Meet the author is a series of articles intended to introduce you to our wonderful authors. Learn about the books they’ve written, the spiritual pathways they’ve traversed and some fun little tidbits… introducing Robin Herne!

What books have you written?

I have written several, including ‘Old Gods, New Druids’, ‘Bard Song’, ‘A Dangerous Place’, ‘Pantheon – the Egyptians’, and ‘The Magic of Wolves’. I have also contributed chapters to a variety of Moon Books anthologies including ‘Moon Poets’, ‘Paganism 101’, ‘Naming the Goddess’ and several others.

How would you describe your spiritual pathway?                             

As a polytheist, I keep open to the potential existence of all manner of deities and spirits. The ones I have most experience with are the Irish ones, which is why I mostly think of myself as a druid both because of engagement with the Tuatha and also the functions I perform within my local community. That said, I am greatly drawn to several of the Egyptian netjeru and many of the Greek pantheon too. When a deity pokes you with a pointy stick it is rude to ignore them, not to mention dangerous. They only fetch an even pointier stick.

What is something fun and quirky about yourself?

Not sure if it classes as fun, but I am obsessed with obscure words which I aim to litter into conversation purely to bemuse people. This week my favourite words are jumentous (stinking of horse urine – I don’t spend time with horses so have no real grasp of what that smells like, but it seems a delightfully offensive term to hurl at someone); meraki (a Greek word for the added magical quality of a product that has been made with love rather than just churned out); and confabulist (a person prone to “remembering” events that never actually happened, but which they are convinced must be real). I grew up watching Call My Bluff and it has scarred me for life.

Where can people find you?

At parties, either in the library or passed out under a table with a bottle of gin. On social media, I have a YouTube channel under the nom de guerre of Leyland Gaunt (one of Stephen King’s more sinister characters) and a blog, Round the Herne. I use them for meandering philosophy, storytelling, and forays into poetry.

What tips do you have for folk beginning their spiritual journey?

Keep your mind open and your legs shut. There is much to read (some of it is even good) but experience is worth more. Especially the type that comes in sitting silently in sacred places and listening. Society has become far too noisy.

Which deity or deities would you love to have dinner with?

Rather depends on whether I’m on the menu or not. Ogmios would keep the evening flowing with stories and poems aplenty. Pan would have some spectacularly bawdy songs and the meal would likely end by being dragged under the table before the port and Stilton were served.

What magical items would you take with you if you had to live on an island for a year?

A sickle is useful in so many ways, along with an excessively swishy hooded cloak – good for keeping off roasting sun, pouring rain, and snuggling under if it starts to snow. If it’s a British island, that could constitute a single day.

Robin Herne is a storyteller, poet, artist, dog-owner and Druid. He has written numerous articles for Pagan magazines (such as Pagan Dawn, Many Gods-Many Voices, & Dragonswood), Interfaith books (Pagan Pieces), and had poems included in the work of other authors (Galina Krasskovas’ ‘Full Fathom Five’). He has also contributed crime fiction to anthologies, appeared in television documentaries, and is a regular broadcaster with BBC Radio Suffolk. He regularly speaks at Interfaith seminars, Pagan conventions, and other events as both a lecturer and a storyteller. He currently lives in Suffolk, England and is a founder member of both the Druid group Clan Ogma and the Ipswich Pagan Council. He is also proud to be the first winner of the title Chief Bard of the Fens!

For more details: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/authors/robin-herne