pensivePublishing Pioneer, Visionary, The Father of New Age
It is with profound sadness we share the news of Carl Llewellyn Weschcke’s passing. He passed peacefully on Saturday, November 7 surrounded by family. He was 85.
Carl Llewellyn Weschcke was Chairman and the driving force behind Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd., the oldest and largest publishers of New Age, Metaphysical, Self-Help, and Spirituality books in the world.
Weschcke was a life-long student of a broad range of Metaphysical, Spiritual and Occult subjects which led him to the purchase of the Llewellyn publishing company in 1961. He relocated the company to his home on Summit Avenue in St. Paul. The mansion was said to be haunted and became the subject of many investigations and news stories through the 1960s and 1970s and remains well-known to this day.
Authors and booksellers referred to Weschcke as "the Father of the New Age" because of his early and aggressive public sponsorship of Astrology, Magic, Metaphysics, Paganism, Parapsychology, Tantra, Wicca and Yoga. Weschcke and Llewellyn contributed to the burgeoning New Age movement in the 1960s and 1970s, sponsoring Gnosticon Festivals, opening an occult school and bookstore, and publishing the occult newspaper Gnostica. He is a former Wiccan High Priest and played a leading role in the rise of Wicca and Paganism during the 1960s and 1970s. In the fall of 1973 Weschcke helped organize the Council of American Witches and became its chairperson.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Babson College, studied Law at LaSalle University, and advanced study toward a doctorate in Philosophy at the University of Minnesota. In 1959 he was elected president of the NAACP’s Minnesota branch and elected Vice President of the ACLU’s Minnesota branch. In addition to book publishing he has worked in the pharmaceutical industry, furniture manufacture, and real estate management. With Llewellyn, he has worked in all aspects of the business and has co-authored ten books with Dr. Joe Slate of Athens, Alabama.
Carl is survived by wife Sandra and son Gabe. Sandra is President and Treasurer of Llewellyn Worldwide and Gabe serves as Vice President. They plan to carry on Carl’s legacy championing of alternative approaches to mind, spirit and body.
Arrangements for a memorial will be forthcoming.
Ironically what I'm remembering is the splendid wake we held for Scott Cunningham at Minicon the year he passed. Some truly fine scotch, a round of the Lyke-Wake Dirge, and a whole lot of people trying to say "Born again to the tribe" without crying.
I imagine they'll think of something even better this time. And meanwhile, the Summer Gates are packed with souls as far as the eye can see, coming to greet the new arrival, who probably hasn't even got to the buffet table yet.
November 10 2015, 05:06:31 UTC 5 years ago
November 10 2015, 14:15:35 UTC 5 years ago
Aww...
November 10 2015, 19:48:41 UTC 5 years ago
November 13 2015, 01:40:44 UTC 5 years ago
"His head is heavy with wisdom! Let it be seen to shine with glory!
His hands are bent with labors! Let their prowess move the world!
His heart is green with Nature's power! Let Her grow strong beside him!
His belly is full of good things! Let abundance rise at his coming and his passing!"
"Honor and family be with thee, O wise professor."
"Let him be honored."
"One with the People."
"One with Spirit."
"One with the Land."
"Honor him!"
"So we do, and honor and peace go with him and accrue to all who know him!"
"Pacem."
Wow!
November 13 2015, 01:51:37 UTC 5 years ago
Re: Wow!
November 13 2015, 21:42:17 UTC 5 years ago
Re: Wow!
November 14 2015, 00:36:19 UTC 5 years ago
November 10 2015, 15:02:27 UTC 5 years ago