Celtic Clip Art Border by Gunther at Synergy.
Witch Speaks Out Against
Religious Bigotry,
story by John QuirkA MANX witch who's hoping to open a school for witches and wizards in Ireland says he was forced to leave the Isle of Man because of his pagan beliefs.
Bev Richardson, who lives in an 18th century cottage at Castle Pook in County Cork, was born in Douglas and lived in many places around the Island before leaving when he was 27.Now 56, Mr Richardson had a young family at the time and says he felt he had little choice but to leave the home he loves because of the 'bigoted' views of Manx authorities and what he perceives as a lack of religious freedom in the Island.
The cottage, Castle Pook, where he lives with his wife, Del, has had journalists beating a path to it this summer to see what's brewing.
Mr Richardson, who describes himself as a 'hedge witch', hosted a weekend of classes and workshops over a weekend in August, which saw more than 50 witches, wizards and druids take part.
His beliefs are focused around nature and his witchcraft centres around preparing herb-based healing potions and organising spiritual ceremonies for other pagans.
He and Del now hope to establish a regular 'college' where people can go and learn about magic. Not surprisingly, the journalists, from the likes of The Times and Ireland on Sunday, which have featured Mr Richardson are quick to liken Castle Pook to 'Ireland's school for budding Harry Potters'.
Mr Richardson, who has been a witch since his late teens, says that while his heart is still in the Isle of Man, he couldn't live here.
He says pagans in the Island have for years felt under pressure from Christians and aren't allowed the freedom to practice their beliefs openly.
'The history of religious freedom in the Isle of Man is dreadful and the history of civil freedom is pretty chequered as well,' Mr Richardson explained. 'I don't have a problem with the Isle of Man and its people I just have a problem with the authorities there.
There is a pagan community (in the Island) but for the most part it cannot declare itself. We call it a free country, but in actual fact it is a glorified crown colony.
I have little respect for the Manx authorities. I think they are small-minded bigots. I love the Manx people and there is nothing more that I would like than to live there.
But I have come to expect a certain amount of freedom and I'm seriously outspoken.'Mr Richardson says if he'd stayed in the Island instead of leaving when he did, that outspoken nature would have landed him in trouble with the law.
'Basically, I came to believe that we would enjoy more freedom if we left,' he said. 'In 1973 I had a choice to make and I made the choice and I made it with a lot of heartache and I still have a lot of heartache. 'I didn't go back until 1994 and I was in tears the moment I got off the plane. But I have made a good life for myself and this country (Ireland) has been generous to us.'From the late 1970's until 1991, the Richardsons travelled around England, Scotland and Wales before settling in Castle Pook in 1995.
Their Cottage situated in a forest clearing, is a stones' throw from the original Castle Pook, a 12th century fort whose fairy legends are believed to have inspired the character Puck in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
The Couple's eldest daughter, Aimi Becket, was born in the Island in 1969 and they have seven children.
Mr Richardson still has family here and he planned to visit last year to organize a witch's circle. He explained: '2001 was the 50th anniversary of the repeal of the Witchcraft Act and I wanted to hold a circle in Castletown where Margaret Ina was burned in the 1600s.
'A few of the pagans in the Island said they would do it, but with a bit of fear and reluctance. Because of that, I thought about my motives for doing it and some of them were socio-political so I decided not to do it'.Mr Richardson says he uses the term 'hedge witch' reservedly , but says it's as close as you'll get to what he does.
'People have to put labels on things' he said. 'The brand (of magic) I follow would be very close to the Manx fairy doctors, it's the same sort of thing. I'm a herbalist, healer and charmer.'
Although he's known in the nearby village of Doneraile as the 'the wizard', Mr Richardson also takes on another persona at Christmas when he dresses as Father Christmas for the benefit of children in the local playgroup and junior school.Despite his strong views on Manx authorities ,there is however one thing he finds refreshing about the Island.
'I find it very cheering that they are actually teaching Manx the children' he said. ' I can remember kinds being castigated in school for using Manx words. We were not even allowed to have a Manx accent.'
