Hogmanay In Scotland - The Four Day "Pagan" New Year's Celebration

In Scotland there is a four to five day festival around New Year's that is Viking and Pagan in origin.  Known as Hogmanay it is described in this article in About.com:

"Besides concerts, street parties, fireworks and more earthbound fire spectaculars, as well as consumption of one of Scotland's most famous products, Scotch whisky, there are a number of very ancient traditions associated with Hogmanay in Scotland. Some say these traditions are dying out in favor of public celebrations, but they can still be found in smaller communities and private celebrations:"...(Cont.)...

Anime: Few Happy Ending in these Fairy Tales

Here is an interesting article on a type of  "anime" - "manga."  The name was coined in 1815 by woodblock artist Hokusai, describing his illustrated doodles as " sketches or unintentional pictures."  Manga became entertainment for children in Japan in about 1952 when Tezuka Ozamu created the "Astro Boy" comic which is the story of a robot with a human soul.  However there is a difference between manga and western comics or fairy tales as is described in this article in New American Media:

"There are no soft landings, no candy-coated protection in the story lines from the Far East. Behind those round, puppy-eyed, cuddly characters, with their perfect western features, lies a set of ancient eastern sensibilities informed by human suffering rarely known in the land of “happily ever after.” It is why, now in middle age, as an immigrant from a war torn country, Vietnam, I watch Naruto religiously." ...(Cont.)...

Witch Hunting in Kenya Targets Elderly

Here is a disturbing story again from Africa about witch hunting This time it comes from the Al Jazeera network and includes a video report.

"Dozens of villagers in the Kenyan district of Kisii are falling prey to superstitious groups accusing them of witchcraft. The poverty-stricken western district, known as Kenya's sorcery belt, has seen an increase in mob attacks on individuals and even killings. The poor and elderly in particular are being targeted."...(Cont.)...

The Reason for the Season - "the War on Witchcraft"

Here is an interesting spoof article by Tamara Dietrich - a writer for The Daily Press out of Virginia:

"That's right: Every year, pagan symbols and festivities stretching back thousands of years are co-opted in the name of Christmas. Without thanks or barest acknowledgment.

Christmas trees everywhere, but no mention of the pagans and their reverence for evergreens or lighting the yule log to chase away midwinter gloom, and whose "Yule" is now synonymous with Christmas."...(Cont.)...

Christian Civic League of Maine stalks Pagan Democrat - Rita Moran

So called reporters at the Christian Civic League of Maine continue to harass Rita Moran  She is Chair of the Kennebec County Democratic Committee, and is openly Pagan.  She was one of two Pagans delegates to the recent Democratic National Convention.

Remember, Maine is the state which had a huge influx of conservative Christian money and manpower to recently defeat that states pro-gay marriage law.

This particular Christian group continues their hatchet job in their on-line rag - The Record:

"Occultists, in contrast to Christians, meet with no resistance from politicians who hypocritically demand a strict separation of church and state. In 2007, The Record reported on the activities of Rita Moran, Chairwoman of the Kennebec County Democrats, at a shrine devoted to the goddess of witchcraft. Now The Record has learned of another center of occult activity located in the small town of Winthrop, a short distance from the state capital.

Winthrop is home to the EarthTides Pagan Network, an organization which aspires to be a network for pagans throughout the state."...(Cont.)...

Here is the site for the EarthTides Pagan Network.

An American Witch Bottle Found in Colonial Pennsylvania

An interesting bottle was uncovered during recent excavations in Governor Printz State Park in Essington, Pennsylvania.  It seems to indicate the presence of early American witchcraft as such bottles are considered evidence of a type of "white witchcraft" which were commonly found only in England during the 16th. and 17th. centuries. This small piece of olive green and gold glasswork had been buried upside down in a small hole. It was buried with two objects under the shoulder of the bottle: a piece of a long thin bone from some medium-sized bird, and rim shard from a small black-glazed bowl. The bottle contained six round-headed pins and had been stoppered tightly with a whittled wooden plug. The bottle was manufactured around 1740 and may have been buried about 1748. The parallels to English charm bottles are clear enough to establish its functions as an anti-witch charm.

Many people believe that the colonial anti-witch campaigns were centered around Salem Massachusetts, but in fact these campaigns were wide spread in many colonies.  This case is reported on in Archaeology Magazine

"Witchcraft was regarded as a sufficiently serious problem in the early days of the colonies that various pieces of legislation were enacted against it. In May of 1718, Pennsylvania's legislators passed "An Act for the Advancement of Justice," which incorporated verbatim "An Act Against Conjuration, Witchcraft, and Dealing with Evil and Wicked Spirits" promulgated in England in 1685, the first year of James II's reign. This prudent legislation did not stem the tide, however, for as we learn from the work of Stevenson W. Fletcher, "Following an especially sever outbreak of the devilish machinations of witches in Chester County, in 1719, a commission of justices of the county court was empowered to enquire into 'all witchcrafts, enchantments, sorceries and magic arts.'" Even Governor William Penn presided over the trial of a witch at a meeting of the Provincial Assembly in 1684."...(Cont.)...

Mistletoe - Pagan Kissing Under A Parasitic Plant

Kenneth C. Davis the author of the, "Don't Know Much About History" series discuses the seasonal use of mistletoe for an article he wrote in The Huffington Post:

"...Like other evergreens, mistletoe --a parasitic plant that attaches to other trees-- remained green in winter, even as the trees in which it hung were "dead." A symbol of life in the dead of winter, it was part of the winter Solstice celebrations of many ancient cultures. The Greeks and Romans both prized it for its evergreen qualities.

