Let's have some more pagan folk music from Europe.
The group Omnia refers to itself as a "neoceltic pagan folk" band. They are based in The Netherlands and Belgium and their members are Irish, Dutch, English and Belgian. Their traditional music features cultural forms from places around the world such as Ireland, England, France, Finland, and even Afganistan.
They play Celtic harp, mouth harp, hurdy-gurdy, bodhrán, guitar, bouzouki, didgeridoo, flutes of all kinds, bagpipes, various drums and percussion instruments. They sing in Welsh, English, German, Irish, Breton, French, Finnish, Latin and other languages.
Members of the band include:
Sic (Steve Evans-van der Harten); flutes, bouzouki, percussion, vocals
Jenny (Jennifer Evans-van der Harten); harp, hurdy-gurdy, bodhran, piano, vocals
Luka (Louis Aubri-Krieger); slide-didgeridoo, vocals
Joe (Joseph Hennon); DADGAD guitar
Mich (Michel Rozek); drums (2007 - 2009)
Tom (Tom Spaan); drums (2009 - present)
Yoast (Joost van Es); fiddle, guitar, mandolin (2009 - 2009)
The web site for Omnia
More from Omnia
Official Trailer OMNIA "PaganFolkLore"
Omnia - Richard Parker's Fancy
Omnia - The Bold Fenian Men
OMNIA - Promo Trailer live at Castlefest 2009
Omnia - Epona
Omnia - Fidhe Ra Huri
Omnia - The Raven - Pagan FolkLore Dvd
Omnia - Morrigan
Omnia - Opening Archeon: Dúlamán
Omnia - Niiv
Omnia - Luna
Omnia - Twa Corbiez
Omnia - Wytches Brew
Omnia - Dil Gaya HD
Omnia - Etrezomp ni Kelted
Omnia 10 - Pagan Polska
Omnia - Wolfsong (nieuw nummer)
Omnia - Dance untill we Die!!!! (Castlefest 2009)
Omnia - Taranis
Omnia - The old man tree
Omnia - Odi et Amo
Omnia - Auta Luonto
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
"Police Work With Wicca Community After Stabbing"
It looks like our community's efforts seem to be working with the coverage of the Wiccan related murder case in New Mexico. Here is a story from KOAT the ABC affiliate in Albuquerque.
..."Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said his detectives are trying learn more about the religion Sanford claims to practice.
"Our detectives are trying to educate themselves and I know we have some community members of the Wiccan [practice] who have offered to share information with us about what the religion is and is not," said Schultz.
Schultz said he's getting a lot of e-mails and phone calls from the Wiccan community in New Mexico and across the country stressing that murder and violence are not part of their beliefs.
Schultz said Sanford's Wiccan connections are not confirmed." ...(Cont.)...
..."Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said his detectives are trying learn more about the religion Sanford claims to practice.
"Our detectives are trying to educate themselves and I know we have some community members of the Wiccan [practice] who have offered to share information with us about what the religion is and is not," said Schultz.
Schultz said he's getting a lot of e-mails and phone calls from the Wiccan community in New Mexico and across the country stressing that murder and violence are not part of their beliefs.
Schultz said Sanford's Wiccan connections are not confirmed." ...(Cont.)...
Chamisa local PIO responds to New Mexico murder coverage
The following is a statement sent out by Madeleine Heyser - Public Information Officer of our Chamisa Local Council. This communication should be helpful, and it appears that the folks there will continue to monitor the situation and the media coverage as the story develops.
"Dear Editor,
A woman has been charged with murdering a man in the Albuquerque foothills. She said she was a Wiccan and defended herself by stabbing to death the man with whom she had been drinking. The Albuquerque police charged her with murder. We do not want to further comment on the details of this evolving murder investigation.
Instead we want to describe the Wiccan religion (also known as Witchcraft). After thousands of years of "bad press" we are coming out of the "broom closet" to educate the public about ourselves and our religion. Wicca, or Witchcraft, is an earth religion -- a re-linking with the life-force of nature, both on this planet and in the stars and space beyond. Women and men meet on the new and full moons and at festival times to raise energy and put themselves in tune with these natural forces. They honor the old Goddesses and Gods, including the Triple Goddess of the waxing, full, and waning moon, and the Horned God of the sun and animal life, as visualizations of immanent nature. We see the Goddess as the immanent life force, as Mother Nature, the Earth, the Cosmos, the interconnectedness of all life.
Modern Witches hold rituals according to the turning of the seasons, the tides of the moon, and personal needs. Most rituals are performed in a ritual space marked by a circle. We do not build church buildings to create this sacred, ritual space -- all Earth is sacred and in touch with the Goddess and so any place, indoors or out, may be consecrated for ritual use. Two main activities occur at a Wiccan ritual: celebration, and the practice of magic. Celebration is most important at the major seasonal holy days, the Sabbats. At these times, the myths of that particular holiday are enacted in ritual drama, and dancing, singing, feasting, and revelry are all part of the festivities.
A primary tool, which is owned by most Witches, is an athame or ritual knife. The athame is charged with the energy of the owner and is used as a pointer to define space (such as casting a sacred circle) and as a conductor of the owner's will and energy. It is never used for mundane purposes, even for self-defense.
The spring religious celebrations include the holidays of Ostara and Beltane. Ostara is the Vernal Equinox celebration held around March 21. Beltane ocurs on May Eve (April 30). Numerous Ostara celebration were held during the past wekend. Some were public and some were private gatherings.
In summary, Wicca is a positive celebratory religion. A practicing Wiccan will never harm another, except in self-defense. The Covenant of the Goddess, COG, (www.cog.org), compiled and distributed this information. COG is a league of covens and individuals from all over the United States, with members in Canada and abroad. It was incorporated in California on October 31, 1975 as a non-profit religious corporation, with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of any church.
I can be contacted at
Vivianne1101@gmail.com or 505-268-9159.
Respectfully,
Madeleine Heyser
Public Information Officer
Chamisa Local Council of the
Covenant of the Goddess."
