8.18.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
West African Vodun is taking an important step towards modernization as Togo passes new laws (with the blessing of the Vodun divinities) that forbids pressing young girls into the service of the priesthood after their initiation as adepts.
"After a three-year campaign, rights groups claimed victory over a way of life that they said cut the girls off from their own families, sometimes involved ritual scarring -- and occasionally led to sexual abuse. But it took some intense lobbying of political and religious authorities in this small west African state -- and, it would seem, the voodoo divinities -- to get there ... Voodoo priests say that several hundred young girls are baptised every year as voodoo adepts, or voodoosi, after lengthy initiation rites of between three months and two years. Under the old system, instead of rejoining their families after these ceremonies, they had to stay at voodoo convents to serve the gods."
Under the new laws, it is a five-year prison sentence for anyone to take a child away from their family environment. This is a major shift in attitudes in one of the few countries where Vodun is still a major social and political power (60% of Togolese people are adherents of Vodun).
Speaking of Vodun, Speaking of Faith's blog takes you behind the scenes of their recent episode on Vodou.
"About two years ago, Patrick Bellegarde-Smith wrote us a brief e-mail asking if we had produced shows on “African and African-derived traditional religions” and recommended several volumes that he’d edited on Haitian Vodou, Cuban Santeria, Brazilian Candomble, and Umbanda. Our former associate producer Jessica Nordell called him asking for suggestions for people that he thought could speak about Vodou intimately. He was forthcoming and recommended many voices, including Claudine Michel. But we quickly realized that he was that voice — a Haitian aristocrat who was not only a scholar of the tradition but a practitioner who discovered Vodou in his early adulthood. We found his personal story about rediscovering his heritage and the spirit of the people of his country utterly captivating."
Check out SOF's archive of programs for a wealth of programming of interest to our faith communities.
In a town like Salem, even the cops are psychic!
"A retired Salem cop who swapped his badge for a crystal ball is still sleuthing - with backup from his friends from beyond the grave. Professional psychic medium Chuck Bergman, 57, spent 32 years pounding the beat in the Witch City, but says that since retiring five years ago he is finding old habits die hard. Initially skeptical of his “gift,” Bergman says he is now channeling the spirits to help police and desperate families find missing loved ones from coast to coast."
Forget "Medium", I want to see a police procedural set in Salem with a psychic cop! Maybe CSI: Salem? Forensics and Witchcraft, I'd watch it.
The Modesto Bee interviews a group of atheists about their struggles for tolerance and respect, including a self-described Pagan atheist.
"Shawna Amaral, a 22-year-old Modesto caregiver, said her parents and grandparents were Christians who never went to church or read the Bible when she was growing up. "They were too busy," she said. "Since nobody was there to teach me basic religion, I just came to believe that I can't believe in a god or a higher power or anything. "When I was 16 or 17, I discovered paganism, an earth-based religion. You don't have to believe in in a god or goddess, so I still consider myself an atheist in that way." Amaral said she lived in Alabama for a couple of years. When she told people she was an atheist, 'they'd call me a devil worshipper and said I'd go to hell. I'd laugh at them and ask how I could go to hell if I didn't believe in it to begin with.'"
I wonder if she has read Frederick Lamond's "Religion without Beliefs"?
While an American Indian spiritual leader hasn't been invited to the opening interfaith service at the Democratic National Convention, a gathering of Ute tribal leaders will be on hand for a "grand welcoming" ceremony.
"Colorado's first residents will offer the first official welcome to the Democratic National Convention in Denver Aug. 23, when Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute and Northern Ute tribal leaders and other Indian notables in full regalia will lead the pageantry of a grand entry before officials address some 13,000 media representatives. "It's the right thing to do, since they were the first people in the state of Colorado," said Holly Arnold Kinney, co-chair of the entertainment committee for the media event at Elitch Gardens near the Pepsi Center. The Ute Mountain and Southern Ute tribes are the only sovereign nations currently in Colorado, once considered home by the Northern Utes and many other tribes."
Interesting that Native Americans performing dances and songs tied to their indigenous faith traditions will be handled by the entertainment committee, while representatives from "mainstream" religions are organized by the head of the Democratic Party's Faith in Action initiative.
In a final note, the News Virginian reminds us that homeschooling comes in more flavors than right-wing Christian.
“For some reason, it’s gotten into the mindset of the public that homeschoolers are right-wing Christians,” said Ann Cameron Siegal, a homeschool mother and a volunteer for The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers. “Obviously, there are people under that label, but there are also Jewish homeschoolers, Muslim homeschoolers and pagan homeschoolers; it ranges from far left to far right. If there is any unifying thing, it is the idea of freedom – freedom to pursue education, much like people did in the Colonial period, to the depth and breadth of what you want to do.”
My wife's youngest daughter was homeschooled, and is entering college this year as a sophomore. I'm proud to say I had a hand in her homeschooling, and there was nothing particularly Christian about it.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: American Indian, atheism, Democratic National Convention, interfaith, Native American, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, psychics, Salem, Speaking of Faith, Vodou, Voodoo
7.31.2008
Closure in the Salem Psychic Wars?
Last year I devoted several posts to a local struggle in Salem over the licensing of psychics. One group, led by Laurie Cabot, wanted to limit licenses and inhibit traveling "psychic fairs" (which they felt "poached" their profits), the other, led by Christian Day, wanted more relaxed rules that would allow for a greater number of licensed psychics. Eventually a compromise measure was reached, but in the process, remains from a dead raccoon were left on the doorsteps of two local metaphysical shops.
"The remains of a mutilated raccoon were left at the doorways of two of the city's psychic shops. At 12:41 a.m. yesterday, John Ray of Salem flagged down police Sgt. Richard Gagnon and alerted him to a raccoon's skull and a pile of intestines that had been left at the entrance to Angelica of the Angels, a shop at 7 Central St. While patrolling Essex Street about an hour later, Gagnon discovered more remains at the door to The Goddess' Treasure Chest at 172 Essex St."
Some Salem residents cast suspicion on Day, accusing him of working malignant magic, but it soon came to light that the perpetrator was psychic and Salem Witch Sharon Graham, who had been nursing a grudge against Christian Day.
"Richard Watson said he went back to his Bridge Street apartment on the night of May 26 to a disturbing scene: his roommate, Sharon Graham, dressed in black, surrounded by four young men, also all in black, standing around a jar. Inside that jar was the eye of a raccoon, police say. And in two trash bags in Watson’s refrigerator was the rest of the critter, which had been dismembered."
Now, nearly a year later, and after further accusations of witness intimidation, it looks like we have some closure. Sharon Graham, in a plea agreement, has admitted to a judge that she placed the raccoon remains in front of those shops, though she claims to not know why she did so.
"A self-described Wiccan high priestess admitted yesterday that she had placed pieces of an eviscerated raccoon on the doorsteps of two local businesses last year. But Sharon Graham said she still can't explain why. Graham, 47, formerly of Salem , admitted during a hearing in Salem District Court that prosecutors had sufficient evidence for a conviction on charges of littering and wanton destruction of property. Judge Dunbar Livingston called the case "certainly a somewhat bizarre and troubling incident" but agreed to go along with a plea agreement that called for the charges to be continued without a finding for a year on condition that Graham perform 20 hours of community service and remain in counseling. If she complies with those conditions and stays out of further trouble, the charges will be dismissed in a year. Prosecutors also agreed to drop the most serious charge against Graham, a count of witness intimidation."
Graham has moved out of Salem, is receiving counseling, and is being supervised by a probation officer. Christian Day has gone on to become an even bigger fish in Salem's pond, working with the city to promote Halloween season tourism, and co-running his own Witch shop Hex. Laurie Cabot continues to be as famous (infamous?) as ever, celebrating her 75th birthday in March with Godsmack frontman Sully Erna, among others, in attendance. So it looks like this matter is finally closed, and life in Salem, in all its Witchy glory, can continue.
