What do you think?
Rate this book
Hellebore Zine #2
Hellebore #2: The Wild Gods Issue
The notion of paganism as a wild and primitive force has exerted a huge influence on folk horror. In fiction, pagan rituals are often seen as primitive and barbarous, but also as an antidote to repression and conventionalism. What have these Wild Gods represented, and what do they represent now? How did these ideas find their way into modern Britain? From the cult of Pan in Edwardian England to 1970s Satanists, from Bacchanals in Buckinghamshire to the echo of voodoo drums in Cornwall, from ritual madness to sex magick. Amidst the idyllic English countryside, the Wild Gods awaken to threaten everything that is respectable.
Featuring words by Alan Moore, Katy Soar, Melissa Edmundson, Ruth Heholt, John Reppion, Anna Milon, and K. A. Laity. Artwork by Occult Party, Joe Gough, and Richard Wells.
Featuring words by Alan Moore, Katy Soar, Melissa Edmundson, Ruth Heholt, John Reppion, Anna Milon, and K. A. Laity. Artwork by Occult Party, Joe Gough, and Richard Wells.
86 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2020
10 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 28, 2020
Really enjoyed this issue—even more so, perhaps, than the first. The ‘Wild Hunt’ and ‘Voodoo Drums in Cornwall’ articles were particularly good, and I loved the interview with Alan Moore. A couple of features left me baffled, and I really wish ‘The Pagan in my Blood’—an examination of feminists claiming the god Pan for their own—had been longer because it was so interesting, but overall, I really love this weird little magazine. Looking forward to reading the ‘Malefice’ issue!
December 12, 2020
This collection of articles was fascinating, I particularly loved the various authors’ perspectives on the god Pan. Many of the articles left me wanting to dive deeper. The wild hunt chapter was very interesting as well, however I would have liked to have seen better source materials used. I look forward to reading the Malefice and Yuletide issue!
March 26, 2024
another great issue. Very informative on a variety of topics!
April 25, 2024
my partner bought these at the art gallery gift shop and it seems cool cos i dont know anything about magic or anything and i would like to. when university is over i’ll turn into a witch i think. anyway, good content, sparked my curiosity for a lot of different books, films and places to visit, loved the design of it too!!
October 10, 2020
Another fascinating collection of articles. Looking forward to no. 3.
July 11, 2023
Hellebore is, basically, a series of "Folk Horror" magazines, each issue focussing on a central theme. The 2nd issue is a fascinating collection of short articles / essays with the theme of Britain's Wild Gods and the traditions and stories surrounding them. I bought this in a bundle of issues 1-3 but couldn't really get invested in the "Sacrifice" 1st issue. This is a lot more accessible, with topics such as the God Pan, the Wild Hunt, Faeries and similar, mostly written by academics from various anthropological and archaeological backgrounds and with a more or less consistent interest in "Paganism" in its various forms. Oh, yes and (of course) Alan Moore pops up. The format is a luxurious, glossy, heavy stock A5 set in Edwardian typeface and with mostly photographic two-colour illustrations, including a report on 18th and 19th century English Pagan Follies.
August 2, 2023
words cannot express how amazing these zines are
August 28, 2023
Wonderful stuff
August 6, 2023
Disappointing. Aesthetically a big improvement on Issue 1, three colours instead of two, and avoiding the legibility problems. But the text is not terribly good - never bad - but somewhat formulaic. There's more than a whiff of "academics that can't write" with obvious excisions, or poor structure, maybe both.
For instance there's a quite good essay on Hammer zombie films set in Cornwall. The introduction specifically mentions two films released in quick succession... but one of them is barely covered, getting a single paragraph summary. So maybe it's not that good a film. In which case rewrite the introduction and then the reader isn't left wondering "...so when do we get more details about The Reptile..?" The same article, seemingly ironically, defines Cornwall as being unlike London, but never quite explains how. I had the impression that it was some bits from a longer piece of writing mashed together, and not all that well.
Way too much Pan, not enough genius loci.
For instance there's a quite good essay on Hammer zombie films set in Cornwall. The introduction specifically mentions two films released in quick succession... but one of them is barely covered, getting a single paragraph summary. So maybe it's not that good a film. In which case rewrite the introduction and then the reader isn't left wondering "...so when do we get more details about The Reptile..?" The same article, seemingly ironically, defines Cornwall as being unlike London, but never quite explains how. I had the impression that it was some bits from a longer piece of writing mashed together, and not all that well.
Way too much Pan, not enough genius loci.
May 29, 2022
This one is a very mixed bag - the essays on the zombie as colonial other in Cornwall, the Sorcerer cave painting and the interview with Alan Moore were all interesting, but the opening article on Pan is dull and overlong.
