Posts Tagged ‘Pagan’
Friday, December 18th, 2009
‘I cast spells and it works’
According to Pagans, the early Christian church hijacked December 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Read full story from lep.co.uk
Fla. appeals court reinstates challenge to prison religious aid
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A humanist group can go ahead with its challenge against the Florida prison system’s use of two faith-based organizations to provide substance-abuse programs for inmates, a state appellate court has ruled. Read full story from firstamendmentcenter.com
Magick and Ritual
Even for the secular minded, Magick and Ritual can still have meaning and significance. Although astrology and other esoteric disciplines are often lumped into the category of religion ” and are instantly rejected by secular minded, scholars, scientists and religious critics, Magick and ritual can only enhance one`s life. This article will explain how Magick and ritual should be seen as “in the least “a social science, and not as pseudo-science “. Read full story from thesop.org
Christmas 2009: Oh Come All Ye Faithless
The main war on Christmas – we’ll call it the conventional war – has been well-documented, and it goes on, with victories and defeats for both sides. In Loudoun County, Va. on Dec. 1, the Board of Supervisors reversed a ban on religious holiday displays on the courthouse lawn. (The one supervisor who voted “no” said, “I am concerned that this motion would turn the courthouse grounds into a public circus.”) Meanwhile, in Arizona, public school children remain unable to use Christmas themes when decorating ornaments for the Capitol Christmas tree. Read full story from charlotteconservative.com
Created and embellished
Everyone knows America’s Christmas traditions: A decorated tree at home. Stockings hung from the mantle. Santa Claus coming down the chimney Christmas Eve. Special music and programs at church. Read full story from decaturdaily.com
Stepfather confesses to witchcraft against boy (2)
The stepfather of a 2-year-old boy claimed he pushed 42 “blessed” sewing needles deep into the toddler because his lover told him to while in a trance, saying it would keep the couple together, according to police. Read full story from sowetan.co.za
‘Prophet’ found guilty of stalking
NORRISTOWN — A self-proclaimed prophet who spouted biblical passages to rail against a Lower Pottsgrove couple showed no emotion as a jury determined her conduct caused emotional distress for the couple. Read full story from thereporteronline.com
Tags: Christian, Christmas, Magick, Pagan, Prophet, Religion, Ritual, Solstice, Spells, Wicca, Witch, witchcraft, Yule
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Monday, December 14th, 2009
Army still threatens sacred site
FORT SILL, Okla. – The Comanche Nation and the U.S. Army have been battling over a proposed training/service center for the Fort Sill complex that was to be built on Medicine Bluff, a sacred site of not just the Comanche, but also the Kiowas, the Wichitas and the Apaches. Read full story from Indiancountrytoday.com
Witchy Moon Magickal Pagan Superstore Partners with Circle Santuary to Deliver Yuletide Care Packages to Pagan Troops
WitchyMoon Magickal Pagan Superstore today announced that is supporting Circle Sanctuary’s “Operation Circle Care” program to collect Yule gifts for Pagan soldiers stationed overseas. As part of this sponsorship, WitchyMoon will be selling care packages on its web site, which can be sent to Pagan service members abroad. WitchyMoon will be offering a 25% discount on all care package items. Read full story from pr.com
Rahm Emanuel Lights National Menorah At White House
WASHINGTON — White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel lit the National Menorah in celebration of Hanukkah. Read full story from huffingtonpost.com
Winter Solstice celebrations: a.k.a. Christmas, Saturnalia, Yule, the Long Night, etc.