"Dear Editor,
A woman has been charged with murdering a man in the Albuquerque foothills. She said she was a Wiccan and defended herself by stabbing to death the man with whom she had been drinking. The Albuquerque police charged her with murder. We do not want to further comment on the details of this evolving murder investigation.
Instead we want to describe the Wiccan religion (also known as Witchcraft). After thousands of years of "bad press" we are coming out of the "broom closet" to educate the public about ourselves and our religion. Wicca, or Witchcraft, is an earth religion -- a re-linking with the life-force of nature, both on this planet and in the stars and space beyond. Women and men meet on the new and full moons and at festival times to raise energy and put themselves in tune with these natural forces. They honor the old Goddesses and Gods, including the Triple Goddess of the waxing, full, and waning moon, and the Horned God of the sun and animal life, as visualizations of immanent nature. We see the Goddess as the immanent life force, as Mother Nature, the Earth, the Cosmos, the interconnectedness of all life.
Modern Witches hold rituals according to the turning of the seasons, the tides of the moon, and personal needs. Most rituals are performed in a ritual space marked by a circle. We do not build church buildings to create this sacred, ritual space -- all Earth is sacred and in touch with the Goddess and so any place, indoors or out, may be consecrated for ritual use. Two main activities occur at a Wiccan ritual: celebration, and the practice of magic. Celebration is most important at the major seasonal holy days, the Sabbats. At these times, the myths of that particular holiday are enacted in ritual drama, and dancing, singing, feasting, and revelry are all part of the festivities.
A primary tool, which is owned by most Witches, is an athame or ritual knife. The athame is charged with the energy of the owner and is used as a pointer to define space (such as casting a sacred circle) and as a conductor of the owner's will and energy. It is never used for mundane purposes, even for self-defense.
The spring religious celebrations include the holidays of Ostara and Beltane. Ostara is the Vernal Equinox celebration held around March 21. Beltane ocurs on May Eve (April 30). Numerous Ostara celebration were held during the past wekend. Some were public and some were private gatherings.
In summary, Wicca is a positive celebratory religion. A practicing Wiccan will never harm another, except in self-defense. The Covenant of the Goddess, COG, (www.cog.org), compiled and distributed this information. COG is a league of covens and individuals from all over the United States, with members in Canada and abroad. It was incorporated in California on October 31, 1975 as a non-profit religious corporation, with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of any church.
I can be contacted at
Vivianne1101@gmail.com or 505-268-9159.
Respectfully,
Madeleine Heyser
Public Information Officer
Chamisa Local Council of the
Covenant of the Goddess."
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Alleged Wiccan connections to murder in New Mexico
Here is another difficult crime story from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Because the suspect is alleged to have a Wiccan connection the media will hype the case, and this one has already been picked up by the Associated Press. Perhaps folks from our Chamisa Local Council can keep track of developments in the local media so that the incident will not cause a back lash for our community.
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) -
"Update: At a news conference late Tuesday morning APD Chief Ray Schultz said Angela Sanford, 30, the woman who claimed she was attacked, has been arrested on an open count of murder. Sanford is a self-described witch, and the victim, Joel Leyva, was stabbed multiple times with a ritual dagger...
...The Wiccan community is outraged that a murder on a hiking trail is now being associated with their religion and now question if the murder suspect was really performing a ritual before she stabbed a man to death." ...(Cont)...
In the comments section on the story there is this quote:
"Please. If she was Christian and had stabbed someone on Easter, would this even be an issue? Religion has nothing to do with the fact that this woman seems mentally unstable. She also claimed on her Myspace site to be a vampire."
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) -
"Update: At a news conference late Tuesday morning APD Chief Ray Schultz said Angela Sanford, 30, the woman who claimed she was attacked, has been arrested on an open count of murder. Sanford is a self-described witch, and the victim, Joel Leyva, was stabbed multiple times with a ritual dagger...
...The Wiccan community is outraged that a murder on a hiking trail is now being associated with their religion and now question if the murder suspect was really performing a ritual before she stabbed a man to death." ...(Cont)...
In the comments section on the story there is this quote:
"Please. If she was Christian and had stabbed someone on Easter, would this even be an issue? Religion has nothing to do with the fact that this woman seems mentally unstable. She also claimed on her Myspace site to be a vampire."
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Celebrating Ostara
On Ostara from Wikipedia:
"Old English Ēostre (also Ēastre) and Old High German Ôstarâ are the names of a putative Germanic goddess whose Anglo-Saxon month, Ēostur-monath, has given its name to the Christian festival of Easter. Eostre is attested only by Bede, in his 8th century work De temporum ratione, where he states that Ēostur-monath was the equivalent to the month of April, and that feasts held in her honor during Ēostur-monath had died out by the time of his writing, replaced by the "Paschal month." The possibility of a Common Germanic goddess called *Austrōn-, reflecting the name of the Proto-Indo-European goddess of the dawn, was examined in detail in 19th century Germanic philology, by Jacob Grimm and others, without coming to a definite conclusion."
More Spring Equinox / Ostara links
History of Ostara - The Spring Equinox
When is Ostara 2010?
Vernal Equinox - Scienceworld
Ostara Or Vernal Equinox Is The Spring Celebration
Ostara
Ostara by Herne
Witchvox - Ostara..It's Not Just For Kiddies Anymore!
A Pagan Celebration of Spring
The Germanic Goddess of Springtime
Ostara Ritual
Ostara Fun for Everyone
Selena Fox - Celebrating the Seasons: Spring Equinox
YouTube - Ostara/Easter/Spring Equinox
YouTube - Ostara
YouTube - Ostara
YouTube - Ostara Ritual
YouTube - Easter Sunday - a Pagan Celebration
YouTube - Sacred Circle Ostara Ritual
Edain McCoy - Ostara - the book
Setting Up Your Ostara Altar
Correspondences: Spring Flower Magic
Huffington Post - Vernal Equinox
Mexican Police turn to Haitian Voodoo, Cuban Santeria and Mexican witchcraft for protection
Here is a somewhat disturbing story from the drug war plagued border areas of Mexico near California as reported by Reuters:
"...In secret meetings that draw on elements of Haitian Voodoo, Cuban Santeria and Mexican witchcraft, priests are slaughtering chickens on full moon nights on beaches, smearing police with the blood and using prayers to evoke spirits to guard them as drug cartels battle over smuggling routes into California.