Labels: Christian Day, Laurie Cabot, law, psychics, Salem, Sharon Graham, Wicca, Witch, Witchcraft
5.16.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
A Boy Scout troop helps clean up a local graveyard in Florida and finds three "authentic Voodoo/Santeria" poppets hanging from a tree. Cue superstitious Hollywood-fueled misconceptions of folk magic in 3... 2... 1...
"That's when they spotted the strange objects on a nearby Spanish moss-draped oak. Three 5-inch-tall voodoo dolls, hung in a vertical line on the tree's bark. "They looked nothing like dolls," said Bryan McDonough, 12. "They were kind of like ugly creatures that would eat you alive," added his 10-year-old brother, Kevin, a Webelos Cub Scout. Nails peeked through their stuffing. Rusty pins stuck in their faceless heads, arms and legs. "It freaked out a couple of the boys," said scoutmaster Marty Robertson. "Some thought it was kind of cool." ... One curious adult claimed she touched one of the dolls, and her friend wrecked his scooter that same day. Was there a connection? Cue spooky music."
I'm glad they admitted that some of the kids thought it was cool, I mean, real Voodoo dolls? How awesome is that? Thankfully, the rest of the article is fairly even-handed, with one Boy Scout investigating the dolls and telling the press that they can be used for healing in addition to hexing, and a local professor of religion talking about the context of poppets used for magic.
The Independent looks back at the bizarre occult and death-obsessed life of artist Robert Lenkiewicz. Lenkiewicz, at his death, left behind a huge library of texts on witchcraft and the occult, a well-preserved corpse hidden in a bookcase, and a large assortment of children, legitimate and otherwise.
"In the six years since his death, Lenkiewicz's estate has been gradually sold off to the tune of more than [5 million Euro]. While sales of his enormous collections of books at Sotheby's - the occult and witchcraft were among his favourite subjects - account for about [1.6 million Euro] of the total, the rest of the money has been generated through sales of his paintings ... Luckily, in his work, as in all other areas of his life, Lenkiewicz was prolific. 'There are some incredible statistics about Robert,' recalls Jojo, a local photographer who knew Lenkiewicz for 20 years and has now written a play about the artist's life, The Man in the Red Scarf, which will be performed at Plymouth's Barbican in December. 'He produced 10,000 works, had relationships with, if you believe him, in the region of 3,000 women, was married three times...' And how many children did he have? 'I think the official count was 11.'"
You can see some examples of Lenkiewicz's work at his official Internet site.
The conservative Catholic blog Churchill's Parrot indulges in the sin of bad satire to warn us Pagans of the "spy nuns" infiltrating our ranks.
"We have recently uncovered a development to which we are compelled to alert you with utmost urgency. It is our belief that armies of Catholic nuns have been dispatched by the Vatican to infiltrate, mimic, subvert, and corrupt the sacred beliefs, rituals, and practices of your family of Earth Religions. Their goal: to arrest Neo-paganism in its present ascent in contemporary society and banish it - yet again - to the ill-regarded fringes of mainstream culture."
The key piece of "evidence" for his "charges" are the Catholic orders who signed on to the Earth Charter. Hitting on all the usual pantheist, God-denying, "worshiping the creation not the Creator" charges religious conservatives have been prattling on about for decades. Of course, the Roman Catholics appropriated just about everything else from the pagans, so why not religiously-motivated environmentalism too? Oh, and you can't truly "subvert and corrupt" a religious movement that has no hierarchy, single liturgy, or uniform conception of the divine. The dominant monotheisms on the other hand...
The Houston Chronicle documents the growing trend of "ayahuasca tourism". But unlike other kinds of drug-related tourism, these aren't kids looking to get high legally in foreign lands.
"But this is not some Amazonian Kool-Aid Acid Test and these are not Merry Pranksters. LSD and other recreational drugs are not for them, and many shun alcohol. Ranging in age from early 20s to late 50s, they work as university professors, marketing executives and environmental activists. Then there's Heather, a tall, muscular woman who competes in Ironman races. With the help of ayahuasca, they hope to address persistent emotional, physical or psychological afflictions that Western medicine has failed to alleviate. Others seek more spirituality in their lives."
This "spiritual psychotherapy" is very close to what LSD pioneers like chemist Albert Hofmann envisioned (albeit in far more clinical settings). A "medicine for the soul" used to make major breakthroughs.
In a final note, the "Witch City" of Salem is bracing itself for another October tourist season, and trying to tackle the ongoing logistical problems that have plagued the New England seaport.
"Mayor Kim Driscoll, who moved recently to have 25 percent of the revenue the city receives from the hotel/motel tax dedicated to tourism promotion, spoke of the difficulty she faces balancing the effort to keep the industry healthy against the burden visitors sometimes place on the city's services and neighborhoods - especially during October. Those concerns, she added, are heightened by the fact that the next three Halloween nights are on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively. As Salem's Halloween festival has grown in popularity, so have the problems. Driscoll cited efforts - which this year could include the hiring of an events planner - to keep the month-long celebration both fun and orderly. One of the big concerns: After people are here, especially on Halloween night, how do you tell them the party's over and it's time to go home?"
Some suggested improvements included better signage and more toilets. Still no word yet on how to signal "the party is over". A fireworks display last year didn't seem to do the trick. Maybe you could have Salem's Witches do a big closing ritual?
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: art, ayahuasca, Catholicism, Christianity, enviornmentalism, occult, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Robert Lenkiewicz, Salem, Voodoo
4.18.2008
Updates on Recent Stories
I've got quick updates on two recent stories. We'll start off in Salem...
Mainstream Acceptance in Salem: The panel discussion in Salem featuring Margot Adler and Jerrie Hildebrand is continuing to get coverage from the local papers. This time, Lisa Guerriero from the Salem Gazette reports back from the "No Place for Hate" panel, and pairs it with a recent satellite television appearance by two Salem Witches.
"What is life like for a person who considers himself or herself a witch? How do Hollywood images of witches stack up to their real-life counterparts? These are some of the questions addressed by a No Place for Hate panel in Salem last Saturday [see story, Page 1]. Similar questions were posed recently on a Dish Network TV program, "Magnificent Obsessions." While the panel explored the beliefs and lifestyle of Wiccans and Pagans, the TV show addressed a different kind of witch. Wiccans and Pagans draw mainly from a resurrected tradition of communion with nature, whereas the Salem witches featured in "Magnificent Obsessions" focus more on psychic work and spells than Pagan traditions. They're typically the kind of witches you see walking Salem's streets in all black, sometimes with pointy hats."
The two Witches featured in the television show? Christian Day and Leanne Marrama, two Witches who recently opened their own shop in Salem. Guerriero's observation concerning a split between "Salem Witches" and "Wiccans and Pagans" is an interesting one. While Salem Witches like Day and Marrama may not be Wiccan, aren't they Pagan? Should a shift of emphasis in style and practice remove them from the larger Pagan family? Perhaps the problem with press coverage of Witches and Pagans is that it is so polarized between sensationalism and statements of normalacy that people like Christian Day and Margot Adler start to seem from entirely different movements, instead of part of a larger religious continuum.
First Shot Fired in British Psychic Wars: Since I first reported on it earlier this month, the controversy over Britain adopting EU reforms on psychic services and mediumship has grown. Today the Independent, the BBC, and the Telegraph all report on a protest organized by the Spiritual Workers Association in opposition to the new legislation.
"Today, representatives of British mediums will march up Downing Street to deliver a petition containing some 10,000 signatories demanding that the Government change its decision to repeal the 1951 Fraudulent Mediums Act in favour of a new EU directive ... The SWA complains that the 1951 law, which replaced the 1735 Witchcraft Act, guarantees "genuine" mediums legal protection, penalising only those who seek to hoodwink the public. However, by treating spiritualism as merely a consumer service, mediums believe they risk being sued if customers are dissatisfied with advice brought from the other side - advice they say they always point out should always be treated with care. The solution to the present impasse, according to lawyers advising the crystal-ball fraternity, is via the prosaic expedient of a pre-consultation disclaimer, describing any dialogue with the deceased in terms of either entertainment or scientific experiment. It does not sit comfortably with purist believers."
