Edain McCoy, 61, has crossed the Veil. She entered the Summerlands on March 21, 2019 as 12:35PM after her physical body succumbed to complications from Influenza. Her passing was announced privately first then across social media.
McCoy self-initiated as a witch in 1981 and soon after actively participated in the Pagan and Witchcraft communities after a formal initiation into a San Antonio coven. McCoy described herself as a “Witch, Author, Dancer, Tanguera, Reiki Master, Dog Lover, Friend, Pacifist, Craft Student, Craft Teacher, Editor, Historian, Traveler, Grad Student at Butler University, and interested in almost EVERYTHING!”
Edain McCoy
McCoy worked in many fields from educational testing to substitute teaching to being a licensed stock broker and financial advisor. But it would be magic, writing and research that held her heart. An alumna of University of Texas with a degree in history, she completed her Master of fine Arts degree in 2012. And she was lauded for that work. McCoy was affiliated with various professional organizations including the Authors Guild and the American Translators Association. She is listed in the reference guides Contemporary Authors, Who’s Who Among American Women, and Who’s Who In America.
While McCoy was first interested in occult and metaphysical topics as a teenager, she continued her studies over her lifetime. In 2006, she was awarded a Certificate in Paranormal Investigation. She investigated haunted sites in Argentina. Two years later in 2008, McCoy became a Reiki Master of the Usui-Rand lineage. Her study also included magickal paths from Celtic magick to Appalachian folk magick to Curanderismo.
But it was primarily in Witchcraft and Paganism that she focused her writing and cultivated her skills as a teacher. First published in the early 1990’s, McCoy authored some two dozen books. Her first book, “Lady of the Night: A Handbook of Moon Magick & Rituals”, explored lunar mysteries and invited Pagans to “seek new ways to celebrate the Moon”. She followed with multiple publications focused heavily on Celtic traditions including one of her best-known works “Celtic Myth & Magick: Harness the Power of the Gods and Goddesses” published by Llewellyn as part of their “World Religion and Magic” series. Her breadth of topics included Faery magic, spellwork, and even automatic writing. Her books were translated into Spanish where she established a readership in Latin America.
McCoy published numerous articles appearing in magazines such as Fate, Circle, and Enlightenments. In those publications she explored topics and even offered advice on hosting rituals including sabbats and esbats. In “Hosting a Samhain Party Made Easy”, she suggested “Avoid creepy seances, evil hags and other negative images” while suggesting a ‘”Come as Your Ancestors” theme.
She was noted for humor. But it was her kindness that stood out when she spoke in public or shared her thoughts at Pagan festivals and on social media. Personal comments from her friends and colleagues attested to her gentleness, her humor and her joy.
Edain visiting Florida [courtesy]
It came through in social media. McCoy wrote in 2015, “I’ve read through most of the new posts and everyone is so kind. They each deserve a direct response, but I’ve finally let myself say out loud: Hi, my name is Edain [Hi, Edain], and I’m a poor correspondent. I appreciate all of you. Really, I do. Thanks for accepting my many flaws. FB friends have kept me high through every low. Now if I could do something about the heat and humidity… Lesson learned: Weather Witchery is about working with nature, not about controlling it.”
Her humility was clear as well. She would later write in a public post, “Can we all toss the ‘Ms. McCoy’ crap, please? I am Edain. Plain and simple. Use English, not Irish or Scottish, pronunciation. Raymond Buckland taught me Pagans are on a first name basis when I blubbered ‘Mr. Buckland’ to him. Then he hugged me. I do so love that man, and I will pass on to all what he taught me that day.”
We too will follow her advice. Edain joins her ancestors but leaves behind on this side a legacy of books and contributions to our community. Another one those texts was “Entering the Summerland: Customs and Rituals of Transition into the Afterlife.” In that text, she wanted to legitimize grief through cathartic rituals.
Following her advice, we can look to her writings. Edain wrote “An Ostara Sabbat Ritual for One” for the Llewellyn Journal. She suggested that the blessings of Ostara be spoken, stated out loud before the deities. Edain then offered these words, fitting as her spirit travels away this season.
I stand at the center and balanced be,
The charge of seasons meets here in me.
From wintertime’s dark and lonely nights,
To summertime’s warm and lively light.
Now at the center at Ostara am I,
Not light or dark to dominate the sky;
But a time of lengthening light and day,
As we pass from balance to summer’s days.
What is remembered, lives.
The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content.
To join a conversation on this post:
Visit our The Wild Hunt subreddit! Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click “JOIN”. Make sure to click the bell, too, to be notified of new articles posted to our subreddit.