Other police in the city of Tijuana, across the border from San Diego, tattoo their bodies with Voodoo symbols, believing they can repel bullets." ...(Cont.)...
"...In secret meetings that draw on elements of Haitian Voodoo, Cuban Santeria and Mexican witchcraft, priests are slaughtering chickens on full moon nights on beaches, smearing police with the blood and using prayers to evoke spirits to guard them as drug cartels battle over smuggling routes into California.
Other police in the city of Tijuana, across the border from San Diego, tattoo their bodies with Voodoo symbols, believing they can repel bullets." ...(Cont.)...
North Carolina Goddess Temple to celebrate spring equinox
Here is an interesting holiday story from North Carolina as reported in the CITIZEN-TIMES.com:
"ASHEVILLE — After making it through the harsh winter, people in Western North Carolina are looking forward to the warm sun of spring. Some are preparing to celebrate the season's change with an ecumenical ritual.
Saturday officially marks the first day of spring, being the day of the spring equinox...
Saturday's event is open to all faith traditions, said Byron Ballard, wiccan priestess and a member of the temple. Mother Grove “isn't a wiccan group, though some of us are wiccans,” she said." ...(Cont.)...
"ASHEVILLE — After making it through the harsh winter, people in Western North Carolina are looking forward to the warm sun of spring. Some are preparing to celebrate the season's change with an ecumenical ritual.
Saturday officially marks the first day of spring, being the day of the spring equinox...
Saturday's event is open to all faith traditions, said Byron Ballard, wiccan priestess and a member of the temple. Mother Grove “isn't a wiccan group, though some of us are wiccans,” she said." ...(Cont.)...
Friday, March 19, 2010
"Celebrating Spring: The Vernal Egguinox"
Here is a nicely informative piece from today's Huffington Post:
"Since the earliest times, the egg has been humanity's obvious and essential symbol for the significant atmosphere of the vernal season: birth, fertility, growth, eternity. The purely primal power, which comes from the handling of eggs at the equinox, has been a principle influence on many popular spring ritual practices throughout time and across culture...
The Spring Equinox has long been observed as the start of a new year throughout much of the world, which only makes sense. New life. New beginnings. New season. New Year. It is such a natural correlation. The spring, when birds lay their eggs, when plants and animals are born, when all of nature is refreshed, replenished, renewed, is a perfect time to begin a new year. March 25 was celebrated as New Year's Day in America as late as 1752 when Great Britain and her colonies adopted the new Gregorian calendar, which declared that, henceforth, January 1 would be the new New Year." ...(Cont.)...
It is nice to see mainstream media paying attention to our holidays.
"Since the earliest times, the egg has been humanity's obvious and essential symbol for the significant atmosphere of the vernal season: birth, fertility, growth, eternity. The purely primal power, which comes from the handling of eggs at the equinox, has been a principle influence on many popular spring ritual practices throughout time and across culture...
The Spring Equinox has long been observed as the start of a new year throughout much of the world, which only makes sense. New life. New beginnings. New season. New Year. It is such a natural correlation. The spring, when birds lay their eggs, when plants and animals are born, when all of nature is refreshed, replenished, renewed, is a perfect time to begin a new year. March 25 was celebrated as New Year's Day in America as late as 1752 when Great Britain and her colonies adopted the new Gregorian calendar, which declared that, henceforth, January 1 would be the new New Year." ...(Cont.)...
It is nice to see mainstream media paying attention to our holidays.
Call-in show host gets death sentence for 'sorcery'
Here is another disturbing report from Saudi Arabia from CNN:
"Amnesty International is calling on Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to stop the execution of a Lebanese man sentenced to death for "sorcery."
In a statement released Thursday, the international rights group condemned the verdict and demanded the immediate release of Ali Hussain Sibat, former host of a popular call-in show that aired on Sheherazade, a Beirut based satellite TV channel.
According to his lawyer, Sibat, who is 48 and has five children, would predict the future on his show and give out advice to his audience." ...(Cont.)...
"Amnesty International is calling on Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to stop the execution of a Lebanese man sentenced to death for "sorcery."
In a statement released Thursday, the international rights group condemned the verdict and demanded the immediate release of Ali Hussain Sibat, former host of a popular call-in show that aired on Sheherazade, a Beirut based satellite TV channel.
According to his lawyer, Sibat, who is 48 and has five children, would predict the future on his show and give out advice to his audience." ...(Cont.)...
Thursday, March 18, 2010
"Words and Trees"
Here are some interesting ideas coming from the this lively earth blog:
..."Meditators know the paradox. Becoming fully present in the moment means being able to interrupt the inner chatter, turn down the volume of the mental broadcast. Anyone who has sat quietly for even a few minutes knows how hard this is to do.
But the Dagara take the idea further. The amount of language a being uses, they say, shows how intelligent or foolish it is. In Dagara cosmology the beings closest to the center of meaning are plants and trees, for they do not depend on language to communicate. They are the wisest and most intelligent beings in nature. Farther away from the source are animals, who need some language to survive. And farthest away of all, the least intelligent species, are human beings, who rely almost entirely on words.
It’s the Western hierarchy of nature upside down. Instead of residing at the top of nature, close to the gods, we’re at the very bottom, far from home. In exile."
..."Meditators know the paradox. Becoming fully present in the moment means being able to interrupt the inner chatter, turn down the volume of the mental broadcast. Anyone who has sat quietly for even a few minutes knows how hard this is to do.
But the Dagara take the idea further. The amount of language a being uses, they say, shows how intelligent or foolish it is. In Dagara cosmology the beings closest to the center of meaning are plants and trees, for they do not depend on language to communicate. They are the wisest and most intelligent beings in nature. Farther away from the source are animals, who need some language to survive. And farthest away of all, the least intelligent species, are human beings, who rely almost entirely on words.
