by prominent Pagan musician Damh the Bard, draws directly from Pan-European mythologies regarding avian sovereignty.
According to the central fable behind the song:
- The birds gathered to hold a contest to decide who would be crowned King of All Birds, agreeing that whichever bird flew highest would earn the title.
- The Eagle flew above all other birds, believing its victory was assured.
- The small, clever Wren hid within the Eagle’s feathers, riding its back until the Eagle reached peak altitude.
- As the Eagle exhausted itself, the Wren leaped upward from the Eagle’s back, flying higher and claiming the crown through intellect rather than physical power.
This mythic narrative underpins medieval winter folk customs, including the "Wren Hunt" performed on St. Stephen’s Day in Celtic regions, and remains an emblem of cunning overcoming brute force.
Media Representations and Official Commentary
The Archetype of the Witch in Cinematic History
Pop culture representations heavily influence public perceptions of modern Paganism and Witchcraft. Cinema scholars note that L. Frank Baum’s universe—brought to the screen in the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film The Wizard of Oz—offered one of the 20th century’s most definitive visual interpretations of the witch archetype.
Margaret Hamilton’s performance as the Wicked Witch of the West provided a stark contrast to traditional female roles of the era. Rather than displaying passive subservience, the character possessed authority, magical competence, and independence. For many contemporary practitioners, this portrayal served as an early cultural encounter with female self-determination and personal power, transforming a villainous archetype into a symbol of autonomy.
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| CRITICAL MEDIA EVALUATION |
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| Subject : The Wizard of Oz (1939) |
| Cultural Impact : Archetypal foundation for modern Pagan identity |
| Primary Themes : Female power, magical agency, structural resilience |
| Editorial Rating : 5 out of 5 Broomsticks |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+Editorial Standards and Broadcast Clarifications
Maintaining analytical precision in genre reporting requires strict verification of media history. Following a recent commentary on late-night horror broadcasts, Pagan Pages issued an editorial correction regarding television syndication schedules:
- Initial Report: Stated that horror host program Svengoolie broadcast George A. Romero’s original 1968 black-and-white classic Night of the Living Dead.
- Correction Statement: Clarified that the broadcast occurred on the spin-off program House of Svengoolie, which actually aired the 1990 color remake directed by Tom Savini and starring Patricia Tallman and Tony Todd.
The editorial team noted that distinguishing between foundational works and later re-evaluations is vital for cultural preservation. In response to expanding coverage needs across film, music, and seasonal guides, Pagan Pages continues to seek volunteer contributors and researchers to join its editorial team.
Cultural and Societal Implications
The enduring relevance of Celtic calendar markers, botanical symbolism, and independent esoteric media illustrates broader societal shifts toward ecological awareness and religious pluralism.
1. Resurgence of Botanical and Earth-Based Mindfulness
As mainstream interest in holistic living, herbalism, and seasonal mindfulness grows, ancient systems like the Ogham alphabet offer structured frameworks for ecological connection. The practical focus on plants like ivy highlights a growing public desire to align lifestyle practices with natural seasonal rhythms.
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| SOCIETAL IMPACT OF MODERN PAGANISM |
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| Ecological Alignment --> Integration of botanical cycles (Ogham) |
| Media Reclaiming --> Reinterpreting historic tropes into power |
| Independent Outlets --> 20+ years of community-led journalism |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+2. Reinterpretation of Cultural Tropes
The ongoing re-evaluation of classic media—such as reclaiming The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch as a figure of agency—reflects a broader sociological trend. Marginalized spiritual communities frequently reframe historic pop-culture stereotypes to construct positive, empowered identities.
3. Sustainability of Niche Independent Journalism
Pagan Pages reaching its 20-year milestone highlights the vitality of community-driven publishing. In an industry dominated by algorithmic content aggregators, small-scale digital magazines continue to provide essential platforms for specialized subcultures, preserving esoteric lore, reviewing regional media, and fostering global online communities.
