CoG members perform ritual at Michigan Pagan Fest

Written by Oberon Osiris, MRLC

Circle of Wondrous Stories member, Merlin RavenSong, along with HP/S Oberon and Banshee performed the pantheistic based “Reconnecting with the God and the Goddess” ritual at the Michigan Pagan Fest on Sunday, June 15. As it was an early ritual, the gathering was small. After the ritual, there was a round-table discussion on how each of us sees the Gods, which engaged every participant. Although the spotlight was on Pantheism, the ritual used an ancient invocation of Isis and there were a number of Egyptian designs on the altar.

Oberon and Banshee were also invited to attend a panel discussion, “As Within, So Without: Serving the Greater Community, Hard and Soft Polytheism in Modern Paganism” hosted by the members of Crossroads Tabernacle Church, a chapter of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church. Among the other panelists was former CoG member, Figment and also Lady Belladonna Laveau the Archpriestess of the Aquarian Tabernacle. Many topics relating to service were discussed and across the spectrum most participants held service to the community as an important part of their relationship to Wicca, Paganism and other spiritualities.

The fest, now in its 5th year, year, has featured a variety of known and locally known ritualists, teachers, presenters and other performers. One headliner was supposed to be Donald Michael Kraig, who sadly passed away earlier this year. His widow, Holly, was there and was well received for her own workshops and what she had to say about her husband.

Margot Adler's "Vampires Are Us: Morality, and the Fate of the Planet"

A Summary 

by Banshee ShadowWolf, First Officer 

Midwest Region Local Council

Margot Adler had a good-sized audience for her talk on vampires at Michigan PaganFest in Belleville, Michigan on Saturday, June 15. The audience was very receptive and engaged as she discussed the literary and cultural significance of the vampire. Adler explained why she got into reading vampire novels and stories. It was during a time when she was dealing with the illness and death of her husband that she started reading the novels. Since that time, she has read more than 200+ vampire novels.

Why do people love vampire stories so much? It’s not all about the sex, or sexiness of the vampire. It’s the idea of living forever and having special powers that’s part of the allure. People are fascinated with the idea of living forever.

Adler says vampires change based on what the culture at that time needs or requires them to be. Adler said that Barnabas Collins, from the daytime television soap, “Dark Shadows,” was the beginning of this current era of the morally-conflicted vampire. She then discussed some of the many vampire stories she has read. There was time for questions and for the audience to share their own favorite vampire novels with her.

Adler’s talk was based on an essay that she wrote on the subject, “Out For Blood.”

Midwest Regional Local Council (MRLC) of Covenant of the Goddess (CoG) serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.  MRLC maintains a commitment to increase cooperation among Witches and to help secure for Witches and Wiccans the legal protection enjoyed by members of other religions. Through members dedication to the Goddess, they seek to become a positive voice for CoG, standing in peace and fellowship with peoples of all religions, cultures and ethnicities for the sake of our beloved Earth, and all beings dwelling upon it.