This interview is from Issue 3 (Spring 2022). You can buy a copy of it at https://paganireland.com/buyissues
John-Paul Patton is a Poet (Filid), Musician and Writer. He has explored the Western Mystery Tradtion for over 30 years, with a particular focus on the Irish Magical Tradition and Thelema. John-Paul is the lead vocalist in Spiral Force and is in the process of setting up a new musical collaboration. He is the author of The Poet’s Ogam: A Living Magical Tradtion and has published two collections of poetry: Lightnening Bolts and Dew Drops and Skulls and Roses. He is also an educator and has taught English and Media Studies. He is also an Environmental Educator and an Ambassador and trainer for the Global Ecovilage Network (GEN).
PI: How did you first become involved in the Pagan scene?
JPP: I was lucky to be raised with science rather than religion as the basis for my world view. This carried with it a natural curiosity in relation to what is actually real and true in terms of religion and spirituality. My father brought me up to respect the natural world and helped to educate me about differing world views and religions. Around aged 13 my younger brother introduced me to the rather amazing occult and alternative spirituality section in Lisburn Library. There I read widely on books from Astrology, Kabbalah, Ghosts, Astral Projection to Zen. On reading a book on ‘Jewish Magic’, which referenced the cutting of a sacred hazel wand at a particular time etc., I felt very strongly drawn to the subject area and knew it was something I would do. I also respected what I was reading enough to know I wasn’t ready to cut a wand yet! I also found myself naturally drawn to Indigenous Native Amercian Spirituality and did my own home project on such. I was fascinated to learn of their Gods and rituals.
In my teens I became part of the absolutely fabulous Belfast Anarchist Punk scene and grew quite anti-religion and learnt more about the horrors of Christianity e.g. the misogny, homophobia and its catalogue of historical crimes against humanity from the slaughter of the Inca to the burning of heretics and witches. However, I also became very interested in ‘Green Anarchism’ which had an intersection with Paganism and formed an early introduction to the concept of nature spirits and other things like ley lines. I first read about Shamanism from these sources and found it very intriging, I was around 18 at this point.
My interest in Alternative Spirituality continued to blossom and I began to experiment with some practices, such as honouring the seasons and around this time had my first ‘mystical experience.’ In my childhood I did have some very positive religious experience via the Boys Brigade where I was taught and privately practiced what might be considered all the good things about Christianity e.g. I made a point of honouring my parents, as was taught and doing a good deed every day. I soon became very aware that doing such made me feel very happy. I also at this point learned to pray for the first time. Again, like with the wand, I treated such with a natural reverence. I only ever prayed for something i felt was very important as i found to my surprise at the time, that my prayers were answered. At this point again in my late teens I felt a connection to ‘God’ or the Universe through Univeral Love.
The Golden Dawn bookshop in Manchester (near where was living at time) became my go to place for learning and I read Marian Green’s ‘Natural Magic’ and all her work and even got to correspond with her. I felt a very deep chord with her teachings. Around this time myself and friends set up a ‘Metaphysical Research Group’ and we invited speakers along on a diverse range of topics from UFOs to dowsing. One speaker who came later became my personal teacher and initiator into the Western Mystery Tradition.
One of the first things he taught me was to look into the Irish Magical Tradtion and I moved back home to Ireland aged 20 to do just such. I spent long hours in Linehall Libary reading such gems as the Annals of the Four Masters and around this time began to study the Ogam and notes made at this time were the seeds of my book on the subject which spent 17 years writing. During this time I found ‘An Fainne’ which was an Irish Pagan online community and made some life long friends via it. Also I was invited to speak at ‘Gilford Pagan Moot’ and made friends there and so on and so forth.
PI: You’ve been a singer in Rock music for quite some time, can you tell me about that?
JPP: I first did vocals in False Morality, a Lisburn based punk band with some close friends when I was sweet 17. It was an incredible experience, especially playing our first gig at Fleskwater Anarchist Punk Festival. Amazing. We also got to play in support of some of the great bands of that time such as Carcass and Electro-Hippies, as well as the local greats like FUAL etc. This also was how I began to write poetry. Poetry has enriched my life beyond words. My new musical project is called Clann Ceol (just in formation) and we are currently writing a concept album to celebrate the indigenous Gods and Goddesses of Ireland.
