A friend suggested that I should make an easily accessible list of the prominent members of our interconnected communities who have crossed the veil this year. That way, those of you who are involved in the ritual planning for upcoming ancestor-honoring festivals like Samhain, or Día de los Muertos, can prepare altars, litanies, or special celebrations. This has been a particularly heavy year for the Pagan community in terms of losses, so I thought it doubly appropriate to start this tradition now.

2010 Litany of our Honored Dead:

Len Rosenberg (Black Lotus) 1951 – 2010

Bard, teacher, Shakta (Hindu Goddess worshiper), and Elder in the Protean Tradition of Witchcraft.

Lady Sintana (Candace Lehrman White) 1937 – 2010

Activist, founder of the Ravenwood Church and Seminary of Wicca, Inc.

Isaac Bonewits 1949 – 2010

Pagan author, theologian, singer, Druid leader, and founder of Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF).

Alexei Kondratiev 1949 – 2010

Celtic scholar, linguist, and author.

Lady Svetlana 1934 – 2010

Liturgist, co-founder of Feraferia.

Barbara Stacy 1926 – 2010

Author and Associate Editor of The Witches’ Almanac.

Jean Dubuis 1919 – 2010

Noted French alchemist, esotericist, and nuclear physicist. Founder of “Les Philosopes de le Nature” (LPN).

The above list is in reverse chronological order. Click on the links for obituaries.

Other Noted Personages Who Crossed the Veil:

Barry Raftery (Celtic scholar), Mary Daly (feminist thealogian), Robert Holdstock (author), Edward Woodward (actor).

Full list of notable deaths in 2010.

The estimated 230,000 people who died in 2010 Haiti earthquake.

You may also wish to honor the military and service personnel of your country, and all innocents who have died in military conflicts this past year.

I hope you find this list useful, and if there’s anyone you think I might have missed, please add them to the comments.

My latest response at the Washington Post’s On Faith site is now up. This week I answer the question of why are the faith lives of candidates up for debate?

The problem isn’t that the faith lives of candidates are up for debate, it’s that we are asking the wrong questions and having the wrong debates. We keep looking for the controversy, for the “gotcha” questions, instead of truly examining where an individual’s theology and beliefs will take them once they wield political power on our behalf. Recently, New York City Councilman Dan Halloran almost had his candidacy derailed by the revelation that he was a leader in the Theodish faith (a form of Anglo-Saxon Heathenry). Reporters, instead of investigating what his religious outlook might be, or examining how his stated positions lined up with Theodish teachings, wrote ham-handed articles implying that he might be a stealth racist (a revelation that would be a true shocker for his multi-racial co-religionists). It was all heat and no light, a sad ongoing truism where we are still arguing over whether our avowed Christian President is a “secret Muslim”.

I hope you’ll head over to the site and read my response, and the other panelist responses, and share your thoughts.

In Pennsylvania’s Sixth Congressional District, Democratic candidate Dr. Manan Trivedi is facing off against Republican incumbent Jim Gerlach this November. While Gerlach has weathered tough political challenges in the past, PA’s Sixth District is notoriously competitive, and it isn’t outside of the realms of possibility for Trivedi to pull an upset, even in this Republican-leaning electoral climate. So why am I covering this particular horse-race? Because if Trivedi pulled an upset, he’d be the first-ever Hindu (“That’s what I put on my dog tags when I was in the Navy.”) congressman to be elected to office. This is significant, because while Indian-Americans have made great political advances in recent years, the unspoken “religion barrier” has remained very real.

“The extra attention carries both positive and negative implications for members of minority faiths, said Suhag Shukla, managing director and legal counsel for the Hindu American Foundation. “I think it sends a mixed sense of hope to young people in the Indian-American community that while we may have, as a society, gotten somewhat over the race barrier, the religion barrier is still there,” she said. At least seven other Indian-Americans are running for Congress or statewide office this year, many of whom openly embrace Sikhism, Hinduism or other Indian religions.”

While Trivedi has maintained that “issues are much more important” than what his religion is, his campaign claims that his Hinduism and Indian background have been used as a tool against him by his opponent. Most recently, Gerlach alleged that Trivedi was playing the “race card” by seeking donations from the Indian-American community. Trivedi responded, slamming Gerlach’s comments.