Meanwhile, the Spiritualists' National Union, the largest UK Spiritualists organization, is supporting the law. Expressing confidence that it will only harm con-artists and not divinations or mediumship performed in a religious context. Despite the protest and the petition, all signs point to these new regulations being passed. So we'll have to wait and see if it only harms con-men, or if it will be used as a cudgel by crusading skeptics or oppositional religious groups (a possibility acknowledged by EU regulations supporter Susie Collings, of the College of Psychic Studies).
Labels: Christian Day, Jerrie Hildebrand, law, Leanne Marrama, Margot Adler, Paganism, psychics, Salem, Spiritualism, Tarot, Television, UK, Wicca, Witchcraft
4.14.2008
Mainstream Acceptance in Salem
A few days ago I mentioned a panel discussion on Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism taking place in Salem that featured author/journalist Margot Adler and Pagan activist Jerrie Hildebrand. Today, The Salem News reports back on the event, and paints a portrait of increasing mainstream acceptance.
"Witches get more respect than they used to here in the Witch City. That was a recurring theme among about 40 witches, pagans and Wiccans at a city-sponsored forum held Saturday night to educate the public and challenge stereotypes about their religion. Salem resident Mike Gleason said local witches are no longer shunned or feared. During Halloween, little kids ran up to him to ask questions. Ten years ago they cowered behind their parents ... Throughout the evening, the panelists described a mainstreaming of their religion that they never dreamed possible."
What else did the reporter (and us through reading her story) learn? Well, for one, some Witches are uneasy with the mainstreaming of their faith traditions.
"Nial Hartnett, a witch who lives in Danvers, wondered if this growing acceptance is a good thing. 'You have mentioned the word 'mainstreaming' several times. I wonder if we are in danger of losing who we really are, the mystery and the magic,' he said. 'Maybe we don't want to be like everyone else.' But Hildebrand insisted that the freedoms gained to practice their religion will be lost unless they work within some official structures, like the federal government."
Adler admitted that the community isn't as "edgy" now, as it was when she got involved. Speaking of "edgy", we also learned that an unnamed freelance writer for Modern Witch magazine thinks Witchcraft is a race.
"A freelance writer with Modern Witch magazine wanted to know if either woman thought it was racist to put a broom-riding witch logo on city police cruisers."
The general consensus seemed to point to the witch logo, instead of being a point of contention, is actually pretty cool (something of a sea-change from the early days when an assortment of Wiccan crusaders sought to stamp out the Halloween witch). Hildebrand also spoke highly of the local high school team being "the Witches" (would that be the "Fighting Witches" or the "Hexing Witches" I wonder).
Another big topic was Wicca and Witchcraft in Salem, where things are good, but not without repercussions.
"In Salem, the city has benefited from a witch-friendly mayor, Hildebrand said. Recently, Hildebrand wrote a short piece about the modern-day witch that was included in the city's official tourism guide for the first time. In a further sign of her religion's growing legitimacy, Hildebrand serves as the first Wiccan chaplain for the state Department of Correction ... Here in Salem there's more tolerance, but also a higher standard placed on witches, Hildebrand said. She said she would be reluctant to report a hate crime, not out of fear, but because she would worry that the media would sensationalize the case, and witches around the country would be harmed. "It's embarrassing sometimes when I have to listen to what other people think a Salem witch is," she said."
You have to wonder if Hildebrand was thinking of the recent Salem "psychic wars" when she formulated her response. Like it or not, when people think "real live Witches", they think of Salem. While sensationalist press coverage is always a problem, I'm not sure that refusing to report a hate crime would be a good response. Justice should always be served, even if it comes with the occasional embarrassing media interview.
On the whole, the event seemed very positive and productive. The real challenge now is to work towards having such consciousness-raising events outside places with Pagan-friendly politicians and large active communities, and into the places where education is desperately needed. Perhaps someday soon we'll see a Pagan-focused barnstorming tour across the country, visiting places where Pagans don't dare come out of the closet. Until then, this panel discussion is a great first step. Congratulations to the organizers and participants.
Labels: Jerrie Hildebrand, Margot Adler, Paganism, Salem, Wicca, Witchcraft
4.11.2008
Three From Salem
The Salem Gazette published three Wicca/Witchcraft related stories yesterday, each one revealing different aspects of the practice of Witchcraft in the "Witch City" of Salem, and the different ways that modern Paganism enters the mainstream. The first article concerns a panel discussion taking place tomorrow featuring author/journalist Margot Adler and Pagan activist Jerrie Hildebrand.
"The city of Salem's No Place for Hate Committee will host a panel discussion on April 12 that will focus on practices within the Wiccan faith and the everyday lifestyles of those practicing paganism. The objective of the event is to inform those in attendance about the religion, lifestyle and culture of those who practice Wicca while also touching on the history and its distinction within the Salem community."
The talk will be opened by Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, a politician who has enjoyed support from the local Pagan community since she first ran for the office. The event is free and open to the public, and will be held Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m. on the second floor of Old Town Hall, Derby Square.
The second story concerns the opening of a new Witch-themed shop called "Hex". The store, co-run by Leanne Marrama and Salem impresario Christian Day, promises an "old-world folk magic" feel and approach.
Christian Day and Leanne Marrama
"A new witch shop in town aims to bring this form of old-world folk magic to Salem's mostly modern pagan community. Hex: Old World Witchery specializes in voodoo dolls, spellbinding candles and European charms used to ward off evil. Shop owners Christian Day and Leanne Marrama, who both consider themselves clairvoyant, aim not only to supply the community with tools of folk magic, but also to serve as proverbial witch doctors, and practice what they preach..."
The ornately designed store is just the latest project from Christian Day, who has become a commercial force to be reckoned with in Salem. Running a tarot consultancy service, a psychic consultancy service, and a popular Salem festival.
The third and final story is a profile of Lori Bruno, a Strega Witch and folk-magic practitioner, who will be offering her services at Christian Day's new Hex store.
"At 68, Lori Bruno considers herself a kind of real-life version of the storybook witch strega nona. Upon meeting you for the first time she just might call you little cucinella and invite you over for a cup of tea. She smells of warm clothes that just got out of the dryer, has long dyed black hair tied in a loose knot and wears 13 gold rings on her fingers. From her ears dangle gold ankhs and peace signs. Around her neck hangs an Egyptian scarab beetle. And above her kitchen sink, beside the coffee maker, hangs a large stone pentacle. Bruno comes from a long line of streghe, or Italian witches. Growing up in Brooklyn, her mother, a southern-born Italian, would give psychic readings to her Jewish and Irish neighbors, reading tarot cards or using a glass of water like a crystal ball to tell the future."
These three stories help illustrate the ways that modern Paganism is slowly entering the mainstream. Through activism and education, through commercial ventures and public events, and through sympathetic journalistic profiles. Modern Paganism has utilized these three overlapping factors to slowly inch us towards acceptance since our emergence. Salem, with its large Pagan population (and Pagan tourist trade), represents a "perfect storm" of these elements.
In addition, the stories show how Witchcraft in Salem encompasses everything from the salacious to the sedate. You have practitioners in pointy hats and yards of black fabric wielding wands and brooms, and you have the more reserved wardrobes and methods of the Witches engaging in discussion with academics and politicians. Both serve a clearly defined purpose inside and outside our communities, and both are equally a part of the modern Pagan movement.
Labels: Christian Day, Jerrie Hildebrand, journalism, Leanne Marrama, Lori Bruno, Margot Adler, Paganism, Salem, Wicca, Witchcraft
3.12.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
A conference of indigenous leaders from Mexico, the United States, and Canada met in Palenque, Mexico to discuss traditional solutions to environmental problems. The event, 'Indigenous People to Heal Our Mother Earth', gathered 200 leaders from 71 American Indian nations, and was supported by Mexico's environment secretary, Juan Elvira Quesada.
