Pagan Tama
Top stories of the week in Paganism and Shinto:
- US: Crystal gifts from Wiccans at Catholic school causes uproar
- Japan plans to invite G7 leaders to World Heritage shrine in Hiroshima
- World’s oldest runestone uncovered in Norway spells out a mysterious word
Read more below…
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Pagan News
US: Counselor loses job after students get crystals from self-proclaimed witches
CBS News
A visit from three Wiccan witches at a Pittsburgh-area Catholic high school caused furor when they doled out crystals for students to take home — prompting an apology from the school, who urged parents to cleanse their homes with prayer…
Canada: Rising costs force Sydney Mines witchcraft storefront to close
Saltwire
A Sydney Mines business is closing as a brick-and-mortar store but keeping its online shop, as well as a presence at pop-up and market events. It was a decision driven by the cost of living, said Ian Doherty, who operates the witchcraft and metaphysical supply store Sea Siren’s Charms with his husband, Johnathan Fells…
How Ireland used to celebrate St Brigid’s Day in the past
RTE
From the Biddy boys and Brat Bríde to holy wells and Brigid’s crosses, February 1st was marked with great gusto in old Ireland…
US: Witchcraft farmers market – This boutique is taking Louisville’s magic community mainstream
Courier Journal
The monthly market at Raven’s Roost Boutique in downtown New Albany serves as a farmers’ market of sorts for the magically inclined…
UK: Mum shares what it means to be a real life witch
Liverpool Echo
Raven Moon, who lives in Bootle, said she comes from a family of witches and has “always been” one…
Prince Harry’s Pagan progress
Wall Street Journal*
Not religious, he seeks enlightenment like a typical millennial: via drugs and meditation…
Shinto News
Japan plans to invite G7 leaders to World Heritage shrine in Hiroshima
NHK World
The Japanese government is considering inviting leaders of the Group of Seven nations to view one of the country’s most famous Shinto shrines on the western Japan island of Itsukushima, known as Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture…
Signaling early spring at Mito Shrine with new adults and plum blossoms
Japan Forward
If you visit the Ume Matsuri at Mito Shrine between February 11- March 19 this year, you will be greeted by six charming, kimono-clad Plum Blossom ambassadors…
Celebrate Setsubun with a dish of demon-ousting beans
The Japan Times*
In Japanese, setsubun refers to the day before each new season begins. Although this happens four times a year, only Feb. 3 — the start of the new year according to the ancient lunar-based koyomi calendar — is celebrated as a full-fledged holiday…
Voices from the other side: Aomori’s traditional “Itako” mediums
Nippon.com
The itako of Aomori Prefecture are female mediums, traditionally blind, who are known for channeling the spirits of the dead to communicate with the living…
Other News
World’s oldest runestone uncovered in Norway spells out a mysterious word
Science Alert
Norwegian archaeologists believe they have found the world’s oldest runestone inscribed almost 2,000 years ago, making it several centuries older than previous discoveries, they announced on Tuesday…
Egyptian archaeologists discovered 16 meters long ancient papyrus with spells from the Book of the Dead
Arkeonews
Archaeologists working in Egypt’s Saqqara region have unearthed a 16-meter-long ancient papyrus for the first time in a century…
10 mummified crocodiles found in ancient Egyptian tomb
Metro
The discovery of 10 mummified crocodiles at a historic site in Egypt has given fresh insight into the ancient embalming technique…
Child buried with 142 dogs in ancient Egyptian necropolis
Greek Reporter
Egypt’s sands have revealed many treasures over the ages, but, more recently, archaeologists digging in a necropolis close to Cairo discovered something that has them scratching their heads. Experts found the bones of an eight-year-old child carefully spread out among the corpses of 142 dogs…
‘Witch Hunts’ Past & Present
Kenya: Elderly man’s murder reignites fears of ‘witchcraft killings’ in Kilifi
The Star
The killing of elderly people on suspicion of ‘practising witchcraft’ in Kilifi county will haunt the region until proper civic education is conducted, a human rights body has warned…
India: Man in Odisha bludgeoned to death over ‘witchcraft’ suspicion
Odishatv.in
A man in Bankishula village under Balasore’s Nilagiri block was bludgeoned to death by irate villagers on Monday over suspicion of ‘practicing witchcraft’….
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