It’s the Western hierarchy of nature upside down. Instead of residing at the top of nature, close to the gods, we’re at the very bottom, far from home. In exile."
Bristlecone Pine photo by Greg Harder
Live Oak Woodland photo by Greg Harder
Saiint Patrick and "All Snakes Day"
Over at the Ocean's Ways Blog I found some interesting info about the Irish Saint Patrick:
..."Most of the druids, and many other pagans, were still around when Patrick died. It took a century or so after his death to finish the conversion process, and it was hardly what you'd call a complete success. This proves he didn't show up with an invading army and cut down all protesters. If he had, I think he'd have been the first Christian martyr of Ireland. They didn't get any blood martyrs there until the Vikings started showing up and poking at monasteries. The conversion process was one of social pressure and legal wrangling to switch power to the churches, not one of swords and bloodshed." ...(Cont.)
And here is a link to the Isaac Bonewits song - Bring Back the Snakes
So drink a shot of some suitable Irish whisky and sing along.
'Twas on a bright Midsummer's evening,
An old woman I chanced for to see.
She grabbed both my shoulders and shook 'em,
Saying, "Bring back the snakes to me!"
Bring back, bring back, bring back the snakes to me, to me;
Bring back, bring back, O bring back the snakes to me!" ...(Cont.)...
..."Most of the druids, and many other pagans, were still around when Patrick died. It took a century or so after his death to finish the conversion process, and it was hardly what you'd call a complete success. This proves he didn't show up with an invading army and cut down all protesters. If he had, I think he'd have been the first Christian martyr of Ireland. They didn't get any blood martyrs there until the Vikings started showing up and poking at monasteries. The conversion process was one of social pressure and legal wrangling to switch power to the churches, not one of swords and bloodshed." ...(Cont.)
And here is a link to the Isaac Bonewits song - Bring Back the Snakes
So drink a shot of some suitable Irish whisky and sing along.
'Twas on a bright Midsummer's evening,
An old woman I chanced for to see.
She grabbed both my shoulders and shook 'em,
Saying, "Bring back the snakes to me!"
Bring back, bring back, bring back the snakes to me, to me;
Bring back, bring back, O bring back the snakes to me!" ...(Cont.)...
Monday, March 15, 2010
Some Photos from Me
These photos and 5300 more can be viewed over at my
Maze in Briones Park in Contra Costa County, CA
Pantheacon 2009
Maze in Briones Park in Contra Costa County, CA
NROOGD symbol tattoo and sword
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The film - "American Mystic" and California's Stone City
While I was at Pantheacon last month I had the opportunity to drop in on a workshop featuring the work of some young documentary film makers. The title of their documentary is AMERICAN MYSTIC. The film is getting good reviews, and was nominated for the World Documentary Feature Competition for 2010, of the The Tribeca Film Festival.
"AMERICAN MYSTIC is a documentary about twenty-somethings, each a member of a fringe religious community, who have separated themselves from mainstream America in order to live immersed in their faiths. The film intertwines very intimate, apolitical portraits of three individuals in depressed areas of the country trying to lead more extraordinary, mystical lives: a Spiritualist in the former revivalist district of upstate New York; a Lakota sundancer in the badlands of South Dakota; and a pagan priestess living off the grid in old mining country in California."
The priestess featured in this film is Morpheus Ravenna, who, along with her husband Shannon founded the Stone City Pagan Sanctuary in the mountains near Livermore in California's Bay Area:
“Stone City was founded by Morpheus and Shannon on their land in Santa Clara County, California, beginning in 2002. Our purpose is to provide gathering space and facilities for Pagan community events, and permanent sacred spaces dedicated to the Old Gods. Stone City does not serve one single tradition or subset of the community exclusively – our intention is to be available to multiple traditions as a place for gathering, worship and support."
NCLC has supported Stone City by planting trees at their site, and our own Glenn Turner is a big booster for them as well. It is, and has been the site for her Ancient Ways Festival for a number of years. This year the festival will take place at Stone City on Wed. May 19 - Sun. May 23, 2010.
"AMERICAN MYSTIC is a documentary about twenty-somethings, each a member of a fringe religious community, who have separated themselves from mainstream America in order to live immersed in their faiths. The film intertwines very intimate, apolitical portraits of three individuals in depressed areas of the country trying to lead more extraordinary, mystical lives: a Spiritualist in the former revivalist district of upstate New York; a Lakota sundancer in the badlands of South Dakota; and a pagan priestess living off the grid in old mining country in California."
The priestess featured in this film is Morpheus Ravenna, who, along with her husband Shannon founded the Stone City Pagan Sanctuary in the mountains near Livermore in California's Bay Area:
“Stone City was founded by Morpheus and Shannon on their land in Santa Clara County, California, beginning in 2002. Our purpose is to provide gathering space and facilities for Pagan community events, and permanent sacred spaces dedicated to the Old Gods. Stone City does not serve one single tradition or subset of the community exclusively – our intention is to be available to multiple traditions as a place for gathering, worship and support."
NCLC has supported Stone City by planting trees at their site, and our own Glenn Turner is a big booster for them as well. It is, and has been the site for her Ancient Ways Festival for a number of years. This year the festival will take place at Stone City on Wed. May 19 - Sun. May 23, 2010.
Syracuse University's newest chaplain is pagan priestess Mary Hudson
Here is a interesting story from the state of New York and syracuse.com
"...Hudson earlier this month became the 11th chaplain on the Hendricks staff, taking her place among representatives of more mainstream faiths like Episcopalianism, Roman Catholicism and Buddhism....
Hudson is a third-degree priestess -- the highest rank -- in the Church of the Greenwood. She served for nine years as adviser to the SU student group Student Pagan Information, Relations and Learning. SPIRAL meets every Monday night and holds outdoor rituals on campus on some of paganism's eight annual "Great Days"....
As far as anyone at SU can tell, Hudson has only one counterpart: Cynthia Collins, pagan chaplain since 2002 at the University of Southern Maine" ....(Cont.)...