“These are hardworking American who pay their taxes and contribute to society.  Congressman Gerlach’s campaign is saying that somehow they aren’t good enough to participate in our democracy.  Like many Americans I am so proud of my heritage and grateful for all of the support I’ve received and believe absolutely no one, for any reason, should ever feel shut out of the democratic process.”

Trivedi is part of a record wave of Indian-American candidates this election cycle, and religious and racial issues keep coming up. While the Indian-American candidates refuse to say that their religious differences have been a hindrance, outside Hindu observers are more frank. Vidya Pradhan of India Currents magazine says that candidates like Bobby Jindal and Nikki Haley “felt that not being a Christian would hurt them.” Hindu American Foundation co-founder Aseem Shukla says that there is a religious litmus test for high office in America, one that sends an unhealthy message to religious minorities in the United States.

“The Indian American community may be politically mature enough to realize that Indian Americans in high office necessarily serve their constituency and not the ethnic community from whence they came. But the need to “prove” religious fidelity can be unnerving. In 2007, when 358 Christian, Jewish and Muslim members of the U.S. House passed a non-binding resolution recognizing the historical significance of the Hindu and Sikh festival of Diwali, Jindal, then a member of the House, was one of only a handful of legislators that publicly abstained.

Jindal and Haley, as brilliant and dynamic trailblazers, have thrown open the doors to political office, laying waste to minefields of ethnic slurs and perverse allegations that naysayers put in their way. Race is not an impediment to high office, and that is something to celebrate, no doubt. But in their public remonstrations of their parent’s faiths, Jindal and Haley tell well over three million Hindu and Sikh Americans that their time has not yet come as people of faith. And in their absolute denial of their religious heritage, they deny something far greater: a society that privileges pluralism, that no one religion has the monopoly on Truth, and that Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Pagans, agnostics and atheists may invest differently towards the afterlife, but can live in this life with all of the humanity, generosity and yes, frailty of any of those that presume to lead our states or nation today.”

If America is to live up to its promise, it needs to reflect the pluralism and diversity of its citizens. Eventually, an openly Hindu, Jain, or Sikh candidate will overcome the obstacles to election, and it could be Dr. Manan Trivedi in Pennsylvania, or Dr. Ami Bera in California. If either, or even both, were elected they would join Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Hank Johnson of Georgia, who became the first two Buddhists to be elected to the United States Congress. This is in addition to three Unitarian-Universalist, and two Muslim members of Congress. What will the reactions be if they win? Would they be protested? Demonized? Shouted at during congressional proceedings? Or would we finally realize that having religious minorities in office is not only important for other religious minorities, but for the health of our nation?

The Wild Hunt doesn’t endorse candidates, nor am I going to start now. Pagans in Pennsylvania’s Sixth Congressional District should vote their conscience, and not be guided by any endorsement I could give. But I do think that we could be on the cusp of a history-making election (from a religious standpoint), and I want my readers to be aware of that. I’ll be keeping track of these races, and of the race for Nevada State Assembly, where Tea Party-backed Pagan candidate Erin Lale is in the running.

Word has come to us that Pagan teacher, performer, and elder Len Rosenberg, known to the wider community as Black Lotus, passed away on October 15th due to complications from pneumonia. Black Lotus had also been battling colon cancer and was receiving chemotherapy. A Shakta (Hindu Goddess worshipper), and devotee of the South Indian Holy Woman, Ammachi of Kerala, Rosenberg also co-ran Mnemosynides Coven within the Protean Tradition of Witchcraft, a thealogically liberal group within the Gardnerian family. His writings were excerpted in Judy Harrow’s “Wicca Covens”, and in Cristina Biaggi’s “In the Footsteps of The Goddess”.

Len Rosenberg (Black Lotus). Photo by Eric Robbins.

Rosenberg was partners for many years with noted Celtic scholar, linguist, and author Alexei Kondratiev, who passed away this past May from a heart attack.

And when at last, I take the road
That leads to journey’s end,
I’ll find a Guide to show the way,
And recognize my friend.
- Black Lotus (Len Rosenberg), Excerpt from Song to Hermes

Here are some shared thoughts and remembrances from some of Len’s friends, acquaintances, and co-religionists.

