News:
Medieval ‘Vampire’ Skull Found
The remains of a medieval “vampire” have been discovered among the corpses of 16th century plague victims in Venice, according to an Italian archaeologist who led the dig.
The body of the woman was found in a mass grave on the Venetian island of Lazzaretto Nuovo. Suspecting that she might be a vampire, a common folk belief at the time, gravediggers shoved a rock into her skull to prevent her from chewing through her shroud and infecting others with the plague, said anthropologist Matteo Borrini of the University of Florence.
In the absence of medical science, vampires were just one of many possible contemporary explanations for the spread of the Venetian plague in 1576, which ran rampant through the city and ultimately killed up to 50,000 people, some officials estimate. Read full story from livescience.com
White witch’s calls for pier archive footage
A WHITE witch is hoping to make a DVD charting memories of Hastings Pier in a bid to help campaigners battling to bring about its restoration.
Kevin Carlyon, of Dane Road, St Leonards, well-known for offering Tarot card readings to residents, has branched out to copying old video films onto DVD, and discovered a lot of footage of the Victorian attraction, some dating back to the 1930s.
He hopes to create a DVD that can be sold in order to raise funds for the Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust (HPWRT).
The pier was devastated by fire in October 2010.
Mr Carlyon said: “I don’t sit and watch people’s films through but as my computer is next to the recorders I do catch bits and there seems to be a fascinating amount of footage of Hastings Pier in its heyday. The earliest that I’ve seen is old cine film transferred to VHS which must come from the 1930s. Read full story from hastingsobserver.co.uk
Religion:
Pagan Books: 27 Essential Texts About Paganism For Your Bookshelf
Recently HuffPost Religion put a call out to our community about books on Paganism that every Pagan and those interested in the varied strands of Paganism should read.
The result is this great list of 27 books that range from introductory to scholarly in nature and cover the entire gamut of Pagan religions — Witchcraft, Wicca, Shamanism, Asatru, Druidism, Egyptian and Hellenic.
These books grapple with issues of sexuality, tell personal stories of faith, and provide information on the various Pagan religious rites. HuffPost Religion hopes that this list will be equally valuable for those who identify as Pagans, as well as those who are interested in Paganism, both academically and as a spiritual pursuit. Read full story from huffingtonpost.com
Radical Faerie Camp
went to BC Radical Faerie Camp as a reporter seeking to capture Faerie culture, but Faerie culture captured me.
The low-profile Faeries have undergone a resurgence in Vancouver in the last three years, reviving once-dormant weekly coffee events downtown and adding another in East Vancouver. The group held its first BC Faerie Camp last year; I attended the second camp with 72 Faeries on Victoria Day weekend. I was transfixed and transformed, forging genuine bonds with other queer men, a wonderful respite from attitude-filled, frigid Vancouver.
There are no rules, but Faerie rituals turn tradition on its head. Instead of applause, for example, Faeries hiss. Nobody leads Radical Faeries or defines its mission. Read full story from xtra.ca
Christian Author Tells How God Took Her Back From Witchcraft
A feeling of being abandoned by God and a curiosity about the pagan religion of Wicca led her to a 10-year life immersed in witchcraft, says a first-time Christian author. S.A. (Seleah Ally) Tower said she wants to share her story in order for others to learn how she escaped a very dark period in her life.
Tower told The Christian Post that her book, Taken from the Night – A Witches Encounter with God, is meant to tell her spiritual journey from first being a doubtful Christian, then to a witch, and later to a born-again believer in Jesus as authentically as possible. She wants the book and her testimony to help others who have experienced the same struggles in the spiritual realm. Read full story from christianpost.com
Jamie Dana was only in eighth grade when his life was shaken by the tragic loss of an infant child within his family. Unable to find an answer or explanation that made sense to him, he began a spiritual journey that led him to Wicca. Now the High Priest hopes to share his knowledge with others in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
According to Dana, Wicca is an earth-based religion that is both dualistic, meaning there are two equals, and polar, meaning everything has an opposite such as light and dark and life and death.
“We believe everything is connected to a divine essence and that everything has a soul or spirit, and anything that is put out affects that divine essence which affects you,” he explained. Read full story from theweekender.com
Media:
160 Girls Poisoned at Afghan School (Source: CNN)
Blogspot:
- David Salisbury’s Cauldron – Top 10 Books for Starting a Witchcraft Practice
- The Wild Hunt – Richard Land and “Full-Blown Paganism”
Feel free to leave comments regarding the articles posted.
If you’re interested in guest blogging or would like to submit an article or event, contact me at pagansworld.org@gmail.com.
Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!
Lisa
