About Me

Khaire, Slainte, Hail and Welcome~

My name is Gede Parma (pronounced as G’day). I am an initiated Priest and Witch of the WildWood Tradition of Witchcraft and an Antheon Priest (branched) of the Gold Coast-based OakSun Grove. I am an active participant in the Pagan community. This web-site is for those who have been inspired by my writings, poetry, WildWood, or who simply wish to get to know me a little better.

I am of Balinese-Celtic extract and both cultures infuse my identity and spirituality. My mother is of largely Irish descent and is also the great-niece of Sister Elizabeth Kenny, the famous Australian nurse who discovered a treatment for polio. My father is Balinese and is one of the most spiritual people I have ever encountered. His example teaches me that to live one’s spirituality is to celebrate the Divine in all we do. My paternal grandmother and grandfather were considered ‘holy people’ in their village. My grandmother especially was considered to be very powerful in the arts, and though she passed through the Veil when I was 2, I know from the many stories I have heard since that she was a particularly talented diviner, healer and vessel to the spirits. Therefore I was raised in a family tradition of mysticism which involved intentional and focussed magickal acts; the Balinese Hindu tradition is considered hugely syncretic and involves a great deal of communication and connection with spirits in the form of ancestors, deities and demons.

How I Got Here (to Witchcraft)

My journey into the Craft began at a young age. Briefly, I was introduced to the idea of Wicca through the TV program Charmed. This show consolidated inner yearnings that I had never understood, and never sated. Through several personal encounters with practising Wiccans and Witches I then began to understand the Craft as a spiritual tradition. I began to read and formally practise the magickal arts and to attune myself with Nature and its cycles, though I had been doing this for many years.

After two years of solitary practice I discovered a local teen group and was initiated as ‘High Priest’ at my first sabbat. The title was merely a convenience for organisation as I was given no training. However I took the responsibility seriously and began to organise the group into regular meetings/circles. In my 8 months with the Coven of the Spirit Entwined I learnt a great deal about group dynamics, teenage angst and the Craft. My decision to leave (which eventuated in the disbanding of the group) initiated a new course for me. I delved deeper into the mysteries and endured many challenges, which only made me stronger.

I began to involve myself in the local Pagan community and I held several open circles for the sabbats and esbats which earned me a great deal of respect. I was given a regular column in the street zine Bizoo as the resident Witch. I also appeared in two books focussed on Witchcraft and the Youth (Feelin’ Witchy by Mitchell Coombes and Dennis Ganchingco and Confessions of a Teenage Witch by Gwinevere Rain).

After high school I made the move to Brisbane (2006) and I helped to co-found the Coven of the WildWood, which has been embraced by the Pagan community. I, and two other dedicants of the inner court, began formal priest/ess training at Beltaine 2006, and I was then initiated at Samhain 2007 as a Priest. Previously for about three years I had been cultivating a priestly path and had been taken into the service of Persephone (my soul-Goddess) at Yule 2005.

I am involved actively with quite a few different traditions and communities in Australia and globally, including:

*Australian Reclaiming Community

*Pagan Awareness Network

*WildWood Tradition of Witchcraft

*Queensland/Brisbane Youth Interfaith

*BlueRose Feri (Long-Distance Student)

I also highly recommend the following groups, individuals and organisations (I hold a great deal of respect for the following):

*The Temple of Witchcraft and Christopher Penczak

*Novices of the Old Ways (NYC) and Courtney Weber

*Teampall na Callaighe and Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone

*Covenant of the Goddess

*The Druid Network (UK)

*Earth Traditions and Angie Buchanan and Drake Spaeth

*Michael York

*The Temple of Ara and Phyllis Curott

*Earth Spirit and Andras Corban-Arthen

*Morningstar Mystery School and T. Thorn Coyle

*Reclaiming Collective of San Francisco

*Devin Hunter (Modern Witch Podcast)

*Chas Bogan and Storm Faerywolf (both Feri initiates and teachers)

*Jane Meredith

I frequently travel to teach and run workshops and have done so in Australia, UK, Ireland and the USA. I am available for consultations, readings and workshops. If you would like me to present at an event or gathering please contact me at spirited_services@hotmail.com

May you be blessed~

My Path

I am a Pagan Witch of the shamanic persuasion. My influences are of course my ancestral Celtic and Balinese traditions/cultures, Feri (and Faerie Traditions), Traditional (British-Celtic) Witchcraft, Stregheria, Mediterranean and Aegean Mystery Schools and Teachings (especially the Orphic, Hekatian and Eleusinian), various shamanisms and some aspects of Wicca. I am also a Priest to my Gods of Blood and Breath and to the Old Ones and God and Goddess of the WildWood. My Gods of Blood are those who come to me through my ancestry and my Gods of Breath (Spirit) are with me for reasons not so apparent (the majority are of Aegean/Mediterranean mythos). They are both vital to who I am and I honour them all accordingly. The Gods to whom I am formally consecrated as priest and lover are the Blue God, Hermes, Hekate, Persephone, Aphrodite and the Sacred Four of the WildWood.

