Raven Grimassi

Gary Charles Erbe (April 12, 1951 – March 10,

2019), known as Raven Grimassi, was an American Raven Grimassi
writer. He wrote over 20 books, including topics on
Wicca, Stregheria, witchcraft and neo-paganism. He
popularized Stregheria, the religious practice of
witchcraft with roots in Italy. Grimassi presented this
material in the form of neo-paganism through his
books. He had been a practitioner of witchcraft for
over 45 years and was the co-director of the Ash, Birch
and Willow tradition. He died of pancreatic cancer on
March 10, 2019.[1]

Early life and education

Grimassi was born Gary Charles Erbe in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. His father was Herbert Erbe Jr. (1922–
2004), who was of German and Scots heritage,[1] and
Born Gary Charles Erbe
who served as a sergeant in the United States Army in
April 12, 1951
World War II. His mother was Flora Gemma Erbe
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
(1915–2011), born in Pagani, Campania.
Died March 10, 2019 (aged 67)
Herbert and Flora met in Italy during his military Occupation Author, Wiccan priest
service, and they married in 1944.[2] Flora's father was Nationality American
Giovanni Rescigno, a train station master in Naples, a Genre Occultism, Stregheria,
Freemason, and an Italian witch. He entered the Order Neopaganism, Wicca
of the Pentagram in 1930.[3] Grimassi wrote that his Notable Witchcraft: A Mystery Tradition
maternal grandfather was part of a tradition of Italian works
witches who were associated with the Carbonari
revolutionary movement in the early 19th century, then joined the Masons or other secret societies as a
cover for their meetings.[4]

After some time in Pittsburgh, Herbert and Flora settled in San Diego, California, where they raised their
children. Grimassi attended James Madison High School, advancing to San Diego Mesa College and San
Diego City College where he studied to be a psychiatric technician.[1]

Wicca
Grimassi became involved with Wicca in 1969. He created his own system of witchcraft known as the
"Aradian Tradition" ten years later, publishing it in print beginning in 1981. He was the co-directing elder
of the Ash, Birch and Willow tradition. In 1994, the new age publisher Llewellyn Publications accepted
his manuscript for Ways of the Strega, which was reprinted the following year as Italian Witchcraft: The
Old Religion of Southern Europe.

Stregheria
Reports that Grimassi claimed to belong to a "family tradition" of religious witchcraft had opened him to
criticism.[2]

Professor Sabina Magliocco, a critic of some of Grimassi's claims, however points out that "Grimassi
never claims to be reproducing exactly what was practiced by Italian immigrants to North America; he
admits Italian-American immigrants "have adapted a few Wiccan elements into their ways".[3] After
personally meeting Grimassi, Professor Magliocco wrote in her letter to the Pomegranate Reader's
Forum:

I had the pleasure of meeting Raven Grimassi during the summer of 2001, unfortunately after
the final draft of my article had already been submitted to The Pom. He was very gracious
and helpful to me. From information he revealed during our interview, I can say with
reasonable certainty that I believe him to have been initiated into a domestic tradition of folk
magic and healing such as I describe in my article.[4]

Awards
Grimassi won "Book of the Year" and "First Place – Spirituality Book" from the Coalition of Visionary
Retailers in 1998 for his book The Wiccan Mysteries, and his book the Encyclopedia of Wicca &
Witchcraft was also awarded "Best Non-Fiction". His publisher, Weiser Books, produced the author's
biography, Horns of Honor. Patheos listed Grimassi in 2018 as one of the 25 most influential living
pagans.[5]

Personal life
In the 1970s, Grimassi recorded a garage rock song with Ritchie Brubaiter, called "Brat".[6] After
studying psychology in college, he worked for a few years for San Diego County Mental Health Services
inside a secure psychiatric facility. He shifted to a center for abused children, then worked as a counselor
for drug and alcohol abuse patients. The stress of these jobs moved him to study cosmetology and
become a hair stylist for many years. After that he served as a financial aid counselor, then in the mid-
1990s his book publishing income allowed a full-time writing career.[1]

Grimassi's first marriage with Patty produced Michelle, born in San Diego, and his second marriage with
Diane produced a daughter in 1979 – Brieanna, born in Escondido, California. Grimassi dedicated his
book The Wiccan Mysteries to his "beautiful daughters, Michelle and Brieanna...".[7] Grimassi's father
died in 2004 and was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. His mother died in 2011
and was buried with her husband.[8]
Grimassi's third marriage was to Stephanie Ann Zarrabi, pen-name Stephanie Taylor. From 1998, they
operated a magick shop in Escondido called Raven's Loft, closing the physical store in 2002 to run it as a
website.[9] The couple moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, in 2009,[10] but suffered a lightning strike in
June 2017 which burned down their home and destroyed their business assets.[11] Stephanie announced
on her Facebook page that Grimassi died on March 10, 2019, aged 67, following a battle with pancreatic
cancer.[5] He was survived by two brothers and three daughters: Kathy, Michelle and Brieanna.[10] A
memorial service was held on March 23 in Springfield.[12]