Religious folk worldwide observe many seasonal days of celebration during the month of December. Most are religious holy days, and are linked in some way to the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. On that day, due to the earth’s tilt on its axis, the daytime hours are at a minimum in the Northern hemisphere, and night time is at a maximum. (In the southern hemisphere, the summer solstice is celebrated in December, when the night time is at a minimum and the daytime is at a maximum. We will assume that the reader lives in the Northern hemisphere for the rest of this essay.) Read full story from religioustolerance.org
Polar Bear in the Square in London and Copenhagen
This life-sized ice sculpture of a polar bear is sitting in London’s Trafalgar Square for the next week. Melting. By the end of its stay, probably all that will be left will be a bronze skeleton and a pool of water. Read full story from treehugger.com
Elemental altar for Pagan kids
Altars can be as simple or complex as their creator desires. For those just starting out in the Craft, whether children or adults, simple is generally a wise approach. Creating an elemental altar offers young Pagans an easy way to have personal sacred space. Read full story from examiner.com
Tags: Candles, Christmas, Craft, Elements, Hanukkah, Magick, Menorah, Moon, Native American, Pagan, Pagan Altar, Saturnalia, Solstice, Wicca, Witch, Yule
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Sunday, December 13th, 2009
Wiccan to sit out two Christmas songs
Fifteen-year-old Katarina Keen won’t sing along to “Silent Night” or “Listen to the Stars,” two Christian songs planned for her choir’s upcoming Christmas concert at Borger High School. But she will sing “Jingle Bells” and “A Carol in Winter.” Read full story from amarillo.com
Glitzy, fun – but soulful too
I grew up singing “Deck the halls with boughs of holly” but never actually stopped to think why we were decking the halls at all. Each year we take the time to decorate our homes during the festive season, hanging baubles on the Christmas tree and placing holly and ivy around the house but how many of us stop to wonder why we participate in such traditions? Read full story from ft.com
‘Druid’ ruse lured Island County girl to be raped
A 53-year-old carnival worker is being held in Alabama on a $500,000 warrant out of Island County for allegedly raping a girl numerous times after convincing her that the sex acts were part of a Druid religion, court documents indicate. Read full story from pnwlocalnews.com
Christopher Hitchens: Merry Christmas. Now, about that public display …
A reported scheme for a “nonreligious” celebration of Christmas in the Obama White House was over before it began, long before it could become part of that old seasonal favorite, “the war on Christmas.” I never believed the original reports anyway: The president has no need to incite those who already think that he is a closet Communist or stealth Muslim. Read full story from startribune.com
Tags: Christmas, Druid, Muslim, Pagan, Religion, Solstice, The war on Christmas, Wicca, Witch, witchcraft
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Saturday, December 12th, 2009
Candle rituals a symbolic form of prayer, a way to ask for change
In Wicca, and other pagan (nature-based) and mystical belief systems, burning candles is one of the simplest forms of magic. Not the “hocus-pocus, pull-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat” variety of magic, but rather focusing and directing mental energies to manifest a change in the physical world. Read full story from winnipegfreepress.com
“Jesus is the ONLY reason for the season” Billboard
I saw a billboard here in San Diego (on University in Hillcrest), which reads “Jesus is the ONLY reason for the season,” apparantly sponsored by two businessmen. To paraphrase Jeff Dunham’s Achmed the Dead Terrorist: “Don’t say Merry Christmas, it only irritates the other infidels.”. That is a very profound statement. Read full story from sandiegoreader.com
Happy Holidays to you, Jay!
I’d like to know, what’s wrong with saying “Happy Holidays” and “Seasons Greetings” anyway? Isn’t the Christmas spirit about being welcoming, loving and peaceful to all? Don’t you think when certain Religious Right groups make such a fuss over this every year, claiming there is some sort of “war on Christmas,” that they are the ones breaking that peace? Read full story from beliefnet.com
David Robson: The origins of the yule log
Yule logs are more associated with the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. Fires were burned to provide light, ward off evil spirits and provide warmth. Choosing the largest piece of wood lying around meant more heat and more light. Read full story from sj-r.com
University of Washington Professor: Mother Earth Wants to Kill You
If your image of Mother Earth is a loving, peaceful benevolent who wants to see her human offspring grow and prosper (I’m looking at you, Wiccans) you might not want to invite University of Washington paleontologist Peter Ward to your next moon dance. Read full story from seattleweekly.com
Tags: Candle rituals, Christmas, evil spirits, Happy Holidays, hocus-pucus, Jesus, Magick, Mother earth, Pagan, Seasons greetings, Solstice, Wicca, Winter Solstice, Witch, Yule
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Bakersfield council prayers too Christian?
Bakersfield is the second city in Kern County to have prayers at city council meetings challenged by the Freedom From Religion Foundation Inc., a Wisconsin nonprofit with a membership of mostly atheists and agnostics. Read full story from bakersfield.com
Is Islam really a threat to America?
A recent headline in the Nashville newspaper The Tennessean asks the question “Is Islam a threat to America.” Throughout the history of the nation this question has been asked of many different groups. What is the difference now? Islam as a faith is no more a threat to America than Judaism, Hinduism, Paganism or other any other faith experience. The question itself suffers from the propensity to mislabel and mis-characterize Muslims (and many other groups). Read full story from examiner.com
What is Five Elements Acupuncture?
Five Elements Acupuncture is one of a handful of traditional Eastern acupuncture modalities. Originally introduced to the Western world by an Englishman, J.R. Worlsey, in the mid-20th century, it’s based on the ancient concept of the five elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. These five elements correspond to the five seasons known as winter, spring, summer, fall and Indian summer. Read full story from examiner.com
Obama administration reps meet with many faiths at PWR
Showing openness to diversity in American religion, members of the Obama administration met at the Parliament of World Religions Dec. 6 with 50 members of multiple faiths. Read full story from stltoday.com
A perfect Christmas
The first requirement for an ideal Christmas might be this: Nothing new and different is allowed. No new songs, carols, traditions, customs, foods, movie plots or TV heartwarmers. You may occasionally think you’ve found a new holiday wrinkle, but if you check it out you’ll find it’s based on something that was first trotted out years ago. The closest thing to a really new Christmas idea would be a nativity scene in which the three wise men (dressed like Taliban warriors) are frisked for concealed weapons by U.S. Marines before being allowed admission to the manger. Read full story from tbnweekly.com
Tags: America, Christian, Christmas, Discrimination, Elements, faith, Islam, Native American, Obama, Pagan, Parliament of World's Religions, Religion, Wicca, Witch
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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
It is time to negoitate a peace treaty and end the ‘War on Christmas’
Jesus was not born on December 25. Early Christians picked that date because it was a popular Roman pagan holiday marking the winter solstice. Jesus probably wasn’t born in a stable, either. Read full story from the examiner.com
Ashland OR school removes holiday tree
ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) — The principal of an elementary school in Ashland, Ore., has removed a holiday giving tree from the school after several families complained it was a religious symbol. Read full story from kgw.com
Kaleidoscope of religions
Every five years a gathering known as the Parliament of the World’s Religions draws people from all over the world. It’s happening now, this time in Melbourne, Australia. For seven days, a jam-packed schedule of events ranges from the ultimate and urgent to the personal and pragmatic. There’s culture, politics, meditation, exhibitions, bells and, yes, some whistles. Monks mingle with Catholic priests, Hindu swamis with Zoroastrians and Sikhs. Atheists and pagans have their place. Just walking through the crowd gives a vivid portrait of humanity. And a sea of cameras capture the extraordinary scene. Read full story from newsweek.washingtonpost.com
Tags: Christmas, Pagan, Religion, Solstice, Wicca, Witch
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Monday, December 7th, 2009
Taking back the Pagan holiday tree and where to find Pagan ornaments
Anyone who knows their history knows that the “Christmas” tree was first introduced by ancient Pagans. The Egyptians decorated palm branches during the winter solstice to symbolize resurrection. Ancient Greeks decorated evergreen trees in worship of Adonia, who was resurrected by a serpent. The ancient Germans decorated evergreen trees in worship of Woden. Romans covered their trees with metallic decorations and candles to honor Bacchus. All of these tree decorating traditions predated Christianity. Read full story from examiner.com
Fifth Parliament of World’s Religions
The Fifth Parliament of World’s Religions is currently convening in Melbourne, Australia. Every major religion is represented in the name of peace. Read full story from examiner.com
Police force ‘consulted warlock over horse plaiting’
Owners in west Dorset and the surrounding counties had believed that thieves plaited the manes of the beasts to identify which ones to steal when they returned at night. Read full story from telegraph.co.uk
The problems with therapy
The group, founded by Nancy Alcorn, an American Christian evangelist who blames psychiatric illnesses and homosexuality on “demonic activity”, has homes in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. It claims it has helped more than 2,500 girls worldwide to overcome depression, eating disorders, addiction and other “life-controlling issues”. It is believed that about 20 young women are now in care in the UK home, which opened in 2006 Read full story from timesonline.co.uk
‘Witchcraft is no stranger than pigeon racing’
Pointy hats, black cats and broomsticks – Marcus Katz has heard it all before. The 43-year-old from Keswick is a witch… and he’s not ashamed to admit it. Read full story from newsandstar.co.uk
Devotion to Saint Death
On the first day of each month, one of the most unusual religious congregations in Mexico gathers here at Alfareria Street in a tough barrio that even aspiring outlaws regard as a place to watch your back. Read full story from washingtonpost.com
Vets come out ‘of the broom closet’
Charles Arnold is national commander of the Pagan Veterans of the United States. The Morrisville Vietnam veteran said his members deserve respect equal to any Christian, Jew or Muslim who served the country. Read full story from phillyburbs.com
Tags: Christmas, Pagan, Psychic, Religion, Veterans, Wicca, Witch, witchcraft
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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
Happy Re-Birthday: Celebrating the Light’s Return at Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice marks the shift of the seasons from harvesting crops to rejuvenating the Earth.
