<a href="http://www.firstchurchofwicca.org/">The First Church of Wicca</a> got media attention when it was featured on <a href="http://tlc.discovery.com/">The Learning Channel</a>'s "My Unique Family" in an episode entitled "<a href="http://blog.beliefnet.com/idolchatter/2007/02/witches-next-door-are-happy-family.html">The Witches Next Door</a>". At the time I remember wondering why a Wiccan Priestess would want to wear a Catholic Priest's collar. It seems awfully symbolic of a patriarchal system that's not quite what Wicca's about to me, but who am I to judge? I'm not Wiccan, what do I know?
If you go to the First Church of Wicca's website today, you will find the following: (I provide this rather than just a link because I imagine the website will disappear soon.)
<i>Thank you for all of your loving support over the past 5
years and we have enjoyed serving the Wiccan community
and answering all of your questions, comments, and
prayer requests. However, the church will be closing due
to the fact that our minister, the Rev. Dr. Kendra Vaughan
Hovey, will be opening a new church in May of 2009.
Living Waters Community of Hope will focus on helping
people heal from their experiences of inequity from past
religions and religious institutions, using Jesus Christ and
his teachings in the Bible as the foundation of how to have
a meaningful relationship with God, as well as, holistic
health of mind, body, and soul.
If you are interested in receiving more information about
Living Waters Community of Hope please see our website
at www.LivingWatersCH.org for information as it becomes
available </i>
This may come as somewhat of a shock to some. Though we may have somewhat gotten used to the idea that some people "Outgrow" Paganism and evolve into atheists (I know many personally who have and an article at the <a href="http://wildhunt.org/blog/2009/01/outgrowing-paganism.html">Wild Hunt</a> expounds on the phenomena) the idea of a Pagan turning Christian is kind of a strange one. After all, most of us came from Christian backgrounds and made a deliberate and conscious choice to embrace a Pagan faith instead. Many of us suffered great heartache and did a lot of soul searching. The idea of just waking up one day and saying "all this is bullshit, I'm totally wrong" just to go back to the thing that didn't satisfy us in the first place is kind of strange.
But if you read the "About Us" page on The First Church of Wicca's website you'll see that it's not much of a stretch. Under "Our Beliefs" you'll find, among other things:
<i>3) We believe in the teachings of the Bible and Jesus Christ, and consistently live by His teachings for our spiritual and moral foundation.</i>
And
<i>7) Some of us believe in resurrection and salvation through Jesus Christ.
</i>
It seems that the First Church of Wicca had one foot in the Christian church to begin with.
Under the What We Don't Believe section is:
<i>2) We do not believe in practicing Magick in our church.</i>
And
<i>3) We do not believe in practicing ritual in our church.</i>
Which begs the question: What do they do in their church?
It sounds like the First Church of Wicca wasn't very Wiccan to begin with... Which means we're probably better off without them. There are enough confused newbie Wiccans in the world without people being deliberately confusing. A more suspicious kind of person might wonder if it wasn't some conspiracy afoot. But I'm not a suspicious sort of person so I'll quit that line of thought right now. However, if I were a suspicious sort of person, the letter she sent out to members and supporters of the church would certainly have me speculating.
<i>I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting the First Church of Wicca and its efforts within the Pagan/Wiccan community over the past five years. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving you and answering all of your questions, comments, and prayer requests. However, the church will be closing due to the fact that I will be opening a new church in May of 2009.
Living Waters Community of Hope will focus on helping people heal from their experiences of inequity from past religions and religious institutions, using Jesus Christ and his teachings in the Bible as the foundation of how to have a meaningful relationship with God, as well as how to attain holistic health of mind, body, and soul. If you are interested in receiving more information about Living Waters Community of Hope please see our website at www.LivingWatersCH.org for information as it becomes available or email ReverendKendra@.... Please remember that I am always available to help you with any questions, concerns, or thoughts that you may have about your Wiccan practice.
For those of you who are wondering why I am closing the First Church of Wicca, understand that in my several years of studying Wicca and working as a Wiccan High Priestess, I have come to see the serious failings of the Wiccan faith. A major problem with the faith is that there is no unity among the followers of the faith which makes it very challenging to define exactly what Wiccans do and do not believe in. Wiccans have a very open "do what you will" or "live and let live" perspective in life which very easily can cause harm to oneself and others without one actually knowing it until it is much too late. Additionally, there is no unified moral code of ethics. This puts up huge red flags for society-at-large because no one can really be quite sure of what any group's intentions are. Society would have no way of knowing, for example, if you are a Wiccan that practices the Great Rite or polyamory, to name only two examples. Also, they would have no way of knowing just what "Do what ye will and harm none" means, and quite frankly, neither does each individual Wiccan. We are left to make moral and ethical decisions for ourselves rather than realizing that by human nature we are going to do anything that feels good to us, not what is best for us, and also not necessarily what is best for society as a whole. This makes for a very dangerous and faulty moral code of ethics. In addition, Wicca teaches primarily about how we can change the world and have all that we want. Spells, magick, etc. all prove to cause us to think selfishly instead of putting others before ourselves and more importantly instead of putting God before anyone else, including ourselves. It is very understandable that one would be close to nature and the earth, as well as, feel a need to call "God" the "God and Goddess;" however, the actual rote and complicated spells involved in Wicca can prove to be a huge distraction in one's spiritual growth. We do not need all of the "ritual things" in order to have a relationship with God - all we need is a sincere and thankful heart.
