Episode 13: All About the God Pan - in the Pacific NW and Beyond!

Episode 11 of Two Witches Podcast discussed Vancouver, Washington's Hidden brick constructed St. James Cathedral, which Mother Joseph helped build. Some of the symbols on this church for St. James are also linked to the god Pan - and of course now whenever we think about Pan, we think of Hellier. Io-Pan!

Amazing "Vine" Print by artist Maxine Miller featuring Pan.

Many symbols for Pan also are found in the Catholic faith and are reflected in many famous historical building projects, both locally and internationally. One of these that we are going to discuss at length is the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Rome.

Vintage postcard of St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. Note obelisk in front.

Montreal, Canada's half-size replica of Rome's St. Peter's Basilica, the former St. James Cathedral, now known as Mary Queen of the World Cathedral.

Sara's record collection ended up in the middle of a major Synchronicity wave.

The History of Pan in Portland, Oregon.

The amazing red brick Dekum building still stands at 505 SW 3rd Avenue in downtown Portland Oregon. Named after Frank Dekum, a German immigrant who opened Portland's first candy shop, construction cost $300,000 in 1892 dollars. Mr. Dekum was a prominent Portland fruit merchant, banker and real estate investor and insisted that only local materials were used in his building. The Dekum is one of Sara/SJ's favorite buildings in the city, and it is within a stone's throw of the Bishop's House, a location linked to Mother Joseph and other early Catholic settlers in the Pacific Northwest. The Dekum is officially Oregon's oldest office building and is over 77,000 square feet of classic architecture. Swoon!

The Dekum is one of the finest examples of Classic Richardson Romanesque architecture left in Portland.

Siskiyou sandstone wraps around the first and second floors of the Dekum.

There's a clear view of the Bishop's House from the corner in front of the Dekum Building.

Green Men (a symbol for Pan) are on all sides of the Dekum building.

The architects designed the first and second floors of the Dekum to be faced in local Siskiyou sandstone. Newberg, Oregon produced the brick used on the skin of the upper six floors - so no Hidden bricks in this beauty. Have no fear, as it has something else extraordinary - many carved Green Men! If you haven't watched Hellier, DO IT - but the Green Man is another name for Pan. The Dekum isn't the only downtown Portland location linked to Pan, who is also known as The Green Man.

1906 Postcard with the Dekum on the left, from Third and Alder Streets.

Daniel Durfur's "The Green Man of Portland" tells a cross-generational story about people affected by the Green Man of Portland. A sculpture at 6th and Main is based upon Darfur's local comic. We'll also share with you an incredible and never-heard before story from one of our listeners in the Pacific Northwest who invoked Pan before a night of clubbing in Seattle. Unsurprisingly, Pan appears to be a hell of a wingman and an LGBTQIA ally! If you're an old Goth or rivethead, you'll really like this story. Here's a hint. In case it isn't clear, Two Witches believe that Trans Lives Fucking Matter, and if you don't think so you're a fucking asshole. Extra love to both our friend Elias, who allowed us to share his story about a wild evening when he invoked Pan, and stepped into his authentic self in public for the first time, and another dear friend of the Podcast that came out to us as Trans this week. We love you both, and are so proud of you both.