“Len entered my life May 1992. He was my High Priest, mentor, teacher, and above all, friend. He would call every member of the coven at least once a week, often more often, to touch base and just kibbitz a little. We (Mnemosynides Coven, aka Children of Memory) met at least every other week, outdoors as often as possible, and participated in community networking events.

As the new century dawned, his mobility and health issues became more of a problem, and we met less often, and always indoors. Regardless of the limitations imposed by his body, Len’s mind was always sharp – especially his razor-sharp wit!

I was elevated to 3rd degree in 1999, so in 2004, when he stepped down for health reasons, becoming “High Priest Emeritus”, I stepped into very big shoes as High Priestess alongside Alexei.

He was an amazing human being, with interest in and expertise in many diverse topics: In addition to the Craft, there was writing, art, music, dance, sci-fi, Hinduism, Norse and other World religions. Having a conversation with him was always an invitation to learn something new – something you had never thought of before, and certainly had no idea that he knew anything about! Len was always full of surprises. When I announced that I was going to grad school, to study Oriental Medicine, he began chatting about how Ayurvedic medicine compares to Chinese medicine, with some Tibetan medicine thrown in!

My brother once said, after hearing Len sing, (with, of course, a preamble story explaining the mythology behind the song), that he belonged on stage.

His was a very big, and forceful personality. We loved each other very much – and often drove each other crazy (we actually had a counselor mediate between us once! His idea. I’m not that brave). Such is the reality of such a long running and intimate relationship.

But he reached out to keep it, when I was retreating. I’m glad he made that move all those years ago. Huge understatement. My life is richer for having had him in it. I know that he was assured nothing more than 3 – 6 months of misery, and I know it is selfish of me to say that I wish he could stay, but I will miss him terribly. Now, he is reunited with Alexei, well, strong, and whole. There are no limitations imposed on him now. ” - Karen Agugliaro, High Priestess, Wu Ji Coven, Florida

“I will remember him best in the Bardic circles and for the volumes of naughty songs he knew. While we will (and do) miss his presence – he is now free of the body had trapped and confined him to a life that left him dependent, isolated and lonely. I prefer to think of him and Alexi dancing in some Wild Place and arguing over how they will come back to us…” – Catherine LaForza, long-time friend of Len & Alexei’s

“About 25 years ago I met him during a bardic circle at a small festival in upstate New York. He sang several wonderful Pagan Filks in a sweet, reedy, Tom Paxton-like voice, even adding a little dance routine to a couple of them, hat and cane in hand. For years I looked forward to hearing him sing again, and then one year he was more solemn, and introduced a song of his own, the Sapta Matrikas, or the Seven Little Mothers. Just a few words into the song, we were all captivated, by the way he almost glowed with reverence as he sang, by the beauty of the song. To this day it is one of my favorites, and I sing it often. He practiced Hindu Wicca, was devoted to Kali, and could recount stories from the tradition for hours, captivating his audience, even in recent years, when his illness kept him seated and short of breath.” – Eric Robbins, founder and board member of EarthTides.

May he find peace and rest in the Summerlands, be reunited with Alexei, and return to us again.

ADDENDUM: I’ve attached an obituary from Judy Harrow, founder of the Protean Tradition.

Here’s a short excerpt:

Len brought the energy of mirth and reverence to whatever he did. His humor – plus his talent with words – came across in his satiric songwriting. His performances of “Witches Want to Cast Spells” (to the tune of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun) and other similar songs enlivened many a bardic circle. And he was usually the emcee of the bardics around here.

One moment is particularly cherished in Proteus Coven. We were in the elevator on the way up to a covener’s apartment for a ritual when a neighbor woman got in with us. She had apparently been walking her little dog. The dog, on a leash, was wearing one of those little doggie sweaters. As soon as the woman got out of the elevator, Len solemnly intoned, “I am the Mother of all things, and all things should put on a sweater.”

Thank you to Judy Harrow for sharing this with us.

Top Story: Outrage is spreading across the Internet over The Lost Abbey brewery’s decision to feature a woman being burned at the stake for their “Witch’s Wit” wheat ale.

Detail from the “Witch’s Wit” label.

