NZ Skeptics Articles

Articles tagged with "burtonport"

Lux, Silver, and Elektra: The true-and-false history of Aristasia, Part 2

8 December 2025

Aristasia is the end-stage of 30+ years of various spiritual groups/female-led communes/communities. The shared thread between these groups was the inescapable presence and indomitable leadership of Mary Guillermin, nee Scarlett (aka Marianne Martindale, Catherine/Clare/Priscilla Tyrell/Tyrrell/Traill, Mari/Maria de Colwyn/Da' Colwyn, Brige/Brighe Dachcolwyn, Mestre Mari Scarlett), who for many years was accompanied by the mysterious, mask-wearing Priscilla Langridge (aka Lucinda Tyrell, Sister Angelina, Miss Annalinde, Althea, Lady Althea FiaMoura). There are, as there always are with these sorts of organisations, two histories: what can be traced through documentation and news reports, and the myths that members created.

Lux, Silver, and Elektra: The true-and-false history of Aristasia, Part 1

10 November 2025

This series will be one of the most unusual ones I've written in the 3 or so years I've been profiling cults/coercive groups, namely because I don't even know where to begin! The Wikipedia page describes Aristasia as a “…British female-focused subcultural group—or shared worldbuilding project and role-playing setting—that combined Guénonian Traditionalism with elements of lesbian separatism”. Members wore clothing from the 1920-1950s, and created a fantasy world complete with social hierarchies, lingo, and geography.