The Perspective of Religious Minorities

Last updated on: December 27, 2011 at 11:07 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

We in the West live in a world that is dominated and shaped by Christianity. That dominance may be fading in places, particularly in Europe, but few can deny that Christians continue to occupy a place of cultural and political privilege. This is especially true in the United States, where an unofficial religion test of our political candidates for national office is enforced by various pressure groups, religious leaders, and our own (theoretically secular) media. As America’s favorite satirist put it: “Yes, the long... Read more

Gerald Gardner Documentary Slated for 2012

Last updated on: December 26, 2011 at 9:41 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

Perhaps no figure looms as large on the history of modern religious Witchcraft (and in turn modern Paganism) than Gerald Gardner, who, depending on whom you ask, introduced the heretofore underground religion of Wicca to the wider world, or simply created it from a variety of esoteric and folkloric sources. Whatever one’s stance is on the providence of Wicca, all agree that Gardner played an essential role in developing what would become a world religion practiced everywhere from India to... Read more

Hail To The Unconquered Sun!

Last updated on: December 23, 2011 at 4:43 pm By Jason Pitzl-Waters

Due to family obligations I won’t be blogging today, but I’ll be back tomorrow with my regular daily dose of modern Pagan-related news and commentary. In the meantime I wish a very happy holiday season to you all, and a very happy birthday to Jesus of Nazareth, Mithras, Carlos Castenada, Sol Invictus, Robert Ripley, and Annie Lennox among many others. Happy Holidays! Back tomorrow. Read more

Unleash the (Holiday) Hounds! (Link Roundup)

Last updated on: December 24, 2011 at 10:08 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

There are lots of articles and essays of interest to modern Pagans out there, sometimes more than I can write about in-depth in any given week. So The Wild Hunt must unleash the hounds in order to round them all up. This week, I unleash the special yuletide holiday hounds (they’re like the regular hounds, but with festive accessories) and bring you a collection of links that leans towards matters seasonal. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCVt_j1A68c The Christian Post interviews Pagan scholar Chas Clifton about the pagan roots... Read more

UK Regulates Occult Advertising

Last updated on: December 23, 2011 at 10:03 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

The UK broadcasting regulatory body Ofcom (Office of Communications) has issued a new set of guidelines for ads peddling psychic and occult services. The new rules outright ban the selling of occult services on British television, and place restrictions on tarot and astrology programs. “Television advertisements must not promote psychic practices or practices related to the occult […] Psychic and occult-related practices include ouija, satanism, casting of spells, palmistry, attempts to contact the dead, divination, clairvoyance, clairaudience, the invocation of spirits or demons and exorcism.... Read more

Pagan Community Notes: The Passing of Danelle Dragonetti, Justice for Kathleen Dempsey, Occupy Pagans, and More!

Last updated on: December 22, 2011 at 11:15 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

Pagan Community Notes is a companion to my usual Pagan News of Note series, more focused on news originating from within the Pagan community. I want to reinforce the idea that what happens to and within our organizations, groups, and events is news, and news-worthy. My hope is that more individuals, especially those working within Pagan organizations, get into the habit of sharing their news with the world. So lets get started! The Passing of Danelle Dragonetti: On December 16th Danelle Dragonetti, also known... Read more

A Blessed Solstice

Last updated on: December 21, 2011 at 9:41 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” – Edith Sitwell Tonight and tomorrow (depending on where you live) is the Winter Solstice (unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, then it’s the Summer Solstice), traditionally thought to be the longest night and shortest day of the year (though not actually). A view of Winter from Eugene, Oregon. This time of... Read more

Pagans Outraged over Bible Distribution in Buncombe County School

Last updated on: December 20, 2011 at 10:37 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

A North Carolina Pagan, Ginger Strivelli, is challenging her son’s school on allowing the distribution of Bibles, something the school said is perfectly acceptable since they didn’t actively hand them out. “Jackie Byerly, principal at North Windy Ridge, defended the availability of the Bibles. She said they were not handed out, and students had the option to take them. She checked with Superintendent Tony Baldwin and was given permission to make them available. She said the Bibles arrived Monday morning from... Read more

New Alexandrian Library Breaks Ground

Last updated on: December 19, 2011 at 9:13 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

[The following story is reprinted from the Pagan Newswire Collective’s Washington D.C. bureau (aka Capital Witch) and was reported/written by David Salisbury and Maria Aquila.] More than 60 people gathered in Georgetown, Delaware yesterday, as the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel hosted a Ground Breaking Ceremony for the New Alexandrian Library. This historic project aims to build a modern, state of the art library, physical structure to house a research and reference library. All the materials have been acquired and permits issued. Construction... Read more

Odinism and Immigration in the UK

Last updated on: December 18, 2011 at 9:26 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

So here’s a brand-new legal precedent involving modern Pagans that you might not have expected. An American in a relationship with a married British man, and having born his child, was granted the right to stay in the UK on the grounds that she and her child have a “human right to family life.” Here’s the twist, the British man, Alan Caulfield, and his wife Anne-Marie, claim they can’t get divorced due their Odinist faith, and they all now live together in... Read more