AN INTERVIEW WITH SELINE
Seline is one of the principal organisers of the annual EUPHORIA
gathering, she has taken part in every Baphomet ritual since it was performed at the 1999 Pagan Summer Gathering. Since the first Euphoria in 2000 she has embodied the role of the Baphomet Priestess, manifesting the energy and presence of Baphomet within the rite. In this interview Sheila speaks with Seline about her relationship with Baphomet and Euphoria.
SHEILA:
How did you become involved with Baphomet and Euphoria?
SELINE:
Through my involvement with Hawthorn, which started a few years earlier. We had been working together in coven when Hawthorn asked if I would like to take a part in the ritual he was planning to present at the Pagan Summer Gathering (P.S.G.) 1999. That gathering was my first experience of a large scale pagan festival and ritual. I had such a wonderful time at P.S.G. that I wanted to know why we didn't have something similar to that in Melbourne. On the trip home I began working on Hawthorn to convince him that we should plan our own festival. Six months later I had my way and we began recruiting people to help in the planning of the first Euphoria festival to be held over the Easter break in 2000.
SHEILA:
What does the Baphomet ritual mean to you?
SELINE:
That has grown and changed over the years. Initially, donning the mask and taking on the responsibility of Invoking and manifesting Baphomet was very personal. For me it was a cutting of ties with my earlier religious upbringing as a Roman Catholic. It was a release of all the guilt I'd had imposed upon me and a liberation of my wild Witch self. Over the years this sense of empowerment has grown as I experience myself as an individual and as a magical practitioner.
SHEILA:
How do you prepare yourself for the Baphomet rite?
SELINE:
In the first years I would begin meditation and visualisation upon Baphomet and the ritual six months prior to Euphoria. Over the years though, Baphomet has become a bigger part of my life and the need to formally prepare has lessened. The awareness of the Baphomet energies and my responsibilities as the Priestess of Baphomet grows by itself and I tap into that energy naturally as the time for the ritual nears.
I am also able to call upon Baphomet when I need extra energy or
inspiration in day-to-day situations throughout the year.
SHEILA:
When you say you call on Baphomet is that a full ritual invokation, or just a mental call?
SELINE:
I often invoke Baphomet when I do ritual, but outside those occasions and the Baphomet ritual at Euphoria a mental call will do.
SHEILA:
How do you perceive Baphomet's response to you call?
SELINE:
I feel Baphomet's strength, I feel it as an internal feeling and acknowledgment that the energy of Baphomet is within me. If I am meditating I feel it as part of that experience, as images and feelings. If it is just a mental call, or when I feel a need for that energy I feel it become available to me. Or rather, I become aware that the energy is always there available when I need it, I just have to ask. At one time I was quite ill and couldn't get out of bed, Baphomet would manifest visually at the end of my bed and lend me strength and empowerment which helped me to regain my strength and get well again.
SHEILA:
How does it feel to manifest such a powerful and provocative entity as
Baphomet during the ritual?
SELINE:
It is hard to put into words, I feel filled with god energy, it is an extremely empowering experience, it blows my mind, and I loose all awareness of mortal limitations. Even as I begin to come down from the experience and ground, the energy is still with me, filling me with a sense of awe and magick.
SHEILA:
How does it feel to have people kiss your behind and worship you as a God/dess for the duration of the ritual?
SELINE:
It is really Baphomet that they are kissing and Baphomet is all of us, I am just the physical container that manifests and acts as the focus for that energy at that time. For me the experience is actually quite humbling and I feel very privileged and honoured to be able to have the experience to manifest that energy in that ritual.
SHEILA:
How has manifesting Baphomet affected your personal life?
SELINE:
Where do I start!? It has been a roller-coaster ride, Baphomet and the practice of magick generally has opened up and shown me aspects of myself - good and bad - that I may not have had courage to face otherwise. I have become more positive and assertive. My personal life has been through some incredible highs and lows, but this has compelled me to look at the underlying issues and learn to deal with them, as a result I am stronger and so are my relationships.
SHEILA:
There are some dangers in invoking a God/dess form into yourself. One of the most obvious is the possibility of over-identification, obsession and ego inflation. Have you had issues with that and how have you dealt with them?
SELINE:
It is impossible to get a big head when you associate with Hawthorn because his head takes up all the available space! But seriously, ritual invokation is not just about raising energy and getting high, there is a risk of ego inflation. The only way to guard against that is to practice self-awareness and self-evaluation regularly and not to take yourself too seriously. That is the challenge, risk and potential with all magick - to “Know thyself”.
SHEILA:
What have you learned about Baphomet as a result of these rites?
