A few quick notes for you today.

Update in the Sherry Harlan Murder Trial: Local coverage of the ongoing trial that will decide if Eric Christensen premeditated the killing of his ex-girlfriend Sherry Harlan continues. On Wednesday, the jury in Snohomish County, Washington heard an hour-long taped interview with Christensen; where he discussed the now-infamous blood oath that prosecutors claim set the stage for his murderous rampage.

“Christensen told the cops he had tried to make things work with Harlan, but she had broken a promise. He wouldn’t tolerate her communicating with another man, not after she took a “blood oath.” “I’m not a Christian. I’m a Wiccan and that would be like asking me to become (a Christian). I’m 100 percent totally for Chevys. It would be like asking me to love Fords,” Christensen told the detectives. Christensen described the oath that he and Harlan took at her apartment in mid-December. He laughed at detectives as they tried to understand the different elements of the ceremony. Christensen said Harlan vowed to stop seeing and taking gifts from the man. He explained that he wanted to salvage the relationship and the oath meant Harlan did too, he said. Christensen recounted the morning he found out that Harlan continued to communicate with the other man. He told detectives he discovered the text messages on Harlan’s phone while she was in the shower.  He said he was “biting-nails mad, but I know how to control my anger. I know if it goes a little too far. I know exactly what my potentials are without even doing it.” He told police he and Harlan had sex and then he confronted her about the messages. They got into a shoving match. He called her names and then left. “So what are your feelings toward her now?” detectives asked Christensen. “I hope Karma gives her what she deserves,” Christensen said. “What do you mean by that?” sheriff’s detective Ted Betts asked. “Well, she broke an oath,” Christensen said.”

Just reading this excerpt is chilling, knowing that Christensen had indeed just murdered his ex-girlfriend, mutilated her corpse, and scattered the remains throughout town. Now that it’s clear that Christensen is identifying himself as Wiccan, and is putting the “blood oath” into the context of his Wiccan practice, local and national leaders need to address this situation and make clear that his actions are not representative of this faith. If the prosecution is really hinging premeditation on his Wiccan beliefs, specifically the blood oath, I can’t imagine they’ll call a local leader to debunk his views, or that the defense will do so, since they want to prove Christensen acted without premeditation in order to win a shorter sentence. I’ll keep you posted as this trial continues.

The Pagans of Long Island: I normally don’t cover “meet the Pagans” type news articles much anymore, since they usually don’t have much new to say, and often follow a pretty predictable script (seriously, I could make a drinking game out of it). However, Jaclyn Gallucci’s article about the Pagan/Wiccan community in Long Island is refreshingly in-depth and interviews several practitioners and shop-owners in the area.

“Shortly after becoming initiated himself as a Wiccan in England, Raymond Buckland moved to Brentwood, bringing Wicca to the United States, along with a direct lineage to British traditional witchcraft that has spread clear across the country; he later became a professor at Hofstra University, and created the First Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Bay Shore, which has since closed. It was the first of its kind on Long Island—and in the United States. Buckland today is widely considered the Father of American Wicca. “Long Island has a very, very strong witch and Wiccan presence because of Buckland,” says Rev. Mark Lyons, a high priest of “eclectic” witchcraft, a path that doesn’t strictly adhere to a Wiccan tradition as defined by Gardner or his contemporaries.”

Now granted, the article does peddle in many “meet the Pagans” article stereotypes (Harry Potter, Photoshopped ”Pagan” stock photo, fastest growing religion in America, etc) but those venial sins are to be forgiven considering the obvious amount of effort and care that went into showcasing the voice and history of Pagans in Long Island. I can imagine someone actually coming away from this article learning something about modern Paganism.

Update on Isaac Bonewits’ Health: Pagan author and theologian Isaac Bonewits is back in the hospital after bleeding from an undetermined source was discovered. Bonewits has been battling a rare form of colon cancer since October of last year, and the recent prognosis after rounds of chemo and radiation hasn’t been good.

“Isaac is back in the hospital and is not doing well. He has bleeding from an undetermined source that may not be repairable. We are anxiously awaiting both test results and ritual results. From his hospital bed, Isaac can see the full moon through his window. Our thoughts will be will everyone during tomorrow night’s rites.”

Such bleeds can be a very serious matter, and potentially life-threatening if not stopped. A massive coordinated working is being scheduled for 9pm tonight throughout the various time-zones.

May 27 is the full moon. That should give us enough time to circulate this message and make preparations. You may wish to print a picture of Isaac and Phaedra from his website or Facebook, to be your focus. Beginning at 9:00 p.m. in your time zone, start the thunder rolling! Cast a circle, light a candle, do whatever works for you. Then chant repeatedly: “Isaac’s tumors fade away. Thirty more years with Phae.”

For those of you outside America who may have already missed the May 27th at 9pm call for workings, I’m sure your individual and group efforts would also be appreciated. In addition to your prayers and invocations, a donation towards their climbing medical costs wouldn’t hurt either. For up-to-date news and information, you can follow their Facebook fan-page.

That’s all I have for now, have a great day!