“First of all, it’s an insult to me as an ordained Pagan minister and long-time practicing witch. If you want to capitalize on the beer’s name in order to sell more brews, at least use a more tasteful image. Hex, I could accept a picture of the stereotypical wart-nosed, green-skinned ugly old hag over this. But to show a buxom woman standing helplessly as the flames engulf her… while a group of onlookers (presumably male monks) surround her gawking at the sight is simply degrading.”

In a widely-forwarded e-mail message about the beer label, Motherpeace Tarot co-creator Vicki Noble calls the image dehumanizing and outside the bounds of good taste.

“Can you imagine them showing a black person being lynched or a Jewish person going to the oven? No, of course not, such images are simply not tolerated in our society anymore (thank the Goddess) and this one should not be either. Please call them or write them a letter to protest this hateful and dangerous expression which dehumanizes women.”

So far no statement has been issued from the California brewery, and there’s no mention of the controversy on their Facebook or Twitter feeds, though a discussion thread has been started at their Facebook page. Considering the fact that women are still being killed and imprisoned for crimes of “witchcraft” it does seem rather tone-deaf of the company. I’ll keep you posted as this story develops.

UPDATE: Lost Abbey responds:

“I encourage you to look at all of Lost Abbey’s beers and consider them in context. Each of the Lost Abbey beers features a label which depicts a theme of Catholic excess — good and bad — on the front, and tells a moral story on the back. (Our founder is a recovering Catholic.) In the case of Witch’s Wit, the back label is a story of the bad consequences of religious intolerance and oppression. The woman on the front is referred to as a “healer” on the label and accuses the Church of being narrow-minded and violent, threatening the same fate to anyone who would help the woman. The label ends with a note that this beer — a light, sweet and golden ale — is brewed in honor of that woman (and all those who died for their convictions).”

I’ll be interested to see how Noble and others who were offended will respond to this.

Pagan elected Trustee of International Interfaith Organization: Covenant of the Goddess National Interfaith Representative Don Frew has been voted in for another term as an At-Large Trustee for the Global Council of the United Religions Initiative.

“The URI is the world’s largest, grassroots interfaith organization, with 496 local branches (“Cooperation Circles”) in 77 countries, involving millions of people in interfaith programs around the world (www.uri.org). The purpose of the URI is “to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation; to end religiously motivated violence; and o ctraete cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth and all living beings.”  I worked with many others – including CoG’s Deborah Ann Light – in the writing of the URI’s Charter in conferences in 1998-2000.

This is my third term on the URI’s Global Council.  In 2002, I was elected to be one of three Trustees from the North American Region on the URI’s first elected Global Council.  In 2006, I was asked to be one of two At-Large Trustees on the URI’s second elected Global Council.  This time, on the third elected Global Council, I am again one of two At-Large Trustees, the other being Swami Agnivesh of New Delhi, India.”

This election to a third term as a trustee of the URI comes not long after Covenant of the Goddess member Rachael Watcher, a longtime interfaith activist, was elected to the Executive Board of NAIN. In addition, Phyllis Curott, President Emerita of COG, is one of three Pagans currently serving on the Board of Trustees of the Council For A Parliament of the World’s Religions. It’s clear that COG is an organization that is leading the way for Pagan involvement in the interfaith community. Congratulations to Don on his election.

Druids vs The Daily Mail: One of the ongoing side-stories to The Druid Network being granted charity status in the UK (a process that was explained in-depth here at The Wild Hunt) was reaction to a scathing editorial by Melanie Philips of the Daily Mail, who called the situation both “absurd” and “malevolent”. TDN founder Emma Restall Orr sent out a lengthy rebuttal to Philips, while a 4100 signature-strong petition calling for an apology was hand delivered by around 30-50 Druids and Druid-supporters to the Daily Mail offices.

“The Daily Mail had someone waiting for us on the steps to take the petition. I handed it over and he promised that he would get it to Robin Esser. I made damn sure I got a handshake and thankfully, someone was quick enough to take a photo of that. At the PCC, Simon Yipp, the gentleman who has been dealing with complaints RE this article, came down personally to recieve the petition. I’m going to give it a week and email both the DM and the PCC for updates, if I don’t hear from them before then.”

In attendance at the petition-delivery were noted UK Pagans like Arthur Pendragon, Vivianne Crowley, and Andrew Pardy (Chairman of the Police Pagan Association). It remains to be seen if this petition will have the desired effect. No doubt Philips thrives on controversy, and I can’t imagine her backtracking on her views.