"Our Mother Earth is being polluted at an alarming rate, and our elders say that she is dying," said Raymond Sensmeier, a Tlingit leader from Yakutat, Alaska. "The way the weather is around the world ... a cleansing is needed" ... "I sometimes talk to scientists," said Sensmeier, "and they compartmentalize things, put things in boxes and disconnect them, and doing so promotes disharmony and imbalance." Kuetlachtli Texotik, a Nahuatl healer from Mexico whose name means "Blue Wolf," agreed. "Our grandfathers taught us to have an integrated vision," he said. "The important thing is to look for balance. We should take care of what does not belong to us, for the future, because it is only ours temporarily."
Organizers hope that indigenous American leaders can become guides in "restoring balance and harmony in the world". To "wake up the world" to the environmental problems surrounding them.
Reuters interviews David Domke, co-author of the new book "The God Strategy: How Religion Became A Political Weapon In America," who explains just how entwined (predominately Christian) religion has become in our political process.
"The reality is that in American presidential politics not willing to publicly emphasize your faith will mean you will not be a serious candidate on either side of the partisan aisle ... the fusion of religion and politics is absolutely contrary to what the founders desired for the country. They fled religious sectarian violence, religious persecution and they set out build a new place where God would be part of the equation but there wouldn't be a state, a national religion."
A political atmosphere like this is decidedly hostile to religious minorities taking power, an exclusive "Christ-centered" politics that transcends the usual Republican party suspects to include Democratic presidential candidates as well. Can the wall of separation between Church and State remain strong when both political parties now "emphasize their faith" as a campaign tool?
The Boston Herald reports on Laurie "Official Witch of Salem" Cabot's 75th birthday-bash over the weekend. The extravagant affair included a dancing snake charmer, fire-spinning, and the attendance of Godsmack frontman Sully Erna.
"Godsmack frontman Sully Erna was among the 100 Wiccans who flew in from around the country over the weekend for a surprise 75th birthday party for Laurie Cabot, the Official Witch of Salem. "Before I met Laurie, I was in a really low point in my life," Sully told the crowd. "I owe Laurie everything. (She) changed my life around." Apparently, the headbanger and the high priestess of witchcraft have been tight for years ... Cabot's bewitching birthday bash was thrown by fun couple Tom Lang and Alexander Westerhoff at their Manchester-by-the-Sea stone villa."
A happy birthday to Ms. Cabot, may she enjoy happiness and good health.
Kathryn Price NicDhana brings us the latest in the ongoing struggles to halt the M3 motorway expansion through the Tara-Skryne valley, the spiritual heart of Ireland.
"As bulldozers and chainsaws cut into the forest and hill of Rath Lugh - one of a number of ancient tombs and holy wells in peril due to the road work in the Tara-Skryne Valley - protesters have announced that they have dug tunnels under the proposed roadway, and are willing to risk their lives in defense of the land."
While these new actions have succeeded in delaying construction, it remains to be seen if this expensive (and increasingly unpopular) project can ultimately be stopped. Irish Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney recently called the M3 construction a "ruthless desecration", and the site has been declared an "endangered monument" by the World Monuments Fund.
In a final note, two recent legal decisions affecting modern Pagans have come to my attention. First, Tropaion reports that the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Greece can not require a statement of religious belief as part of the admission ceremony to the state bar.
"Legal Court rulings are one of the few forums where precedents are truly set. This landmark decision by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Alexandrididis vs Greece (application number 19516/2006) will definitely make it much easier for others in the legal and other professions to follow suit. It will mean that people will not have to state their religious beliefs in what are clearly state matters."
This is an important precedent for the small groups of Hellenic polytheists (and other religious minorities) in the Orthodox Christian dominated State. Further updates to this story are expected to be posted, here.
Meanwhile, another prisoner free-exercise case involving a member of the Asatru faith has made the news. A judge has recommended the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by inmate Darrell Hoadley. Hoadley, who is serving a life sentence for a 2000 torture-killing, brought suit requesting items he says are necessary for his faith.
"The penitentiary has allowed several Asatru items since settling a 2000 lawsuit - including a ritual drinking horn, wooden wand and wooden hammer - but Hoadley wanted more, such as horse meat and a plastic sword. In a motion to dismiss, prison officials said some requests are 'too outrageous to merit serious consideration.' U.S. Magistrate Judge John Simko, who was taken off the case in favor of U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol, said in a report filed Wednesday that the case should be dismissed."
I can't think of any Asatru tradition that requires a sword and the partaking of horse meat in order to honor the gods. Considering Hoadley's security status (he is isolated from the general population), and the concessions already made, it doesn't look like he has much of a case. The judge looks on solid ground for recommending dismissal.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: American Indian, Asatru, Christianity, Greece, Hill of Tara, indigenous, Laurie Cabot, law, litigation, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, politics, Prison, Salem
3.11.2008
Updates on Recent Stories
The Theological Necessity of Goats: A Santeria priest who challenged the animal slaughter laws in Forth Worth, Texas has lost his lawsuit against the city.
"At the end of the one-day trial, U.S. District Judge John McBryde said Euless was protecting the public's health by banning animal slaughtering in the city limits but that Merced could do the rituals elsewhere ... Euless officials said they were pleased with the judge's ruling, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported on Monday. "Public health is one of the most compelling interests that cities protect," said Mick McKamie, the city's attorney for the case."
Of course, their appeal to public health is completely arbitrary since the city does allow citizens to slaughter chickens in their homes. An animal just as capable of transmitting pathogens as a goat. Jose Merced is currently considering an appeal to the ruling.
Even Intolerant Fools Deserve Free Speech: Repent America founder Michael Marcavage has been found guilty of disorderly conduct by a judge in Salem. Marcavage was arrested on Halloween night, while spouting hellfire at the crowds of Pagans and merry-makers that converge on the "Witch City" every year.
"A Pennsylvania preacher who was arrested on Halloween night after defying police orders to stop using a bullhorn was found guilty of disorderly conduct yesterday and fined $200 by a judge, who said Michael Marcavage used "poor judgment" that night ... 'Halloween in Salem is a unique day of the year,' said Salem District Court Judge Michael Uhlarik. 'It's a very small community, and you have 60,000 to 80,000 people crammed into a very tight space. In this day and age, we have to be very careful of controlling crowds. It's not a question of depriving anyone of their free speech rights,' said the judge. 'It's an issue of public safety.'"
According to police, the decision to shut down bullhorn use by protest groups was made because of concerns for keeping the peace amongst an increasingly hostile and drunk crowd. Police also testified that the Repent America group were using the bullhorn in an aggressive and provocative manner (something that didn't make it into their self-serving YouTube video). Repent America promises to appeal the ruling, and has hinted that they may file a civil lawsuit.
Can You Be a Christo-Pagan in Prison: The Washington state Senate has unanimously approved a bill designed to study in-prison programs so they can more effectively build "moral character". The bill also contains a provision that seemingly protects prison chaplains from performing actions contrary to their faith, a response to a controversy created when the Washington Department of Corrections changed their policy to allow for multi-faith allegiance in prison.
"A Page One story in The News Tribune in January explored the conflict that a Catholic priest who works as a chaplain in the state prison system faced in complying with a new rule allowing inmates to select multiple religions. A bill aimed at addressing that issue has cleared the state Legislature and is headed to the governor's desk to be signed into law. Senate Bill 6400, sponsored by Republican Sen. Mike Carrell of Lakewood, contained provisions to protect chaplains after hearing that Tom Suss, a longtime chaplain at McNeil Island, took a leave of absence rather than be put in a position of having to provide religious items to an inmate who claimed both Catholicism and a pagan religion simultaneously. Doing so would have gone against the tenets of his faith, Suss said."
This crowd-pleasing Republican-sponsored bill is, of course, a redundancy, since no chaplain was being forced to perform ecclesiastical duties against their wishes. In fact, Tom Suss, the chaplain this bill was designed to help, is well known for his anti-Pagan views, and his "leave of absence" tantrum stems mainly from Pagan inmates being allowed to buy Christian trinkets. The Bill is currently on the Governor's desk awaiting a signature.