November 28, 2023
Another superb issue of Hellebore, a zine about folk horror and the occult.
I suspect I'll be reviewing quite a lot of these over the coming weeks as I work my way through the pile I bought (yep mostly based on the covers and premises). This issue didn't disappoint, with a focus on 'Wild Gods'.
Aesthetically, it's beautiful with blacks, reds and greens contrasting on every page. It's reminiscent of some kind of occult-doom trippy album cover on every page whilst still remaining accessible (and readable!)
There were a number of pieces I absolutely loved in this one, but one theme I was struck by was the notion that old gods do not die, they are simply reinvented and repurposed in later generations, a continual cycle of adaptation and renewal.
'The Great Pan in Albion' discusses the Greek god Pan, and how his image, purpose and meaning has been revitalised in the British isles from the 18th century onwards, typically in different ways from the Bacchanal desires of nobles in the 18th Century Hell-Fire club to more pastoral and folkloric interpretations, before we hit the 20th Century and Wicca, paganism and other new spiritual movements adopted aspects of Pan for their own. What was interesting was how Pan has been adapted by his adherents. Does he encompass 'all'? Is he a shepherd? A guider? Or is he a wild beast of uncontrollable lusts - a god of sex, booze and freeing from inhibitions. Or does he represent the untamed aspect of nature itself? A fascinating piece and a trip through history.
'The Pagan In My Blood' by Melissa Edmundson is a brilliant piece which traces women writing in fiction reclaiming Pan as their own. No longer are women subject to the whims of Pan (here representing patriarchy), instead there is an exploration of Pan and paganism in women's writing from the late 19th century onwards and how he is used as a symbol of women's sexuality, desires and femininity. Pan the liberator from society's mores?
'The Wild Hunt' by John Reppion is the standout piece in the zine for me, charting the history and literary / cultural depictions of 'the wild hunt', interspersed with folkloric legends and perspectives. I guess most people will be familiar with the notion of the 'Wild Hunt' in the context of Norse gods, but what is evident in this piece is that versions of the 'wild hunt' exist in many cultures, and that aside from gods, that witches, the fey, anything folkloric even has a role or foot in the legends and perspectives. It's interesting to read about how it has been considered a threat or a danger, but how neo-pagans have embraced it.
'The Sorcerer in the Cave' by Anna Milon is something I think needs more exploration. There is a suggestion that the legends, and subsequent Wicca / pagan faiths related to 'The Horned God' are largely related to some cave drawings found in France in 1914. Said drawings were sketched, and not photographed until the 1950's and are not available to be viewed today. I'm not sure if all of the position that 'there was an ancient witchcraft cult in Europe' stems solely from interpretations based on these sketches, but then again I am not particularly knowledgeable here. What is of note, is how entire legends and stories can spin off, never to meet again, sometimes based off very little.
Looking forward to reading the rest of these zines
I suspect I'll be reviewing quite a lot of these over the coming weeks as I work my way through the pile I bought (yep mostly based on the covers and premises). This issue didn't disappoint, with a focus on 'Wild Gods'.
Aesthetically, it's beautiful with blacks, reds and greens contrasting on every page. It's reminiscent of some kind of occult-doom trippy album cover on every page whilst still remaining accessible (and readable!)
There were a number of pieces I absolutely loved in this one, but one theme I was struck by was the notion that old gods do not die, they are simply reinvented and repurposed in later generations, a continual cycle of adaptation and renewal.
'The Great Pan in Albion' discusses the Greek god Pan, and how his image, purpose and meaning has been revitalised in the British isles from the 18th century onwards, typically in different ways from the Bacchanal desires of nobles in the 18th Century Hell-Fire club to more pastoral and folkloric interpretations, before we hit the 20th Century and Wicca, paganism and other new spiritual movements adopted aspects of Pan for their own. What was interesting was how Pan has been adapted by his adherents. Does he encompass 'all'? Is he a shepherd? A guider? Or is he a wild beast of uncontrollable lusts - a god of sex, booze and freeing from inhibitions. Or does he represent the untamed aspect of nature itself? A fascinating piece and a trip through history.
'The Pagan In My Blood' by Melissa Edmundson is a brilliant piece which traces women writing in fiction reclaiming Pan as their own. No longer are women subject to the whims of Pan (here representing patriarchy), instead there is an exploration of Pan and paganism in women's writing from the late 19th century onwards and how he is used as a symbol of women's sexuality, desires and femininity. Pan the liberator from society's mores?
