Activ8 presents an interview with Aghamang Bughaw founder of the Shrine of Luntiang Aghama in his native Philippines where he works to expand opportunities for people to learn about and explore paganism and their native culture.
Q: How long have you been practicing and what drew you toward an alternative spiritual and religious viewpoint?
I first started as solitary practitioner at the age of 13, way back 1992. It was 15 years ago. I am really fascinated with magick and occultism, even though my family on both sides are devoted Catholics.
I started to keep amulets and talismans without their knowledge and talking with garden spirits and even envisioning them in my dreams.
A school friend shared me the gospel of Christ and I was enticed to join her. In that Church, I was so overwhelmed because of the strange feeling of being filled with the spirit but I thought that it was only in my imagination. As time went by, I noticed something different in me. I was appointed as a missionary and sent into mission houses to preach. During preaching, many weird happenings began to happen to me, like miracles of healing, answered prayer that is so instantaneous, and many, more.
Q: How did you step from such an evangelical Christian view into Paganism?
In 1995, I fell away from the church and started to become a freethinker. At the same time, I start to live my college life. Even though not a member of any church, I continued to search for answers in the fields of paranormal and occult science.
My first books were Magickal Evocation and Initiation to Hermetics. Books of occultism and Paranormal studies are too expensive and joining a group is only for high society. Enrolling for a seminar would cause regrets because they can not give you everything that you need. I found it difficult learning Occultism and Paranormal Science.
In 1997, I was graced that the family could afford to have an internet connection. At that time I was not aware of browsing/ or net surfing. The only thing we had was email and not a web browser. I continued to save my allowances to invest in books.
In 1998, I started to share what I have learned from a few friends. It was a secret sharing session on occultism, witchcraft, magick and paganism.
Q: Healing arts were so prominent in your previous spirituality, does this continue as a vital component of your work?
One of my personal missions is to bridge people’s health into wealth by conducting healing circle every Sunday afternoon. I also attend to people’s requests to provide them Natural Health Care and give them methods on how to maintain optimum health.
Q: What inspired you to become public about your beliefs in an area in which yourself describe being publicly pagan as a “hard task”?
In 2000, Y2K, I formed a Cyber group in Yahoo. I formally displayed my faith in the internet because I was encouraged to do so by my friends so that I may also learn from other seekers of the craft.
Q: What was it that moved you to create the Shrine of Luntiang Aghama?
Luntiang Aghama was first an Eclectic Solitary path giving free studies on witchcraft and paganism. Occasionally, especially during summer season, Luntiang Aghama conducts free workshop training on Psychic Awareness and Skills Development.
Q: How has the Shrine grown since its inception?
We started out with a group of 8 persons. A formal course outline was formulated in 2002. From then until now, the Shrine of Luntiang Aghama has conducted free workshops and training on the field of Paranormal Science and Pagan Spirituality.
This year, 2007, the Shrine of Luntiang Aghama was graced to be recognized and be affiliated with the Correllian Nativist Tradition. I became an Outer Court initiate and gained recognition by the council of elders of the Correllian Nativist Tradition.
Q: As a Correllian associated shrine, do the courses offered follow Correllian teachings?
With the support of the Correllian Nativist Tradition, the Shrine of Luntiang Aghama can offer more free workshops and lessons because the Tradition provides the material to be taught by the Shrine.
Q: Does the Shrine offer an introductory course or workshop for those who may be interested by not sure about stepping on to the pagan path? Can non-members attend rituals or rites to get a feel for the experience?
Aside from Pagan Education, the Shrine also conducts Public Ritual and Ceremonies. Everyone may participate in our gathering because the group believes in the free expression of faith in a form of worship.
Q: One of the courses the Shrine offers is Philippine Pantheon and Cosmology, are the old ways native to the Phillipines still alive in the practices of the people?
It is my vision that not only spiritual advancement be made by our members but also that they gain cultural enhancement by reclaiming our culture and tradition. We Filipinos are known to be colonial thinkers, but with Luntiang Aghama, we are going to inculcate Filipino Patriotism and even a Patriotic Spirituality by reviving the Old Filipino God’s and Goddesses.
Every nation and culture has their pantheon and it bad for us Filipino that some modern Filipino Pagan’s neglect the culture that we have. I can’t blame them for being colonial, it is because the resources are to difficult to find. That is why one of our free class modules is Philippine Pantheon and Cosmology.
Q: What is your vision for yourself and the Shrine of Luntiang Aghama in 5 years?
In 5 years, I see the Shrine as an independent tradition. I hope by that time the Shrine of Luntiang Aghama will have her own Thealogical School on Pagan Studies.
Q: How would interested parties go about contacting yourself or the Shrine?
People can contact us through our website or they can email us or email me directly
