I would just like to quickly share some of the many tributes and memorials to Pagan elder and theologian Isaac Bonewits, who passed away yesterday at the age of 60, that are now available. First, there’s the official obituary from Isaac’s family.
“During his forty years as a Neopagan priest, scholar, teacher, bard, and polytheologian, Isaac Bonewits coined much of the vocabulary and articulated many of the issues that have shaped the rapidly growing Neopagan movement in the United States and Canada.
Mr. Bonewits was internationally known as a speaker who educated, enlightened and entertained two generations of modern Goddess worshippers, nature mystics, and followers of other minority belief systems, as well as explained these movements to journalists, law enforcement officers, college students, and academic researchers.”
From Cherry Hill Seminary:
“Isaac’s passion for learning and scholarship was an inspiration to many of us. His willingness to challenge, explore, question and learn leave a legacy which is an example for all of us in the years to come.
We extend to his loved ones a heartfelt wish for healing and peace.”
From Patheos.com:
“I honor Isaac for his contributions to Modern Paganism, for his tireless efforts on behalf of his spiritual community and for his good humor and grace while battling cancer. I honor him for his humanity and hope to learn from his life journey.
As sad as I am regarding his passing, he is now beyond the veil and while we reverence his memory, we also need to remember to support his family in their time of grief. Isaac leaves behind a son, Arthur, and a widow, Phaedra, who need all of our love and support.”
From Ian Corrigan, Archdruid Emeritus, ADF:
“Isaac was a man of ideas, especially as concerned practical spiritual and magical art and religion. At heart Isaac was a Pagan – a lover of nature in all its forms, including human nature, he loved the Old Gods and the Old Ways. He was not only a freethinker and an experimental occultist, but was always concerned to bring back the worship of the Gods in modern times. This troubled him through his interaction with the various RDNAs, which included many secularists and universalists. Isaac’s determination led him to produce several variations on his idea of Neopagan Druidism, and when his ideas finally met the emergent Pagan festival culture they found fertile ground at last in Ar nDraiocht Fein.”
From Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF):
“We members of ADF are filled with great sadness at the news of the death of our founder, Rev. Isaac Bonewits. Our thoughts and our hearts go out to his widow, Phaedra, his son, Arthur, and his entire family at this unhappy time.
ADF shall hold a special service to celebrate his life, followed by a wake of remembrance on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 9pm EDT at the Summerland ADF Festival at Camp Clifton in Yellow Springs, OH. We invite everyone who loved Isaac or who has been touched by his works and writings to remember him at that time by lighting a candle or holding a ritual in his honor.
At Thursday’s Memorial Service we shall welcome Isaac into the ranks of the Ancient Wise, those of our ancestors, the Sacred Dead, who are willing to join with us and grant us the wisdom we need to bring back the old ways.
On our website we also have a special memorial page for Isaac where there is a eulogy by Ian Corrigan and links to a special guestbook page where anyone may leave their condolences. It may be seen at http://www.adf.org/about/leaders/isaac-bonewits/.
My the Gods ease Isaac’s passage into the Otherworlds, and may the Ancestors welcome him with open arms. We also pray that they ease the pain of his family and of those who shall sorely miss him. And we pray that his blessings and wisdom will cross the veils to us here for the benefit of ADF and of us all.”
There are many more, including tributes from Deborah Lipp, Chas Clifton, Ruby Sara, Frater Barrabbas Tiresius, and Peg Aloi at The Witches’ Voice. Feel free to post links to other tributes you find, or leave your own here. Once again, all honor to Isaac Bonewits, and blessings to his family.
UPDATE: NPR piece on Isaac’s passing by Margot Adler.