Dennis Nett / The Post-Standard
"...Hudson earlier this month became the 11th chaplain on the Hendricks staff, taking her place among representatives of more mainstream faiths like Episcopalianism, Roman Catholicism and Buddhism....
Hudson is a third-degree priestess -- the highest rank -- in the Church of the Greenwood. She served for nine years as adviser to the SU student group Student Pagan Information, Relations and Learning. SPIRAL meets every Monday night and holds outdoor rituals on campus on some of paganism's eight annual "Great Days"....
As far as anyone at SU can tell, Hudson has only one counterpart: Cynthia Collins, pagan chaplain since 2002 at the University of Southern Maine" ....(Cont.)...
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Pagan German Folk Music - Faun
From Wikipedia
"Faun is a German pagan folk/darkwave band formed in 2002. The originality of their music style is that they fall back to "old" instruments, and the singing is always the center of attention. The vocals are performed in a variety of languages, including German, Latin, and Scandinavian languages. Their instrument include celtic harp, Swedish nyckelharpa, hurdy gurdy, bagpipes, cittern, flutes and many others."
Faun Web Site
More
Faun - Unda (The Ring of the Nibelungs, 2004)
Faun Satyros
Faun - Gaia
Faun - Karuna (unplugged 2007)
Faun - Punagra
Faun - Andro
FAUN: Wind und Geige
Faun - Rosmarin (march 2007/ Totem tour)
Deva & Punagra (live) - Faun
Faun - Fort
Faun - Burcansko
Faun - Unicorne
"Faun is a German pagan folk/darkwave band formed in 2002. The originality of their music style is that they fall back to "old" instruments, and the singing is always the center of attention. The vocals are performed in a variety of languages, including German, Latin, and Scandinavian languages. Their instrument include celtic harp, Swedish nyckelharpa, hurdy gurdy, bagpipes, cittern, flutes and many others."
Faun Web Site
More
Faun - Unda (The Ring of the Nibelungs, 2004)
Faun Satyros
Faun - Gaia
Faun - Karuna (unplugged 2007)
Faun - Punagra
Faun - Andro
FAUN: Wind und Geige
Faun - Rosmarin (march 2007/ Totem tour)
Deva & Punagra (live) - Faun
Faun - Fort
Faun - Burcansko
Faun - Unicorne
The war on baby girls
Here is a disturbing article from The Economist:
"Killed, aborted or neglected, at least 100m girls have disappeared—and the number is rising...
For those who oppose abortion, this is mass murder. For those such as this newspaper, who think abortion should be “safe, legal and rare” (to use Bill Clinton’s phrase), a lot depends on the circumstances, but the cumulative consequence for societies of such individual actions is catastrophic. China alone stands to have as many unmarried young men—“bare branches”, as they are known—as the entire population of young men in America. In any country rootless young males spell trouble; in Asian societies, where marriage and children are the recognised routes into society, single men are almost like outlaws. Crime rates, bride trafficking, sexual violence, even female suicide rates are all rising and will rise further as the lopsided generations reach their maturity." ...(Cont.)...
"Killed, aborted or neglected, at least 100m girls have disappeared—and the number is rising...
For those who oppose abortion, this is mass murder. For those such as this newspaper, who think abortion should be “safe, legal and rare” (to use Bill Clinton’s phrase), a lot depends on the circumstances, but the cumulative consequence for societies of such individual actions is catastrophic. China alone stands to have as many unmarried young men—“bare branches”, as they are known—as the entire population of young men in America. In any country rootless young males spell trouble; in Asian societies, where marriage and children are the recognised routes into society, single men are almost like outlaws. Crime rates, bride trafficking, sexual violence, even female suicide rates are all rising and will rise further as the lopsided generations reach their maturity." ...(Cont.)...
Karen Tate - Voices of the Sacred Feminine
Over on Blog Talk Radio every Wednesday night you can hear Karen Tate - Voices of the Sacred Feminine:
"Every Wednesday night Karen Tate, host of Voices of the Sacred Feminine... Extended Edition interviews women and men who discuss Goddess as deity, archetype and ideal, the rising interest in the Feminine Consciousness and Right Brain Thinking. ...(Cont)...
There are lots of achieved shows that anyone can listen to at any time.
Upcoming Episodes
3/10/2010 7:00 PM - Men Who Love Goddess w/Michael York
3/24/2010 7:00 PM - Joan Norton - Mary Magdalene Within
3/31/2010 7:00 PM - Ancestral Memory Aids Creativity w/Julie Raymond & David Hillman
4/7/2010 7:00 PM - Elinor Gadon Discusses Women's Spirituality, Empowerment & Life
"Every Wednesday night Karen Tate, host of Voices of the Sacred Feminine... Extended Edition interviews women and men who discuss Goddess as deity, archetype and ideal, the rising interest in the Feminine Consciousness and Right Brain Thinking. ...(Cont)...
There are lots of achieved shows that anyone can listen to at any time.
Upcoming Episodes
3/10/2010 7:00 PM - Men Who Love Goddess w/Michael York
3/24/2010 7:00 PM - Joan Norton - Mary Magdalene Within
3/31/2010 7:00 PM - Ancestral Memory Aids Creativity w/Julie Raymond & David Hillman
4/7/2010 7:00 PM - Elinor Gadon Discusses Women's Spirituality, Empowerment & Life
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
'Hekate and Dreams"
I found a worthwhile and informative blog coming out of England by Sorita d'Este. She is the author of a number of books which appear on the side panel of the blog, and refers to her site as the "Website & Blog of an esoteric researcher, author, writer & priestess." Here is a good example of her work entitled Hekate and Dreams:
"...There are many examples linking Hekate to spells and charms related to sleep. In one such example from the PGM (Greek Magical Papyri) the charm given could be used both for revealing answers during sleep, or to cause someone else to not sleep. These types of spells can be found in many different magical traditions and a very similar one occurs in the Jewish Sepher ha-Razim (Book of Mysteries) in which the head of a black dog which had never seen the light is used. This spell which dates to the fourth century CE echoes not only the connection to dream oracles of Hekate, but of course that of the black dogs which were sacrificed to her, as well as a further connection to iron (a metal sacred to Hekate). There are many examples of cross fertilisation from Greek magic into later systems, reminding us that viewing any system of magic, ancient or modern, in isolation, is a mistake when your quest is for knowledge and understanding." ...(Cont.)...