Moving Halloween? Since Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, some communities are moving observances to Saturday. Some for practical reasons, and some because they believe Halloween to be “pagan” or “Satanic” in origin. News10 in California covered the mini-controversy and spoke with PNC-Sacramento coordinator David Shorey, from Sacramento Grove of the Oak.

“David Shorey. a practicing Druid (a form of Paganism) with Sacramento Grove of the Oak, says “Halloween or as we call it Samhain, is a time to honor the ancestors, look at the past year and honor those who have passed on.” Shorey recognizes that Halloween has evolved into a secular holiday for most Americans and says he and his fellow Druids celebrate with candy and costumes as well as in a traditional Pagan manner. ”We’re actually going to be celebrating on the following weekend where we’re going to do an ancestors feast, where folks come together and bring a dish that recognizes and honors their ancestry,” Shorey said.”

Catholics in the UK are trying to “reclaim” Halloween, while animal shelters halt adoption of black cats, partially due to rumors that Witches are out sacrificing cats. All seem to be rooted in the anxiety that Halloween, at its true root, isn’t really associated with the Judeo-Christian backdrop most people are comfortable with. In any case, I think David did a good job with the interview, and stressed that this time of year is one of religious observance for most Pagans.

Invoking Artists: In a final note, artist Jeffrey Vallance, participating in the annual Frieze Art Fair, decided to hold a massive séance involving famous (deceased) artists.

“There were some spooky goings on this week at the fair around the Frieze Project devised by the artist and Fortean Times contributor Jeffrey Vallance, who asked five psychics to channel the spirits of blockbusting artists Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Leonardo da Vinci and Marcel Duchamp. Before the mediums—and the artist phantoms—arrived, the spiritualists predicted: “There might be some problems with electricity.” Before you could say Doris Stokes, the internet crashed during the séance, which meant that a live web broadcast had to be scuppered. It was all to do with “forcefields”, apparently.”

Of course the Internet crashed! Artists, particularly great artists like Kahlo and da Vinci, are/were some of the most potent magic(k) workers around. You don’t invoke them lightly. It’s unseemly, and it’ll play havoc with your electronics.

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

Psychic and fortunetelling services are a big business. According to the Pew Forum 15% of Americans have consulted a fortuneteller or a psychic and some mainstream news outlets have even claimed that the practice is recession-proof. Recently, Time Magazine and the BBC have both looked at a growing trend of stricter regulations against psychics being enforced by local governments. But where is the line drawn between reasonable safeguards and oppressive control over speech and commerce? The Wild Hunt’s series Psychic Services and the Law speaks to noted figures within the worlds of fortunetelling and psychic services to get their view on this complex and sometimes contentious issue.

For this installment we turn to Salem, Massachusetts, the “Witch City”, where its infamous witch-trials in the late 17th century have spawned a seemingly unlikely modern tourist industry based around modern-day Witches (reportedly around 10% of the population), psychics, and all things Halloween. There, Salem business-owner (Hex and Omen) and promoter Christian Day, who campaigned three years ago to relax regulations on psychic services, runs the annual Festival of the Dead, an event that features the city’s longest-running psychic fair. I was lucky enough to conduct a short interview with (the currently very busy) Day about psychic regulations, Salem’s laws, and the future of the industry.

Christian Day

First off, what are your general opinions concerning the regulation of psychics, should they be singled out as an industry by local governments? Do you think regulations that call for background checks or letters of reference are fair?

I prefer a free-market approach to the psychic industry, where licenses are available to anyone who wishes to ply their trade as a psychic reader. However, I do support the licensing process because this is an industry prone to fraud, I have no problem with the requirements for criminal background checks, especially since I have nearly 30 psychics working for me in October and would prefer not to have those who have a record of fraudulent activity. However, I do not support caps on the number of any sort of business in a town, not even liquor licenses, for that fact, because, in my opinion, the good restaurants, hairdressers, bars, and, yes, psychics, will ultimately rise or fall on the merit of their talents. If the restrictions are too draconian or difficult, then it smacks to me of an unnecessary restriction of trade.