Bibliography
1981: The Book of the Holy Strega
1981: The Book of Ways Volumes I and II
1994: Ways of the Strega
reprinted as Italian Witchcraft: The Old Religion of Southern Europe in 1995
1999: Grimassi, Raven (1999). Hereditary Witchcraft: Secrets of the Old Religion. Llewellyn
Publications. ISBN 1-56718-256-9.
2000: Grimassi, Raven (2000). The Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft ([Link]
g/details/encyclopediaofwi00grim_0). Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 1-56718-257-7.
2001: Grimassi, Raven (2001). Beltane: Springtime Rituals, Lore and Celebration. Llewellyn
Publications. ISBN 1-56718-283-6.
2001 Grimassi, Raven (1999). Hereditary Witchcraft. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 1-56718-
256-9.
2002: Grimassi, Raven (1998). Wiccan Magick. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 1-56718-255-
0.
2002: Grimassi, Raven (2003). The Wiccan Mysteries. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 1-
56718-254-2.
2002: Grimassi, Raven (2002). The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical
Transformation. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 0-7387-0265-X.
2003: Grimassi, Raven (2003). Spirit of the Witch: Religion & Spirituality in Contemporary
Witchcraft. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 0-7387-0338-9.
2003: Grimassi, Raven (2003). The Witch's Familiar: Spiritual Partnership for Successful
Magic. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 0-7387-0339-7.
2004: Grimassi, Raven (2004). Witchcraft: A Mystery Tradition. Llewellyn Publications.
ISBN 0-7387-0596-9.
2005: Grimassi, Raven & Taylor Stephanie (2005). Well Worn Path: Divination Kit. Llewellyn
Publications. ISBN 0-7387-0671-X.
2007: Grimassi, Raven & Taylor Stephanie (2007). Hidden Path: Divination Kit. Llewellyn
Worldwide. ISBN 978-0-7387-1070-9.
2008: Grimassi, Raven (2008). Crafting Wiccan Traditions. Llewellyn Publications.
ISBN 978-0-7387-1108-9.
2009: Grimassi, Raven (2009). The Cauldron of Memory: Retrieving Ancestral Knowledge &
Wisdom. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 978-0-7387-1575-9.
2011: Grimassi, Raven (October 2011). Old World Witchcraft: Ancient Ways for Modern
Days. Weiser Books. ISBN 978-1-57863-505-4.
2014: Grimassi, Raven (August 2014). Grimoire of the Thorn-Blooded Witch. Weiser Books.
ISBN 978-1-57863-550-4.
 2016: Grimassi, Raven (January 2016). Communing with the Ancestors. Weiser Books.
ISBN 978-1-57863-593-1.
2019: Grimassi, Raven (September 2019). What We Knew in the Night. Weiser Books.
ISBN 978-1-57863-651-8.

References
1. "Grimassi Raven" ([Link] [Link].
2. Joseph Sciorra (2011). Italian Folk: Vernacular Culture in Italian-American Lives. Fordham
University Press. p. 206. ISBN 9780823232659.
3. Raven Grimassi (2002). The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical
Transformation. Llewellynn. p. 43. ISBN 9780738702650.
4. Raven Grimassi (2000). Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft ([Link]
clopediaofwi00grim_0/page/22). Llewellyn. pp. 22–24 ([Link]
iaofwi00grim_0/page/22). ISBN 9781567182576.
5. Horns, Raise the (3 August 2018). "The 25 Most Influential Living Pagans" ([Link]
[Link]/blogs/panmankey/2018/08/the-25-most-influential-living-pagans/).
6. Vernon Joynson (1997). Fuzz, Acid and Flowers: A Comprehensive Guide to American
Garage, Psychedelic and Hippie Rock (1964–1975) (4 ed.). Borderline. p. 422.
ISBN 9781899855063.
7. Raven Grimassi (2001). The Wiccan Mysteries: Ancient Origins & Teachings. Llewellyn.
p. 7. ISBN 1-56718-254-2.
8. "Nationwide Gravesite Locator" ([Link]
[Link]/[Link]?cemetery=N892). [Link]. Archived from the
original ([Link] on 2020-10-23.
Retrieved 2019-03-11.
9. "Raven Grimassi, Stephanie Taylor, Well Worn Path, Hidden Path Oracle" ([Link]
[Link]/[Link]).
10. Cremation, Hafey Funeral Service &. "Tribute for Gary ("Raven Grimassi") Erbe | Hafey
Funeral Service & Cremation" ([Link]
[Link]/tributes/Gary-Erbe). Tribute for Gary ("Raven Grimassi") Erbe | Hafey
Funeral Service & Cremation. Archived from the original ([Link]
m/tributes/Gary-Erbe) on 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
11. "Pagan Community Notes: California fires, Raven's Loft, Elaine Coleman, and more - Pagan
Community Notes, Paganism, TWH Features" ([Link]
[Link]). 11 December 2017.
12. "In Memoriam: Raven Grimassi" ([Link]
emoriam-raven-grimassi/). 11 March 2019.

Sources
"Arician tradition" ([Link]
[Link]?a=usca&c=trads&id=3644). Witchvox. Archived from the original ([Link]
[Link]/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=trads&id=3644) on July 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7,
2006.
^ Magliocco, Sabina "...this state of affairs, along with the lack of ethnographic evidence to
corroborate the reports of Martello, Bruno and Grimassi, makes the existence of an Italian
witch cult among Italian-Americans extremely unlikely." in "Spells, Saints, and Streghe:
Witchcraft, Folk Magic, and Healing in Italy" ([Link]
 [Link] Archived from the
original on February 22, 2006. Retrieved October 13, 2005.
^ Magliocco, Sabina (2001). "Spells, Saints, and Streghe: Witchcraft, Folk Magic, and
Healing in Italy" ([Link]
[Link]/stregoneria_italiana-[Link]). The Pomegranate: The Journal of Pagan Studies.
13. Archived from the original on 2006-02-22.
Magliocco, Sabina (2001). "retraction". The Pomegranate: The Journal of Pagan Studies.
16: 48.
^ Grimassi, Stephanie. "Facebook post announcing Raven Grimassi's death" ([Link]
[Link]/iarchive/facebook/1360389684/10219077966084301). Facebook. Archived from
the original ([Link] on
2022-02-26. Retrieved March 11, 2019.

External links
Raven Grimassi's homepage ([Link]

Retrieved from "[Link]