Pagan street poet & composer - 'Moondog'

From Wikipedia:
"Moondog was the pseudonym of Louis Thomas Hardin (May 26, 1916 – September 8, 1999), a blind American composer, musician, poet, and inventor of several musical instruments. Moondog removed himself from society through his decision to make his home on the streets of New York for approximately twenty of the thirty years he spent in the city. He could be found on the streets of New York wearing clothes he had created based on his own interpretation of the Norse god Thor. Because of his unconventional outfits, he was known for much of his life as "The Viking of 6th Avenue"



More Moondog
Moondog - Invocation
MOONDOG, MOONDOG MONOLOGUE
Moondog - Elf Dance
Moondog - Trees Against the Sky
Moondog Music
Spirit of Moondog in Concert
Moondog - Lament I, "Bird's Lament"
moondog

Witches Wit Beer controversy

A message from CYNTHIA ELLER. Associate Professor, Philosophy and Religion. Montclair State University,

Clint Eastwood's - 'Hereafter'

Reclaiming Spiral Dance Ritual -San Francisco CA

Mohawk leader Jake Swamp has died

Jake Swamp was a Chief and an ambassador of the Mohawk Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) confederacy for more than 30 years.  He recently attended the Parliament of the World's Religions where he worked with CoG's National Interfaith Representative - Rachael Watcher on indigenous issues.  He will be sorely missed. 

From Indian Country Today:

"AKWESASNE MOHAWK NATION TERRITORY – Jake Swamp, the great Mohawk spiritual teacher, has died.

Swamp, a member of the Wolf Clan whose Mohawk name “Tekaronhianeken” means “where two skies come together,” passed away unexpectedly on the morning of Oct. 15 at Massena Memorial Hospital in Massena, N.Y. He was 68." ...(Cont.)...

From The Parliament of the World's Religions Blog:

"...Swamp served as Mohawk Nation diplomat in many instances. He addressed the Fourth Russell Tribunal in the Netherlands, was a delegate to the United Nations, met with leaders of foreign nations and advised representatives from the US Congress and Canadian Parliament. He worked closely with Dr. Greg Schaaf to have the US Senate pass a resolution acknowledging the influence of the Haudenosaunee on the US Constitution and thereby initiated a revolution in the understanding of American history. He was a delegate to two sessions of the World Parliament of Religions where he was affectionately called “el jeffe”." ...(Cont.)...

Some seasonal artwork from the hand of your NPIO

 Autumn Garden Impressions

Fall forest impressions

Fall Reds

Fall on the Feather River

Autumn Medley

Butte County Autumn Impressions

Autumn in Beldon Town



CoG members write and edit new book

Bridging the Gap: Working Within the Dynamics of Pagan Groups and Society, from Immanion Press - is written by Crystal Blanton a CoG member and local Second Officer for the Northern California Local Council.  The book was also edited by Michelle Mueller who is CoG's National Youth Interfaith Representative.

"Crystal Blanton is a trained and experienced Registered Addictions Specialist in the field of drug and alcohol counseling, which enhances her understanding of spiritual balance and how behavior and perceptions affect our everyday lives. As a mother of four, grandmother of three and a married wife of fourteen years, Blanton has experienced the ups and downs of family life and grown spirituality as a result. Professionally she has specialized in addiction studies and has experience in counseling, addiction, mental illness, developmental disabilities and criminal justice. Blanton found herself having to deal with the same issues within her own family unit and has used the heartache from these experiences to enhance her understanding of spiritual balance and professional understanding...

"Bridging the Gap: Working Within the Dynamics of Pagan Groups and Society will look at filling the common gaps in our community by using techniques as tools to assess, understand, and work with the changing dynamic of any group or coven. While maintaining a professional polish, the book uses humor, common scenarios, exercises, and resources to examine the commonalities between techniques used in the counseling profession; giving the reader concrete, professional solutions to coping with common problems."

Here is what Michelle rightly pointed out about my previous post, and all I can say is - whoops - I was not paying close enough attention when I put this out the first time.

"Greg,

Thank you so much for the post about Crystal's book and for finding the photo! That original news entry was written for Cherry Hill Seminary, so for that audience it was appropriate to frame me in the headline as I am Cherry Hill Seminary faculty.

Crystal is a COG member and the author, so for COG reports, it's important that Crystal receives the credit. Could you post another entry putting Crystal at the center? I would really appreciate it, and I'm sure so would she. Something like...

"COG member Crystal Blanton published her first book Bridging the Gap: Working Within the Dynamics of Pagan Groups and Society and is a featured author on the website of Immanion Press. The book was edited by another COG member Michelle Mueller.

Read about Crystal and the book here:  http://www.immanion-press.com/info/person.asp?id=89"

Thank you.

Michelle"

CoG's First Officer Elect has a new Blog

Peter Dybing has a new blog that already has quite a few posts on it.  So check out what he has to say to the world. 

Pagan In Paradise
   From misery to Hope in Haiti
   A collection of daily thoughts
   Islamophobia A Threat to the Pagan Community
   Directionally Challenged Pagans  
   Islam and 911
   Militant Pagan
   Young Lives

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi - October 2 , 1869 - January 30,1948

Yesterday was Mohandas K.Gandhi's birthday.  If we Pagans had Saints, he would most assuredly qualify.  He was the pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India during the Indian independence movement. Gandhi developed satyagraha which is defined as resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience. It was a practice and philosophy firmly rooted in ahimsa, or total nonviolence. His ideas and personal example gained India its independence from British colonialism  Gandhi's work inspired Martin Luther King and movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.

Here is more information on this great Pagan leader's life and work:
THE COMPLETE SITE ON MAHATMA GANDHI
Mahatma  Gandhi's One Spot Information
M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi - Wikipedia
Gandhi Jayanti: Mahatma's Quotes, Sms, Wallpapers