But hanging mistletoe at Christmas actually comes from two old traditions, one Anglo, the other Saxon. The Celts of Britain and Ireland considered mistletoe a sacred plant and called it "all-heal." It was thought to possess the miraculous power to cure disease, promote fertility in women, make poison harmless, protect against witchcraft and generally bring blessings....(Cont.)...

Zoroastrianism - A Religion in Decline

This 3000 year old monotheistic religion is said to have once numbered between 40 and 50 million faithful.  Its philosophical principles governed the rulers of the vast ancient Persian Empire.  However, it is now in a steep decline as is reported in The New York Times.

"...Zoroastrianism predates Christianity and Islam, and many historians say it influenced those faiths and cross-fertilized Judaism as well, with its doctrines of one God, a dualistic universe of good and evil and a final day of judgment.

While Zoroastrians once dominated an area stretching from what is now Rome and Greece to India and Russia, their global population has dwindled to 190,000 at most, and perhaps as few as 124,000"...(Cont.)...

Happy Birthday Mithras

Who was the god born of a virgin in a cave on December 25th? Who died and was resurrected in order to become an intermediary god between man and the good god of light?  Thats right - Mithras.  Sound familiar.
Here is some more information from Dies Natalis Solis Invicti and Mithras

"Since earliest history, the Sun has been celebrated with rituals by many cultures when it began it's journey into dominance after it's apparent weakness during winter. The origin of these rites, Mithrasists believe, is this proclamation at the dawn of human history by Mithras commanding His followers to observe such rites on that day to celebrate the birth of Mithras, the Invincible Sun."

But the actual choice of December 25 for Christmas was thought to have been made under the Emperor Aurelian* because this was the date of the Winter Solstice and was the day devotees of Mithras celebrated the dies natalis solis invicti 'birthday of the invincible sun". ...(Cont)...
 
 And here is a bit more info on MITHRAISM

Sorcery - Witchcraft Charges On The Rise In Saudi Arabia

Here is a disturbing story about an increase in sorcery charges being brought by the Saudi Religious Police.  The report was prepared by Kelly McEvers of NPR:

"...The religious police headquarters in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, has an entire department devoted to combating sorcery and witchcraft and regularly distributes pamphlets and DVDs. In one DVD, which is set to religious music, police search people's homes for signs that they practice witchcraft."  ...(Cont.)...

Ancient festive customs in Wales

Here is an informative seasonal article from Wales Online:

"MARI LWYD – the Grey Mare
A horse’s skull with false ears and eyes attached, plus reins and bells, draped with a white sheet and decorated with colourful ribbons was carried around the village on a pole.

It was carried from door to door, by a party of people. At each door, poems were recited in Welsh. Those inside the house replied, also in verse, refusing to let the Mari Lwyd in until this battle of verse and insults (or “pwnco”) was won." ...(Cont.)...

Pope's Christmas message - Paganism = "Heart of Stone"

Check out the Pope's annual Christmas message.  Toward the end of the text he takes one of his many shots at Paganism:

"Origen, taking up one of John the Baptist's sayings, saw the essence of paganism expressed in the symbol of stones: paganism is a lack of feeling, it means a heart of stone that is incapable of loving and perceiving God's love. Origen says of the pagans: "Lacking feeling and reason, they are transformed into stones and wood"  ...(Cont.)...

"Everybody Must Get Stoned" - Bob Dylan
"Let Me Bring You Songs from the Wood" - Ian Anderson

Witchcraft accusations in Nepal

Here is a disturbing story from the mountainous country of Nepal. The article is from Inter Press Service.

"KATHMANDU, Dec 23 (IPS) - Just 40 kms away from the capital Kathmandu, in Thasingtole, Lalitpur District, Kalli Kumari B.K., 46, a local Dalit woman, was mercilessly beaten up. She was accused of being a 'witch', imprisoned in a shed and forced to..." ...(Cont.)...

Group helps women find empowerment through nature, goddesses

Here is a local story from Contra Costa County in the Bay Area of Northern California.  It is about a local group called Daughters of the Goddess which is made up of Wiccan and Pagan women.  The story appeared yesterday in the Contra Costa Times.

"We celebrate the Earth and all of her children, so the thought of 'We're out there doing evil or bad things' is not even part of the picture," Erickson said.

Beside seasonal celebrations like solstice, the women gather for prayer circles, retreats and a yearly spiral dance. Women of all ages are welcome.

Events take place throughout the East Bay, often centered on a specific goddess or theme. The women build an altar and sing, dance, pray, share their hopes and goals and draw on each other for support."  ...(Cont.)...

BBC - "Record number of Pagans Celebrate Winter Solstice in UK"

Here is a video report from Robert Pigott of the BBC on the record and growing numbers of Pagans in Britain.

Avatar - Many Views

Here are some interesting reviews of the movie I just saw and quite liked - Avatar. Watch the trailers.

This review one comes from the Blog - Immanence

 "New York Times op-ed columnist Ross Douthat has it partly right: with its tree/Goddess-worshipping, tribal-shamanic-indigenous-hunter-gatherer-Daoist-pagan New-Age all-is-One-ism, Avatar is an expression of the longstanding American tradition of pantheist nature spirituality. Douthat thinks that that's mainstream and that Hollywood is fully behind it, but it's really still the insurgent religion to muscular Christianity and militarist nationalism. This is one of the rare films in which the Goddess (Mother Nature & the Natives) takes on the Capitalist War Machine and... well, you'll have to see who wins."  ...(Cont.)...