"...There are many examples linking Hekate to spells and charms related to sleep. In one such example from the PGM (Greek Magical Papyri) the charm given could be used both for revealing answers during sleep, or to cause someone else to not sleep. These types of spells can be found in many different magical traditions and a very similar one occurs in the Jewish Sepher ha-Razim (Book of Mysteries) in which the head of a black dog which had never seen the light is used. This spell which dates to the fourth century CE echoes not only the connection to dream oracles of Hekate, but of course that of the black dogs which were sacrificed to her, as well as a further connection to iron (a metal sacred to Hekate). There are many examples of cross fertilisation from Greek magic into later systems, reminding us that viewing any system of magic, ancient or modern, in isolation, is a mistake when your quest is for knowledge and understanding." ...(Cont.)...
A dynasty of priestesses on Crete during the Dark Ages of ancient Greece
Here is an interesting report just in from USA Today:
"People then may have considered them sorceresses, or intermediaries with the gods," Bonn-Muller says. Led by archaeologist Nicholas Stampolidis, the team dates the four burials to 2,700 years ago. Earlier digs had discovered the remains of other women, buried together in large "pithos" jars from 2,800 to 2,600 years ago. All of the women appear related, based on distinctive features of their teeth, the team reports. "What's really remarkable is the find shows these women were a dynasty that lasted at least 200 years in this location," Bonn-Muller says....(Cont.)...
Here is Bonn-Muller's article from Archaeology Magazine.
'In an Archaeology magazine report, writer Eti Bonn-Muller details the results from last summer's excavation of a tomb at Orthi Petra at Eleutherna on Crete, where a team found the burials of a high priestess of Zeus and three acolytes this summer.
"People then may have considered them sorceresses, or intermediaries with the gods," Bonn-Muller says. Led by archaeologist Nicholas Stampolidis, the team dates the four burials to 2,700 years ago. Earlier digs had discovered the remains of other women, buried together in large "pithos" jars from 2,800 to 2,600 years ago. All of the women appear related, based on distinctive features of their teeth, the team reports. "What's really remarkable is the find shows these women were a dynasty that lasted at least 200 years in this location," Bonn-Muller says....(Cont.)...
Here is Bonn-Muller's article from Archaeology Magazine.
Monday, March 8, 2010
"Chants in Wiccan and Pagan Rituals"
I found an interesting article on chanting in Wicca and Paganism over at The Witching Hour Approaches Blog
"...Chanting occurs all through the ages and all over the world. What is the main purpose of chanting in religious and spiritual worship? It is a means of connecting and praying to a deity and the spirits. It has been used for thousands of years “as a means of awakening the inner self and achieving spiritual awareness.” Chanting and using music is a way of bonding and building community with others and is a powerful way of creating energies for working magick."...(Cont.)...
So, here are some Wiccan and Pagan Chants...
We all come from the Goddess
Circle Within A Circle
Earth My Body......
Ancient Mother
The Goddess Chant
The Charge Of The Goddess
Mother of Darkness Chant
Wiccan Song/Chant
Ancient Mother
The Kore Chant
Aradia's Chant
Cauldron Of Changes
We Are The Old Ones
Hoof and Horn Dance
We Are The Flow
Singing In The Circle
Witch's Rune
I Walk With The Goddess
Come To The Dance - Emerald Rose
Emerald Rose - Freya, Shakti
Spiral Rhythm- Children's Totem Chant
Spiral Rhythm- Dance, Children, Dance
Spiral Rhythm- I am a leaf
I am Pagan and I'm Proud!
I Hear You Calling
People are returning to the ancient ways
Lisa Thiel - Sacred Ancestors' Chant
Lisa Thiel - I Am The Goddess
Horned God Chant
Corner Casting 2nd chants
The Earth the Air the Fire the water
Element Chant.MPG
Spirits of Fire Chant
Dance, My Children Dance
Freedom
Sound Of Change
"...Chanting occurs all through the ages and all over the world. What is the main purpose of chanting in religious and spiritual worship? It is a means of connecting and praying to a deity and the spirits. It has been used for thousands of years “as a means of awakening the inner self and achieving spiritual awareness.” Chanting and using music is a way of bonding and building community with others and is a powerful way of creating energies for working magick."...(Cont.)...
So, here are some Wiccan and Pagan Chants...
We all come from the Goddess
Circle Within A Circle
Earth My Body......
Ancient Mother
The Goddess Chant
The Charge Of The Goddess
Mother of Darkness Chant
Wiccan Song/Chant
Ancient Mother
The Kore Chant
Aradia's Chant
Cauldron Of Changes
We Are The Old Ones
Hoof and Horn Dance
We Are The Flow
Singing In The Circle
Witch's Rune
I Walk With The Goddess
Come To The Dance - Emerald Rose
Emerald Rose - Freya, Shakti
Spiral Rhythm- Children's Totem Chant
Spiral Rhythm- Dance, Children, Dance
Spiral Rhythm- I am a leaf
I am Pagan and I'm Proud!
I Hear You Calling
People are returning to the ancient ways
Lisa Thiel - Sacred Ancestors' Chant
Lisa Thiel - I Am The Goddess
Horned God Chant
Corner Casting 2nd chants
The Earth the Air the Fire the water
Element Chant.MPG
Spirits of Fire Chant
Dance, My Children Dance
Freedom
Sound Of Change
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Pagans for Archaeology interview author - David Waldron
David Waldron is the author of the book, Shock! The Black Dog of Bungay: A Case Study in Local Folklore, and The Sign of the Witch: Modernity and the Pagan Revival. He was recently interviewed over at the Pagans for Archaeology site. Here is just a taste of what he had to say there:
"PfA: What can this study tell us about the links between folklore and the Pagan revival?