SELINE:
That it is just an amazing Deity, an amazing energy! Baphomet is all, is everything, is ancient, timeless and wise, provocative, erotic and primal; it was there in the chaos when this world was created.
SHEILA:
Are you concerned that some people see Baphomet as dark and scary?
SELINE:
I can understand that having been raised catholic, but that is only true if the whole world is dark and scary. Mostly what people fear in Baphomet is the darkness that is within themselves. Baphomet is about balance, if we can't walk in the dark, how can we truly embrace the light? How can those who will only work in the light say that they truly know themselves?
SHEILA:
The Baphomet ritual can seem darkly erotic and disturbing to some
people. How do you feel about that?
SELINE:
I agree that it can be seen as dark, because the rite can allow people the opportunity to look at their own inner darkness. If they wish they can confront their own boundaries and fears and decide if those limitations are empowering or disempowering. If they do not wish to be confronted no-one but themselves will know or judge them. One of the main things that we promote at Euphoria is choice, that is why the main rituals are workshopped and everyone who wishes to attend the rites must also attend the workshops. By attending the workshops they can get an idea of the intent of the rite and an understanding of the energies invoked. This means that everyone is in a position to make up their own mind about whether or not the rite is suitable for them. The Euphoria rites are mirrors, if people see something in the rites that disturbs them, then that is an opportunity for them to look within and see what is there, but ultimately the choice is an individual one.
I feel that what we do at Euphoria is important, we offer a side of magick and witchcraft that is needed. There are any amount of beginners books and courses available, but what do those who want to go deeper do? Euphoria offers a doorway to those who want to go beyond the basics, it offers tools which people can take home with them and use to enhance their own practices if they so wish. Most importantly it offers a safe and supportive environment with many opportunities for networking both during and after the festival. Sure the aftermath of Euphoria can be chaotic for some people, but through chaos comes clarity. Also, everyone who comes to Euphoria has our contact details and can get in touch with us for advice or just to talk, if they wish.
SHEILA:
Some people might say that a ritual like Baphomet is too risky to be performed at an open festival, that they should only be attempted under the guidance of an experienced mentor.
SELINE:
We make every effort to inform people as to the nature of Euphoria, most of those who attend are already interested in this path, many have been experimenting on their own. We have been doing Baphomet at Euphoria for four years now, many of those who attend have been coming every year and have continued to explore this path Who better to talk to and ask advice from than those who have been there before? Many people come to Euphoria because they have heard of it, either in person or online from someone who has been there. One of the things about Euphoria is that we limit the numbers to eighty people, over half of those will have been before, so those who have questions have a range of people that they can talk to and compare experiences with, they are not dependent on the opinion of just one or two. People want and need the sort of things that we do at Euphoria, and if those who have the experience do not make their knowledge available people will experiment on their own, and that can be dangerous.
SHEILA:
Surely when the pupil is ready the teacher will appear?
SELINE:
Absolutely, that is my experience, but who is to say that the teacher will appear in a traditional form, especially at this time when interest in magick and witchcraft is growing so fast. Maybe the teacher is the inner wisdom that we all have but often fail to pay attention to? Euphoria may be the place to meet the teacher, or to open the awareness to that inner guide, that has certainly been the experience of many who have attended.
SHEILA:
Going back to the erotic nature of the energy that can manifest at the Baphomet rite; you were not comfortable with that at first, has that changed?
SELINE:
Baphomet is an intensely spiritual experience for me and I used to wonder why people chose to experience or express the energies through physical intimacy during the rite, now I see that everyone experiences these energies differently. I experience it internally, I am filled with a God/dess, I am making love with that God/dess internally, others do so in the embrace of a physical partner. I had an issue with that at first, but I now see that attitude as a left over from my strict Catholic up-bringing. I now see the ritual space is a safe and sacred environment, in which “all acts of love and joy” are indeed sacred rituals.
SHEILA:
Thanks for your time Seline. Do you have any final words you would like to share?
SELINE:
My journey with Baphomet and Euphoria has not been an easy one, it has put strain on my marriage and my family, and on myself, but as a result of these trials I am a stronger person, and my relationships are stronger. I have learned to look at myself and accept myself for who and what I am, good and bad, I have learned to speak my truth and stand my ground, and those who love me have learned to love me all the more for being true to myself. I believe that anyone who is on the magical path will be tested. Euphoria can offer tools to help on that journey, more importantly it offers the chance to meet and form relationships with people whose wisdom and generosity may become a part of our lives. The Euphoria tribe is open to anyone who comes to it in good faith. That has been my experience with Euphoria, and I am proud to be a part of it.
