So Who Is Twisted Willow? - June 2005 Name: Twisted Willow. Real Name: Hee hee! Not telling! Wiccan or Pagan? Gosh … I’m not sure. If anyone can identify the line where one ends and the other begins, then please let me know! My family’s response to my chosen path: Mum cried, middle sister laughed, little sister thought I was kidding. Home: A scruffy little shack in West London which may not look like much, but it comes with the most magical garden in the world. Familiars: No pets, but my partner can be a pig at times - does that count? Favourite thing about paganism: The flexibility. If a spell calls for sacred candles hand-made by Egyptian priestesses and blessed by the Sun God Ra, and you only have plain old tea lights from the market, it doesn’t matter in the slightest - hurrah! Least favourite thing about paganism: The notion that each of us reaps what we sow in triplicate. I’ve managed to get away with most naughtiness so far, so I shudder to think what awaits me in the future. Ceremonial attire: Erm, Gap jeans and a T-shirt from M&S. Favourite sabbat: I know it’s a cliché but I’ve always loved Samhain, and I adore the build-up as much as I do the actual day; as soon as the calendar flips from 30th September to 1st October I feel myself getting dizzy-headed and over-excitable, and that‘s without even touching the ceremonial chalice of wine! I also love Yule - I know that there is some pagan snobbery about how the masses celebrate "their" Christmas, but I think it’s kind of nice when the rest of the world shares our enthusiasm when celebrating one of our festivals, however misguided, tacky and plastic it might be. Favourite crystal: On paper the green aventurine seems to be designed with me in mind. (Bad skin? Sluggish digestion? Generally unhealthy? Yes, that sounds like me!) However, colour-wise I am drawn to the amethyst. I’ve put its reported drunkenness-preventing qualities to the test many times, usually in the Frog and Firkin on a Friday night. Does it work? Erm, I can’t really remember … If I could put a hex on anyone in the world, it would be … The very idea! We pagans are peace-loving and would never dream of inflicting such nastiness on anyone. Oh, all right, then - Geri Halliwell. What I hope to achieve with my contribution to the Moonshadows Realm: To make others see that paganism doesn’t have to be saintly and serious!