Just who does this guy think he is anyway?

Jason Pitzl-Waters was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. This was in the 70s and 80s before cool indie-rock bands started hanging out there. He currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jason started his writing career covering the arts for local alternative papers in Champaign/Urbana Illinois. In 2002 he started writing the music column "A Darker Shade of Pagan" (now a successful podcast) for the first four years of the youth-oriented Pagan magazine "newWitch". It was during his stint writing for "newWitch" that he started the popular Pagan-oriented weblog "The Wild Hunt". A daily look at news affecting the modern Pagan/Heathen communties, "The Wild Hunt" is considered by many to be an essential resource, and has grown a considerable audience since its start in 2004.

Jason continues to write daily for "The Wild Hunt", in addition to freelance writing projects, including an essay on Pagan blogging for "Llewellyn's 2007 Wicca Almanac: A Guide to Pagan Living", and an upcoming essay on influential Pagans for "PanGaia" magazine. He is also writing his first book, a history of modern Pagan and occult music.

A committed polytheist, Jason wants to raise the level of discourse and journalism on important issues within the modern Pagan and Heathen communities, while advocating a broader commitment to encouraging religious multiplicity and solidarity (where appropriate) with surviving indigenous and non-monotheistic faith groups.

In his personal life Jason is happily married to his wife Leigh, is a pragmatic vegan, a believer in nonviolent techniques, a big fan of Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, and a step-father. For the astrologically inclined his Sun is in Cancer.

You can contact Jason at jpitzl at wildhunt dot org.

Word on the street...

"He...disagrees with my beliefs as a Christian" - Catherine Sanders, author of "Wicca's Charm"

"Rabid fundamentalists who burn boooks represent one extreme. The other extreme is represented by poeple like you, who do not have any of their facts straight, resort to name-calling, and have preconceived prejudice against those who may hold a different opinion (especially if they happen to be religious)." - Richard Abanes, author of "Harry Potter, Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings"

"Looks like a keeper!" - Isaac Bonewits, author of "The Pagan Man"

"The Wild Hunt blog is a must-read for those interested in news and events dealing with the modern Pagan and Heathen communities - and religion coverage in general." - M.Z. Hemingway, Get Religion

"Outpagans most of what's out there. Whatever that means." - Jeff Sharlet, co-author of "Killing The Buddha"

"Count on Jason Pitzl-Waters for current events in Pagandom." - Chas Clifton, author of "Her Hidden Children"

"[A] nicely produced, attractive and informative blog" - LaSara Firefox, author of "Sexy Witch"

"It's the best summary of Pagan news I know of." - Deborah Lipp, author of "The Way of Four: Create Elemental Balance in Your Life"

"The People magazine for pagans in the blogosphere" - Deborah Oak, psychotherapist and Reclaiming Feri Witch

"Jason's research and examination of the news reveals a lot more simmering beneath the surface than you'll ever find on CNN or NPR. Blogs like this are proof that "blog journalism" is every bit the equal of old-time mass media journalism." - Modemac, The High Weirdness Project

"One of the most popular pagan blogs on the net." - Lupa, author of "Fang and Fur, Blood and Bone: A Primal Guide to Animal Magic"

"My source for all the latest pagan news." - Chris Walton, editor of "UU World"