'The Wild Hunt' by John Reppion is the standout piece in the zine for me, charting the history and literary / cultural depictions of 'the wild hunt', interspersed with folkloric legends and perspectives. I guess most people will be familiar with the notion of the 'Wild Hunt' in the context of Norse gods, but what is evident in this piece is that versions of the 'wild hunt' exist in many cultures, and that aside from gods, that witches, the fey, anything folkloric even has a role or foot in the legends and perspectives. It's interesting to read about how it has been considered a threat or a danger, but how neo-pagans have embraced it.
'The Sorcerer in the Cave' by Anna Milon is something I think needs more exploration. There is a suggestion that the legends, and subsequent Wicca / pagan faiths related to 'The Horned God' are largely related to some cave drawings found in France in 1914. Said drawings were sketched, and not photographed until the 1950's and are not available to be viewed today. I'm not sure if all of the position that 'there was an ancient witchcraft cult in Europe' stems solely from interpretations based on these sketches, but then again I am not particularly knowledgeable here. What is of note, is how entire legends and stories can spin off, never to meet again, sometimes based off very little.
Looking forward to reading the rest of these zines
November 23, 2024
[Hellebore] (01/05/2020). Issue Number 2. SB. 86 Pages. Purchased from Hellebore.
“…a collection of writings and essays devoted to folk horror and the themes that inspire it…”
I’d echo my remarks, concerning Issue Number 1, in relation to legibility. “Sources”/“Further Reading” entries are rendered in a dreadful, faint, pink font. A similar colour’s liberally applied to numerous photographs - it’s as though they’ve been ruined by a clumsy, crayon-wielding child.
Arthur Machen’s hardly mentioned in relation to Pan, which I find rather strange.
Similarly, the failure to depict "The Sorcerer" (Trois-Frères Cave) in an article devoted to the subject, escapes my understanding.
The Alan Moore interview is excellent.
I have no interest in zombies or fairies, so this edition - of a generally fine magazine - somewhat missed the target for me.
“…a collection of writings and essays devoted to folk horror and the themes that inspire it…”
I’d echo my remarks, concerning Issue Number 1, in relation to legibility. “Sources”/“Further Reading” entries are rendered in a dreadful, faint, pink font. A similar colour’s liberally applied to numerous photographs - it’s as though they’ve been ruined by a clumsy, crayon-wielding child.
Arthur Machen’s hardly mentioned in relation to Pan, which I find rather strange.
Similarly, the failure to depict "The Sorcerer" (Trois-Frères Cave) in an article devoted to the subject, escapes my understanding.
The Alan Moore interview is excellent.
I have no interest in zombies or fairies, so this edition - of a generally fine magazine - somewhat missed the target for me.
August 8, 2022
Fantastic little zine with appealing visuals created by Nathaniel Winter-Hébert. This volume is called The Wild Gods issue and focuses on multiple different pagan and witchcraft oriented tales, most of which talk about sexuality, such as the section: The Pagan In My Blood which high lights Pan featuring in literary work created by women and the liberation behind it. Each issue has a new and different theme, written in their own words “HELLEBORE is a collection of writings and essays devoted to folk horror and the themes that inspire it: folklore, myth, history, archaeology, psychogeography, and the occult.” If any of these themes interest you, you’re sure to enjoy this artfully crafted collection of stories
May 10, 2023
Again another fantastic read from Hellebore magazine!
I'm studying a level 3 diploma in the history of ritual and magic with a potential aim to do a masters in History (or Art history) with a focus on the occult/folklore/feminine mysticism in a year or so.
So this is all part of my research leading up to applying for a masters.
Brilliant well researched essays on all the subjects I am currently researching.
This issue is mainly about the god Pan and the old wild gods of British feral landscapes.
I'm studying a level 3 diploma in the history of ritual and magic with a potential aim to do a masters in History (or Art history) with a focus on the occult/folklore/feminine mysticism in a year or so.
So this is all part of my research leading up to applying for a masters.
Brilliant well researched essays on all the subjects I am currently researching.
This issue is mainly about the god Pan and the old wild gods of British feral landscapes.
December 25, 2020
Another interesting array of articles! I really enjoyed the explorations of Pan’s depictions in particular and only wish the bite-sized snippets of information were more thorough as it gets super interesting to me. Nonetheless a succinct read that delves into some really intriguing folk horror topics.
February 11, 2021
Loving these zines!
Informative and certainly making me want to go out and read more of the work of those involved and in the subjects written about.
It’s whets the appetite for more mental exploration!
Informative and certainly making me want to go out and read more of the work of those involved and in the subjects written about.
It’s whets the appetite for more mental exploration!
October 10, 2020
Amazing magazine, superb interview with Alan Moore about the paper of the wild gods of Britain.
