Pagan & Shinto News: Clergy Member Resigns From Circle Sanctuary After Raising Sex Offender Concerns

Top stories of the week in Paganism and Shinto:

US: Clergy member resigns from Circle Sanctuary after raising sex offender concerns
UK: Unesco says ‘substantial’ amendments needed to £1.7billion tunnel under Stonehenge
US: Christians “praying” for Disney, offended by ‘Little Demon’ cartoon

Pagan News

US: Clergy member resigns from Circle Sanctuary after raising sex offender concerns
The Wild Hunt
Last month, the Rev. Vesper Andes ended their affiliation with Circle Sanctuary for ethical concerns after raising possible safety issues at Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG)…

US: Christians “praying” for Disney, offended by ‘Little Demon’ cartoon
Inside the Magic
“During an interview, no joke, they said they are enjoying normalizing paganism,” Jess said, referencing a San Diego Comic-Con appearance by Aubrey Plaza. “Even if you’re not a Christian, I hope you can tell how wrong this is on so many levels.”…

UK: The Devil visited Cornwall’s witchcraft museum to learn how to be bad
Plymouth Live
The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle played host to Game of Thrones actor ahead of her role in Netfllix’s The Sandman…

UK: Gorsedh Kernow Bardic Ceremony celebrates Cornwall’s Celtic spirit
Cornwall Live
Around one hundred blue-robed bards packed into a school hall to take part in the historic ceremony in Hayle…

Man begs to be cursed by witches so he can prove they’re ‘nonsense’
New York Post
TikToker Ethan Keiser is begging online to be cursed by witches — all in an effort to debunk their so-called “powers.”…

Pamela Colman Smith was the artist and occultist who designed the iconic Tarot deck. Why has no one ever heard her name?
Artnet
An exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art is highlighting her contributions to the development of Modernism…

Shinto News

Hiroshima: Demons drum up rain for good harvest
The Japan News
People dressed as demons and wearing happi festival coats beat drums and gongs to pray for a good harvest in Mihara, Hiroshima Prefecture, last month for the first time since 2019…

Religion no longer taboo in Japan as Unification Church dominates news
Nikkei Asia
The separation of politics and religion ordained by the Japanese constitution “is not meant to foreclose political activities by religious institutions,” Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently said…

How faith and spirituality shape modern Japan
The Japan Times*
The religious movement behind the grudge held by the man arrested for Abe’s assassination has cast a fresh light on how religion is perceived and practiced in the nation…

Song, dance, and Somen noodles at Omiwa Shrine in Nara
Japan Forward
Somen Noodles are a perfect summer dish, and as the peak season quietly passes on, manufacturers in Nara are praying for the coming season…

The Gion Matsuri: Women in the festival
Japan Forward
The position of women in the Gion Matsuri tradition has changed over the centuries, but the fact is that the Gion Matsuri could never be staged without them…

Japanese views of souls, spirits, and ghosts
Nippon.com
Religious historian Koyama Satoko traces the changing views through Japanese history of the soul and its connection to the body, as well as attitudes to malicious spirits and vengeful ghosts…

Japanese Shrine creates custom water sanctuary for bees to stay hydrated
My Modern Met
In Japan, near Tokyo, Hitokotonushi Shrine has set up custom-made water fountains that look like tiny oases for the local hard-working bees…

Other News

UK: Unesco says ‘substantial’ amendments needed to £1.7billion tunnel under Stonehenge
Mail Online
‘Substantial’ changes are needed to the planned £1.7billion two-mile tunnel near Stonehenge, Unesco has warned…

Why is Nasa’s latest Moon mission named Artemis?
Independent*
Ancient Greek goddess associated with nature and hunting as well as female independence…

‘Witch hunts’ past and present

Nigeria: Two women tortured to death over ‘witchcraft’ allegations
The Nation
Martina Osom and Rose Akon, accused of ‘witchcraft’, were tied hand and foot and beaten to death…