And here is a view from a blog at  Frames / Sing:

 "Let’s just say that I am recovering. It is a carefully sculpted onslaught, discretely spaced with only a few flaws, but an onslaught nonetheless. And I am recovering. It’s Pocahontas meets Full Metal Jacket meets The Diving Bell and the Butterfly meets Alien meets Coming Home meets Dragonheart meets Dersu Uzala meets Brainstorms meets Total Recall meets The Legend of Zu meets Tron meets Dances with Wolves meets Final Fantasy IV meets Logan’s Run, all of this meeting Ecological Crisis ideology meets Indigenous nostalgia meets Disney ethnic cliché and New Age ascension, and all of that sum colliding with the categorical mytho-aesthetic effect of the first Star Wars and possibly 2001." ...(Cont.)...

And again from Frames/ Sing another blog review:

"Ideology: Behind it all is the Spielberg factor, i.e., that the overt message (‘Man vs. Nature’, or rather high-modernist techno-capitalism vs. Body-Shop-nature-tech) is undercut by the implicit message that it is science, technology, and Hollywood magic — the Image Industry, the Spectacle — that enchants us and brings us what we really want. And they bring us new life, maybe eternal life, through the New Age science of neuro-energetics, gene-splicing, virtual-reality, and all the rest. ‘Jake Sully’ the Na’vi avatar (not the marine) is, after all, a zombie: his body is a remote-controlled, genetically-engineered robot."...(Cont.)...

Check out this holiday movie that the boys from South Park dubbed as "Dances With Smurfs," and then dive into the discussions and reviews.

Free Winter Solstice Music from the Paul Winter Consort

How about some music for the Winter Solstice from the Sampler for the 30th Winter Solstice Celebration Dec. 17-19 held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City -  http://www.solsticeconcert.com/. They just finished restoring this cathedral after working on it for over 30 years.

This free album features works from the Paul Winter Consort's Grammy-winning albums "Crestone" and "Silver Solstice" and the Grammy-nominated album "Earthbeat" with the Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble. The title is Solstice Journey, and you can down load or just listen to the entire nine track album on your computer for FREE.

There is also a nice review with some video clips of this year's New York concert in the 2 Witches blog

"It was truly a magical and awe inspiring event – the music floated through the cathedral, beating drums awakened the soul, the golden ship (symbol of the sun) sailed down the center aisle, the whales sang and the sounds of the night (owls, crickets) paid homage to the longest night and then the vibrating sounds of the sun gong were heard as it it was slowly raised 100 feet, all the way to the ceiling of the cathedral. We howled with the wolves and honored the Mother Earth." ...(Cont.)...

(Disclaimer) No one gave me or anyone else in COG anything to post this.

Astrology Chart for Winter Solstice

This comes from the astrologer Lynn Hayes from large Religion Blog site - Beliefnet

"Today's Solstice chart shows a tight conjunction of the Sun to Pluto, planet of death and rebirth, suggesting that something will end during this period and something born anew. Because Pluto is still widely challenging Saturn in a square formation this change and transformation will likely not come easily. Something that is already established (Saturn) will have to be surrendered (Pluto) in order for evolution to occur.

Meanwhile the Moon aligns with the triple conjunction of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron, with all four planets in the inventive and intensely humanitarian sign of Aquarius. The Moon's conjunction with Jupiter depicts the hope for an awakening (Aquarius) into possibility (Jupiter), but the presence of Neptune suggests that his hope may be an illusion if we do not maintain a sense of spiritual focus during this period. The addition of Chiron ensures that emotional clearing will assist in the transformation process."...(Cont.)... 

Winter Solstice at Stonehenge, U.K. - now and 4500 years ago

Here is a story from the Telegraph in England

"The solstice is celebrated on the shortest day of the year, usually December 21, marking the first day of the season of winter.

But this year the druid and pagan community will mark the ancient tradition on the morning of Tuesday, December 22, which is officially the shortest day of the year. 

Solstice does not always fall on December 21 because the modern calendar of 365 days a year, with an extra day every four years, does not correspond exactly to the solar year of 365.2422 days".. ...(Cont.)...

Here is another from the Guardian  in the U.K.

"Experts believe that huge midwinter feasts were held in that period at the site and a startling picture is now emerging of just how far cattle were moved for the banquet. Recent analysis of the cattle and pig bones from the era found in the area suggests the cattle used were walked hundreds of miles to be slaughtered for the solstice celebrations – from the west country or west Wales".... (Cont.)... 

Winter Solstice at Newgrange in Ireland

Here is a story from the Irish Times  regarding a person who witnessed the Winter Solstice sun rise at Newgrange, County Meath in Ireland.

"AFTER THE longest night of the year, this morning’s sunrise at the famous Neolithic monument at Newgrange, Co Meath, is, as always, welcome and rich in symbolism. The ancient ritual of greeting the rising sun, now acknowledged by modern man, marks the beginning of the end of winter; daylight will now slowly begin to reassert itself.' ...(Cont)...

'Too late' to save northern white rhino

Here is a depressing story out of my local paper's web site in San Francisco - SF Gate
It seems that the various northern white rhinos in zoos around the world are not breeding in captivity.  They have pretty much died out in Africa.  They have decided to send some of the few that are left back to a preserve in Kenya.

"A 38-year-old northern white rhino born in south Sudan ate African grasses for the first time in three decades Monday, the first full day on the continent for the world's last four northern white rhinos capable of breeding."

This is the last chance they have to save this subspecies. 

"The four rhinos landed in Kenya on Sunday after flying in from a zoo in the Czech Republic. They were transported in wooden crates that read "Last Chance to Survive." Only eight northern whites are believed to remain."...(Cont)...