PI: You’ve written several books and gained a reputation as an authority of Ogham, how did you become interested in that?
JPP: My magical Teacher set me the task of studying Ogam, to his credit. I had never even heard of it before and back in 1990 not many had really. Edred Thorsson’s Book of Ogham was one of the few New Age/Pagan books on the topic. I literally read everything on the subject I could find. Queen’s University Special Collections Library became my new home (was also studying for my degree in English Literature at the time).
PI: You’ve been campaigning for the environment and involved in trying to create eco-communities for many years.
What are you currently working on in that area?
JPP: Yes, I have always held a deep love and respect for the natural world. The pioneering Anarchist Punk scene also educated me about the disasterous impact capitalism was having on the natural world. I have been an activist, educator and campaigner in such areas all my life. Currently I am working for the Global Ecovillage Network to set up a Cluster Model approach to ecovillage development in Ireland via building communities of people in a bioregion who share our values. In the currerent crisis I think such is the best way we can build a resiliant future and a new world within the dying sickness of the old, the psychopathic world of neoliberal capitalism is in its final chapter. We can do better and we will. I am an optimist by nature and by choice. *Spoiler alert* Love always wins in the end. It’s as hard as this and as easy as this: we need to learn to actively love ourselves, each other and the natural world. All of us, together. There is no ‘them’ there is only ‘us.’
We have set up a new regional network of GEN GENWISE (Wales/Ireland/Scotland/England). We all need to own and play our part in the solutions. Change is happening and evolution is moving faster than we can even begin to cpmprehend. Even if it seems too slow!
PI: How important is poetry to you both personally and in terms of your spirituality?
JPP: The irish word for poet, Fili/Filid means ‘seer.’ Writing poetry became for me a mystical practice. A form of applied psychology via personal reflection and really facing myself time and again in the mirror and it also became a means of spiritual interface, of inner seeing.
PI: You’re one of few people that is well know in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. How different is it in the two communities, if at all?
JPP: Ha, I am very passionate about a United Ireland or a New Ireland. Our indigenous spiritual tradtions teach of the 5-fold division of Ireland. Battle in the North, Prosperity in the East, Harmony in the South, Knowledge in the West and Sovereignty in the Centre. We Ulster folk are warriors by nature ha ha. I am happy to now be living in the West :) but I view myself as an Irishman and the island and its community is one. Paganism in Ireland has always had a whole island approach and rightly so.
PI: You also have an interest in martial arts, does the interact with your Paganism in any way?
JPP: See Ulsterman reference ha ha. Yeah, I began to study and practice martial arts at 15 and it has stayed with me. I was introduced to Zen Buddhism & Taosim via it and these paths still inform and inspire my own. I have also designed an Irish martial art, based on applying my learning to our indigenous culture but getting time to focus on it among other projects has not been possible, yet. It is on my ‘to do’ list ha ha.
PI: What is one particular message you’d like to convey to readers?
JPP: It might sound a bit trite but I say it with sincerity: we all need a bit more kindness in the world. Kindness to ourselves and each other. Similar I think as a species we are still just learning how to Love. Love of the divine essence of the universe, the God/dess within and without. Love for each other as brothers and sisters in one big human family. Respect for difference whether via gender, sexuality, race or religion. All the simple stuff we all know. I have little to add only lets help remind each other of what’s important and fuck the small stuff. Especially in the current world where social media thrives on hits via making people angry, dividing people and getting them to argue with each other. Let’s focus on what we have in common. Let’s respect diversity in all ways. The only thing which should not be tolerated is intolerance. Here endeth the sermon :) Stoirm d’Athrach!
Oh and feel free to get involved with GENWISE via setting up an Eco Community in your local area. Feel free to connect with Clann Ceol and become part of our musical Clann as we Sing in a New Ireland and a New World Together. We all Rise Together. We can all make our dreams come true and to you I say I love you, unconditionally. Onwards!