Labels: animal sacrifice, Chaplaincy, Christianity, Christopagans, law, litigation, Michael Marcavage, Paganism, Prison, Repent America, Salem, Santeria, Texas
3.08.2008
Even Intolerant Fools Deserve Free Speech
On Monday, the city of Salem will be hearing the case of Michael Marcavage, founder of Repent America, who was arrested on Halloween night on charges of disorderly conduct.
"A "Witch City" trial is scheduled Monday for a street preacher who was arrested and accused of disorderly conduct for expressing his belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ on a public street in Salem, Mass., on Halloween night in 2007. "Michael [Marcavage] is guilty of nothing more than preaching the Gospel," said Ben DuPre, an attorney with former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore's Foundation for Moral Law, who is representing Marcavage."
Michael Marcavage
Let there be no mistake, Marcavage is an intolerant caricature of true Christianity, an annoying hate-monger who hopes to "win" people to Jesus by threatening them with hellfire and damnation. Marcavage travels every year with a cadre of followers to harangue and cajole the thousands of Witches, Pagans, and merry-makers at Salem's yearly Halloween festivities. An activity that has seen him come into conflict with local Christians, and made him a part of the circus-like atmosphere of the city. This along with other inconceivably stupid statements concerning God's wrath, have made Marcavage something of a folk-hero among ultra-conservative born-again Christians.
However, if the video posted by Repent America accurately portrays the (alleged) events of Halloween night, then Marcavage's First-Amendment rights were indeed violated.
Freedom of speech means that Repent America can publicly expound on our sinfulness all they want, so long as they don't break other laws in transmitting that message. This freedom, in turn, grants Witches, Pagans, and other idealogical opponents of Repent America (a long, long list) the right to vociferously disagree. If on Monday the evidence truly points to the narrative portrayed in that video, all charges should be dropped, and the officers in question should be investigated for misconduct.
Of course, there is always the chance that there is more to this situation than meets the eye. We have no idea what transpired before that video clip, it is entirely possible that these would-be Christian crusaders did indeed engage in "disorderly conduct". Many of these street-preaching/protesting organizations knowingly push at the boundaries of the law, engaging in activities that are little better than group harassment and intimidation. Then, once arrested, portray a monolithic government out to silence Christianity in order to boost monetary contributions (and status within certain Christian circles).
So whether Marcavage was "calmly preaching the gospel", or spitting hellfire at the crowds of heathens, even intolerant fools deserve free speech. However, if Repent America was breaking the law, painting yourself as a First Amendment victim will only work for so long.
Labels: Christianity, free speech, law, Michael Marcavage, Paganism, Repent America, Salem, Witchcraft
1.30.2008
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
GenQ Music interviews author, Witch, and reality television star Fiona Horne about her latest album "Witch Web".
"I wrote the album with Paul Searles initially with the only intention being to record the songs that I personally sing in my witchy rituals. Often when doing public rituals I would sing acapella and people would ask if it was possible to buy a recording of it - now it is! But when Paul and I got in the studio we also realised we were starting to write songs that had a commercial feel and classic song arrangement, so we are happy that the album crosses over and can be enjoyed by people interested in the spiritual side as well as people who just want a chilled listening experience."
Horne started her musical career as a singer for the dance-rock band Def FX. To listen to samples from "Witch Web" check out her MySpace page.
Ohio State University's student paper, The Lantern, takes a look at interest in the occult on campus and discovers that OSU is the academic capital for magic in the United States.
"'Ohio State has more scholars on the history of magic than any educational institution I'm aware of,' said Sarah Iles Johnston, professor of Greek and Latin and director for the Center for the Study of Religion. There are six experts on the history of magic at OSU. They study the history of magic from a variety of perspectives such as its role in ancient Greek and Roman religions as well as in modern American culture."
OSU recently hosted a lecture series to capitalize on their expertise entitled: "Through a Glass, Darkly: Public Interest in the Occult". So for you Pagan high-school seniors trying to decide where to go for college, Ohio might be just the place for you (if your interested in studying magic that is).
Treadwells and Lastal both report that experimental media artist Raymond Salvatore Harmon will present seven films in honor of the 100 year anniversary of the union of Leila Waddell and Aleister Crowley.
"Experimental media artist Raymond Salvatore Harmon will present a live improvised set of 7 films. Each based on the individual rituals in British occultist Aleister Crowley's Rites of Eleusis, first presented in Caxton Hall, London in 1910. Crowley based the rituals of Rites of Eleusis on each of the seven classical planets of antiquity - "Saturn", "Jupiter", "Mars", "Sol" (the Sun), "Venus", "Mercury" and "Luna". Utilizing the entire text of Crowley's rites as subliminal content Harmon will improvise the abstract layers of imagery to a prepared score. Presented in a 3 channel video environment Rites of Eleusis promises to be an updated public occult ritual for the 21st century."
The performance will take place on Friday March 7th at The Horse Hospital (an arts venue) in London.
Classics professor Mary Beard bemoans the proposed removal of Britannia (the personification of the United Kingdom) from British coins.
"Britannia fits the bill rather nicely. An appropriately antique goddess, invented by the Romans, as a symbol of their new province, and used on British coins since the seventeenth century. If she goes, I don't hold out much hope, long term, for that nice bit of Virgil (decus et tutamen -- from Aeneid Book V) around the pound coin. I have a sneaking suspicion that Mr Brown isn't much of a fan of Latin."
Will it be bad luck to remove Britain's goddess from their coinage? Will she eventually join America's Columbia as a half-forgotten relic from a grander time?
The Boston Globe publishes a visitors guide to Salem, Massachusetts that illustrates just how tied to witchcraft their tourism is.
"Witches put Salem on the Colonial map, and this historic North Shore city has its share of creepy and comical tributes to the practice of witchcraft. Magic supplies, herbal potions, tarot cards, "spell baskets," custom-made capes - you'll find them all here ... Salem is loaded with museums, many of them funny-spooky places that document the city's witchcraft history. Among them are the Witch History Museum, the Witch Dungeon Museum, the Salem Witch Museum, the Salem Wax Museum, the Spellbound Museum, Salem's Museum of Myths & Monsters, the New England Pirate Museum, and Salem's 13 Ghosts..."
So despite those who wish to de-emphasize Salem's "witchy" appeal, the town remains the "Witch City" of the east coast.
In a final note, a proposal has come forth on the Non-Fluffy Pagans community concerning a new "law" involving discussion about Witchcraft and society. An adage that some are calling the Witches' equivalent to Godwin's Law.
"In any discussion of the interaction of modern witches with the rest of society, as the length of the discussion increases, the probability of the mention of The Burning Times approaches unity."
With the new law comes a proposed corollary:
"In any argument related to modern witchcraft, the first person to mention The Burning Times automatically loses the argument."
The new law has been dubbed "Brock's Law" after the author.
That is all I have for now, have a great day!
Labels: academia, Aleister Crowley, art, Britannia, Brock's Law, Fiona Horne, Magic, Mary Beard, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Salem, The Burning Times, UK, Witchcraft
1.18.2008
The Witch and The Christian
The Salem Gazette has a nice profile of two religious figures in the "Witch City" of Salem, Massachusetts. The first is Christian Phil Wyman, head of The Gathering, a small congregation of 45 that practices an ethic of understanding and co-existence with the nearly 4000 Witches living in Salem.
"Christians have a National Enquirer view of pagans," he says. "They think they must be worshiping Satan or sacrificing babies ... or they view the pagan community as a well organized machine that's after the church. That's a sad picture. In turn, because a few Christians have taken advantage of that to make money in the '80s and '90s, the pagans have a bad view of the Christians. We want to break that."
Wyman was famously "excommunicated" from his parent Church in 2006 due to his too-friendly relations with the local Pagan population, and continues to have run-ins with fellow Christians who disagree with his approach.
"Michael Marcavage, 28, is the founder of Repent America, a Philadelphia-based organization of missionaries that spent five days in Salem this October spreading their beliefs via brochures and amplified talks on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall. This, Marcavage believes, is the proper way to go about spreading the gospel. "Jesus began his ministry by saying repent or perish," he says, admitting that Wyman has spoken to him in the past to criticize his gloom-and-doom approach ... Marcavage accuses Wyman of affirming the pagans' beliefs. "Is he reaching out to them?" he asks. 'He has no division from them ... They're so comfortable with what he's doing they haven't taken issue ... The word of God invites confrontation.'"
