Demystifying Paganism

Pagan, Paganism, Pagans, Deity, Divine, God, Goddess, gods, polytheistic, polytheism, devil, satan, persecution, lies, peace, unity, understanding, Yeshua, Jesus, Mithra, Christmas, Holiday, easter, bible, religion, spirituality, spiritual, spirit, religious, worship, devil worship, sermon, preacher, church, misconception, stigma, harm none, Wicca, Wiccan, monotheistic, Mormon, LDS, later day saints, Yehovah, Jehovah, Matthew, New Testament, Old Testament, Christmas Tree, Easter Egg, Santa, Policeman, fireman, doctor, dentist, babysit,

'Tis the Season

May your season of Yule be blessed; may your heart be open to the return of the Light. Welcome joy, peace, and the promise of fortune with the coming Sun. Hail, Oak King!

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.

Tradition

inquiring minds wanna know...and from the looks on these wee ones' faces, I would say the answer is NO. Gawd, but I do love kilts...

wickerman!!!

A few days from now, Warner Bros. releases the newest version of a classic - The Wicker Man. Not sure how to take this, because I liked the original so well. I hope they do the subject justice, but I fear in the current political climate they will stress the potentially negative aspects a bit overmuch. Hard to say, as I'm not one who gets the 'sneak peeks' at new movies. I will plan to see this one and draw my own conclusions.

this looks good...

appears to be a witchy authors' group. At least the posts are literate...and I love pink, so it's easthetically pleasing.

Finally...Some National Attention for a National Travesty

CNN television covered the Veteran Pentacle Quest today and asks the
public to share their views on this issue.

ON AMERICAN MORNING

This morning, a news story on the quest to get the Pentacle on the VA
emblem of beliefs list for markers for deceased veterans was broadcast
worldwide on CNN television on the program, "American Morning."

This story by CNN National Correspondent Bob Franken began with a scene
of Sgt. Patrick Stewart's coffin being carried by soldiers at his
funeral. The story reported that Sgt. Stewart does not have his
memorial plaque because his Wiccan religion and its emblem, the
Pentacle, are not yet recognized by the US Department of Veterans
Affairs. This news story also included photos of Sgt. Stewart and
remarks by his widow Roberta and Rev. Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary.
Bob Franken, standing across the street from the VA headquarters,
concluded his coverage by stating several times that the Wiccan
Pentacle has been pending for 9 years.

VIEW ON-LINE:

http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/us/2006/07/10/
franken.wiccan.veteran.affl

ON HEADLINE NEWS:

Later in the day, the story aired on CNN Headline News, along with
several emails from viewers, including a supporitve one from Sgt.
Stewart's friend Jeremy who was his roommate when they served in
Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The news anchors asked viewers to share their views about whether or
not the Pentacle should be added to the VA list. Some have already
done this, but more are needed to counter some of the bigoted and
anti-Wiccan emails CNN has gotten.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR VIEWS:

Please speak out in favor of the Pentacle being added to the VA list.
Here's how:

(1) As soon as possible, go to CNN's FEEDBACK

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv/

(2) Scroll down the page and select AMERICAN MORNING.

Specify news story by its title: WICCAN SOLDIER'S WIDOW FIGHTS VA

(4) Specify date of airing: JULY 10, 2006

(5) Share words of support for the VA adding the Pentacle to its
memorial markers emblems of belief list, and check "positive."

(6) Thank CNN for covering this issue and ask for more
coverage.

SPREAD THE WORD:

Let others know about this latest media coverage and the need to send
comments to CNN about this issue. Post to lists and forward this email
to others you know who might be able to help. Thanks!

WITCHES!!!

witches, witches everywhere - wheeeee!

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