I personally have learned that through a true and deep understanding of Christ and his teachings, I can have the relationship with God that I have always wanted and more importantly, I am better equipped to teach how others can also have that relationship. Leaving Wicca was nothing lost for me, but turning to Christ has been everything gained! If you have any interest in learning more about my relationship with Christ I will be happy to share it with you.
Meanwhile, if you would like to remain on the mailing list for Living Waters Community of Hope, please reply to this email stating just that. Otherwise, I will assume that you do not and you will be permanently removed from our database prior to May 1, 2009.
I wish you many blessings on your spiritual journey!
It's a Good Life!
Rev. Dr. Kendra Vaughan Hovey</i>
(Note: I took out information identifying who the letter was sent to, but did not alter the letter in any other way)
The remarks she makes about the ambiguousness of Wicca are strange. For example, that "An it Harm None Do What you Will" is difficult to understand- is it not the job of the Priestess to help the seeker to understand? Or that there is no way of knowing if the group practices Polyamoury or the Great Rite. Yes there is, you ask. Wicca teaches us to change the world.. no it teaches you to change yourSELF and to take responsibility for yourSELF. Does not that Charge of the Goddess say something about "What you can't find within you will never find without"? Her discussion of our need to have things spelled out for us to keep us from hurting ourselves shows a serious disrespect and lack of faith in humanity as a whole. That's just sad.
She also gives us a hint of explanation to the confusing stuff in her "about" page. She apparently believes that the "God and Goddess" are simply names for "God", Jehovah. Has she been teaching Christianity under the guise of Wicca all along? Is she like those people the Christians scream about teaching Paganism under the guise of Christianity all along by saying that Nature is sacred to God? I sure as heck don't want to be a Pagan screamer. So I'll just stop speculating out loud right now!
But okay I can't. Why does the church have to close just because she left? It sounds like it's not really a church at all but a Cult of Personality. Is SHE the Church? Can't they just get a new Preist/Priestess? If I were a member of the church, I would be pretty damn furious. That's like saying "Hey, First Presbyterian Church is closing because your Minister decided he wants to be Pagan." It wouldn't happen. A church isn't about a minister, it's about the congregation. So... What's up with this lady anyway? How long has she been pretending to be Wiccan, all the while loathing Wicca? Has she been receiving donations from her congregation? I agree that the fact that Pagans and Wiccans would be better served with a little unity, but abandoning your entire congregation for greener pastures without making arrangements for them to be served in your absence is not the way to do it. It's irresponsible, rude and somewhat dishonest. It's even somewhat unethical -particularly if you've been getting donations from your group- to my guidance-less screwed up moral compass.
Okay. I'm done now. For real.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Blessings for an Historic Inauguration
<i>1569, from Fr. inauguration "installation, consecration," from L. inaugurationem (nom. inauguratio) "consecration, installment under good omens," from inaugurare "take omens from the flight of birds, consecrate or install when such omens are favorable," from in- "on, in" + augurare "to act as an augur, predict" (see augur).</i> (From <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/inauguration">Dictionary.com</a>)
It's been said, someone said it, not sure who, but I'm sure I read it in some Pagan book that Paganism doesn't lend itself well to politics. I remember this particularly because I was so surprised that someone would say such a thing. Surely politics is as ancient as Pagan religion itself. Surely politics and Paganism go hand in hand! Especially in a Democracy where we have many leaders as we have many Gods. Indeed the very word comes from <i>ta politika</i> or "affairs of the state" which is the name of a book on the subject by Aristotle, a man submerged in Pagan culture in the 3rd century BCE who is credited with the wise saying: <i>"He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a God." </i>
At any rate, I have been thinking about this inauguration. I am feeling called by Spirit to prepare a ritual of blessing for our country and for our President and Vice-President elects and their families. I have never felt so moved. I've even dropped some pretty heavy hints to people who own televisions that they should invite me over for the evening so I can watch.
Maybe it's because nobody I voted for ever got elected before. Maybe it's because I have felt a great energetic pall hanging over our country for the past several years and lately I've felt it lifting, but that could be imagination. Maybe it's because I'm a little bit enamored with our President elect and I'm terrified of an assassination attempt. Whatever it is, I will mark the occasion with magic, ritual, prayer and blessing. And it would seem that I'm not the only one!
<b>Ritual In Washington</b>
It is perhaps not surprising that the Pagan spiritual community of Washington DC is making its own preparations for the upcoming inauguration. Three Washington area witches, <a href="http://www.mythkenner.com/">Caroline Kenner</a> of the <a href="http://www.sacredspacefoundation.org/">Sacred Space Foundation</a>, <a href="http://www.katrinamessenger.com/">Katrina Messenger</a> of <a href="http://www.connectdc.org/node">Connect DC</a> and the <a href="http://www.reflectionsmyst.org/">Reflections Mystery School</a> and Caroline Casey of <a href="http://www.coyotenetworknews.com/">Coyote Network News</a> and The Visionary Activist are joining forces to provide anyone who can get out there an outlet for the sorts of longings that have descended upon me.