The article then turns to Wyman's friendship with local Witch and event organizer Christian Day (who my readers may remember from my coverage of the Salem "Psychic Wars"). Reporter Kristin D'Agostino attempts to draw parallels between the two men, by highlighting their ongoing friendship, and the troubles each have had within their own religious communities.
"It is easy to see why Day and Wyman get along so well. In addition to sharing a theatrical flare and offering the community psychic services (Wyman dream interpretation, Day psychic readings), both men have in the past two years had experiences that resulted in them being ousted from their spiritual communities. With Day, the schism came last year when he was accused by a fellow witch of planting raccoon remains at downtown shops, a false rumor that rippled through the pagan and Wiccan community. Because of these common experiences, perhaps, the two men have fostered a symbiotic relationship. Wyman donates dozens of church chairs to Day's annual psychic fair on the Museum Place Mall. And Day offers the pastor free marketing advice for his church events. "If I can sell Jesus, I can sell anything!" he says. Recently Day admits, he donated $200 to The Gathering."
While I would hardly call Day's status within the Salem Pagan community as "ousted", he runs one of the biggest Pagan-themed events in Salem, and is opening a new Witch shop in March, the two do seem to share a special bond. Day is even quoted as saying he often prefers the company of Christians over his fellow Pagans.
"I go to church to break bread with them," he says, admitting he often enjoys the company of Christians more than his own community, which he considers "full of gossip and innuendo."
This positive article about inter-religious friendship carries a subtext concerning two methods of interactions between Pagans and Christians. Wyman's way, which involves dialog, co-existence, and Christian role-modeling (in the place of proselytizing), and Repent America's methods, which involve megaphones, hellfire, and hostile attitudes towards Paganism. While neither can claim any significant numbers of converts, Wyman seems far closer to touching the hearts of Pagans.
"If ever there was a person that could make me want to become a churchgoing Christian it would be Phil," Day says. "Not because he's tried to convince me that witchcraft was evil, or hell is fire and brimstone, but because he leads a life of honesty. He's one of the most honest people I know ..."
As Paganism grows and becomes a bigger social and fiscal presence in cities beyond Pagan meccas like Salem, San Francisco, and Minneapolis/St. Paul (aka Paganistan), how Christians choose to interact with Pagans will become a very important issue. We can only hope that the fear and ignorance-based reactions don't win out, and instead an ethic closer to Phil Wyman's becomes the norm.
Labels: Christian Day, Christianity, Paganism, Phil Wyman, Salem, Witchcraft
12.31.2007
Top Ten Pagan Stories of 2007 (Part Two)
[You can read part one of this entry, here.]
05. Discrimination, Harassment, Hate Crimes, and Firings: Last year one of my picks for a top story was "Growing animosity and tensions between Christians and Pagans", and while this year didn't appear to be quite as bad, there seemed to be plenty of animosity to go around. Christians extremists fought for the right to intimidate us, Witches were beaten and stabbed in Canada, a Pagan store-owner had a noose left on her doorstep, and the FBI reported that hate crimes towards religious minorities is on the rise.
"A couple things become immediately clear, one, that Christians (both Protestant and Catholic) experienced the fewest religiously-motivated hate crimes of any faith grouping (despite claims of widespread anti-Christian activity by some conservative Christians), and two, that a large number of religious hate crimes (coming in third behind Muslims and Jews) are towards faiths that check the "other" box in surveys. In fact, the number of incidents against "other religions" have risen since 2005, with 41 more victims of a religious-motivated hate crime in 2006."
But it wasn't just threats and physical attacks, this year saw quite a few firings that seemed to be motivated by an anti-Pagan bias. In some cases rumor-mongering seems to have replaced due process, and people who were a bit too odd being labeled as "Witches".
"The same early December day a fellow substitute teacher asked if she was Wiccan, Harmon found herself in Principal Jamie (Rene) Tolbert's office answering questions about her appearance and whether she had discussed religion with students."
I wish I could say this particular story will diminish in 2008, but I think that as we continue to enter the mainstream, a certain minority of religious believers will do all in their power to shove us back into our "broom closets".
04. Pagans in Politics: This year, more than any other I have witnessed, saw modern Pagans involved with, and affected by, our political process. This year saw the Chair of the Kennebec County Democratic Committee in Maine outed as a Pagan by a conservative Christian group, who then stalked her and attempted to incite vandalism against her. When that didn't work they went after the vice-chair (who is also a Pagan). But you don't have to be a Pagan to get smeared politically, you only have to associate with them. An Asheville City Council found herself the victim of an attack ad based around her participation in a "save the trees" event, and subsequently lost her bid.
However, one of the biggest political events directly involving a modern Pagan has to be the scandal involving a deputy of Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
"[Ginger] Cruz, a former spokeswoman for the governor of Guam, originally joined SIGIR as a contractor working for the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. Current and former SIGIR employees have told investigators that Cruz threatened to put hexes on employees and made inappropriate sexual remarks in the presence of staff members. Cruz is a self-described wiccan, a member of a polytheistic religion of modern witchcraft. "We warned Ginger not to talk about witchcraft, that it would scare people," a former SIGIR employee said."
In addition to these events, 2007 saw politics become ever-more Christian focused and identified. With non-Christian expressions of faith being shoved to the margins by Presidential candidates, and non-Christian prayer getting shouted down in our halls of government. With monotheist modes of belief becoming more blatant and forceful across the political spectrum, will there be a place for Pagans (or any religious outsiders) in the near future?
03. Salem's Psychic Wars (plus other psychic legal developments): Divination and psychic services were all over the news in 2007. With many modern Pagans making a portion of their living from providing tarot readings or other divination methods, laws regulating, taxing, or outlawing these services can become a big issue (fiscally and religiously). Michigan recently started taxing psychic readers claiming it was a "high-income" service, a local Wiccan was successful in getting Caspar, Wyoming to remove its ordinance against fortune telling, Philadelphia used a previously unenforced state law to close down psychics, tarot readers, and other diviners in the city, and Livingston Parish in Louisiana passed a religiously-motivated ordinance against all forms of fortune-telling despite objections from local Pagans.
But the biggest story involving psychics, the law, and modern Pagans had to be the "psychic wars" in the "Witch City" of Salem, Massachusetts. With 10% of Salem's population practicing Witches, and a large amount of Salem's tourist income based on Halloween traffic, proposed licensing regulations on psychic readers became a heated debate between rival factions. A debate that took a criminal turn, when one couple decided to use intimidation tactics. A situation that gained national attention, and was even reported on in Time Magazine. The Salem story points to the growing cultural relevance of Pagan faiths (especially when big money is involved) in America. As regional Pagan populations grow, expect to see more conflicts (and cooperation) with local governments over divination services, religious freedom, and local laws.
02. Pagans in the Public Square: A late development this year, but an important one nonetheless, is the recent eruption in the "Christmas Wars" involving modern Pagans. Three separate cases involving public property, religious Nativity displays, and Wiccan participation, have placed modern Pagans on the forefront of the debate over the separation of Church of State, religious freedom, and pluralism. One case is heading for litigation, while another appears to be drawing out into the Spring. Expect these cases to loom large in 2008, and set the stage for next Winter's battles.
01. The Veteran Pentacle Win, and Pagans in the Military: My top story for 2006 was the Veteran Pentacle Quest, and the biggest for 2007 is the successful win in getting the Pentacle symbol approved for Veteran headstones and markers. In addition, we saw Pagan groups forming coalitions in order to expand that recognition to other Pagan symbols, and an ongoing struggle to get a Pagan military chaplain approved. Aside from activism, we also saw stories about Pagans in the military, and how safe they are in an increasingly Christian military.
The legal and social struggles concerning Nativity displays and Pagan soldiers have some of the farthest-reaching implications for modern Pagans in America. Situations that have gained international attention, and in the case of the Veteran Pentacle Quest, President Bush. 2008 will very likely see even more important developments involving these stories.
