HAPPY SAMHAIN!

a poem by Doreen Valiente for this most special Sabbat. Happy New Year!

SAMHAIN Chant
Fire red, summer's dead,
Yet shall it return.
Clear and bright in the night,
Burn, fire, burn!
Dance the ring, luck to bring,
When the year's aturning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallowstime,
When the fire's burning.
Fire glow, vision show
Of the heart's desire,
When the spell's chanted well
Of the witching fire.
Dance the ring, luck to bring,
When the year's aturning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallowstime,
When the fire's burning.
Fire spark, when nights are dark,
Makes our winter's mirth.
Red leaves fall, earth takes all,
Brings them to rebirth.
Dance the ring, luck to bring,
When the year's aturning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallowstime,
When the fire's burning.
Fire fair, earth and air,
And the heaven's rain,
And blessed be, and so may we,
At Hallowstide again.
Dance the ring, luck to bring,
When the year's aturning.
Chant the rhyme at Hallowstime,
When the fire's burning.

A Step in the Correct Direction

Finally the ACLU has filed a Writ of Mandamus that will force the VA to make a decision over their nearly-ten year hold on approving the pentacle as one of many religious symbols allowed on federal grave markers.

The VA has had this symbol on the table since 1997, and there have been several other religious symbols approved in the intervening years since then. There is no rational reason for them not allowing peace-loving Wiccans to memorialize their loved ones with this ultimate symbol of the elements and spirit that make up the universe.

If the request is approved, the battle is over for everyone; if denied, then the right to appeal the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims decision becomes available and action can be filed in Federal District Court.

come out, come out, wherever you are...

Blow the door off the ol' broom closet!

It's that time of year again - the annual Pagan Pride Day festivities are underway! Of course, since most of us operate under PST (Pagan Standard Time to you muggles) there is not a single date - your community may hold it anytime between September 12-ish and October 22-ish. Be done by Samahin is all we ask so we can get the New Year kicked off to a fresh new start, now that we've made our attempts to get out and educate folks about what we do and most importantly this time of year, what we DON'T do. Pagan Pride Day events must include a public ritual, some sort of charity drive, and interaction with the media - we are to educate people so we can be more accepted in mainstream society. That in mind, here are a couple of things you might want to consider before attending a Pagan Pride Day event:

Public ritual is not the place to be skyclad. No one wants to see your naughty bits pixilated on the 6 pm local news, least of all your HP/HPs. If you ARE the HP/HPs, please remember that this is what the fearful public thinks we ALL do and you are not helping to polish our image.

Do not consume the charitable donations. I don't care if it is a week 'til payday, you are not that needy.

Leave the degree-bickering at home. No one outside the pagan community knows what it means, and you annoy those within the pagan community by peering down your nose at a less-experienced or solitary witch. Mind the 'harm none' rule.

As much fun as it can be to play off the ignorant fears of the general populace, please abstain. Do not threaten to turn them into toads, even if you are actually capable of this work - remember the Law of Three. Wait to pick on them when they put leaflets in your kids' Halloween goodie bags instead of chocolate bars.

Do not appear at public ritual drunk, stoned, or otherwise unable to control your bodily functions. No one gets good press for peeing on public property - ask Ozzie Osborne.