Their Ritual of Unity and Blessing, to take place at the Jefferson Memorial Plaza on the day before the inauguration will begin with a Witches Broom Dance followed by ritual for Unity and Protection for our government and the world and wrapping up with a drum circle. The public are invited to this important ritual. More information can be found at http://www.paganreligiousrights.org/
I wish I could go, but alas. I would love to hear some feedback from anyone who does though.
<b>Religious Uproars in Washington</b>
But all is not love and light as spirituality relates to this inauguration. Several groups are up in arms over religious issues. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Newdow">Michael Newdow</a>, a California Doctor who has made it his mission to protect us from everything slightly religious in nature has once again <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/31/inauguration.lawsuit/index.html">filed a lawsuit</a> demanding that "so help me God" be removed from the Oath and objecting to planned invocations and benedictions from clergy at the ceremony. He is not alone.
My opinion, if anyone wants to know. If Mr. Obama wishes to say "So help me <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27522679/">Grandma</a>" or "So help me <a href="http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread268257/pg1">Columbia</a>" instead of "So help me God" then he should certainly be permitted. However, Mr. Obama is a Christian man. It is my suspicion that he would like to say "So help me God" and I am not sure that it's very nice to deny him that right. Furthermore, his inauguration is, well, his inauguration. It's a major ritual, a rite of passage. I think he should have whatever spiritual support he deems necessary there.
Dan Brown of the <a href="http://www.ffrf.org/">Freedom From Religion Foundation</a> does not agree with that sentiment. In an <a href="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=84962">article from WorldNetDaily</a>, he states: <i>"The inauguration is not a religious event. It is a secular event of a secular country that includes all Americans, including those of us who are not Christians, including those of us who are not believers."</i> and suggests that Mr. Obama have his own private religious observance if he feels the need.
There's also been <a href="http://www.kplctv.com/global/story.asp?s=9617486">somewhat of an uproar</a> over Mr. Obama's choice of pastor to oversee the spiritual aspects of the ceremony. <a href="http://www.kplctv.com/global/story.asp?s=9617486">Rick Warren</a> of the conservative, evangelical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddleback_Church">Saddleback Church</a> in California actively supported California's Proposition 8, outlawing gay marriage in the state, though he denies hard feelings toward the gay community saying: <i>"I happen to love gays and straights. Who ever came up with the idea that you have to agree with everybody on everything in order to love them?"</i>. Though he has equated gay marriage with incest, polygamy and pederasty, he has also stated that divorce is more of a threat to families than gay marriage. What can I say, here's a man with deep convictions who thinks deeply about them. Do I agree with him? No. But I don't hate him for it either. I also think that he was perhaps not the best choice.
I'd be interested in hearing thoughts from other members of the Pagan community on these topics.
It's been said, someone said it, not sure who, but I'm sure I read it in some Pagan book that Paganism doesn't lend itself well to politics. I remember this particularly because I was so surprised that someone would say such a thing. Surely politics is as ancient as Pagan religion itself. Surely politics and Paganism go hand in hand! Especially in a Democracy where we have many leaders as we have many Gods. Indeed the very word comes from <i>ta politika</i> or "affairs of the state" which is the name of a book on the subject by Aristotle, a man submerged in Pagan culture in the 3rd century BCE who is credited with the wise saying: <i>"He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a God." </i>
At any rate, I have been thinking about this inauguration. I am feeling called by Spirit to prepare a ritual of blessing for our country and for our President and Vice-President elects and their families. I have never felt so moved. I've even dropped some pretty heavy hints to people who own televisions that they should invite me over for the evening so I can watch.
Maybe it's because nobody I voted for ever got elected before. Maybe it's because I have felt a great energetic pall hanging over our country for the past several years and lately I've felt it lifting, but that could be imagination. Maybe it's because I'm a little bit enamored with our President elect and I'm terrified of an assassination attempt. Whatever it is, I will mark the occasion with magic, ritual, prayer and blessing. And it would seem that I'm not the only one!
<b>Ritual In Washington</b>
It is perhaps not surprising that the Pagan spiritual community of Washington DC is making its own preparations for the upcoming inauguration. Three Washington area witches, <a href="http://www.mythkenner.com/">Caroline Kenner</a> of the <a href="http://www.sacredspacefoundation.org/">Sacred Space Foundation</a>, <a href="http://www.katrinamessenger.com/">Katrina Messenger</a> of <a href="http://www.connectdc.org/node">Connect DC</a> and the <a href="http://www.reflectionsmyst.org/">Reflections Mystery School</a> and Caroline Casey of <a href="http://www.coyotenetworknews.com/">Coyote Network News</a> and The Visionary Activist are joining forces to provide anyone who can get out there an outlet for the sorts of longings that have descended upon me.
Their Ritual of Unity and Blessing, to take place at the Jefferson Memorial Plaza on the day before the inauguration will begin with a Witches Broom Dance followed by ritual for Unity and Protection for our government and the world and wrapping up with a drum circle. The public are invited to this important ritual. More information can be found at http://www.paganreligiousrights.org/
I wish I could go, but alas. I would love to hear some feedback from anyone who does though.
