Spirit Northwest

Hans Dieter Betz, editor of the Greek Magical Papyri in Translation (PGM), proposes that “In its Hellenistic transformation, the Egyptian religion of the pre-Hellenistic era appears to have been reduced and simplified, no doubt to facilitate its assimilation into Hellenistic religion as the predominant cultural reference". I argue that in the contemporary Pagan paradigm, revival and reconstruction continues this process. In 1999, I was an experienced Wiccan ritualist and magic worker, but the Greek Magical Papyri in Translation opened my eyes to a faraway time, culture, and magical worldview. I was eager to try a PGM ritual for myself, and with the overconfidence of youth, I performed the copper cup divination rite from PDM XIV: 395-427 in public. Focusing on this case study, I will demonstrate that the rite was "reduced and simplified" in an attempt to "facilitate its assimilation" into the Neopagan framework of the early 21st century CE.