Seline is one of the principal organisers of the annual EUPHORIA
gathering, she has taken part in every Baphomet ritual since it was performed at the 1999 Pagan Summer Gathering. Since the first Euphoria in 2000 she has embodied the role of the Baphomet Priestess, manifesting the energy and presence of Baphomet within the rite. In this interview Sheila speaks with Seline about her relationship with Baphomet and Euphoria.
SHEILA:
How did you become involved with Baphomet and Euphoria?
SELINE:
Through my involvement with Hawthorn, which started a few years earlier. We had been working together in coven when Hawthorn asked if I would like to take a part in the ritual he was planning to present at the Pagan Summer Gathering (P.S.G.) 1999. That gathering was my first experience of a large scale pagan festival and ritual. I had such a wonderful time at P.S.G. that I wanted to know why we didn't have something similar to that in Melbourne. On the trip home I began working on Hawthorn to convince him that we should plan our own festival. Six months later I had my way and we began recruiting people to help in the planning of the first Euphoria festival to be held over the Easter break in 2000.
SHEILA:
What does the Baphomet ritual mean to you?
SELINE:
That has grown and changed over the years. Initially, donning the mask and taking on the responsibility of Invoking and manifesting Baphomet was very personal. For me it was a cutting of ties with my earlier religious upbringing as a Roman Catholic. It was a release of all the guilt I'd had imposed upon me and a liberation of my wild Witch self. Over the years this sense of empowerment has grown as I experience myself as an individual and as a magical practitioner.
SHEILA:
How do you prepare yourself for the Baphomet rite?
SELINE:
In the first years I would begin meditation and visualisation upon Baphomet and the ritual six months prior to Euphoria. Over the years though, Baphomet has become a bigger part of my life and the need to formally prepare has lessened. The awareness of the Baphomet energies and my responsibilities as the Priestess of Baphomet grows by itself and I tap into that energy naturally as the time for the ritual nears.
I am also able to call upon Baphomet when I need extra energy or
inspiration in day-to-day situations throughout the year.
SHEILA:
When you say you call on Baphomet is that a full ritual invokation, or just a mental call?
SELINE:
I often invoke Baphomet when I do ritual, but outside those occasions and the Baphomet ritual at Euphoria a mental call will do.
SHEILA:
How do you perceive Baphomet's response to you call?
SELINE:
I feel Baphomet's strength, I feel it as an internal feeling and acknowledgment that the energy of Baphomet is within me. If I am meditating I feel it as part of that experience, as images and feelings. If it is just a mental call, or when I feel a need for that energy I feel it become available to me. Or rather, I become aware that the energy is always there available when I need it, I just have to ask. At one time I was quite ill and couldn't get out of bed, Baphomet would manifest visually at the end of my bed and lend me strength and empowerment which helped me to regain my strength and get well again.
SHEILA:
How does it feel to manifest such a powerful and provocative entity as
Baphomet during the ritual?
SELINE:
It is hard to put into words, I feel filled with god energy, it is an extremely empowering experience, it blows my mind, and I loose all awareness of mortal limitations. Even as I begin to come down from the experience and ground, the energy is still with me, filling me with a sense of awe and magick.
SHEILA:
How does it feel to have people kiss your behind and worship you as a God/dess for the duration of the ritual?
SELINE:
It is really Baphomet that they are kissing and Baphomet is all of us, I am just the physical container that manifests and acts as the focus for that energy at that time. For me the experience is actually quite humbling and I feel very privileged and honoured to be able to have the experience to manifest that energy in that ritual.
SHEILA:
How has manifesting Baphomet affected your personal life?
SELINE:
Where do I start!? It has been a roller-coaster ride, Baphomet and the practice of magick generally has opened up and shown me aspects of myself - good and bad - that I may not have had courage to face otherwise. I have become more positive and assertive. My personal life has been through some incredible highs and lows, but this has compelled me to look at the underlying issues and learn to deal with them, as a result I am stronger and so are my relationships.
SHEILA:
There are some dangers in invoking a God/dess form into yourself. One of the most obvious is the possibility of over-identification, obsession and ego inflation. Have you had issues with that and how have you dealt with them?
SELINE:
It is impossible to get a big head when you associate with Hawthorn because his head takes up all the available space! But seriously, ritual invokation is not just about raising energy and getting high, there is a risk of ego inflation. The only way to guard against that is to practice self-awareness and self-evaluation regularly and not to take yourself too seriously. That is the challenge, risk and potential with all magick - to “Know thyself”.
SHEILA:
What have you learned about Baphomet as a result of these rites?
