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University of Queensland anthropologist Dr Lynne Hume reckons there are several thousand pagans in Australia including at least 2000 witches.

'That would be a conservative estimate,' she says. 'A lot are reluctant to come out of the broom closet.'

Dr Hume, senior lecturer in the Studies in Religion Department, has thoroughly researched the topic and late last year brought her findings together in a book: Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia.

Right here in Brisbane she knows of about a dozen witches covens, each with anything from just a couple of members to as many as 30.

'In addition, there are solitary witches who practise on their own. Some witches live with the proverbial cats and most do have brooms,' she said.

The cats and brooms (and tall hats 'just for fun') may fit the popular image of witches but according to Dr Hume paganism and witchcraft in Australia today have a much more modern face.

Whatever the exact figures, the numbers are growing as more and more people, dissatisfied with mainstream religions, find themselves attracted to a range of alternative beliefs and spiritualities, including groups that have strong links with nature and ecology.

'Witches are people who feel they have some psychic ability or sense things that others cannot. Some are interested in herbs and herbal remedies or other methods of alternative healing. Many can move easily into trance states where they claim to see or experience other realities,' she said.

Dr Hume has joined covens to find out more about witches and their world views, participating in rituals and learning about what witches do.

Using such things as candles, incense, colours, chanting or even crystal balls, witches concentrate and channel their willpower to make things happen. Besides being able to sense things which may happen in the future, witches say they can visualise future situations and influence the outcome

However, Dr Hume said this sort of magic might be used only as a last resort if practical, everyday action did not work, though magic and magic spells were a vital part of witchcraft.

Dr Hume said within paganism Wicca probably made up the largest single sub-group. Pagans have especially strong links with nature, follow the seasons closely and cast magic spells according to the waxing and waning of the moon.

Pagans rejected the Christian emphasis on sin and the way blame was traditionally laid on women. Sex was not regarded as sinful but as something to be enjoyed, she said.

While sex with children was not countenanced, between consenting adults anything was acceptable. 'Do what you want but don't hurt others' was the general code, Dr Hume said.

She said this sexual freedom tended to attract a number of 'fringe people' to paganism and there were instances of men joining just for the sex and to try to coerce others into having sex with them.

However, Dr Hume said the very openness of sexuality within paganism was probably its strength. 'Abuse is less likely here than in other religions that insist on celibacy and regard sex as sinful. In the latter case, sexual abuse is more likely to be hidden.'

An aspect of paganism that attracted women particularly was that goddesses and priestesses were equal to or more prominent than gods and priests, very much the opposite of traditional monotheistic religions.

Dr Hume said paganism was also very ritualistic, celebrating the seasons and life passages which a lot of mainstream religions ignored. In addition, it was very romantic, sometimes incorporating flowing robes and mythological stories dating back to ancient Britain and Europe.

She said pagans did not regard themselves as evil and were falsely associated sometimes with such things as devil worship and Satanism.

However, most pagans insist that the devil and Satan are Christian concepts which have no place in modern paganism; nor are there the charismatic leaders often found in groups labelled as ?cults'.

'Most pagans would be horrified at the desecration of graves and sacrifice does not really play a part in pagan rituals,' Dr Hume said.

She said Australians in general tended to be pretty laid back about witches though people were also a little intrigued and amused by the idea.

There might be a few situations where witches would not be so open about their beliefs because of possible threats to their jobs but on the whole they were more visible and tolerated than, for example, in some parts of the United States.

For further information, contact Dr Lynne Hume (telephone 3365 3338).