<b>Religious Uproars in Washington</b>
But all is not love and light as spirituality relates to this inauguration. Several groups are up in arms over religious issues. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Newdow">Michael Newdow</a>, a California Doctor who has made it his mission to protect us from everything slightly religious in nature has once again <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/31/inauguration.lawsuit/index.html">filed a lawsuit</a> demanding that "so help me God" be removed from the Oath and objecting to planned invocations and benedictions from clergy at the ceremony. He is not alone.
My opinion, if anyone wants to know. If Mr. Obama wishes to say "So help me <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27522679/">Grandma</a>" or "So help me <a href="http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread268257/pg1">Columbia</a>" instead of "So help me God" then he should certainly be permitted. However, Mr. Obama is a Christian man. It is my suspicion that he would like to say "So help me God" and I am not sure that it's very nice to deny him that right. Furthermore, his inauguration is, well, his inauguration. It's a major ritual, a rite of passage. I think he should have whatever spiritual support he deems necessary there.
Dan Brown of the <a href="http://www.ffrf.org/">Freedom From Religion Foundation</a> does not agree with that sentiment. In an <a href="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=84962">article from WorldNetDaily</a>, he states: <i>"The inauguration is not a religious event. It is a secular event of a secular country that includes all Americans, including those of us who are not Christians, including those of us who are not believers."</i> and suggests that Mr. Obama have his own private religious observance if he feels the need.
There's also been <a href="http://www.kplctv.com/global/story.asp?s=9617486">somewhat of an uproar</a> over Mr. Obama's choice of pastor to oversee the spiritual aspects of the ceremony. <a href="http://www.kplctv.com/global/story.asp?s=9617486">Rick Warren</a> of the conservative, evangelical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddleback_Church">Saddleback Church</a> in California actively supported California's Proposition 8, outlawing gay marriage in the state, though he denies hard feelings toward the gay community saying: <i>"I happen to love gays and straights. Who ever came up with the idea that you have to agree with everybody on everything in order to love them?"</i>. Though he has equated gay marriage with incest, polygamy and pederasty, he has also stated that divorce is more of a threat to families than gay marriage. What can I say, here's a man with deep convictions who thinks deeply about them. Do I agree with him? No. But I don't hate him for it either. I also think that he was perhaps not the best choice.
I'd be interested in hearing thoughts from other members of the Pagan community on these topics.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Witches, Pagans and Justice
<b>Murder Spell Case Goes to Trial</b>
The <a href="http://www.ktiv.com/global/story.asp?s=9675765">jury has been selected</a> for a case that made Pagans and Witches everywhere cringe. Larry Harris of Souix City, Iowa was arrested <a href="http://www.witchmoot.com/dawn.php/2008/01/28/how-do-you-spell-murder">last year</a> after the deaths of his two young step-daughters and torching of his home. He claimed a spell went bad. What concerns me about the jury selection, is that it seems that are no Wiccans, Witches, Pagans or Occultists in the jury.
The Defense attorney <i> went down a laundry list of items and asked if they believed in or used any of the following: Tarot cards, Ouija boards, Ghosts, Levitation, Voo doo, Black magic, Processions, Evil intervention or Séances. Hardly anyone raised a hand for those. But many did believe in: the power of prayer, Satan, demons, guardian angels, and divine intervention. </i>
(Processions, what do they mean by that?)
The question of whether knowledge and beliefs in these areas would taint the jury one way or another is an interesting one. Sure, people who don't believe in the occult, but do believe in Christian ideas may be more likely to deem a person guilty because they believe he was dabbling in evil forces, or perhaps insane because he was dabbling in unreal or imaginary forces. It's unclear what the defense is going for here. It's too bad there aren't more Pagans on the jury, but I suppose it's the law of averages here. Many Pagans would say that he's crazy, that it's a cover up, that spells don't just go bad and kill folks, etc. But how do we know? I suppose it's possible. Either way if he was doing something dangerous, he shouldn't have been doing it around kids. If indeed the spell "went bad" and the kids died because of it, he is, at the very least, guilty of willfully endangering children!
Alot more information came out in <a href="http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2009/01/11/news/top/fb296762204669c98625753a00095315.txt">an interview with the mother</a> of the young victims. He'd been threatening her. He took blood from one of the girls to use in the ritual, her DNA was on the knife. He claimed he was possessed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%81l%C4%AB">Kali</a>... the Destroyer, who was traditionally offered sacrifices of young children... If the girls had not died, he should still be brought to justice for cutting one of them if nothing else!
<b>Wiccan Inmate Seeks Release</b>
While we're on the subject of Pagan murderers, Randall Lee McArthur <a href="http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/south_73099___article.html/murder_killer.html">has been in prison for 25 years</a> for the murder of a young man whom he killed with the help of another man whose motive was apparently jealousy. (The other guy got five years). McArthur has also been in trouble for burglary and vandalism. But after 25 years he says he's grown up, found Goddess and ready to be released into the real world.
<i>A member of the state prison board, noting McArthur's references to Wicca along with Druidism, said some people view them as evil religions. McArthur was asked if he was discovering something different.