I am a ‘hard polytheist’ in that I perceive and experience the deities as independent beings of their own agenda and autonomy; however I am also a pantheist and animist by virtue of being alive. I do not believe that any of these ‘theologies’ (if you can call them that) refutes the others; they are all complementary and deepen my awareness of Truth in its manifold nature.See Witchcraft for more information on my thoughts and experiences with this spiritual tradition.

And Other Things…

I was a musical performer involved with a Balinese Gamelan (traditional orchestra) for many years along with my family. Gamelan Giri Jaya (http://gamelangirijaya.com/) is “Australia’s longest established performing gamelan”. Unfortunately the Gamelan Giri Jaya has recently dissolved after 20+ years of playing Balinese music and exhibiting the island’s culture in Australia.

I grew up travelling around QLD to various folk festivals and multicultural events to perform Balinese music. I have attended the Woodford Folk Festival (http://www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/) regularly since 1996.

When I lived in Towoomba I was involved in Fringe Youth Dance Theatre (http://www.myspace.com/fringeyouthdancetheatre). The artistic director of this amazing adventure into contemporary dance-styles is Kirsty Lee. Fringe does incredible work and showcases the talent of Toowoomba’s youth.

And a Couple of Other Things

The Earth our Mother, Eco/Feminism, Pagan Pride, GBLTIQ Pride, Veganism/Vegetarianism/Ecotarianism, Natural Medicine/Healing, Yoga, Meditation, Good Wine (Pinot Grigio/White; Merlot/Red), the Fey, Magick, Indigenous Rights, Dance, Beautiful Places/People/Animals/Plants/Other Beings…

What Others Say About Gede and his Work…

“For one so young, Gede is an extraordinary individual. He is highly intelligent and experienced in the ways of the Craft, a wonderful writer and teacher and also a most personable and fun person. Gede was guest guide on my 2010 sacred sites tours of the UK’s West Country and Ireland and did a fantastic job looking after the tour participants on their spiritual journey.”

- Christine Casey, Dragon’s Eye Tours (http://www.dragonseyetours.com/)

“There are some people who have that really strong connection to the Divine, a little like their reception is more powerful, more flowing, more vital. Gede Parma is one of those people. And they’re quite rare. But what makes Gede’s ability to truly be in there, with the Divine in every moment, even more unique is that he can radiate this divinity out. He’s generous. He’s plugged in, he receives, and he just emanates that joyous soulful energy, deep and real and just a little intoxicating. Which is why I’m especially glad he shares his work in books and workshops and ritual and…Well, his every breath. He’s the fruit of the vine. And his work is nectar for the spirit.”

- Lucy Cavendish, Witch & Writer (www.lucycavendish.com)

A Selection of Bio’s

Gede Parma Akheron is a Wild Witch, Pagan Mystic, initiated Priest and award-winning author. He is an initiate and teacher of the WildWood Tradition of Witchcraft; a hereditary healer and seer with Balinese-Celtic ancestry. He is the lover of and married with nine gorgeous and ever-deep Potencies – Persephone, Aphrodite, Hekate, Hermes, the Blue God, the Weaver, the Green Man, the Crescent-Crowned Goddess and the Horned-Cloaked God. He is an Anderson Feri student and also studies in the Anderean Current of Old Craft. He is a vessel, a diviner, a spell-caster and spirit-worker who adores the Mysterious Craft. Gede has devoted his life to communities striving for ‘excellence and elegance’, and that in Love, Truth and Wisdom commit to walking through the Gates of Paradise and opening to Beauty. He likes to laugh, play, cry, eat, dance, sing, wyrd-out, pray and make ceremony with other Cunning Folk and Bright Spirits and is earnest in his love of ‘dreaming big’ and daring to enact those dreams for our Holy-Whole Cosmos. Gede is a poet and priestess of the Black, Wild Heart and endlessly hopes to help others realise the Divine. Gede has an Erotic Relationship with God and would love to see more of this in the World.

Contact

If you would like to have Gede speak or present at your event or gathering you can reach him through spirited_services@hotmail.com (for a list of Gede’s workshops and their descriptions, click on ‘Workshops’)