Why The Ritual Bodice?

Chas Clifton (and his wife ‘M’) newly returned from a Pagan festival picks a bone with the modern Pagan tendency towards Middle-Age styles in ritual dress.

“After last week’s festival, M. launched into a mini-rant about Pagans’ fondness for some form of re-created archaic dress. For instance, the priest at the solstice sunrise ritual was attired in sort of Dark Ages style: loose trousers gathered at the ankle, loose-fitting shirt, cloak, and sword and spear. How is that more Pagan than jeans and sneakers?”

How indeed. I myself have always felt slightly daft in any ritual dress that went beyond a simple robe. In most cases I practiced in the clothes I wear in the everyday. I’m not against ornate religious costuming. But I feel it should reflect our modern sensibilities instead of grasping at an imaginary idyllic past. Let us be daring in dress if we wish, but let it be our dress, not the costume of a Christian-dominated past.

On The Lighter Side

Things You’ll Never Hear a Pagan Say…

Driving While Druid

Someone is driving a vehicle with an improper tag. They are pulled over. The guy also turns out to have a suspended license and is taken into custody. Seems pretty routine right? But what happens if you were pulled over not for an improper tag, but for your Druidic bumper sticker by a police officer who sees himself on a holy mission to convert the lost. That officer then follows up by sending a letter to the couple, part of which reads as follows:

“You see, my passion is not to wear a badge and enforce man’s law. Instead it’s to be where I need to be for people like you. Yes, I do enforce Caesar’s law, but I care far more about following Jesus Christ who came to make a way to him through faith and not by works or laws. In your case, Jesus has reached out to you through me to say that he wants your attention. Chances are that he sent this intercession after hearing the prayers of someone for your welfare. Maybe it was your prayers, or maybe it was a loved one or friend who cares for you. But he did send intercession. Now, you must respond without delay and without excuses. I see from your bumper stickers and from your testimony that are a druid priest. I am not familiar with the Druids enough to make conversation. But I am ordained in the Baptist church. And for whatever reason, God is calling you to listen to words from the Baptists. This is clear! If you deny this, then you are pushing away the hand of God and that would not be wise. Too many events were manipulated by God to bring us together to be a coincidence. Actually, I only police every 2nd Friday night, so just being on duty was rare.”

WorldNewDaily reports that the matter is currently under investigation by the Greer City chief of police.

“The issue is the stop. Did they stop them because of the stickers? That’s what we’re trying to determine in our investigation. What was the reason for the stop?” – police chief Dan Reynolds

I don’t think anyone is suggesting that driving on a suspended license is a correct action, or should be overlooked, but it is disturbing to think that there are police officers trolling for likely converts instead of criminals.

Do You Believe In Witches?

A recent interview with Bewitched star (and long-time New Age advocate) Shirley MacLaine hints that we would be surprised at who practices Wicca in Hollywood.

Do you believe in witches?
Oh, yes! What do you mean, “believe in”?

Well, some people say they don’t exist.
You’d be surprised who I know and, you know, who studied Wicca. I can’t tell you who, but some of these people give me readings. It’s got to do with the energies of the leyline of the earth, of the movement of the stars. It’s a very old and ancient tradition.

Maybe she visits Cybill Shepard’s coven?