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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.
The last photo taken of Grant Pontius
used in a South Bend Tribune article on the History of Valentine's Day
February, 2004
Photo by Quill
All too rarely, a soul appears to shed a brilliant light on the community in which he lives. Frater S.P.R.V. (Grant Pontius) was one of these beautiful individuals. His exceptional knowledge and willingness made it possible for him to help others progress on their spiritual journey. He had a knack at doing what so many other fail to do - listen to others and work with them to make this world a better place.
I was proud to consider him my best friend. He opened many doors for me on levels intellectual, spiritual and emotional, and made it possible for me to fulfill the potential of my own life - being a writer. He was one of those creative souls who, often times, don’t seem to “fit” into society, but he made his mark by sharing his wisdom and kindness. We may have had differing viewpoints on some topics, and dealt with our share of arguments, but we saw the end result as being the same.
The Frater as he was commonly known, had many interests. He loved to read, and owned thousands of books. He was a writer of fiction, in addition to his more factual research efforts. He was a musician, loved music from Bach to Robb Zombie, was a passionate comic collector (we were planning to see the movie Hellboy based on that comic when it was released in April) and wanted to pursue more ghost hunting, especially in area graveyards. He could talk about any subject under the sun, and .
Grant enjoyed the darker aspects of life. There were times when I glimpsed the real nature of his so-called darker impulses, and they intrigued me. He honored the Goddess Hekate, fully ready to explore the underworld with her guidance. He also held the God Cernunnos in high esteem, again reveling in the mysteries of the darkness.
Pagans from all over respected Grant. He was one of the founders of the Michiana Pagan Alliance, and grieved when that organization ceased to exist. As editor-in-chief for Goat and Candle, he made information available to spiritual seekers from his wealth of experience on ethereal planes. He advocated the separation of church and state, the preservation of individual civil rights, and the need for people to keep informed on many issues of the day. He made it his goal to educate the public about the truth surrounding Pagan traditions, and worked for genuine interfaith dialogue, where all faiths were seen as equal.
With all honesty, I can say Grant Pontius was the best thing to ever happen to me. The light he was meant to shine on the world was dimmed too early. He will be sorely missed - not just by myself, but by the many whose lives he touched in a deeply meaningful way.
Because Goat and Candle started publication under the direct auspices of Frater S.P.R.V., based on notes and ideas he had been mulling over for years, it will be nigh on impossible for me to continue producing each issue. It would also cause me a great deal of pain in the depths of my soul, knowing he was no longer here to provide his wise advice. For this reason, the April issue will be the final on-line issue of Goat and Candle, though the archives will remain active for an indefinite period.
Also, for similar reasons, the last Pagan Night Out sponsored by Goat and Candle took place on Wednesday, March 24 at the Oaken Bucket - one of Grant's favorite places. It was one fitting tribute, with the other being an Ostara memorial gathering at Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park. A tree decorated with ribbons symbolizing the memories of those who attended this gathering was planted at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship hall in Elkhart.
May Grant find in the other realms the peace he seeks, and may his next incarnation give him ample opportunity to fulfill his phenomenal potential... And, hopefully, though I may be old and grey, our paths will cross again.
So Mote It Be!
- With love and everlasting affection,
Quill