</i>
I can't speculate whether the man is rehabilitated, but I hope the fact that Mr McArthur is a Wiccan is not adversely affecting the parole board's opinion of him!
<b>Wiccan Inmates Lose Appeal for More Time</b>
<a href="http://iowaindependent.com/10388/three-hours-long-enough-for-prisoners-religious-observance">Three Wiccan inmates in Iowa</a> recently lost an appeal on their claim that three hours isn't enough time for a proper religious observance, specifically for Samhain.
Okay, folks, I know my Samhain parties take about five hours, but that includes dinner, socializing, etc. The actual ritual doesn't take more than an hour, hour and a half tops. Can we stop embarrassing ourselves by demanding more stuff than everyone else gets? Please.
<b>Debt Collector Hires Witch</b>
Luckily not everyone in my Pagan Justice roundup is guilty. A Lithuanian a debt collection firm has hired Vilija Lobaciuviene, a witch, to use magic not only to help bring in deadbeats, but also to provide spiritual healing and support for those suffering under the strains of debt. She will be doing this using hypnosis, herbal medicines and bio energy field work.
In a story by the <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/01/15/2009-01-15_lithuanian_firm_hires_a_witch_to_hunt_de.html">NY Daily News</a>, there are entirely too many disrespectful quotes for me...
But whatever, Go Valija!
<b>No Justice for the Wicked Witch of the West</b>
And finally, <a href="http://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20241127&BRD=2724&PAG=461&dept_id=563781&rfi=6">fourth graders from Todd Elementary School</a> in Beaver, PA have declared Dorothy innocent of the murder of the Wicked Witch of the West, despite the fact that Dorothy went to the Witch's house with the intention of killing her. No word yet about an appeal.
The <a href="http://www.ktiv.com/global/story.asp?s=9675765">jury has been selected</a> for a case that made Pagans and Witches everywhere cringe. Larry Harris of Souix City, Iowa was arrested <a href="http://www.witchmoot.com/dawn.php/2008/01/28/how-do-you-spell-murder">last year</a> after the deaths of his two young step-daughters and torching of his home. He claimed a spell went bad. What concerns me about the jury selection, is that it seems that are no Wiccans, Witches, Pagans or Occultists in the jury.
The Defense attorney <i> went down a laundry list of items and asked if they believed in or used any of the following: Tarot cards, Ouija boards, Ghosts, Levitation, Voo doo, Black magic, Processions, Evil intervention or Séances. Hardly anyone raised a hand for those. But many did believe in: the power of prayer, Satan, demons, guardian angels, and divine intervention. </i>
(Processions, what do they mean by that?)
The question of whether knowledge and beliefs in these areas would taint the jury one way or another is an interesting one. Sure, people who don't believe in the occult, but do believe in Christian ideas may be more likely to deem a person guilty because they believe he was dabbling in evil forces, or perhaps insane because he was dabbling in unreal or imaginary forces. It's unclear what the defense is going for here. It's too bad there aren't more Pagans on the jury, but I suppose it's the law of averages here. Many Pagans would say that he's crazy, that it's a cover up, that spells don't just go bad and kill folks, etc. But how do we know? I suppose it's possible. Either way if he was doing something dangerous, he shouldn't have been doing it around kids. If indeed the spell "went bad" and the kids died because of it, he is, at the very least, guilty of willfully endangering children!
Alot more information came out in <a href="http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2009/01/11/news/top/fb296762204669c98625753a00095315.txt">an interview with the mother</a> of the young victims. He'd been threatening her. He took blood from one of the girls to use in the ritual, her DNA was on the knife. He claimed he was possessed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%81l%C4%AB">Kali</a>... the Destroyer, who was traditionally offered sacrifices of young children... If the girls had not died, he should still be brought to justice for cutting one of them if nothing else!
<b>Wiccan Inmate Seeks Release</b>
While we're on the subject of Pagan murderers, Randall Lee McArthur <a href="http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/south_73099___article.html/murder_killer.html">has been in prison for 25 years</a> for the murder of a young man whom he killed with the help of another man whose motive was apparently jealousy. (The other guy got five years). McArthur has also been in trouble for burglary and vandalism. But after 25 years he says he's grown up, found Goddess and ready to be released into the real world.
<i>A member of the state prison board, noting McArthur's references to Wicca along with Druidism, said some people view them as evil religions. McArthur was asked if he was discovering something different.
</i>
I can't speculate whether the man is rehabilitated, but I hope the fact that Mr McArthur is a Wiccan is not adversely affecting the parole board's opinion of him!
<b>Wiccan Inmates Lose Appeal for More Time</b>
<a href="http://iowaindependent.com/10388/three-hours-long-enough-for-prisoners-religious-observance">Three Wiccan inmates in Iowa</a> recently lost an appeal on their claim that three hours isn't enough time for a proper religious observance, specifically for Samhain.
Okay, folks, I know my Samhain parties take about five hours, but that includes dinner, socializing, etc. The actual ritual doesn't take more than an hour, hour and a half tops. Can we stop embarrassing ourselves by demanding more stuff than everyone else gets? Please.
