The Order of the Royal Oak

A Reply to the New York Post

Lady Amythyst of Avalon

Dear Mr. Bauer and The New York Post,

I am continually amazed at the actions of some of the citizens of this great nation of ours. I am also amazed at the news media that supposedly provides them with information about the world in which we live. Many people no longer believe the news media unless it is a shooting, a house fire, or other such violence. I believe that most of our citizens are much like my family, my friends and myself. We all watch and dislike the stupidity of the few like those who lie to us from their positions as members of the media, but we are so busy raising our children, going to work and contributing all that we can to this land we call America -- our home, the land of the free -- that we tend to neglect the need to correct ignorance when we encounter it.

Today we are rich in technology. When something happens on the other side of the world, we know it in seconds. Medical science has cured many diseases, some of which haven’t even happened yet. We put a man on the moon and we have sent robots to Mars, and yet with all of our technical schools, colleges, the Internet, and untold references, we still can’t seem to cure pure ignorance. There are countless sources of information out there that supply knowledge of all kinds to anyone who can read. Apparently, if folks like you (the great suppliers of media in this technology rich era) were in charge of running our great country, we would soon be back in the Dark Ages.

Since Mr. Bauer and the editors of the New York Post chose to portray the five-pointed star or pentacle in an upside-down position, I would guess that they did so out of ignorance. I will explain the pentagram, at least the bare basics, so that they will no longer be able to claim ignorance in the future.

The pentagram is a five-pointed star circumscribed by a circle. The points of the star all signify a separate element or quality of the Universe. Four of the points correspond to the four cardinal points of the compass, East, South, West and North, which also represent the four elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth respectively.

The fifth point, the upright point, represents the element of spirit, and the circle represents the continuity of life. The upright point of the pentagram is the one rising out of the four; the human soul rising out of the bondage of the animal nature. The pentacle is the true light. It marks the location of the five mysterious centers of force, the awakening of which is the supreme secret of White Magic.

I ask Mr. Bauer and the editors of the New York Post, did you know that this free land that we live in, the one that allows you the right to print such trash as you did concerning the soldier’s grave marker, this land and its freedoms, this same land that thousands risk their lives daily crossing it’s borders so that they may share in the American dream, that these hard fought and hard won freedoms were paid for with the Blood of our fallen heroes. We should all hope that we never have to face war on this soil, but I believe that we may soon be forced to do so because the oceans no longer keep us as safe as they once did.

Today, I have decided that I can no longer stay serene and quiet about one of the major freedoms of our country: the freedom of religion. Most Americans go from day to day thinking of their children and their welfare, paying the mortgage, building the pool, buying a new car and letting others speak up while they go about their lives. They may let others speak out against ignorance and bigotry, but if they don’t speak out, we all may sit at home and watch America burn!

What could be more important than taking more time to raise our children as good wholesome human beings and keeping our country as wonderful as our forefathers left it to us? Perhaps the massacre of the Knights Templar, the Inquisition and other religious atrocities were still uppermost in our forefather’s minds when they made freedom of religion one of our basic and essential freedoms. People today need to wake up before they lose their treasured freedoms. Since you seem to be so ignorant about Wicca, perhaps you should do a real search of history and of your own religion.

I am a minister, teacher, and the Facilitator of the Universal Federation of Pagans and would be happy to give you correct information about the Wiccan religion in the future. Most of us are quiet business folks who go about our daily lives. Not like you. We don’t harm anyone as you tried to do with your very inappropriate graphic image.

The New York Post’s work reminds me of the trash-tabloid National Enquirer. I do believe that the ‘Black Heart’ belongs to you. You should be sent to Iraq to fight for the freedoms that you enjoy so much. Perhaps then you might understand the true cost of the liberty, the freedom and the rights given to all citizens of our fair nation.

While I write this letter I can’t help but wonder if Jesus Christ isn’t saddened and appalled by the horrendous atrocities committed in his name. In closing, Mr. Bauer and the editors of the New York Post, let me say this: that Wiccan soldier who died defending our liberty and our freedoms probably was a more ethical, honorable and Christian-like-person than you have shown yourselves to be.

Reverend Bobbie Jean Ervin

aka Lady Amythyst

Archpriestess of the Order of the Royal Oak