Marion Weinstein: May 19, 1939 to Wednesday, July 1, 2009: The passing of a beloved Witch and Pagan

September 7, 8:11 PMPagan Travel ExaminerPaula Jean West

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The Pagan world is saddened today by the news of the passing of Marion Weinstein, beloved witch, teacher, author and priestess.  Marion Weinstein was born on May 19, 1939 and passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2009.  Marion was last known to be living in Atlantic Beach, New York.  Donna Henes, Mama Donna, of Brooklyn, NY is holding a memorial service for Marion Weinstein at the New York City Pagan Pride Festival.  The New York City Pagan Pride Festival will be held Saturday, September 26th from 11 am-5pm at Battery Park in New York City.  For more information on the memorial services, you can contact Donna Henes at 718-857-1343 or email her at cityshaman@aol.com.

Marion Weinstein's book, Positive Magic: Occult Self-Help, irrevocably changed my world in 1978 when it was first published.  I had started to realize I was different than most of my neighbors in my small town in Pennsylvania.  Marion's publication gave me a self-help book that described my differentness and gave it a name.  Not a name that gave me a lot of peace of mind at the time, I remember, but a name and an identity.  I was-(gulp)-a witch. 

I remember vividly the day I brought her book home.  The word that had been catching my eye on the bookshelves at B. Dalton in those days was "self-help."  (We didn't have a Barnes & Noble in my home town.  We still don't.)   I had both of Dr. Wayne Dyer's books that were out at the time and I was hooked.  The day I picked up her book for the first time was, so I thought, just another in a series of positive self-help books that were aiding me to grow out of my teen angst into adulthood.  I remember sitting there mesmerized by the first two or three chapters of her book.  I couldn't put it down.  "This is me! This is what I believe!"  I kept exclaiming to myself.  "What do they call it again?"  I flipped to the front of the book again and froze at the site of the word "WITCH."  I know I had to have read the word at least twice while I read through those first chapters, but it just didn't sink in until I realized that this was exactly what I was.  The descriptive pages described me...perfectly.

My world was NEVER the same again. Marion's book changed me in ways I still don't completely fathom.  I took to being a witch and later a Wiccan like my Labra-beagle, Keri-dwen, did to water.  Nothing would ever be the same.  I cannot tell you how grateful I am to Marion for that earth-shaking moment when I realized I was a witch.  Later, I found there were a few of us in my family tree, but at that moment,  I felt as rare and unique (and out of place) as a white raven in a room full of black crows.  My life was changed for the better.  Magick entered my life and I was totally transformed.  And thanks to Marion and so many others, it just keeps geting better every day.  But Marion was the first to whisper to me who I was and what I was to become.  And so I whisper back to her, I love you Marion Weinstein, I never met you face to face, but you totally changed my life.  I hope to meet you on the other side someday. 

In Marion's own words from the first page of her revised edition of her wonderful book, Earth Religions: "This is what I believe: Our lives extend in long limitless paths, behind birth and after death, not to mention in other realms and dimensions.  The lifetime in which we are now living is a choice.  We have chosen to live our life at this particular time, and this particular time is a turning point on our planet Earth; it is a time of immense change."

For more information about Marion Weinstein:

• http://www.marionweinstein.com/   Marion's website
• http://www.marionweinstein.com/mwnyw/    Marion Weinstein, New York Witch
• http://www.marionweinstein.com/mwnyw/interview.htm  An interview with Marion Weinstein by Imajicka, editor, The Wiccan/Pagan Times
• http://www.marionweinstein.com/mwnyw/why.htm  Why I Wrote Positive Magic .....by Marion Weinstein
• http://www.marionweinstein.com/mwnyw/more.htm A biography of Marion Weinstein from The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft 

       The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft second Edition.
       Copyright ©1999 by Rosemary Ellen Guiley.
       Published by: Checkmark Books, 11 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001. 

   A List of Books written by Marion Weinstein

	Words Of Power: Transform Your Life, The Art of Manifestation$13.95 There is no book like this any where else! Compose your own clear, easy-to-understand word formulas for spiritual growth and success of every kind.
	Magic For Peace: A Nonsectarian Guide to Working Magic For Peace and Safety$11.00 A new and revised edition of the path to peace and safety through spiritual techniques -- on both the individual and global level.
	Earth Magic: A Guide for Positive Witches $13.99 A modern Witch's Book of Shadows that tells (almost) all the secret techniques: an inspiration and a guide.
	Positive Magic: Ancient Metaphysical Techniques for Modern Lives $14.99 The up-to-date revised edition of the one and only classic for our times: everything you need to know in order to practice magic safely and effectively.
	Marion Weinstein's Handy Guide to The I Ching $8.95 This ancient Chinese oracle is now more accessible than ever before -- for today's decision-making and problem solving. Amazingly easy instructions.
	Marion Weinstein's Handy Guide to Tarot Cards $8.95 You can read your own cards! You can use the cards to change your future: A new yet ancient approach.
	The Ancient/Modern Witch: The Halloween Lecture $6.95 This work is based on a landmark lecture given by the author on Halloween 1990 relating aspects of the earliest spiritual wisdom as they apply to current needs.