Starhawk - "Climate change, the moral imperative of our age"

Starhawk has her new Washington Post, ON-Faith Blog out titled "Climate change, the moral imperative of our age".  She speaks about her impressions of the Copenhagen talks and what we ourselves as citizens and Pagans can do individually and collectively:

"There's a Native American proverb, I'm told, that says, "If we don't change our direction, we're going to wind up where we're headed." And where we're headed is disastrous: the disappearance of glaciers (already melting!) that supply water to hundreds of millions of people; the intensification of storms and hurricanes; the rising sea levels that will drown whole island nations and menace all the world's coastal cities; the loss of huge sectors of the biodiversity, the menace to all the life support systems upon which we depend.

These impacts will first be felt more deeply by those with the least resources and the least responsibility for creating them. That's a moral issue, and for the richest, most developed countries to evade responsibility and refuse to provide resources and funding for the shift is a complete moral failure that should have us all blushing in shame if not cringing at the short-sighted greed and stupidity. For eventually we in the developed world will also have our prosperity and survival undermined."

By linking to Starhawk's blog I am not saying that COG as an organization is endorsing any or all of her ideas and conclusions on climate change, or on any issue for that matter.  It is just that she is a major news making Pagan who is a former member of COG, and has a regular column in the Washington Post.  Agree or not it is important that we keep track of what she is saying. She is one of our most important Pagan public figures.  So when she speaks it is newsworthy.

Seven out of ten people live in countries with "High" restrictions on religious freedom

The majority of the people in the world – seven in 10 – live in countries with high restrictions on religious freedom, according to a recently released Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life report.

The report found that the most restrictive region on both government and social restrictions is the Middle East/North Africa. The Americas are the least restrictive on both measures with  Brazil and the US having  low scores on religious freedom restrictions. Italy, South Africa, Japan, and Britain scored low as well.

On the other end, Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, India, and Indonesia ranked among the highest in terms of religious restriction.

Here is an article on the subject from The Christian Science Monitor, and here is a PDF File of Report itself.

ABC interview at The Parliament with Dr. Glenys Livingstone

Over at Pagans at the Parliament  they are letting us know that there is an ABC interview entitled “The Good Life and Modern Paganism"  It was recorded at the Parliament on Wednesday, Dec. 9th. and is about 13 minutes long. It begins this way:

"On the last morning of the Parliament- on my way into the Melbourne conference centre, I saw two circles of mainly young people moving in a ritualistic way as the sun rose over them. As I drew closer, I could hear words about the earth and about blessing. I guessed it was a pagan circle- and waited behind to speak to some of the people who were taking part...."

You can listen to this interview yourself with Dr Glenys Livingstone at -  http://www.abc.net.au/sundaynights/stories/s2769536.htm

4,000-year-old bouquet of flowers found at Bronze Age dig

Here is an interesting Archaeological story from the BBC

"Proof that pre-historic people placed bunches of flowers in the grave when they buried their dead has been found for the first time, experts have said.Archaeologists have discovered a bunch of meadowsweet blossoms in a Bronze Age grave at Forteviot, south of Perth. The find is reported in the journal "British Archaeology", out this week. "  ...(Cont.)

A Devotional Anthology for Hekate

I found this link - http://www.neosalexandria.org/bearingtorches.htm while looking at the Executive Pagan blog site.  It is a pitch for a new and sounds like a very interesting book that I thought I would pass on.  If someone goes out and gets it you might report back what you think of this book.

(Disclaimer)  NO, NO, NO, person has given me a copy of this book or any other consideration for making this presentation!


"Bearing Torches: A Devotional Anthology for Hekate
By the Editorial Board of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Price: $17.99
Publication Date: November 30 2009
ISBN/EAN13: 1449917046 / 9781449917043
Page Count: 200
Binding Type: US Trade Paper
Hekate is, without question, one of the most popular goddesses in the world today, worshiped by Hellenic Recons, Wiccans, and Neo-pagans alike.

Hekate has many roles and many guises. To some she is a beautiful maiden, to others the dark mother. She has been called the guide of souls; the protector of the home; the giver of wealth; the mistress of powerful magic and frightful witches; the dweller on the threshold and the place where three roads meet.

These and other aspects of the goddess are explored in the pages of this unique book, which honors Hekate’s diversity by collecting a wide array of offerings from her modern-day devotees, including poetry, essays, short stories and accounts of personal experiences.

Whether you’ve worshiped Hekate for ages or are just now discovering the power of this awesome goddess, you will want to read Bearing Torches.

Bearing Torches is the fourth devotional anthology in Neos Alexandria's Bibliotheca Alexandrina series, a collection of books dedicated to the gods of Greece and Egypt. It can be purchased from our online store by visiting the following link: http://www.createspace.com/3412591"

What is Pagan? - Audiofile Update

There has been somewhat of a stir in the Pagan blogosphere about what transpired at the People Call Us Pagans – The European Indigenous Traditions  panel presentation at the Parliament of the World's Religions – December 4, 2009 9:30 am.  The presenters were Angie Buchanan, Andras Corban-Arthen, and Phyllis Curott.  Many folks seem to be concerned about what went on, but are not quite sure what was said or if it was reported correctly.  The Pagans at the Parliament blog site has just posted an audio file of the entire one hour and thirty minute presentation.  So people can hear for themselves how some of our important Pagan representatives are presenting themselves at this world interfaith gathering.

Connecticut woman sues for being fired for celebrating a pagan holiday

I found this interesting bit of news from a story in the Boston Herald.  A Woman from Connecticut named Gina Uberti who was Bath & Body Works manager, and who practices witchcraft claims her boss fired her for using vacation time to attend Salem’s annual Halloween celebration. She is charging this in a recently filed federal lawsuit.

