Sergius Golowin
Encyclopedia
Sergius Golowin was a Bern writer
, myths researcher
, librarian
, and publicist
.
). In 1933, he and his mother, poet Alla von Steiger, emigrated to Switzerland
, while Golowin’s Russian father, a sculptor, lived in Paris without the family.
After finishing school, Golowin became a library assistant at the "Berner Stadt- und Universitätsbibliothek" (literally: "Bern City- and University-Library"). He took part in the "Jugendbewegung"
. During the 1950s he participated in "Tägel-Leist," one of Bern's subcultural discussion circles. From 1957 to 1968 Golowin worked as an archivist
in Burgdorf. From 1971 to 1981 he served in a local government office in Switzerland as a member of the party Landesring der Unabhängigen ("LdU", which was established by Gottlieb Duttweiler
and others). In his LdU office, Golowin was an advocate for youth culture and worked to solve numerous ecological problems. Afterward, he was a free writer living near Bern.
Sergius Golowin wrote numerous books and articles, primarily about folklore and esotericism
. For his work in folklore and exploring the counterculture, he was awarded the prize of the Schweizerische Schillerstiftung in 1974.
Golowin was a contemporary of many notable people and events. He helped Timothy Leary
while Leary was in Swiss exile, was a friend of Friedrich Dürrenmatt
, and was portrayed by H. R. Giger
. Golowin was present at the first performance of Polo Hofer's legendary Bern band "Rumpelstilz" and the band played on behalf of Golowin's election campaign. Golowin was an acquaintance of Martin "Tino" Schippert
, founder of the Swiss Hells Angels
.
In 1973, Golowin teamed up with Klaus Schulze
, Bernd Witthüser, Walter Westrupp
, Jörg Mierke, Jürgen Dollase and Jerry Berkers (the latter two of Wallenstein
) to record the album "Lord Krishna von Goloka". This very experimental album featured chantings by Golowin over improvised electronic instrumentation and acoustic guitar.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, myths researcher
Researcher
A researcher is somebody who performs research, the search for knowledge or in general any systematic investigation to establish facts. Researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions.-Examples of research institutions:...
, librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
, and publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
.
Life
Sergius Golowin was born in 1930 in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
). In 1933, he and his mother, poet Alla von Steiger, emigrated to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, while Golowin’s Russian father, a sculptor, lived in Paris without the family.
After finishing school, Golowin became a library assistant at the "Berner Stadt- und Universitätsbibliothek" (literally: "Bern City- and University-Library"). He took part in the "Jugendbewegung"
German Youth Movement
The German Youth Movement is a collective term for a cultural and educational movement that started in 1896. It consists of numerous associations of young people that focus on outdoor activities. The movement included German Scouting and the Wandervogel...
. During the 1950s he participated in "Tägel-Leist," one of Bern's subcultural discussion circles. From 1957 to 1968 Golowin worked as an archivist
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
in Burgdorf. From 1971 to 1981 he served in a local government office in Switzerland as a member of the party Landesring der Unabhängigen ("LdU", which was established by Gottlieb Duttweiler
Gottlieb Duttweiler
Gottlieb Duttweiler was a Swiss businessman and politician, founder of both the Migros chain of grocery stores and the party....
and others). In his LdU office, Golowin was an advocate for youth culture and worked to solve numerous ecological problems. Afterward, he was a free writer living near Bern.
Sergius Golowin wrote numerous books and articles, primarily about folklore and esotericism
Esotericism
Esotericism or Esoterism signifies the holding of esoteric opinions or beliefs, that is, ideas preserved or understood by a small group or those specially initiated, or of rare or unusual interest. The term derives from the Greek , a compound of : "within", thus "pertaining to the more inward",...
. For his work in folklore and exploring the counterculture, he was awarded the prize of the Schweizerische Schillerstiftung in 1974.
Golowin was a contemporary of many notable people and events. He helped Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
while Leary was in Swiss exile, was a friend of Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Friedrich Dürrenmatt was a Swiss author and dramatist. He was a proponent of epic theatre whose plays reflected the recent experiences of World War II. The politically active author's work included avant-garde dramas, philosophically deep crime novels, and often macabre satire...
, and was portrayed by H. R. Giger
H. R. Giger
Hans Rudolf "Ruedi" Giger is a Swiss surrealist painter, sculptor, and set designer. He won an Academy Award for Best Achievement for Visual Effects for his design work on the film Alien.-Early life:...
. Golowin was present at the first performance of Polo Hofer's legendary Bern band "Rumpelstilz" and the band played on behalf of Golowin's election campaign. Golowin was an acquaintance of Martin "Tino" Schippert
Martin Schippert
Martin "Tino" Schippert was a Swiss "Halbstarker" , Rocker, a so-called "68er" and is considered to be founder of the "Hells Angels" in Switzerland. Schippert grew up in an upper-class environment, at the Zürichberg. He suffered from various illnesses...
, founder of the Swiss Hells Angels
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
.
In 1973, Golowin teamed up with Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze
Klaus Schulze is a German electronic music composer and musician. He also used the alias Richard Wahnfried. He was briefly a member of the electronic bands Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel before launching a solo career consisting of more than 60 albums released across five decades.-1970s:In...
, Bernd Witthüser, Walter Westrupp
Witthüser & Westrupp
Witthüser & Westrupp was a German singer-songwriter duo consisting of Bernd Witthüser , guitar, mandolin and Walter Westrupp guitar, ukulele, trombone, harmonium, psalter and many other instruments. The band was formed in June 1969 as "W&W's pop cabaret", singing German texts in a special way. In...
, Jörg Mierke, Jürgen Dollase and Jerry Berkers (the latter two of Wallenstein
Wallenstein (band)
The band Wallenstein, founded in Viersen in Lower Rhineland, later based in Mönchengladbach, was a German rock band from 1971 to 1982, which was later ascribed to the so-called Krautrock of the 70s.-History:...
) to record the album "Lord Krishna von Goloka". This very experimental album featured chantings by Golowin over improvised electronic instrumentation and acoustic guitar.