PANTHEON
Gary Sinise has been performing for troops with the Lt. Dan Band for a few years. I find it something inspiring to think about as we come upon the 4th of July. Read more
Gary Sinise has been performing for troops with the Lt. Dan Band for a few years. I find it something inspiring to think about as we come upon the 4th of July. Read more
Time for another straight person’s take on gay marriage, or as we like to call it in Paganism: marriage. While at Pagan Spirit Gathering last week, Arthur Hinds stood up and announced same-sex marriage had passed in New York State during Morning Meeting. A few hundred religious people of varying sexual orientations erupted in cheers. They didn’t politely clap. They didn’t think “Well, that’s nice for them.” None sat on their hands or look mildly perturbed. Without any more prompting... Read more
Recently I had the misfortune to attend a ritual that was a disaster. It was such a mess that I felt myself becoming physically ill…speaking to another attendee later I discovered that I was not the only person this happened to. Normally, I would chalk this up to a bad experience and just resolve never to attend another ritual led by that individual. But the individual teaches paganism and ritual to a host of impressionable folks who will 1.) think... Read more
I am somewhere in Southern Illinois and still processing leaving Pagan Spirit Gathering for everyday life. This year, for the very first time, there was a Media Camp, and it was interesting to participate in that and plan for it’s future evolution. One thing about Media Camp that really struck home for me is how having media access to festivals is a privilege, not a right. As a Pagan writer I have no right to access private Pagan festivals for... Read more
At some point over the last week I got a chance to sit and talk with one of the volunteers at Psyche’s Grotto at Pagan Spirit Gathering 2011. I told them that when I first arrived at PSG last year I quickly caught the community vibe. They asked me what it was that brought the feeling of community to my attention. My answer was when I noticed that the festival was so very well organized, I caught the vibe. Let... Read more
I’ve got a lot I will be writing about this year’s PSG once I get back to the land of plentiful WiFi, but I want to drop a note of appreciation to the folks at Psyche’s Grotto here at PSG. It’s one of the many centers here at PSG providing services to festival goers. Last year I came to PSG with lots of excess energy and I was gung-ho on very little sleep all week despite the heat. This year... Read more
We have had rain, and WiFi issues and just a lot of things going on, so forgive me for not updating sooner. So many amazing things going on, as usual, and there are handfastings, Wiccanings, ordinations and rites of passage. I’ll give a further update on those things but today I just want to hit the high spots. Patrick McCollum held a press conference organized by Pagan media. I’m still overwhelmed by that. Audio on The Wild Hunt. This site... Read more
Seems strangely fitting that Father’s Day falls so close to the Solstice. In some ways, fathers are like the sun. When we are young they are larger than life, we literally look up to them, bloom under their approval, and our world rises and sets with them. I’m sitting here at PSG with the sun rising over the swimming pond and thinking about my own father. His smile was broad and bright like sunshine. I called it his possum grin.... Read more
Josh and Cat Heath from the Open Halls Project are working through the cumbersome bureaucratic process, to have the U.S. Army recognize and add Asatru/Heathenry as a religious preference for the official U.S. Army database. According to their latest post on their website they need U.S. Army soldiers, veterans, and their spouses to send them “your name, rank, status (active, reserves, national guard, veteran, or spouse)” to their email account: [email protected] Not familiar with the Open Halls Project? Their purpose... Read more
I’m blogging from Media Camp at PSG here in Earlville, IL. Some interesting things to know for the trip: Do not plan to stop and sleep in Mattoon, IL. There is a softball competition. There is no fast food in Earlville. If you want grub before you pitch tents grab it when you see it. There are mosquitos, so apply bug repellant before you set up camp. This place is beautiful. You’re gonna love it. My tent is pitched, and... Read more
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