Today is Scott’s Birthday

My friend, the late Scott Cunningham, was born today, June 27, in 1956. He would have been 56 years old today. Instead, he passed on my birthday, March 28, in 1993. He was just 36 when the Goddess called him to the Summerlands, and that was far too soon.

Before Scott, Wicca was primarily passed on within the coven structure. In order to become a Wiccan you had to find a coven and study with them. If you couldn’t find a coven, or there was no coven near you, well, you were just out of luck. Scott’s book, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, gave instructions on how any individual could come to love the Goddess and become a Wiccan.

In the years that followed, Solitary Wicca became the primary way most people entered the Craft. Scott didn’t denigrate the coven structure, he simply gave an alternate approach to Wicca and made it available to all. Perhaps more than anything, this individual approach has resulted in the massive growth of Wicca around the world. It’s rare that the actions of one person change the world, and even more rare that such changes can be seen. Scott Cunningham was such a person.

Scott and I shared a small, two-bedroom apartment for six years. At that time, if I were in a bookstore and saw a book I thought he would like, I’d tell him about it so he could consider getting it. Today, almost 20 years after his passing (has it really been that long?), if I see a book that would fit his interests, I still think, “Scott would like this. I’ll have to tell him about it.”

Then, I remember—he’s gone.

I dearly miss my friend.

Recently, I put down some of my insights about Scott in a small eBook, The Magical Life of Scott Cunningham. In it I reveal what I believe were his three primary drives—the Goddess and Wicca, herbology, and Hawaii—and how they manifested in his writing. I also share his philosophy, his magical methods, and many personal stories that haven’t previously appeared in print.

Just released, by now this exclusive eBook is already available at the Kindle Store (LINK), Kobo (LINK), Sony (LINK), and iTunes (through the iTunes store) for just $1.99. I think you’ll learn more about my friend Scott in The Magical Life of Scott Cunningham than anywhere else.

If you respect and honor Scott, I hope you’ll consider lighting a candle in remembrance of him today.