Salem’s ordinance on “fortune telling” does include such restrictions as having to live in Salem or own a business in Salem for a year or more (unless you work for someone who fits that criteria) and that a business hosting psychics be 50% or more metaphysical. The former seems fair enough to me to ensure that a business or individual is committed to Salem in the long term, though the second seems to place an undue burden on city employees having to decide what constitutes metaphysical and what doesn’t. As a practicing Witch, I can touch any object and make it magical. That said, Salem’s ordinance as a whole seems the best way to establish that people seeking to do readings in Salem do not have a history of fraud while opening up the playing field to all who want to play. The ordinance prior to 2007 was somewhat similar to the current one but it also featured a very narrow cap on the number of people who could read.

Salem recently made some changes to the way it regulates psychics, a process that you were a part of. Could you briefly talk about what the old rules were like, what the new guidelines are, and what the controversy was concerning the changes?

Prior to 2007, Salem allowed 5 individual readers who could read anywhere in Salem with their licenses and 4 shops to feature five psychics per shop. Since there were 11 individuals reading at the time the pre-2007 ordinance was enacted, 6 of them were grandfathered in and those licenses were too be dissolved as the license-holders gave them up. License holders were subjected to criminal background checks and there was no specification for psychic fairs.

The current ordinance allows for an unlimited number of shops and individual license holders. The individual license holders, however, are no longer allowed to read anywhere, but rather can read only in their house. The ordinance does not allow the individual licensee to override the guidelines for shops. So, if a shop has its maximum five psychic readers, the shop’s owner could not then employ an additional psychic holding an individual license. In addition to that, the individual licensee cannot be hired to override the requirement that a shop be considered 50% or more metaphysical. Thus, CVS Pharmacy can’t feature a psychic in October.

Salem, unlike some areas, see pyschics as a money-making industry and aren’t interested in passing ordinances that would drive them away. How difficult is it to get licensed in Salem? How would compare Salem’s regulations to other places in America?

On the contrary, the previous ordinance was designed for exactly that purpose–to drive psychics away. Contrary to what many people think of Salem, for many years the powers-that-be spent exorbitant amounts of money to rebrand the Witch City as a family-friendly, arts and culture seaport with boutique-style shopping and fine restaurants. I came into this culture as a business owner in 2003 and was not allowed to join the tourism agency that I now sit on the board of directors and marketing committee of. And, while much has changed since and we now have a mayor and a re-tooled tourism agency that gets it, there is still a mindset coursing through the city that rejects the idea of Salem as a destination for psychics, Witches, or the paranormal. I have worked long and hard to transform some of these perceptions but there is still much to be done and few of my fellow Witches in town understand either the idea branding or the need to be involved in its definition so I remain the only Witch-owned business represented on the marketing committee and board of directors of our city’s tourism organization. Many of them support me behind the scenes, but I’m working to get them more involved. For more info on the whole rebranding of Salem effort of 2003, click here.

As someone who’s been running psychic fairs and occult shops that employ psychics, what do you see for the future of this industry? Will more places try to pass restrictive laws, or will they follow the example of Salem and try to benefit from it?

I think that Salem runs in cycles. I imagine someone will suggest that psychics become limited again in the future, but because revenue is being generated and the sky hasn’t fallen in, and even the Chamber of Commerce says we’ve had more restaurants opening than psychic shops, I don’t imagine we’ll be revisiting the psychic licensing issue again soon. I’m quite sure that City Council won’t want to visit it again considering how contentious the issue was for them in 2007. As for other places, while I’m sure some cities and towns would rather not see psychics, I think most of them just hope to prevent fraud like Salem. Many, many people love to go to psychics, but they also want to know that they aren’t visiting criminals. That’s certainly an interest any city or town should want to address so I support background checks and hope that other psychic businesses like mine work hard to screen their psychics so that they are offering the best talent to their clientele.

—–

I’d like to thank Christian Day for taking the time to speak on this issue, and hope you’ll stay tuned to further installments of the Psychic Services and the Law series. I also hope you’ll check out the previous interviews with Mary K. Greer and Rachel Pollack. This is an issue that has become intertwined with many modern Pagan individuals and businesses and it behooves us to stay informed and  engaged.

A few quick news notes for you on this Thursday.