"But in court filings, Uberti alleged that the chain canned her after eight years because she took time off for the holiday, also called “Witches’ New Year.”

Uberti, a Bath & Body Works district sales manager, claims she’d taken vacation around Samhain for years, but said her new supervisor flipped out when learning why.

During a Nov. 4, 2008, phone call about her absence, Uberti’s boss allegedly said: “That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard,” adding, “Well, you will need a new career in your new year. . . . I will be damned if I have a devil worshipper on my team.” 

Let us hope that justice will prevail, and folks in that area may want to keep track of how this case progresses.

"Druid" charged with raping Island County, Washington Girl.

About 25 miles north of the Seattle, Washington area is Island County.  Their local newspaper The Whidbey News Times is reporting a disturbing story that could have a negative impact on the local Pagan community.  We have a number of national COG members from around that area, and perhaps you might know something more about the case, or the man Daniel Doherty, a former Oak Harbor resident who is charged with child rape in this case.  Did he actually have local community ties or was he just an unknown individual taking advantage of the title "Druid."

"Detective Laura Price with the Island County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case after the alleged victim, who is now 21 years old, came to her office and reported the abuse last month.
The woman claimed that Doherty raped and molested her from the ages of about 11 to 19. She said the sexual assaults were frequent, usually one or more times a week.
“He convinced her that she should keep their relationship a secret, and that the sexual acts were part of a Druid religion where they were pleasing the Goddess, Epona,” Price wrote.
The woman claimed Doherty sexually assaulted her every Equinox and Solstice in “celebration,” the report states. He told her that the sex acts “strengthened the bond between Druid teacher and student,” the detective wrote."

Here is what Jason over at The Wild Hunt Pagan blog had to say, and I could not agree more with the sentiment expressed:

"I’d like to take this opportunity to send a message to all young men and women exploring modern Paganism. No real Pagan teacher or clergy will ever demand sex, especially from a minor, in exchange for initiation, or in “celebration” of anything. If you are in a situation, either with an individual, or group, that makes you feel uncomfortable, or pushes your sexual boundaries, get out, alert someone you trust (parent, relative, teacher), and if they transgressed with you sexually, alert law enforcement officials immediately. No matter how wise or powerful someone seems, there is no basis for mandatory ritualistic sex in modern Pagan rituals. Sex, when it happens in modern Paganism, should be with consenting adults, not with self-styled Druids and pre-teens. That isn’t Pagan religion, that’s abuse.

I say this, not merely as a concerned member of the Pagan community, but as a former victim of ritualized abuse within the Pagan community. It is very difficult for me to admit that in a public forum, but I want to stress that this can happen to anyone, and that no person, no matter how smart or clever they think they may be, are completely immune to the mind-games and power-trips that are often the prologue to outright sexual abuse. If you ever feel in danger, get out, get help, and call the police. Don’t let these monsters steal your power, your happiness, or mar your personal connection to the gods."

If anyone from the area knows something about the accused, the case, or can help in any way please do so.
There may be some media blow back against our community so try to monitor, report and respond to that as well.

Amazon Natives share concerns over climate change negotiations

Here is a story from the Indian Country Today news web site:

"As scientists and government representatives gather in Copenhagen, Denmark to hammer out a global response to climate change, Amazonian Native leaders are concerned about how the outcome will impact their people and their territories.

Scientists estimate that tropical deforestation is responsible for about 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and that if rainforest destruction continues at the current rate, 430 billion tons of carbon will be released into the atmosphere. REDD advocates the claim that curtailing tropical deforestation can be a quick and cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions, complementing reductions in transportation, industry, energy production and other areas.

“The world owes indigenous people for having fought deforestation and prevented greater climate change,” said Diego Escobar, a Piratapuyo Indian from Colombia who represented the Coordinator of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) in Copenhagen. “When is the world going to pay us for having conserved all that forest and all that biological wealth?”

For some good news on the subject check out the article in Science magazine -The End of Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon.  It is co-authored by  Daniel Nepstad, a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Research Center.

Interfaith Youth Core

Here is a story not coming from our National Interfaith Reps. or the Parliament of the World's Religions.  It is about the vision of one Eboo Patel and is reported by the Chicago Tribune.

Eboo Patel -- the founder and executive director of Chicago's Interfaith Youth Core and one of the front men for the Obama administration's renewed focus on interfaith relations -- has won the $200,000 Grawemeyer Award, the most lucrative prize for a single work in the field of religion.

Selected from 67 nominations worldwide, Patel, 34, won the prize for his 2007 autobiography, "Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation."

"In America a lot of people say religion should only be private and you shouldn't talk about it," Patel said in an interview. "[As a result] people who seek positive cooperative relationships from different backgrounds forfeit the territory to those who seek divisive relationships between different religions. That public discourse became the framework through which people viewed religious diversity."

So, you may wish to check out the Interfaith Youth Core web site and see what they are up to.

Connection between Stonehenge and Madagascar's modern-day megaliths?

As I promised here is a recent archaeology story from Archaeological Institute of America web site. They are the people who publish Archaeology magazine.

"One of Madagascar's first native-born archaeologists, Ramilisonina's ethnological research on modern Malagasy traditions informs his study of ancient sites on the island. Together with Mike Parker Pearson of the Stonehenge Riverside Project, he also developed a new interpretation of the ritual landscape around Stonehenge and the nearby timber-post site known as Woodhenge. He spoke with journalist Richard Covington about the recent discovery of "Bluestonehenge", a site near Woodhenge and Stonehenge, and the similarities between Madagascar's living traditions and the burial rituals of Neolithic England." 

