Away at FaerieCon West (Plus Some News Links)

I’m in Seattle, Washington this weekend, part of the team that’s putting on FaerieCon West, a transformational celebration of music, myth, fantasy, and, of course, faerie. While FaerieCon West, and events like it, are not explicitly Pagan, the openness and embrace of Pagan culture can’t be missed by anyone whose eyes are open to it.

While there are many presentations and performances I’m looking forward to, I’m perhaps most excited about participating in a panel discussion with Jeet Kei Leung, who’s writing a book entitled “Dancing Together into The Great Shift: Transformational Festivals & The New Evolutionary Culture”, and once again getting to interview famed urban fantasy author Charles de Lint, best known for his “Newford” novels. I hope to bring you photos, interviews, and coverage from what I’m hoping will be amazing weekend. If you’re in the Seattle area, I hope you’ll drop by, experience it for yourself, and say hello!

In the meantime, before I head off, here’s a few quick Pagan news notes that I thought you should know about.

• A Ninth Circuit Court challenge to the making of treated wastewater snow on the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona, an action considered sacrilegious by several local Native American Tribal Nations, has been roundly rejected (more here). With this decision, it looks like the final barriers to the already-in-process construction are now removed. You can read my full coverage of this issue, here.
• The Innocence Project is focusing on a Kentucky murder case from 1992, asking for DNA sampling of hairs found at the scene of the crime, saying it could exonerate the two men convicted of the killing. The two men convicted for the murder said they were involved in Satanic rituals at the time. Prosecutors say there’s enough evidence to implicate both men even if the hairs don’t belong to them, and that, if anything, it would point to a third assailant.
• Finally, here’s to the recent 9th Circuit Court decision on Proposition 8 in California, and Washington state passing same-sex marriage legislation. Congratulations to all involved with these tiny steps forward towards true equality. I’ve written often about the intersections of this issue with the Pagan community, and why it matters to the religious freedom of all Pagans, no matter what their sexual orientation.

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