Rise in paganism in Southeast Valley mirrors U.S. trend
Advocates of paganism say it is on the rise in the “Southeast Valley, mirroring a nationwide trend of growth in nature-based religions. Many local followers have been celebrating their beliefs and seeking the same acceptance and respect as any other religion. Read full story from azcentral.com
Michigan Woman Faces Civil Rights Complaint for Seeking a Christian Roommate
A civil rights complaint has been filed against a woman in Grand Rapids, Mich., who posted an advertisement at her church last July seeking a Christian roommate.
The ad “expresses an illegal preference for a Christian roommate, thus excluding people of other faiths,” according to the complaint filed by the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan. Read full story from foxnews.com
At tarot reading, the candidates for governor get carded
NATICK — Deval Patrick has had the president of the United States in his corner, campaigning for him in his bid to get re-elected governor of Massachusetts. But Patrick also seems to have more mystical forces on his side.
The fates and furies that ran through a deck of tarot cards at Chanah Liora Wizenberg’s house on MacArthur Road yesterday gave the governor the edge in the Nov. 2 election. Read full story from metrowestdailynews.com
All Hallows Eve
Hallowe’en annually is one of the most observed of our holidays, and one of the oldest celebrations Americans keep each Oct. 31.
The roots of Hallowe’en began in the ancient and pre-Christian Celtic festival of the dead, and may go back as far as 200 B.C. Read full story from endnews.com
Witches Say Beer’s O.K., but Lose the Fire and Stake
Ms. Noble, who is famous in the pagan and Wiccan communities for her astrology readings, shamanic healing and writings about goddess spirituality, says she discovered Witch’s Wit last week on one of her regular excursions to 41st Avenue Liquors, in Capitola, Calif.
“I like beer,” Ms. Noble said, and as a practitioner of religious traditions that revere the earth and women’s special powers, she also feels a special connection to brewing. “It was the women who brewed beer from ancient times right up to the Reformation,” she says. She thinks some were burned as witches to destroy “the ancient traditions of shamanistic medicine, which in every indigenous culture includes the brewing of medicinal fermented beverages.” Read full story from nytimes.com
Spells fail to conjure tax breaks
WITCHES are being urged to send ”positive energy” to the Australian Tax Office in support of a wiccan church’s claim for tax breaks.
Amethyst Trevelan, whose ”street name” is Ziggy Smith, says she has been in talks with the Tax Office since September 2009 in a bid to gain tax breaks for the Adelaide Community Church of Inclusive Wicca. Read full story from smh.com