November 22, 2020
Excellent articles, well written and absorbing
October 10, 2021
Another great collection of articles.
November 18, 2021
You can read my full review here.
But know this: Issue 2 is another slam dunk.
But know this: Issue 2 is another slam dunk.
August 2, 2022
An Alan Moore interview on the wild gods of Britain? Inject it straight into my veins, please.
Fantastic.
Fantastic.
September 20, 2022
Generally improves on standard set by first issue. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/202...
January 15, 2023
Nice collection of articles. I especially enjoyed The Great Pan in Albion by Kathy Soar, The Wild Hunt by John Reppion, and the Alan Moore interview.
February 3, 2024
maybe joining a cult to pan is a good idea
April 8, 2025
I love how many times Arthur Machen was mentioned, like that’s my underrated horror KING
August 26, 2025
I'd happily go with the fairies
December 6, 2024
I have to say, in comparison to the first issue (which captivated me entirely), this one was a bit of a letdown.
Firstly, I can't tell if "Wild Gods" was actually the intended theme, and they simply overlooked the excessive emphasis on Pan, or if Pan was going to be the orignal theme, but there wasn't enough material to fill the issue entirely.
Either way, there was far too much Pan-related content. As a matter of fact, it wasn't even until page 50 of this 86 page issue that we finally got to read about another subject. Even the Alan Moore interview managed to steer itself toward discussing Pan.
Secondly, a great deal of the chapters seemed to be rather amateurishly written, despite the prestigious credentials of some of the authors. It felt like I was reading a series of college essays that were turned in at just the last moment after days of anxiety-wrought procrastination. The pieces often start strong, then meander off into technical information that insists upon itself, followed by a "who knows??" open-ended conclusion.
With that said, this issue is not without its merits. It was John Reppion's "Wild Hunt" in particular that saved the day. It was beautifully written, engaging, informative, and left me wanting more.
Here's to hoping the next issue is a vast improvement, because I spent a mint on the "All Them Witches" bundle (first 10 issues with some additional goodies) and the overseas shipping costs.
Firstly, I can't tell if "Wild Gods" was actually the intended theme, and they simply overlooked the excessive emphasis on Pan, or if Pan was going to be the orignal theme, but there wasn't enough material to fill the issue entirely.
Either way, there was far too much Pan-related content. As a matter of fact, it wasn't even until page 50 of this 86 page issue that we finally got to read about another subject. Even the Alan Moore interview managed to steer itself toward discussing Pan.
Secondly, a great deal of the chapters seemed to be rather amateurishly written, despite the prestigious credentials of some of the authors. It felt like I was reading a series of college essays that were turned in at just the last moment after days of anxiety-wrought procrastination. The pieces often start strong, then meander off into technical information that insists upon itself, followed by a "who knows??" open-ended conclusion.
With that said, this issue is not without its merits. It was John Reppion's "Wild Hunt" in particular that saved the day. It was beautifully written, engaging, informative, and left me wanting more.
Here's to hoping the next issue is a vast improvement, because I spent a mint on the "All Them Witches" bundle (first 10 issues with some additional goodies) and the overseas shipping costs.
September 8, 2025
Hellebore is an absolute treat; exploring witchcraft, the occult, landscape, the supernatural & folk horror, the articles are fantastically researched (I particularly geek out over the inclusion of cited sources) & written by celebrated authors & achedemics who are clearly hugely knowledgeable & enthusiastic about their fields of expertise.
In Issue No2: The Wild Gods Issue, I particularly enjoyed The Wild Hunt which discusses the historical sightings of spectral & phantasmal processions & The Fairy Raid, as well as The Sorcerer in the Cave which explores the antlerd figure that was discovered painted upon a cave wall in the French Pyrenees
Overall its an exceptionally produced zine, beautifully designed & incredibly engaging. I go back to articles weeks, months after I first read them & they're a really fantastic resource. Long may it continue!
In Issue No2: The Wild Gods Issue, I particularly enjoyed The Wild Hunt which discusses the historical sightings of spectral & phantasmal processions & The Fairy Raid, as well as The Sorcerer in the Cave which explores the antlerd figure that was discovered painted upon a cave wall in the French Pyrenees
Overall its an exceptionally produced zine, beautifully designed & incredibly engaging. I go back to articles weeks, months after I first read them & they're a really fantastic resource. Long may it continue!
September 5, 2023
The Wild God's issue covers paganism, the cult of Pan in Edwardian England, 1970s Satanism, sex magick, and more. While I was a bit familiar with the 1970s Satanism, everything else was brand new to me and was a great read. I can't recommend these magazines enough.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews