Witch Direction: The group for Leeds pagans
I’m proud of Witch Direction and the way we have grown stronger together over time.

The group used to be called the Leeds Pagan Moot before I took it over about a year ago. Read full story from yorkshireeveningpost.com

Alabama Wiccans find faith in nature
What do most students think of when they think of witches? Harry Potter? Halloween? “Hocus Pocus?”

Instead of thinking of fictional characters or a secular holiday, there is a more serious religious ideology that can be associated with the word witch. A number of Alabama citizens and local Tuscaloosa and Birmingham residents practice paganism or Wicca, which is a neo-pagan religion. Read full story from cw.ua.edu

Letter: Bible prohibits tattoos, piercing
A Oct. 9 article cited the Church of Body Modification as a genuine religion, arguing a girl should be allowed to have body piercing in a Johnston County school. A Bible believer is commanded, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:28) Read full story from reflector.com

Halloween no longer old traditions
With candy, costumes, tricks and treats, this is our own
Four days from now the chance of some short folk ringing your doorbell is pretty high.

Unless you live way out in the country or in a high-rise or put a pit bull in your front yard, the rituals of Halloween will draw them to your door like children to chocolate. Read full story from amarillo.com

Pagan pioneer says Missouri center’s sale illustrates challenge for movement
As the leaves both blaze their last glories on the trees and crunch beneath our feet, Pagan thoughts turn to the endings of cycles.

My own thoughts turn often these days to Diana’s Grove, the retreat center in the Missouri Ozarks that has helped so many Pagans and fellow travelers. While Grove programming will still be offered next year, the land is for sale. Autumn is upon it. Winter is closing fast. Read full story from sltoday.com

HALLOWEEN THE TRUTH AT LAST
What the bigots ‘DONT’ want you to know about this ancient, native, Pagan British festival
The actual festival of Halloween was originally called ‘SAMHAIN,’ which comes from the Gaelic/Celtic meaning for ‘November’ and ‘Summer’s end’.

The original Celtic settlers arrived here in around 600 BC, fetching with them their own ‘Nature Based’ polytheistic form of spiritual belief systems. SAMHAIN marked the beginning of the long cold winter, a time when the cattle had to be herded into sheltered quarters as a defensive measure against expected harsh snow-fall, frost, and blizzard. It was also a cheerless period for numerous Celts, as the winter’s chill could always prove too much for many elderly, sick, or loved ones badly injured in battle. Read full story from ufodigest.com

Dog who says grace live on CNN this morning (source cnn.com)