SELINE:
That it is just an amazing Deity, an amazing energy! Baphomet is all, is everything, is ancient, timeless and wise, provocative, erotic and primal; it was there in the chaos when this world was created.
SHEILA:
Are you concerned that some people see Baphomet as dark and scary?
SELINE:
I can understand that having been raised catholic, but that is only true if the whole world is dark and scary. Mostly what people fear in Baphomet is the darkness that is within themselves. Baphomet is about balance, if we can't walk in the dark, how can we truly embrace the light? How can those who will only work in the light say that they truly know themselves?
SHEILA:
The Baphomet ritual can seem darkly erotic and disturbing to some
people. How do you feel about that?
SELINE:
I agree that it can be seen as dark, because the rite can allow people the opportunity to look at their own inner darkness. If they wish they can confront their own boundaries and fears and decide if those limitations are empowering or disempowering. If they do not wish to be confronted no-one but themselves will know or judge them. One of the main things that we promote at Euphoria is choice, that is why the main rituals are workshopped and everyone who wishes to attend the rites must also attend the workshops. By attending the workshops they can get an idea of the intent of the rite and an understanding of the energies invoked. This means that everyone is in a position to make up their own mind about whether or not the rite is suitable for them. The Euphoria rites are mirrors, if people see something in the rites that disturbs them, then that is an opportunity for them to look within and see what is there, but ultimately the choice is an individual one.
I feel that what we do at Euphoria is important, we offer a side of magick and witchcraft that is needed. There are any amount of beginners books and courses available, but what do those who want to go deeper do? Euphoria offers a doorway to those who want to go beyond the basics, it offers tools which people can take home with them and use to enhance their own practices if they so wish. Most importantly it offers a safe and supportive environment with many opportunities for networking both during and after the festival. Sure the aftermath of Euphoria can be chaotic for some people, but through chaos comes clarity. Also, everyone who comes to Euphoria has our contact details and can get in touch with us for advice or just to talk, if they wish.
SHEILA:
Some people might say that a ritual like Baphomet is too risky to be performed at an open festival, that they should only be attempted under the guidance of an experienced mentor.
SELINE:
We make every effort to inform people as to the nature of Euphoria, most of those who attend are already interested in this path, many have been experimenting on their own. We have been doing Baphomet at Euphoria for four years now, many of those who attend have been coming every year and have continued to explore this path Who better to talk to and ask advice from than those who have been there before? Many people come to Euphoria because they have heard of it, either in person or online from someone who has been there. One of the things about Euphoria is that we limit the numbers to eighty people, over half of those will have been before, so those who have questions have a range of people that they can talk to and compare experiences with, they are not dependent on the opinion of just one or two. People want and need the sort of things that we do at Euphoria, and if those who have the experience do not make their knowledge available people will experiment on their own, and that can be dangerous.
SHEILA:
Surely when the pupil is ready the teacher will appear?
SELINE:
Absolutely, that is my experience, but who is to say that the teacher will appear in a traditional form, especially at this time when interest in magick and witchcraft is growing so fast. Maybe the teacher is the inner wisdom that we all have but often fail to pay attention to? Euphoria may be the place to meet the teacher, or to open the awareness to that inner guide, that has certainly been the experience of many who have attended.
SHEILA:
Going back to the erotic nature of the energy that can manifest at the Baphomet rite; you were not comfortable with that at first, has that changed?
SELINE:
Baphomet is an intensely spiritual experience for me and I used to wonder why people chose to experience or express the energies through physical intimacy during the rite, now I see that everyone experiences these energies differently. I experience it internally, I am filled with a God/dess, I am making love with that God/dess internally, others do so in the embrace of a physical partner. I had an issue with that at first, but I now see that attitude as a left over from my strict Catholic up-bringing. I now see the ritual space is a safe and sacred environment, in which “all acts of love and joy” are indeed sacred rituals.
SHEILA:
Thanks for your time Seline. Do you have any final words you would like to share?
SELINE:
My journey with Baphomet and Euphoria has not been an easy one, it has put strain on my marriage and my family, and on myself, but as a result of these trials I am a stronger person, and my relationships are stronger. I have learned to look at myself and accept myself for who and what I am, good and bad, I have learned to speak my truth and stand my ground, and those who love me have learned to love me all the more for being true to myself. I believe that anyone who is on the magical path will be tested. Euphoria can offer tools to help on that journey, more importantly it offers the chance to meet and form relationships with people whose wisdom and generosity may become a part of our lives. The Euphoria tribe is open to anyone who comes to it in good faith. That has been my experience with Euphoria, and I am proud to be a part of it.
