The article examines the significance of the relationship between the Rainbow Serpent and fire in the rituals of the Warramunga (Warumungu) devoted to the Serpent Wollunqua. The myth of the passage of the Wollunqua is closely related to that of the first lighting of fire. The ritual cycle observed by B. Spencer and F. J. Gillen encodes the exchangeability of the two halves (moieties): Kingilli and Uluuru in the organisation of rituals, associating them with the transition from the domination of the symbolism of water (Wollunqua) to that of fire (Mountain Devil). The symbols of the transition are characteristic paraphernalia: the Mini-imburu mound and the Kingilli Miniurka, made from wands. The wintari pole, buried in the land by representatives of the eastern quoll clan, is associated in myth with the Wollunqua’s rearing into a vertical position, between walking on the surface of the land and digging into it. According to the myth, the Wollunqua, raised into the sky, saw a great fire and had to escape to its home. As a result, the rituals of the Wollunqua designate a fundamental cyclical change: rainy season ↔ dry season.

The paper elaborates on the meaning of the meditation techniques described by Zhiyi in the field of Chan Buddhist studies. In order to show the importance of considering these techniques in the study of Chan Buddhism, in the first part of the paper the author discusses the historical connections between the Tiantai and Chan schools, presenting the influence of Tiantai on the development of Chan Buddhism. In the second part the author presents a contextual analysis of the main meditation practice of the Caodong school, that is silent illumination technique, based on the technique described by Zhiyi and called six wondrous dharma gates. The aim of the analysis is the show the usefulness of considering Zhiyi’s works in Chan studies methodology. This usefulness results from the ability to clarify the obscure, metaphor-laden, poetical sentences typical of Chan, based on Zhiyi’s precise language.

The history of Wicca in Poland equals the history of Wicca on the Polish internet – and this equation alone shows the importance of the World Wide Web for Polish believers. The number of websites, discussion lists and forums has been rising since the mid-1990s, representing the development and growing popularity of this Neopagan religion. The article, based on field research, presents the history of Wicca on the internet and the present situation in Poland, as well as the institution of cybercovens. Wicca on the internet (mainly American) is considered as a broader context, along with Helland’s distinction between religion online and online religion (including, especially, online rituals and covens). The article is based on analysis of the content published online by Polish believers and the author’s field research among Polish Traditional Wiccans.

The presented paper reflects on the perspective of the field of Buddhist studies/Buddhology relating to research on gender roles, especially female roles in Buddhist traditions within the scope of textual study of sources. After briefly introducing the discipline and the history of research on gender within Buddhist studies, the article concentrates on the main shortcomings and also the current perspectives and postulates of contemporary research on gender roles in Buddhism.