In 2009, this longest night of the year falls on December 21. While the notion of winter usually evokes images of warm coats, mittens and boots, in ancient times Winter Solstice was honored as the turning point when the sun begins warming the Earth a little bit longer every day. Read full story from visionmagazine.com
Midwinter revels and holidays of light
“Go Christmas, go Hanukkah, go Kwanzaa, go Solstice!” So shout the brightly clad young models of a current TV commercial, as they leap about the screen like cheerleaders in their stripy sweaters and knitted gloves. Yet another seasonal advertisement by a multinational garment-selling conglomerate. But wait. What are the holidays mentioned in the ad again? Do they really finish their cheer with Solstice? Read full story from mountainx.com
Satanic activity in the Forest of Dean sounds strangely familiar
Fans of Dennis Wheatley and Hammer horror will know that British rural life has long been synonymous with the occult. The apartment-block Satanism of Rosemary’s Baby is simply not for us: we feel goats’ skulls, naked virgins and wicker men look better in a forest or field than on Clapham High Street. Read full story from telegraph.co.uk
ADL Urges Appeals Court to Allow Religious Leader to Challenge Discriminatory Policy
New York, NY, December 1, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) urged a federal appeals court to allow a Wiccan religious leader to have his day in court to pursue a religious discrimination case. Read full story from adl.org
Celebration of Light events to honor lost loved ones
The first holiday season after a loved one’s death can be among the hardest experiences for his or her survivors — burdensome and isolating while others celebrate in good cheer. Read full story from insidebayarea.com
Tags: Holiday, Pagan, Religion, Solstice, Wicca, Witch
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Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
December 1 is World AIDS Day
Today, December 1, is World AIDS Day – a day to bring awareness to this pandemic that does not discriminate based on gender, age, color, religious sect nor sexual orientation. Almost every one of us knows someone who has been touched by this disease in some way: a friend, a sibling, a parent, a child, a cousin, a friend’s child – someone in our lives has been affected. Read full story from examiner.com
Climate change, drought transforming Navajo’s dunescape to a dust bowl
WINSLOW, Ariz. – Instead of spending his time in ceremony one warm night last July, Navajo rancher Robert Diller spent it in his tractor, digging other attendees and their cars out of the sand. He lost count after 10. Read full story from indiancountrytoday.com
An Open Letter To President Obama On Afghanistan
Do you really want to be the new “war president”? If you go to West Point tomorrow night (Tuesday, 8pm) and announce that you are increasing, rather than withdrawing, the troops in Afghanistan, you are the new war president. Read full story from huffingtonpost.com
Town seeks protection from pending ‘witches conference’
The chiefs and people of Hiawu Besease in the Ashanti Region are fervently organizing prayers and fasting to fend off any evil as the date for an intended witches conference slated to take place in the town. Read full story from modernghana.com
Religious Right Launches Fresh Assault on US Abortion Rights
Catholic bishops and Protestant evangelists in the US have unleashed an intense lobbying campaign to force fresh limitations on access to abortion into healthcare legislation under debate in the Senate this week. Read full story from commondreams.org
Same-Sex Marriage Passes D.C. Council, 11-2
No big surprises in the first D.C. Council vote on legalizing same-sex marriage: the Council today voted 11-2 to approve the “Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009,” with Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) and Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) the only dissenters. Read full story from dcist.com
Tags: Abortion, Afghanistan, Aids, Native American, Navajo, Pagan, Religion, Witch
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Monday, November 30th, 2009
Shayne Looper: To coexist is just not enough
We were in an Ivy League town recently, and I noticed a number of cars sporting a bumper sticker that read COEXIST. The letters were constructed from various symbols, some of which were religious in nature. Read full story from norwichbulletin.com
Winter solstice is a time of renewal, reconnection with the Earth
Throughout the ages, a variety of cultures have viewed the winter solstice as a time for celebration and renewal. The tilt of the earth’s axis makes the winter solstice the shortest day — and longest night — of the year. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, the word solstice comes from the roots “sol,” which means sun, and “stit,” which means stand. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice usually falls on Dec. 21 or 22. Read full story from poughkeepsiefournal.com
Obama Makes History: Thanksgiving Proclamation First Ever to Omit Direct Mention of God
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 27, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – President Obama’s brief proclamation of Thanksgiving Day on November 26 was unique among all recorded Thanksgiving proclamations by his predecessors: it is the first one that fails to directly acknowledge the existence of God. Read full story from lifesitenews.com
Climate research e-mail controversy simmers
The scientific conduct of climate researchers has come under increasing heat in a sprawling online debate over leaked e-mails that, critics say, raise questions about the arguments that global warming threatens the world. Read full story from usatoday.com
Indianapolis Public Schools response to question of censorship
Dorothy Crinshaw of the Indianapolis Public Schools was able to return a phone call made last week to her office before Thanksgiving regarding IPS censoring Pagan/Wiccan and Atheistic content and was able to answer a few questions. Read full story from examner.com
Tags: Pagan, Solstice, Thanksgiving, Wicca, Witch, witchcraft
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