The same overall web site features an interactive story on the Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries of 2009.  You may also want look at the very interesting blog listed on the side panel here - Pagans for Archaeology

Wicca, Prayer, &, Bakersfield CA City Council

Over at Bakersfield.Com I found an interesting quote"

"When communities try to set up a totally open forum for prayers, "what usually happens is that sooner or later someone comes along from a religion that is unpopular or misunderstood" -- such as a Wiccan or Pagan -- "and the conservative Christians throw a fit...

No Wiccans or Pagans have opened Bakersfield's meeting, as far as anyone can remember.

When asked how she would react to a Wiccan invocation, Sullivan said the city would live up to its policy of not discriminating."

World Aids Day

Some of our members are requesting that we put up information on World Aids Day.  That day was December 1, 2009, a bit before I got this blog started, but here is some info. from the Everglades Moon Local Council I can pass on:

"Greetings Witchkin,
Several RHPC (Red Hills Pagan Council) members and I (Spiraling Heart Coven, EMLC) participated in the World AIDS Day interfaith service at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee on Tuesday. There were participants from about 15 different faith groups, including Gentle Shepherd MCC, Temple Israel, a member of our local Buddhist community, an Imam from the local Muslim community, St. Stephens Lutheran, United Church of Tallahassee, United Methodist Church, UU, All Saints Catholic Community, St. John's Episcopal, and others I can't recall right now.

Each faith group had a different section of the service which was ours to do with what we wanted, in our own tradition. One of the guys who participated with me made this video based upon our portion of the service and posted it on YouTube. I thought some of you might like to see it.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SolarPagan "
BB,
~Diana

Also, here is the official World Aids Day website, and articles from the Huffington Post and The Current on this important subject.

Copenhagen - Global Warming "Blogathon"

Gus diZerega, who I believe is a former COG member, has a Pagan Blog over at the large and important religious blog site known as beliefnet.

He points out that:  "There will be a "Blogathon" this weekend featuring a great many scientific experts as well as leading voices warning of global warming who are not themselves scientists. I recommend anyone seriously interested in this issue pop in to look around."

 So, if you are concerned about what is happening at Copenhagen, environmental science, global warming, or environmental politics - go and check out.

"Witchcraft" in the Canadian Criminal Code

Here is an interesting story from the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. It seems that the word "Witchcraft" is mentioned in a national fraud law in an interesting way:

"Every one who fraudulently
(a) pretends to exercise or to use any kind of witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment or conjuration,

(b) undertakes, for a consideration, to tell fortunes, or

(c) pretends from his skill in or knowledge of an occult or crafty science to discover where or in what manner anything that is supposed to have been stolen or lost may be found,
is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction."

The Star.Com covers this story as well:

"From January 1999 to October 2009, 38 people in Ontario were charged under Section 365, which deals with fraudulently pretending to exercise witchcraft, sorcery, fortune telling or conjuration.

The provision is really a remnant from the dark ages, said Alan Young, a professor at York University's Osgoode Hall law school. The charge, which was part of the code when it was enacted in 1892, has nothing to do with the occult, but with scammers who fake mystical powers, Young said. "

Many newspapers in Canada are full of advertisements by psychics. Psychic fairs are held in most major cities, and 900 numbers are advertised on television. The article goes on to cite a source claiming that there are in excess of 10,000 practicing psychics in Canada. There are members of our community who read cards at psychic and renaissance fairs and charge for services. One of our former members - Z Budapest was found guilty of a California version of a similar law over 20 years ago. I believe with COG's help she was able to successfully appeal that conviction.  

Even though this statute seems for now to be aimed at folks that collect big money from defrauded clients, the law's language offers easy potential for abuse, and all Canadian Wiccan psychic and tarot readers could potentially be at risk.

The Parliament Wraps Up

The Parliament of the World's Religions  has now come to a close.  Our National Interfaith Reps. are packing up and leaving Melbourne.  Don and Anna are traveling to New Zealand before they return in a few days.  Rowan and Rachael are traveling by train to a Pagan gathering and concert across the country before they return on December 15th.  I am sure that all of our Reps. will continue to post about their experiences at the Parliament as they have time and web connections to do so. 

Other Pagans have already posted Blogs about the ending of the Parliament.  I found this one by Ed Hubbard for The Pagan Newswire Collective. 

"To understand this event, it will be months in coming as it will take time to assimilate what has happened. For certain, Pagans have advanced their cause greatly, even while working towards understanding their place in the world. Modern Paganism has made a powerful outreach to the indigenous people and found common ground, something to build a future relationship on. As Pagans, we have discovered that maybe we are not as one community as we had believed, and that maybe we are several movements that share common ground, but have different traditions and origins. That maybe Wiccans need to find their own voice, which was completely invisible in the programming as a whole, and not rely as heavily on a Parliamentary Pagan background, which now seeks to align closer to being indigenous faith of Europe. All these things fill me at once about my experience."

T Thorn Coyle had this to say"

"I feel profoundly grateful for having attended the Parliament. There is much to write up still: about inter-religious dialog. About the fact that the upcoming meeting in Copenhagen was very much with us. About the indigenous people’s representation and statement. About the Dalai Lama. About Pagan identity. About identity in general. About the fact that we all have to work a little harder – together – to secure justice for the earth and all it’s denizens. I want to write about our placement in the solar system and the gifts we share. I want to write about theology and the preponderance at a gathering like this to shift deep understanding about the Non-Dual into nice words about a Creator God. .I want to write about doing and living theology rather than studying theology."