That wraps up my top ten news stories about or affecting modern Paganism in 2007. Thanks for reading, and I hope you'll join me for another year of sifting through the news and views of interest to our communities. See you in 2008!
Labels: discrimination, hate crime, Nativity Display, Pagan Soldiers, Paganism, politics, psychics, Salem, Top 10 religion stories of the year, Veteran Pentacle Quest, War on Christmas
11.08.2007
(Pagan) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
The New York Sun prints an article on modern Pagans and opines that if mainstream integration poses too many stumbling blocks, they would fit in well with America's long history of secluded religious enclaves.
"Drag yourself to enough roadside historical plaques around the nation's midsection and you realize this place was built of enclaves ... being remote can be good. There's nothing like a little added geography to solve social friction. Your neighbors will bother you less if you don't see them. Thanks to the Internet - the witch school is online, after all - and thanks to simple things like decent highways, the isolation is optional. And from trekking Mormons to the kind of frontier refugees who populated the literary prairies of Willa Cather or Laura Ingalls Wilder, there have been few things more American than finding autonomy by opting for isolation."
You never know, the next Salt Lake City (famously founded by a Mormon enclave) could start with a group of Pagans fed up with Christian-dominated politics.
Speaking of politics, Democrat Elaine Lite, who was running for a spot on the Asheville City Council, has lost her bid.
"Challengers Dwight Butner and Elaine Lite failed to chip away at incumbents' support ... Lite, a Democratic environmental activist, wanted to slow city growth through greater restrictions on development. The publisher of Critter magazine differed with fellow progressives Freeborn and Newman on partisan elections, opposing the switch from the current nonpartisan system."
Lite was the target of a political smear campaign that mocked her involvement in a environmental rally led by modern Pagans. Local conservative blogs spared no time in gloating over her defeat, labeling her "Elaine 'Dances With Witches' Lite".
While metaphysical shops in America my enjoy fiscal success from time to time, in England it seems you can also win mainstream critical plaudits. Such is the case for Treadwell's in London which is listed as one of the "finest bookshops" by The Guardian.
"Treadwells is full of mysterious books about magic, myth and belief amid incense and even magic wands! There's also a lovely sofa to relax on while you read and think."
American metaphysical shops take note!
Hillsboro, New Hampshire Police Lt. Darren Remillard is publicly apologizing to Witches and Pagans after suggesting that a dug-up grave may have been the work of local Witchcraft practitioners.
"I offer my apology to all witches and certainly did not intend to offend anyone by insinuating this was done by a witch or witchcraft. This could be a sick prank or someone misusing some sort of religion."
The officer's off-the-cuff statement to a local news team lead to a local outcry from the Pagan community over this misguided profiling. One wonders if this police force were visited by occult "experts" who spread disinformation about Pagan faiths?
For those of you who love beer, and you know who you are, Guest on Tap takes a look at the pagan history of beer and some modern beers made from ancient recipes.
"Leading the pack is Froach Heather ale. Dating back 2,000 years - a full five centuries before the Romans first invaded - this Scottish brew replaces hops with sweet gale and flowering heather, producing a light, mildly bitter brew redolent of honey and zesty lemon. I first had it near Hadrian's Wall in Scotland, but you can find it in good bottle shops in the Northwest as well. Froach also brews an Elderberry Black Ale called 'Ebulum,' based on a drink formerly enjoyed by 9th-century Welsh Druids. Made with roasted oats, barley and wheat, it is boiled with herbs and then fermented with ripe elderberries, yielding a rich black ale with fruity aroma, soft roasted flavour and gentle finish - perfect by-the-fireplace-sipping beer."
In accordance with my Germanic roots I'm partial to a tall Hefe-weizen with a twist of lemon. Its very tasty.
English Pop Idol star Rik Waller has decided to stop singing professionally after marrying a star-struck fan in a Pagan ceremony.
"Waller, who was once thrown off Celebrity Fit Club for binge eating, said they planned to have a pagan wedding ceremony. Miss Bliss, 23, agreed - but only if Waller ended his singing career. 'This is definitely the real thing and, although our pagan beliefs mean that ours isn't an engagement in the conventional sense, we have bought rings as a gesture of love and commitment to each other,' said the singer."
No word yet on why his Pagan wife would want him to stop singing, especially since most Pagans are quite fond of music and performing.
Finally, The Salem News takes a look at the aftermath of Salem's yearly Halloween extravaganza and defends the towns role as a magnet for witch-loving tourists.
"Strangely, there are some who seem to pine for the days when the Essex Street pedestrian mall became a barren expanse the day after Labor Day, and every other storefront had a vacancy sign. You can visit many other older urban retail districts for that experience - and we bet their mayors would dearly love to have an event like Haunted Happenings that kept stores, restaurants and parking facilities full for a month each autumn."
You can bet that so long as Salem is pulling in profits of over 100,000 dollars (after expenses), then the spooky, Pagan-friendly festivities will certainly continue.
That is all I have for now, have a good day!
Labels: beer, Elaine Lite, New Hampshire, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Rik Waller, Salem, Treadwell's Bookshop, UK, Witchcraft
10.30.2007
(Pre-Samhain) News of Note
Some last minute essays, opinions, and stories (some of it dealing with the upcoming holiday), for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
The Times reviews Emily Wilson's new book about the death of Socrates. Entitled, appropriately enough, "The Death of Socrates: Hero, villain, chatterbox, saint", the book looks at the different perspectives through history of this famous free-thought martyr.
"For some Romans, Socrates talked too much while dying a rather comfortable death. According to Plutarch, Cato the Elder called him "a big chatterbox"; the painless demise was contrasted with the hideous suicide of Cato the Younger. As an explicit act of political protest, inspired by Socrates, Cato stabbed himself till his innards extruded; after his wound had been sewn up, he tore it open again and ripped out his bowels. This scene is illustrated, along with numerous versions of Socrates' end."
The book goes on to illustrate how Socrates ended up a hero to Christians (thinking that Christ was the culmination of the philosopher's teachings), and being used as a popular character in a string of recent novels.
New DNA evidence was filed Monday in hopes of overturning the convictions of the West Memphis 3. The three teens were convicted for the murders of three children back in 1993, the case has long been criticized for using "Satanic Panic" to frame the teens, bringing up Damien Echols' interest in Wicca and Heavy Metal music, and using an "occult expert" to gain a conviction.
"Defense lawyers say two hairs -- evidence that looms large in a case long devoid of physical evidence -- link the stepfather to the crime scene where the bodies of three 8-year-old boys were found nude and hogtied in a watery ditch ... The prosecution's theory of a satanic motive was key to the convictions ... However, forensic reports offered by the defense attribute nearly all those injuries to predators -- possibly dogs or raccoons -- that fed on the bodies in the hours after the murders."
In fact, according to a report filed in July, none of the genetic material found at the scene could be trace back to the three teens. It remains to be seen if this new evidence will in fact clear the teens (now in their 30s) or save Echols from execution.
The Idaho Statesman explores the famous witch-trials in Salem through three women descended from victims and accusers at that time.
"'I lived this for about two weeks - what would he have said, what would she have done - and I literally entered her skin,' Judith Alexander said. Judith Alexander, Rebecca Bowen-Odom and Lila Hill. The three women recently portrayed their ancestors in a dramatization of the Salem witch-hunt era for Pioneer, the local chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution."
The article thinks ergot poisoning was the most likely culprit for the witch hysteria, though there are several theories out there.
Mexico's Roman Catholic Church has gone on record as saying it doesn't like Halloween.
"Those who celebrate Halloween are worshipping a culture of death that is the product of a mix of pagan customs," the Archdiocese of Mexico said in an article on its Web site yesterday. "The worst thing is that this celebration has been identified with neo-pagans, Satanism and occult worship."
No word on if this includes Dia de los Muertos celebrations as well, or if the death-haunted holiday is significantly free of "occult" influence to remain safe.
Finally, a somewhat strange attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records was attempted by a group in Somerville, MA.
