Chas S Clifton

Born in 1951, Chas S. Clifton is an American academic and writer known for his work in English studies and Paganism. He has taught English at Colorado State University-Pueblo and Pueblo Community College. Clifton has been a practicing Pagan since the early 1970s, and his writings explore Paganism, especially Wicca, from both academic and practical viewpoints. He has been a significant figure in Pagan studies, editing the academic journal 'The Pomegranate' and co-editing the 'Pagan Studies Series.'

Clifton's interest in Paganism began in 1972 after reading Robert Graves' 'The White Goddess.' He later self-initiated into Paganism and joined groups involved with ceremonial magic and witchcraft. His academic career began in 1992. He co-authored 'Sacred Mask, Sacred Dance' and played a role in establishing a Pagan Studies Group within the American Academy of Religion. His book 'Her Hidden Children' was a foundational text in the 'Pagan Studies Series,' which he co-edited.

Chas S. Clifton, born in 1951, was raised within Anglican Christianity. His undergraduate studies in English at Reed College were pivotal in his discovery of Paganism. During a summer in 1972 near Taos, New Mexico, an encounter with Robert Graves' "The White Goddess" ignited his interest, perceiving it as a "religion for poets." This led him to explore Graves' work further, culminating in his undergraduate thesis, a collection of poems titled "Queen Famine." Clifton's personal journey into Paganism involved a self-initiation using a ritual from Hans Holzer's "The New Pagans." He then moved to Colorado, where he became involved with ceremonial magicians influenced by Thelema. Subsequently, he joined a coven with ties to the 1734 Tradition, and he and his partner underwent a Pagan marriage ceremony.

In the mid-1980s, Clifton founded his own magazine, "Iron Mountain: A Journal of Magical Religion." He pursued graduate studies in religious studies at the University of Colorado. His engagement with esoteric traditions deepened when he became a contributing editor for "Gnosis: The Journal of Western Inner Traditions" around 1986, corresponding with figures like Evan John Jones and Felicitas Goodman, and writing a syndicated column. His academic career in English began in 1992. Clifton was instrumental in the formation of the American Academy of Religion's Pagan Studies Group, which was officially recognized in 2004. He also served as editor of "The Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies," overseeing its transition to a peer-reviewed publication with a new publisher and subtitle.

Clifton's academic work has significantly shaped the field of Pagan studies. In 1997, he co-authored "Sacred Mask, Sacred Dance" with Evan John Jones. His book "Her Hidden Children" (2004) explored the rise of Wicca and Paganism in America, drawing on extensive research. This work was the inaugural volume in the "Pagan Studies Series" published by AltaMira Press, which Clifton co-edited with Wendy Griffin. This series aimed to foster scholarly exploration of Pagan traditions. Clifton's dedication to research led him to take early retirement from his teaching position, anticipating a more favorable environment for his scholarly pursuits.

“religion for poets”