DW: I think a key issue for me was that transmission of symbols, images and ideas from the pagan past are very fragmentary, complex and ambivalent. People are very quick to throw the “Pagan Survival” label around because they so badly need to feel a connection to the past and a feeling of pastness in what they do. People can also be very quick to deny connection to a Pagan past when debunking. One thing that was really apparent to me when doing my research on the Black Dog of Bungay from a local history perspective, was that it is not a zero sum game." ...(Cont.)...
"PfA: What can this study tell us about the links between folklore and the Pagan revival?
DW: I think a key issue for me was that transmission of symbols, images and ideas from the pagan past are very fragmentary, complex and ambivalent. People are very quick to throw the “Pagan Survival” label around because they so badly need to feel a connection to the past and a feeling of pastness in what they do. People can also be very quick to deny connection to a Pagan past when debunking. One thing that was really apparent to me when doing my research on the Black Dog of Bungay from a local history perspective, was that it is not a zero sum game." ...(Cont.)...
Faith and the Muse
From Wikipedia
"Faith and the Muse is an underground gothic/darkwave band composed of two musicians, Monica Richards and William Faith. They are well-regarded in the gothic music scene as innovators and icons. Their music encompasses many genres, from folk-style songs to darker compositions. Richards is the primary singer, although Faith sings one or two tracks on each album. The band is hard to place in any single genre. Their influences include dark alternative, gothic rock, Celtic, and other folk influences. Welsh and Irish mythology have often served as inspiration to many of the band's songs."
More from Faith and the Muse:
Faith and the Muse Live Promotional Trailer
Faith and the Muse: Battle Hymn
Faith and the Muse : ankoku butoh : Trailer
Burning Season by Faith & the Muse
FAITH AND THE MUSE - Sredni Vashtar
Faith and the Muse- Prodigal
Faith and the muse - Dead leaf echo & and laugh but smile no more
Sparks / Faith and the Muse
Faith and the Muse - Part1 (live 06.11.2009
Faith and the Muse, "Cernunnos" at DragonCon 2009
Friday, March 5, 2010
"Anti-Gay Lawmaker At Gay Club Before DUI Arrest"
Here is another close to local story from Sacramento, CA. that I find somewhat refreshingly disturbing as reported by CBS13:
"Sources tell CBS13 that a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk after leaving Faces, a gay nightclub in midtown Sacramento, early Wednesday morning...
Ashburn, a father of four, is a Republican Senator representing parts of Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino Counties, with a history of opposing gay rights." ...(Cont.)...
Ashburn, a father of four, is a Republican Senator representing parts of Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino Counties, with a history of opposing gay rights." ...(Cont.)...
"Spanish exorcist addresses claims of Satanic influence in Vatican"
I found a rather strange and I think wacky story from the Catholic News Agency. By publishing this account they are clearly lending credence to this man's odd theories:
"In a book of memoirs released in February, the noted Italian exorcist Fr. Gabriele Amorth affirmed that "Yes, also in the Vatican there are members of Satanic sects." When asked if members of the clergy are involved or if this is within the lay community, he responded, "There are priests, monsignors and also cardinals!" ...(Cont.)...
"In a book of memoirs released in February, the noted Italian exorcist Fr. Gabriele Amorth affirmed that "Yes, also in the Vatican there are members of Satanic sects." When asked if members of the clergy are involved or if this is within the lay community, he responded, "There are priests, monsignors and also cardinals!" ...(Cont.)...
Wiccan altar in shop class "an opportunity to enlighten"
A teacher in a Iowa high school was disciplined for refusing to allow a student to build a Wiccan altar in his shop class. His decision and the schools action have caused somewhat of a stir in the local area and the press. Into the mix comes a rather thoughtful guest editorial from Kat Fatlandis a student at Drake University in the Des Moines Register:
"If Halferty thinks that learning about any valid religion is "terrible," he is thus prohibiting entire fields of knowledge from being accessed. If one reflects on reasons why anything should not be talked about in school, the only reason Halferty has is fear - and nothing is more degrading to knowledge than fear of it.
What was he afraid of when he prohibited this student from creating this altar? Was he afraid that other students might be interested? Not only is that a biased response from his own Christian faith, it is an ignorant one as well." ...(Cont.)...
Here is more from the original story in the Des Moines Register:
"A high school senior's desire to build a Wiccan altar in shop class has forced a community debate about free expression.
Dale Halferty, who has taught industrial arts at Guthrie Center High School for three years, was placed on paid leave Monday after he acknowledged to district officials that he told the student he could not build the altar in class." ...(Cont)...
"If Halferty thinks that learning about any valid religion is "terrible," he is thus prohibiting entire fields of knowledge from being accessed. If one reflects on reasons why anything should not be talked about in school, the only reason Halferty has is fear - and nothing is more degrading to knowledge than fear of it.
What was he afraid of when he prohibited this student from creating this altar? Was he afraid that other students might be interested? Not only is that a biased response from his own Christian faith, it is an ignorant one as well." ...(Cont.)...
Here is more from the original story in the Des Moines Register:
"A high school senior's desire to build a Wiccan altar in shop class has forced a community debate about free expression.
Dale Halferty, who has taught industrial arts at Guthrie Center High School for three years, was placed on paid leave Monday after he acknowledged to district officials that he told the student he could not build the altar in class." ...(Cont)...
Local story - "Double, double fun and bubbles"
Here is an article just in By Rich Freedman from our local Solano County. CA. - Times Herald
"Nobody's getting burned at the stake. No one's flying around the Benicia Clocktower on a broom. And there won't likely be a curse cast on anyone questioning the admission charge.
Dispelling myths is one purpose of Saturday's 2nd Annual Witches' Ball sponsored by The Pagan Alliance.
"It would be easier to put on Pagan events in Berkeley or San Francisco where there's a lot of drive toward diversity and tolerance," said JoHanna White, an event organizer. "But Solano County is traditionally more conservative and I think it's important for us to be out there." ...(Cont)...