D Andrew Kille, a reporter from San Jose, CA. with Examiner.Com summed up the Dalai Lama's closing appearance this way:

"In a bit of unmistakable irony, the first sign that the Dalai Lama would soon be present at the Parliament of the World's Religions was the presence of metal detectors at the entrances to the Melbourne Convention Center. That this man, who probably more than any other embodies a spirit of peacemaking and global unity, might provoke someone to violence says much about the brokenness of our world, and the distance we have yet to travel....
 
The Dalai Lama challenged those who had attended the Parliament to work to ensure that the gathering had not simply been a social occasion. He urged them to draw closer together to make love and compassion real and to implement the dreams and possibilities that had been discussed there. He spoke of the need for a strong secularism- not a secularism that denies the importance of religion, but one which respects the practitioners of all religions and of none. Beliefs may differ, he said, but the core practices of love and compassion are common in all traditions."
 
In the Interfaith Space News and Notes Blog Mr. Kille also spoke about a special object he is bringing back from the Parliament:
 
"The other object is a stone, on which is painted a pathway, outlined in white dots in the Australian Aboriginal style. It is a gift, given to all the participants, from the Aboriginal community, along with a blessing for the Journey written by Vicki Clark of the Mutthi Mutthi:

As you journey on Our ancient land,

travel gently on Our Mother Earth,

with respect and care.

Hold the Spirit of the Sacred campfire

always in your heart and

may the Spirits of Our Ancestors

always watch over you and keep you safe."

As everyone returns home I am sure there will be a lot more stories to tell, issues to examine, and work to do. Stay tuned to both of our new COG Blogs.

What is Pagan?

*As new iformation comes in I return to this blog to provide updates. That way the thread or conversation stays in one place.      Greg - 12/13/09

Over at the Parliament of the World's Religions our National Interfaith Representatives are very busy with a number of other Neo-Pagans and Witches representing our interests. For years at countless meetings in many national and international interfaith groups Don, Rachael and Rowan have been presenting the idea that Wicca is the continuation and recreation of "European Indigenous Traditions." In political terms this position seems to give us more sway with big religious leaders because we move from the category of new "fad religion" to older "Indigenous Tradition," and therefore should be taken more seriously. Don and Rachael have done quite well in meeting with indigenous native groups in South America to make this case. Many of the folks there really feel that we are spiritual brothers and sisters.

In the Pagans at the Parliament blog: Ed Hubbard has this to say about what is transpiring there:

"The first Pagan presentation of the Parliament helped begin this change of identity and was called “People Call Us Pagans-The European Indigenous Traditions”, by PWR Trustees Angie Buchanan, Andras Arthen, and Phyllis Curott. The opening of the description is as follows: As the World confronts environmental devastation, we are beginning to appreciate the wisdom of Indigenous peoples who have lived thousands of years in sustainable harmony and spiritual connection with the Earth. After hundreds of years of suppression, most Westerners have forgotten that their ancestors once shared this wisdom as the Indigenous traditions of Europe."

The ground work that many of our COG and other Pagan representatives have been doing is beginning to pay off in a positive way. However, there seems to be some internal controversy on the horizon:

"Andras Corban-Arthen, who is a Parliament official and COG member, is of the opinion that, "Wicca, for example, cannot be seen as an indigenous Pagan faith practice and is instead a modern syncretic movement. Under this description Wicca therefore would not fall under the definition of Pagan, and would be squarely a New Religious Movement, while British Traditional Witchcraft could be considered a Pagan and Indigenous faith tradition. "

Needless to say that if this is the position from one of us and a Parliament official  it is a bit controversial.
Jason at The Wild Hunt  responds:

"So what does it mean if the Pagans who are representing us on the Parliament Board of Trustees are indeed willing to separate the “New Religious Movement” goats from the “European Indigenous Traditions” sheep within the global interfaith movement? How would we even quantify when a Pagan tradition crosses from “NRM” to indigenous? Claims of lineage? Claims of heritage? Would any proof be necessary? Or is this mainly a political act, with the “right” groups grandfathered in? Are book-taught reconstructionists “indigenous” while second or third-generation eclectic-tradition Wiccans part of a “syncretic” new religious movement? It just seems like a minefield"

Another COG member - Catherine Chapin-Bishop has this to say about Andras's reported position:

“So Pagan is redefined to include only indigenous religious movements? And Wicca is therefore not Pagan (despite its position as the forerunner of the Pagan resurgence of the 20th Century)? But British Traditional Witchcraft somehow is Pagan, presumably because it is “indigenous”? That’s just daft. There’s little plausible historical evidence for a continuous indigenous witchcraft tradition, inside or outside Britain, and what I know of BTW falls squarely within the history of Wicca as described by Ronald Hutton and others. I agree with Michael York that the Western Pagan movement does share some vital common ground with indigenous religions worldwide, and I am willing to be convinced that certain European Pagan traditions might plausibly be described as “indigenous.” But it flies in the face of both the recent history of the Pagan movement as a 20th and 21st Century phenomenon, and of what we know of the history of Wicca (including BTW) to redefine Paganism in this way. Plus, I’m not budging. I’m Pagan, and I know I didn’t delegate anybody at the Parliament to speak for me or to define me out of the religion!”