<b>Debt Collector Hires Witch</b>
Luckily not everyone in my Pagan Justice roundup is guilty. A Lithuanian a debt collection firm has hired Vilija Lobaciuviene, a witch, to use magic not only to help bring in deadbeats, but also to provide spiritual healing and support for those suffering under the strains of debt. She will be doing this using hypnosis, herbal medicines and bio energy field work.
In a story by the <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/01/15/2009-01-15_lithuanian_firm_hires_a_witch_to_hunt_de.html">NY Daily News</a>, there are entirely too many disrespectful quotes for me...
But whatever, Go Valija!
<b>No Justice for the Wicked Witch of the West</b>
And finally, <a href="http://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20241127&BRD=2724&PAG=461&dept_id=563781&rfi=6">fourth graders from Todd Elementary School</a> in Beaver, PA have declared Dorothy innocent of the murder of the Wicked Witch of the West, despite the fact that Dorothy went to the Witch's house with the intention of killing her. No word yet about an appeal.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Roses Love Garlic - A Book Review
I bought this book because I was looking for resources on companion planting to help me decide what plants to use to create guilds. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed. While this book does contain information about companion planting, it's only a very small section in a much larger text that is organized into sections of related gardening terms followed by alphabetical listings encyclopedia style. Each heading only has a very small blurb and doesn't go into much detail. While it's a nice reference to have on hand, it is not at all what I was looking for or need and I felt the title was somewhat misleading. Instead of being called Roses Love Garlic: Companion Planting and Other Secrets of Flowers 
Gaia's Garden a Book Review
Gaia's Garden presents ideas for creating a garden space that looks, feels and behaves as if it happened naturally, instead of being planned and groomed by civilized folk. This doesn't mean it looks unkempt, but that each plant within a garden group exists in a relationship with others in a mini ecosystem. This type of planting produces healthier plants and greater yeilds while preserving or improving the health of the soil and reducing the amount of work it takes to maintain established beds. (Though the amount of work it takes to establish them in the first place is not reduced by any means.)
Although I think that the book could have been simpler in its execution (although it promises it won't read like a text book it does in some places) and it digressed a little too often for me (examples are nice, but I got tired of them) I was very pleased with it. It was both informative and inspiring.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Battle of the Beauty Queen
Here is the article I'm about to expound upon
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/297985
And now I begin.
So, basically, here's what happened. Ms. Canada Plus is a Wiccan (cool, huh, I thought so) and the Ms Toronto Tourism pageant invited her to be a judge. But when she submitted her bio, presumably for their marketing materials, she mentioned tarot cards under "hobbies" and they withdrew their invitation. (Which is very silly, because if they just looked at the Miss Canada Plus website, they would have seen her bio there, could have decided then, and would never have needed to embarrass themselves by issuing the invitation in the first place! http://www.mcpp.ca/candidates.html)
"We just got her bio a week ago and we don't agree with it," said Karen Murray, Miss Toronto Tourism pageant director. "We want someone down to earth, not someone into the dark side or the occult."
Grammatical nightmares not withstanding (How does someone not agree with a bio? A bio is not an opinion to be disagreed with.) How does Tarot cards make someone not down to earth? I dunno, there are a few headintheclouds Pagans, probably alot, but there are quite a few down to earth Pagans too. I like to think of myself as down-to-earth and I read Tarot cards. My atheist lover and I read each others cards before we go to bed at night. It helps us wrap up the day, put things in perspective and communicate with each other about the things that are on our minds and make plans. Very down-to-earth, practical stuff. And the "dark side of the occult"? If this lady thinks tarot cards are the "dark side" of the "occult", she doesn't know much about the occult, does she?
A letter to the Miss Candada Plus people said "We need a judge who has an upright reputation and we would be proud to introduce to the audience,"
It is my understanding that these pageants only award the Miss Somebody title to people who they feel is "upright" and has a clean reputation. It would seem that the Miss Toronto Tourism people do not think the Miss Candada Plus people are capable of determining who has a clean reputation, because they went on to explain:
"Our board of directors has eliminated her as a judge as tarot card reading and reiki are the occult and is not acceptable by God, Jews, Muslims or Christians. Tarot card reading is witchcraft and is used by witches, spiritists and mediums to consult the dark world."
The letter went on to quote a couple of passages from the Bible, including one from the book of Leviticus that warns, "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spirits for you will be defiled by them."
"We hope that Stephanie Conover will turn from these belief systems and will repent from her practice of them," the letter reads.
Now, this confuses me slightly, because we're talking about the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant, not the Miss Good Christian Pageant, so what's the deal here? The article is quick to point out that the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant is independant of Toronto's tourism department, and bully for Toronto then, because if it wasn't we'd be looking at a clear case of state-sponsored discrimination. As it stands Murray said her group doesn't get government funding and has the right to decide who acts as a judge in their pageant. and that's the truth.
What I don't understand is how the crazy Christian lady feels vindicated: Murray insisted Conover is "trying to stir up trouble" by raising the issue in the press. "She's obviously a very vindictive person," she said.