An Imbolc Muder? A Winston-Salem North Carolina couple are being charged with first-degree murder that prosecutors say was planned around the Wiccan wheel of the year. The murder, which took place back in 2004, was allegedly planned out via e-mail by Katherine Hofmann and Kim Stout against Hofmann’s long-time partner Sharon Snow, who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“In e-mails, they talked about killing Snow and having Stout move into the house that Hofmann and Snow shared, Hall said in court. After Snow’s death, Stout did move in with Hofmann and together, they sought to collect $157,000 on Snow’s life-insurance policy, Hall said. … Stout and Hofmann both practiced Wicca, a pagan religion that focuses on worshipping the divine in nature, and Hall said the two women decided when to kill Snow based on the Wiccan calendar.”

Stout and Hofmann were arrested back in 2009 on murder charges, it is unknown what spurred movement forward on this cold case. The state is pursuing the death penalty, and it could be another year before the case comes to trial. In addition to being practicing Wiccans, both Snow and Hofmann were members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro. If, as the state alleges, Hofmann and Stout truly did time the murder around a Wiccan holiday (Imbolc), it could be the first time where the Wiccan religion was truly relevant to a criminal case at hand instead of a sensationalist distraction or attempt to sully the character of a defendant. If there are any Pagans or UUs in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem area who knows more about this case, please contact me or feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Salem’s Psychic Industry: The Salem News checks in with their city’s psychics three years after regulations were eased by Salem’s Licensing Board. While there are some complaints about the relaxed regulations allowing folks who “aren’t truly psychic” to set up shop, and grumbling about diminished business due to increased competition, many seem to agree that it’s been an overall positive step for Pagan, occult, and psychic businesses in the Witch City.

“…the number of shops in Salem with a psychic license has increased sixfold since 2006 — from four to 24. Each store has the ability to employ up to five individual psychics. At last count there were about 75 psychics licensed to work in stores in Salem. There are also 17 individual psychics licensed to work as private contractors, more than twice as many as before. … Diana McKanas, who owns the Salem Psychic Center and has been a practicing psychic in Salem for about 30 years, says the new ordinance allowing more psychics “cuts both ways.” It has made it easier for her to hire psychics and expand her business, she says, but it’s also paved the way for people who aren’t truly psychic to set up shop.”

Longtime readers will remember that the battle over regulations in Salem back in 2007 got truly strange, and that what we have now is a compromise solution. If there was a “winner” to this saga it must be promoter and shop-owner Christian Day, a member of the Destination Salem board who fought for relaxed regulations, and who envisions Salem becoming “a destination for psychics”. I’m hoping to feature an interview with Day soon in my Psychic Services and the Law series.

Vodou Out of the Shadows: The Globe and Mail in Canada reports on how the Haitian diaspora is working to dispel rumors, counter bad PR, and defend the religion and traditions of Vodou. Spurred partially over the spate of demonizing that came from various pundits in the wake of the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince, and partially to overcome taboos within their own community, Vodouisants are organizing a Canadian “national voodooist confederation” and are hoping that an upcoming Museum of Civilization in Gatineau exhibit will allow them to re-frame an oft-misunderstood religion.

Despite the move to go mainstream, voodoo has long been taboo in the 100,000-strong Haitian diaspora. The religion was the focus of “anti-superstition” efforts by the Catholic church in Haiti that began in the late 19th century, which pushed voodoo underground even as some Haitians clung to its practises.

“Haitians are ambivalent about voodoo,” said Emerson Douyon, a retired psychology professor from the University of Montreal who studied voodoo in Haiti for his PhD. “On the one hand, they’re very proud of their ancestors’ religion and their African roots. Voodoo is part of who they are. But Haitians know Canadians don’t necessarily approve of these kinds of practises. They worry about being considered primitive. That’s why it’s kept hidden.”

Shortly after the earthquake I noted an emerging Vodou voice, and this seems to be very much an outgrowth of that. I think we’re going to see Vodou (within the context of the media) come into its own in the next ten years. With some religious scholars finally giving Yoruba religions and its diasporic offshoots a place of prominence, we may see more serious attention given to faiths like Vodou and Santeria by scholars and journalists. I think modern Pagans, who’ve been down the road before, can be useful allies as these faiths emerge into the mainstream.

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