Still later Pagan scholar and writer, Michael York had this to say in the comments section of The Wild Hunt:

"The definition and re-definition of paganism is part of an ongoing and never-ending dialogue which itself is as much a part of pagan expression as is its nature veneration and worship of gods/goddesses, the Goddess and the God, and the Earth and her children. But at the same time, the conversation is not just one among ourselves but one with other humanities as well. If 'European indigenous spirituality' works or helps us in this more extended endeavour, there are those of us who will employ without any intention of defining an exclusive paganism that includes some but not others. Without a pope, central authority or official list of membership, there is _no one_ who can speak for the movement as a whole. But that being said, there are many of us who wish and attempt to speak _for_ the movement in the attempt to secure it legitimacy and acceptance in a world that misunderstands our traditions and may even seek to eradicate them"

Just now -12/12/09 - Aandras has posted to one of our COG lists that his origional statements have been misrepresented. He says this:

"I would just say that most of what I've read that has upset some people appear to be Ed Hubbard's own confused interpretations and conclusions, not what I and other speakers actually said or believe (e.g., I never said that Wicca isn't pagan, but rather, that I think Wicca doesn't fall within the category of "traditional paganism" which I defined as "geographically, culturally & ethnically specific," but rather fits under "neopaganism.") How Hubbard concluded one thing from the other is beyond me. Unfortunately, the number of jerky knees within the pagan movement doesn't seem to have decreased over the years"...

Here is a quote from retrieved from The Pagan Newswire Collective
Catherine Chapin-Bishop wiccazoidcat@mac.com  Dec 12 09:48AM -0500

"I think someone needs to do a follow up story/fact check on the Ed Hubbard report from the Parliament about Paganism being "redefined" by attendees of the Parliament of World Religions. This story appears to be growing in the retelling, and at least Parliament attendee Michael York's comments (on Ed Hubbard's original blog post, linked from Jason's Wild Hunt story on the issue) call the existence of the remarks in the first place into doubt.

However, I think the rumor mill is getting very busy with people's reputations. This one needs some fact checking, ASAP... Not a reporter-type, myself, just a blog-bloviator, so I won't be the one to do it."
Blessings,
Cat Chapin-Bishop

Again from The Pagan Newswire Collective:
Oberon Zell-Ravenheart oberon@mcn.org Fri, Dec 11, 2009 6:13 pm

"Indeed. This is pretty much exactly how we were defining Paganism around 40 years ago, right at the very beginning of the Pagan movement, when a handful of us first began using the word as a self-definition. I myself came up with the early definition of Pagan as "Indigenous folk religion." By this, however, we intended to be inclusive rather than exclusive. We did not intend this definition to be exclusively Euro-centric, but rather for it to create solidarity among all indigenous folk religions everywhere; to proclaim our solidarity as European Pagans with Native Americans, Africans, Polynesians, Hindus, Australians, etc. This usage enabled us to refer to, say, Native American spirituality as a basis of comparison (as most people
are fairly aware of Native American religion as being nature-based, honoring the Earth Mother, the Circle, 4 Directions, etc.). To this end we went to a lot of trouble to forge alliances with all these other Pagan traditions: Green Egg, as the premier Pagan journal, exchanged subscriptions and articles with everything from Akwesasne Notes to Hinduism Today-and those publications (with their very large constituencies) in return affirmed that yes, Native Americans, Hindus, Ifa, Kahunas, Shintos, etc. were also Pagans. There were some great articles about all this back in the '90s, as well as interviews with traditional shamans from Australia, Nigeria, Peru, Hawaii, Japan, North America, etc. along with those of European trads."

Clearly our National Interfaith Representatives will have allot of continuing in the trenches work to do when they return from Australia. Let us not let our own squabbles or misunderstandings undo the great work done by all of the Pagan representatives.

The Evolution of the God Gene

Over at the Witches and Scientists blog they are discussing the "evolution of the God Gene"
"There have been a couple of shots-across-the-bow directed at the neo-Atheists and others who delight in kneeling at the altar of reason. The above article points up the growing evidence that religion and spirituality have imparted an evolutionary advantage to our species: "

They are basing their analysis on a recent article in the New York Times:

"Religion has the hallmarks of an evolved behavior, meaning that it exists because it was favored by natural selection. It is universal because it was wired into our neural circuitry before the ancestral human population dispersed from its African homeland. "

In a New York Times Book Review on THE CASE FOR GOD By Karen Armstrong
Alfred A. Knopf. $27.95,

"These and other thinkers, she writes, understood faith primarily as a practice, rather than as a system — not as “something that people thought but something they did.” Their God was not a being to be defined or a proposition to be tested, but an ultimate reality to be approached through myth, ritual and “apophatic” theology, which practices “a deliberate and principled reticence about God and/or the sacred” and emphasizes what we can’t know about the divine. And their religion was a set of skills, rather than a list of unalterable teachings — a “knack,” as the Taoists have it, for navigating the mysteries of human existence."

This statement sounds allot like the underpinnings of modern Craft practice to me.

Obama Administration Officials meet with Patrick McCollum

Here is a story from Ed Hubbard with the Pagans at the Parliament Blog: 

On December 8, 2009, Obama Administration officials from the Justice and Faith-Based Initiative offices, met with select members of the Parliament of the World’s Religions. It was a small meeting of approx. 50 members from various faiths. Patrick McCollum, of Circle Sanctuary [and Cherry Hill Seminary], one of the principal advocates of Pagan based ministry, was invited to partake and speak during this meeting. He was among religious and spiritual leaders from multiple faiths including Native American, Australian Aboriginals, as well as contingents from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhists communities.

According to Rev. McCollum, the meeting was about how the Obama Administration can advance Interfaith relations in the United States. After McCollum’s discussion, officials from the White House sought him out, to have him meet with top officials of the administration to discuss how to limit discrimination and promote Interfaith education in the United States as well as internationally. Upon his return to the states, Patrick McCollum may be able to meet with members with the Justice department as well as the Offices of Faith Based Initiatives to discuss the many outstanding situations that are currently within the American court system.

This has been an advance forward for the Interfaith cause and for Pagans everywhere."

More on this story can be found at The Wild Hunt blog - along with some interesting comments.