The religion in "The Mists of Avalon" books and movie?

[Lithium]

Maybe this thread won't be taken serious by most of the people here, but I want to ask you a question... what is the pagan religion described in "The Mists of Avalon" ?

[Beorn]

I remember this book being on my Grandparents bookshelf. I never knew it had become a film as well.

[lei.talk]

The Spirituality of Avalon is a spiritual concept postulated in the novel The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and other novels of the so-called Avalon series. Albeit a product of fantasy fiction, this spiritual path draws on modern paganism, such as Wicca, druidry and what is generally known as Goddess worship or Goddess spirituality/religion, and is set in a fictitious British past.

The spirituality is discussed in J.S. Morgane's The Spirituality of Avalon. The book gives a detailed view of the religious aspects of the Avalon series and analyses "the religion of the Great Mother as portrayed in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Avalon books. By looking at the literary and archaeological background of the ancient, Neolithic, Celtic, Roman and Arthurian traditions the novels are set in, a close reading of the texts gives the reader the possibility to engage with the concept of the Goddess within the religion created in the Avalon cycle."

[Aemma]

In addition to lei.talk's offering, Diana Paxson, who was apparently very good friends with the author of the Mists of Avalon, has taken over the franchise and has authored the most recent book, from what I gather. Heathens will readily recognise Diana L. Paxson's name:

Diana L. Paxson (born 1943) is an author, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has also published books about Pagan and Heathen religions and practices.

In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death. Paxson's other books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.

Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor[2].

A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.

She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.

More here.

[sean]

Wicca probably.

What is now widely practiced in modern wicca is actually a mixture of ceremonial magick with European folk religion and old, traditional witchcraft. Circle casting, invoking the elements, using athames, wands, swords, a specific attire, etc. are all ceremonial magick imports. Of course one can also make the case that ceremonial magick is actually derived from very ancient witchcraft and adapted to serve as a "high" form of worship in temples and for royalty which would naturally evolve to have more embellishment and pretentiousness. Cernunnos, the ancient Celtic horned deity that symbolises the masculine power of nature is considered the original concept of the wiccan Horned God for instance.