"The witches were urged on by Lesley Pratt Bannatyne, the Somerville author of the new children's book Witches' Night Before Halloween and an authority on the holiday. Witches' Night (Pelican Publishing) is her fourth Halloween book, but her first for kids. Pratt Bannatyne wanted to celebrate Halloween in a new way, and Somerville -- with its eclectic festivals and "the willingness of people to come out and do something different" -- seemed like the place for the first known Guinness attempt for the 'Largest Gathering of Halloween Witches (Reciting Poetry).'"
No word on how many of the "witches" were also Witches (of the religious sort), but they did succeed in winning the record. Maybe a Pagan group can work towards 'Largest Gathering of Pagan Witches (Reciting Poetry)' sometime in the near future.
That is all I have for now, have a good holiday in the coming days!
Labels: Christianity, Halloween, I drank what?, Mexico, Pagan News of Note, poetry, Salem, Socrates, West Memphis 3, Wicca, Witch
10.29.2007
Update: Salem Psychic Wars
The Salem News reports that the two Witches arrested for leaving dead animal parts in front of two local metaphysical shops in Salem, have had their charges reduced by a judge on Friday.
"A Salem District Court judge yesterday reduced the charges against two people accused of placing mutilated raccoon parts in the doorways of two Salem shops last spring ... Sharon Graham and Frederick Purtz had been charged with malicious destruction of property and littering in the incidents, which brought to light tensions within the community of witches and psychics who have established a presence in Salem over the past several decades. Graham also was charged with witness intimidation ... During a hearing yesterday, Graham's lawyer, David Gavegnano, convinced Judge Richard Mori that police had overcharged the two because a charge of malicious destruction requires that property be damaged or destroyed. The buildings were not damaged when the raccoon entrails, body and head were left there, Gavegnano argued; the blood and animal parts were simply cleaned up."
Graham still faces charges of defacing property and witness intimidation. The prosecutor has also threatened to appeal the judge's ruling. This case initially stems from an internal struggle within Salem over the licensing of psychics, and some bad blood between Graham and local event organizer Christian Day. You can read my full coverage of the Salem "psychic wars" at this link.
Labels: Christian Day, law, psychics, Salem, Sharon Graham
10.17.2007
The Business and Controversy of Halloween
It is becoming ever more apparent that the Halloween holiday has become the biggest holiday outside of Christmas. Popular Halloween destination spots like Salem, MA gathers 75,000 people on that night alone, and retail sales for the holiday are breaking records.
"Halloween spending is estimated to reach $5.07 billion this year, compared to $4.96 billion in 2006. At $1.8 billion, costumes for adults, children and pets make up the bulk of spending, according to the National Retail Federation ... The average person is expected to spend just under $65 on Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation survey. One-third of that - about $23 per person - will be spent on costumes and almost $20 will go toward Halloween candy."
But with the growing popularity comes growing controversy. School bans of the holiday (and subsequent un-bannings) are becoming ever more common, and controversies over publicly displayed decorations are becoming heated and angry. It has columnist Ellis Henican wondering where all the fun went.
"Who needs to wait for another hyped-up "War on Christmas?" It's only mid-October. And we're already in the thick of a breathless national "Assault on Halloween." Consider yourself warned, you precious little trick-or-treaters, you toilet-paper-tossing miscreants: Two weeks before the greatest kids' holiday of the year, a bunch of nay-saying grownups are hell-bent on spoiling the fun ... anti-Halloween eruptions are now breaking out everywhere ... If it's not one thing, it's another on Halloween - from any interest group with its own fax machine."
These complaints are echoed by Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi:
"The two most devastating words any red-blooded American kid is likely to hear are "Fall Festival." It can mean only one thing: The War on Halloween is once again upon us. No, the War on Halloween won't induce the same zealous indignation that, say, the War on Christmas can. For me, though, it's far worse. We're still weeks from this glorious pagan celebration, but you can already hear the sound of the pinheads sucking the fun out of life."
Harsanyi talks to Harvard Halloween expert Lesley Bannatyne who explains why, despite the controversy, the holiday is more important to our society than ever.
"'One of the main reasons the holiday is critical is because it's perhaps the only holiday left where we actually open our doors to strangers ... If we've ever needed that, we need it nowadays' ... Moreover, during Halloween kids can express and explore things that they find scary, Bannatyne explains. It's healthy. It's about Celtic mythology, popular culture, literature and the evolution of the American experience. It's also about inclusion. Bannatyne claims that Halloween was used in the early part of the 20th century as a means of teaching immigrants how to acclimate to the American way of life."
You can read a fascinating article about the different developing Halloween trends on Bannatyne's web site. The larger point here is that Halloween has become too big to be owned by any singular conception of what it should be. Pagans no more get to define it than the anti-Halloween Christians promoting "fall festivals", or the secular thrill-seekers looking to blow off some steam. We should all remember that this holiday, since the very beginning, has been about crossing boundaries and doing shocking things.
"While Samhain (and the phenomenon of death which it celebrated) was obviously the end of a cycle, it was more importantly the start of a new one. Because all true novelty springs from the chaotic freedom and vitality of the Otherworld, a new cycle could be inaugurated only by dissolving all of the structures of the old one -- just as the moment of death dissolves our identity in this world, allowing the fresh energies of the Otherworld to impel us towards new life. This meant that, as happens in the feasts of renewal of many different cultures, certain types of social disorder were actively encouraged during the period of the festival, because they promoted the renewing influence of the Otherworld at the point in the yearly cycle where it would be most beneficial. Customs originating entirely in the world of cultural values -- such as those relating to social rank or gender-appropriate behaviour -- were the most likely to be violated. Disrespect could be shown to elders or to members of the upper classes. Cross-dressing was one of the most widespread and popular ways of expressing the dissolution of social categories, and in parts of Wales groups of young men in female garb were referred to as gwrachod ("hags" or "witches") as they wandered through the countryside on Calan Gaeaf, indulging in all kinds of mischief."
So shouldn't this holiday, for Pagans anyway, be the one time of the year we accept the strange, gruesome, outrageous, and offensive? Let us all try to use the energies of this holiday to bind us all closer together as a society. The business of Halloween is getting bigger, lets be sure its true spirit remains a part of that growth.
Labels: Halloween, Paganism, Salem, Samhain, War on Halloween, Witch
10.11.2007
Two Coasts, Two Conceptions, One Samhain
Two recent stories discuss upcoming Pagan-run events for the Samhain season. The first comes from Starhawk's most recent entry on The Washington Post's "On Faith" blog. In the essay Starhawk discusses her views on death and dying, and mentions Reclaiming's annual Spiral Dance held around Samhain in San Francisco.
"At this time of year, as we move toward Samhain or Halloween, the ancient festival of the ancestors, we say 'the veil is thin' that divides the world of the living from the realm of the dead. The ancestors return to visit us - and that is the origin of our Halloween customs of setting candles out in jack-o-lanterns to light their way to our doors, of giving offerings (once harvest offerings, now candy) to children, who are the ancestors returning. In our Samhain rituals, like the large, public Spiral Dance ritual that Reclaiming creates every year right before Halloween, we often take an imaginative journey to the Isle, to meet and talk with our beloved dead, to receive help and guidance, to finish what is unfinished, to offer our love. I have many times had visions and a deep sense of connection with my loved ones who have passed on. The meaning is often very personal, a message of hope or approval or advice."
Meanwhile The Salem News gives us a "dummies guide" to the variety of Witch-related Halloween happenings in the "Witch City" of Salem. Of particular interest is the competing "official" Salem Witches Balls from two different generations of Witches.
"...two witches balls, both advertised as the "official" Salem witches ball and both at the historic Hawthorne Hotel. The first, on Friday, Oct. 26, is run by local witch Christian Day and features Fiona Horne, an Australian rock star billed as "the world's most famous witch." The other, on Halloween night, is being staged by Laurie Cabot, who also is "the world's most famous witch." Cabot, of course, is the official witch of Salem, a title bestowed upon her three decades ago by Gov. Michael Dukakis ...