No lady, the public has a right to know that your pageant is discriminatory. Will you snatch the crown away from Miss Toronto Tourism when you discover that she reads Tarot cards? Since there is absolutely nothing about Miss Toronto Tourism that would cause someone to even suspect that someone into things Christians don't approve of would be automatically disqualified. I mean, check out the website, it doesn't say anywhere that you have to be a follower of an Abrahamic religion http://www.misstorontotourism.com/
Check it out
1. Canadian Citizen
2. Single, not married or living common-law
3. No dependents
4. Good health
5. No criminal records or criminal offences
6. Height of 5 feet and 0 inches and up
7. Good Will To Others
8. Good character
9. Born female.
10. 19 to 27 years of age.
Nowhere there does it say "Must adhere to the principles laid for by the God of Abraham."
What we have from Miss Conover is a public service.
If you're going to run a Christian pageant, call it that. But they're not religious says Murray:
Asked if her group is a religious one, Murray replied, "We adhere to God's principles. We're God-fearing. I wouldn't say we're religious." Isn't that a little contradictory, I dunno?
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/297985
And now I begin.
So, basically, here's what happened. Ms. Canada Plus is a Wiccan (cool, huh, I thought so) and the Ms Toronto Tourism pageant invited her to be a judge. But when she submitted her bio, presumably for their marketing materials, she mentioned tarot cards under "hobbies" and they withdrew their invitation. (Which is very silly, because if they just looked at the Miss Canada Plus website, they would have seen her bio there, could have decided then, and would never have needed to embarrass themselves by issuing the invitation in the first place! http://www.mcpp.ca/candidates.html)
"We just got her bio a week ago and we don't agree with it," said Karen Murray, Miss Toronto Tourism pageant director. "We want someone down to earth, not someone into the dark side or the occult."
Grammatical nightmares not withstanding (How does someone not agree with a bio? A bio is not an opinion to be disagreed with.) How does Tarot cards make someone not down to earth? I dunno, there are a few headintheclouds Pagans, probably alot, but there are quite a few down to earth Pagans too. I like to think of myself as down-to-earth and I read Tarot cards. My atheist lover and I read each others cards before we go to bed at night. It helps us wrap up the day, put things in perspective and communicate with each other about the things that are on our minds and make plans. Very down-to-earth, practical stuff. And the "dark side of the occult"? If this lady thinks tarot cards are the "dark side" of the "occult", she doesn't know much about the occult, does she?
A letter to the Miss Candada Plus people said "We need a judge who has an upright reputation and we would be proud to introduce to the audience,"
It is my understanding that these pageants only award the Miss Somebody title to people who they feel is "upright" and has a clean reputation. It would seem that the Miss Toronto Tourism people do not think the Miss Candada Plus people are capable of determining who has a clean reputation, because they went on to explain:
"Our board of directors has eliminated her as a judge as tarot card reading and reiki are the occult and is not acceptable by God, Jews, Muslims or Christians. Tarot card reading is witchcraft and is used by witches, spiritists and mediums to consult the dark world."
The letter went on to quote a couple of passages from the Bible, including one from the book of Leviticus that warns, "Do not turn to mediums or seek out spirits for you will be defiled by them."
"We hope that Stephanie Conover will turn from these belief systems and will repent from her practice of them," the letter reads.
Now, this confuses me slightly, because we're talking about the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant, not the Miss Good Christian Pageant, so what's the deal here? The article is quick to point out that the Miss Toronto Tourism pageant is independant of Toronto's tourism department, and bully for Toronto then, because if it wasn't we'd be looking at a clear case of state-sponsored discrimination. As it stands Murray said her group doesn't get government funding and has the right to decide who acts as a judge in their pageant. and that's the truth.
What I don't understand is how the crazy Christian lady feels vindicated: Murray insisted Conover is "trying to stir up trouble" by raising the issue in the press. "She's obviously a very vindictive person," she said.
No lady, the public has a right to know that your pageant is discriminatory. Will you snatch the crown away from Miss Toronto Tourism when you discover that she reads Tarot cards? Since there is absolutely nothing about Miss Toronto Tourism that would cause someone to even suspect that someone into things Christians don't approve of would be automatically disqualified. I mean, check out the website, it doesn't say anywhere that you have to be a follower of an Abrahamic religion http://www.misstorontotourism.com/
Check it out
1. Canadian Citizen
2. Single, not married or living common-law
3. No dependents
4. Good health
5. No criminal records or criminal offences
6. Height of 5 feet and 0 inches and up
7. Good Will To Others
8. Good character
9. Born female.
10. 19 to 27 years of age.
Nowhere there does it say "Must adhere to the principles laid for by the God of Abraham."
What we have from Miss Conover is a public service.
If you're going to run a Christian pageant, call it that. But they're not religious says Murray:
Asked if her group is a religious one, Murray replied, "We adhere to God's principles. We're God-fearing. I wouldn't say we're religious." Isn't that a little contradictory, I dunno?
Friday, August 1, 2008
Babies, art, business and politics
With festival season is in full swing, it hardly seems necessary to point out the many Pagan gatherings taking place all over the world this summer, organized by such groups as Circle Sanctuary, The Pagan Federation and The Pagan Pride Day Campaign. Obviously the old stereotypes about Pagans being unable to get organized doesn’t apply when there’s a party to be had. But that’s not all that’s going on in the community these days.
Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries in Oregon is planning to offer a faith based pre-school and kindergarten for children at the newly formed Rowan Academy. Actually, as with most Pagan programs, it’s open to everyone, not just Pagan children. Another program offered by Rowan Tree is the Senescha School of Magic, and aftershool program and The Magic Wheel a program that offers age appropriate activities to children of adults attending Rowan Tree activities. How cool is that? Read the article in full here. I hope other Pagan communities will take an exemple from Rowan Tree Ministries and start getting organized into more productive avenues.
And now for something new and different.
Georgian Christians are up in arms about a really neat stone monument in Elberton, GA known as The Georgia Guidestones and occasionally referred to as the American Stonehenge. On the surface of the stone slabs that make up the monument is inscribed 10 commandments that aren’t Christian commandments. And, although they are referring to them as such, I’m not sure they are. After all, the Guidestones don’t say they are commandments but “Guidestones to an age of reason”.
While I don’t know why Mr. Dice thinks Pagan, New Age and Satanic themes are inherently at odds with reason, I am also confused as to why one-world unity, pointing out that humanity is a plague (but it doesn’t really say that, it says Be not a cancer on the Earth – leave room for nature ) and encouraging “harmony with the infinite” is a negative thing. But whatever.
While America has a reputation for having the most anal retentive religious wackos in the world (Whether Christian, Pagan or otherwise), we are not the only folks who face the occasional “WTF?” moments when it comes to religious intolerance. According to the Register, out of the UK, Birmingham City Council recently had a big scandle involving improper use of the internet by its members, so they installed BlueCoat Webfiltering Software on its computers which blocks access to things related to keywords like porn, cannibalism (?), witchcraft, new age, atheism… well, you can see where this is going. And while I think everyone can agree that city council members probably don’t need to be surfing the web from their office on those subjects anyway, they are free to surf things related to Christianity, Islam, Protestantism, etc. But have no fear, the National Secular Society seems to have had a little chat with them and now it seems locals have nothing much left to gripe about beyond the fact that a British city council bought American. This may be another case of news that was not news and wtf am I blogging about it? Mainly because I’m fascinated to discover that the UK has a National Secular Society. You can read about this debacle here.
Some of you may remember Bob Barr. Back in 1999 he won The Burning Times award for his comments regarding Wiccans in the military. Ever wonder what he’s up to these days? Well, he’s running for president on the Libertarian ticket and recanting all sorts of things, including his position on Wiccans in the military. He must’ve realized just how many Libertarian Pagans there are out there.
Rowan Tree Pagan Ministries in Oregon is planning to offer a faith based pre-school and kindergarten for children at the newly formed Rowan Academy. Actually, as with most Pagan programs, it’s open to everyone, not just Pagan children. Another program offered by Rowan Tree is the Senescha School of Magic, and aftershool program and The Magic Wheel a program that offers age appropriate activities to children of adults attending Rowan Tree activities. How cool is that? Read the article in full here. I hope other Pagan communities will take an exemple from Rowan Tree Ministries and start getting organized into more productive avenues.
And now for something new and different.
Georgian Christians are up in arms about a really neat stone monument in Elberton, GA known as The Georgia Guidestones and occasionally referred to as the American Stonehenge. On the surface of the stone slabs that make up the monument is inscribed 10 commandments that aren’t Christian commandments. And, although they are referring to them as such, I’m not sure they are. After all, the Guidestones don’t say they are commandments but “Guidestones to an age of reason”.
Far from “reason,” however, Dice sees pagan, New Age and even satanic themes in the message’s exhortation of one-world unity, condemnation of humanity as a plague on the planet and call to seek “harmony with the infinite.”
While I don’t know why Mr. Dice thinks Pagan, New Age and Satanic themes are inherently at odds with reason, I am also confused as to why one-world unity, pointing out that humanity is a plague (but it doesn’t really say that, it says Be not a cancer on the Earth – leave room for nature ) and encouraging “harmony with the infinite” is a negative thing. But whatever.
While America has a reputation for having the most anal retentive religious wackos in the world (Whether Christian, Pagan or otherwise), we are not the only folks who face the occasional “WTF?” moments when it comes to religious intolerance. According to the Register, out of the UK, Birmingham City Council recently had a big scandle involving improper use of the internet by its members, so they installed BlueCoat Webfiltering Software on its computers which blocks access to things related to keywords like porn, cannibalism (?), witchcraft, new age, atheism… well, you can see where this is going. And while I think everyone can agree that city council members probably don’t need to be surfing the web from their office on those subjects anyway, they are free to surf things related to Christianity, Islam, Protestantism, etc. But have no fear, the National Secular Society seems to have had a little chat with them and now it seems locals have nothing much left to gripe about beyond the fact that a British city council bought American. This may be another case of news that was not news and wtf am I blogging about it? Mainly because I’m fascinated to discover that the UK has a National Secular Society. You can read about this debacle here.
Some of you may remember Bob Barr. Back in 1999 he won The Burning Times award for his comments regarding Wiccans in the military. Ever wonder what he’s up to these days? Well, he’s running for president on the Libertarian ticket and recanting all sorts of things, including his position on Wiccans in the military. He must’ve realized just how many Libertarian Pagans there are out there.
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