"Nobody's getting burned at the stake. No one's flying around the Benicia Clocktower on a broom. And there won't likely be a curse cast on anyone questioning the admission charge.
Dispelling myths is one purpose of Saturday's 2nd Annual Witches' Ball sponsored by The Pagan Alliance.
"It would be easier to put on Pagan events in Berkeley or San Francisco where there's a lot of drive toward diversity and tolerance," said JoHanna White, an event organizer. "But Solano County is traditionally more conservative and I think it's important for us to be out there." ...(Cont)...
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Finish folk music videos
How about some Finish folk music from the group - Värttinä
"Värttinä is Finland's most successful contemporary folk music group, now celebrating their twenty-fourth year. Värttinä's roots are in the Karelia region of Finland – situated at the Finnish-Russian border – specifically in women's vocal traditions and ancient poems known as runos.
Fronted by three dazzling female singers and supported by six acoustic musicians, Värttinä composes most of their music and lyrics, based on traditional Karelian and other Finno-Ugric styles but with modern and thoroughly distinctive and original arrangements."
How about some more?
Värttinä - Äijö
Värttinä - Travuska
Värttinä - Tuulen Tunto
Värttinä - Mieleni alenevi
Värttinä - Nahkaruoska
Värttinä - Miero/Mierontie
Värttinä - Synti
Värttinä - Oi Dai
Värttinä - Varrii ompi tsaijuves
Värttinä - Tumala
Värttinä - Katariina
Värttinä - Tauti
Värttinä - Liigua
"Värttinä is Finland's most successful contemporary folk music group, now celebrating their twenty-fourth year. Värttinä's roots are in the Karelia region of Finland – situated at the Finnish-Russian border – specifically in women's vocal traditions and ancient poems known as runos.
Fronted by three dazzling female singers and supported by six acoustic musicians, Värttinä composes most of their music and lyrics, based on traditional Karelian and other Finno-Ugric styles but with modern and thoroughly distinctive and original arrangements."
How about some more?
Värttinä - Äijö
Värttinä - Travuska
Värttinä - Tuulen Tunto
Värttinä - Mieleni alenevi
Värttinä - Nahkaruoska
Värttinä - Miero/Mierontie
Värttinä - Synti
Värttinä - Oi Dai
Värttinä - Varrii ompi tsaijuves
Värttinä - Tumala
Värttinä - Katariina
Värttinä - Tauti
Värttinä - Liigua
Two million women come together at a festival for the Goddess
Here is an intreresting report from BBC News.
"India's southern state of Kerala may have hosted the largest gathering of women ever seen on the planet.
Clad in traditional Kerala saris and bearing offerings of food, more than two million women - perhaps more thronged the state capital Trivandrum on Sunday.
The women braved searing heat to offer a special meal at the Attukal temple to Hindu goddess Bhagavathy - one incarnation of the potent goddesses Kali and Saraswati." ...(Cont.)...
More on Bhagavathi from Wikipedia:
"Bhagavathi or Bhagavati (meaning goddess in Sanskrit) is the general way people refer to the Hindu goddesses in the Malayalam language of Kerala. It can be used to refer any of the Hindu goddesses like Durga, Kannaki, Parvati, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kali etc. Temples of these goddesses are referred to as Bhagavathi temples.
The most famous Bhagavathi Temples in Kerala are Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, "Chottanikkara Bhagavathi Temple", "Kodungallore Bhagavathi Temple", "Kavaserry Bhagavathi Temple" etc. There are some Bhagavathi temples in Alappuzha like Kottamkulangara Bhagavathi Temple, Mullackal Bhagavathy Temple, Pazhaveedu Bhagavathy Temple, etc." ...(Cont.)...
"India's southern state of Kerala may have hosted the largest gathering of women ever seen on the planet.
Clad in traditional Kerala saris and bearing offerings of food, more than two million women - perhaps more thronged the state capital Trivandrum on Sunday.
The women braved searing heat to offer a special meal at the Attukal temple to Hindu goddess Bhagavathy - one incarnation of the potent goddesses Kali and Saraswati." ...(Cont.)...
More on Bhagavathi from Wikipedia:
"Bhagavathi or Bhagavati (meaning goddess in Sanskrit) is the general way people refer to the Hindu goddesses in the Malayalam language of Kerala. It can be used to refer any of the Hindu goddesses like Durga, Kannaki, Parvati, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kali etc. Temples of these goddesses are referred to as Bhagavathi temples.
The most famous Bhagavathi Temples in Kerala are Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, "Chottanikkara Bhagavathi Temple", "Kodungallore Bhagavathi Temple", "Kavaserry Bhagavathi Temple" etc. There are some Bhagavathi temples in Alappuzha like Kottamkulangara Bhagavathi Temple, Mullackal Bhagavathy Temple, Pazhaveedu Bhagavathy Temple, etc." ...(Cont.)...
Monday, March 1, 2010
Could Coventry be named after water goddess Coventina?
Here is some interesting news about CoG's patron Goddess and the City of Coventry in England. The story is reported in the Coventry Telegraph.
"COVENTRY could be named after a water goddess, according to ex-pat David Fletcher, now living in Australia....
He believes the goddess Coventina is almost certainly the Lady of the Lake Sir Thomas Malory writes about in his Arthurian stories.
David goes on to say there would have been a strong possibility of a cult of Coventina existing during Lady Godiva’s time in the 11th century, adding such a cult would have been an affront to a devout Christian like her, who had endowed the local convent with her husband Leofric." ...(Cont.)...
Here is some more information on Coventina.
"COVENTRY could be named after a water goddess, according to ex-pat David Fletcher, now living in Australia....
He believes the goddess Coventina is almost certainly the Lady of the Lake Sir Thomas Malory writes about in his Arthurian stories.
David goes on to say there would have been a strong possibility of a cult of Coventina existing during Lady Godiva’s time in the 11th century, adding such a cult would have been an affront to a devout Christian like her, who had endowed the local convent with her husband Leofric." ...(Cont.)...
Here is some more information on Coventina.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)