Unleash the Hounds! (Link Roundup)

Last updated on: September 16, 2011 at 11:18 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. Michael York, author of “Pagan Theology: Paganism as a World Religion”, writes a response to Christian apologist Peter Kreeft. Kreeft’s article “Comparing Christianity & The New Paganism” says that “new paganism is a joining of forces by three of the enemies of theism: humanism,... Read more

Wiccan Chaplain Accused in Bizarre Hostage Scheme

Last updated on: September 15, 2011 at 3:43 pm By Jason Pitzl-Waters

The newswires have just lit up with the story of Jamyi J. Witch, a Wiccan chaplain at Oshkosh Correctional Institution, who is accused of sexually assaulting an inmate, illegally transporting drugs, and hatching a fake hostage scheme to procure a transfer for her and an inmate. “The charges stem from a police investigation of an Aug. 10 incident in which Witch, a chaplain at the prison, claimed to have been taken hostage by an inmate. […] The inmate told Witch about being... Read more

The New Apostolic Reformation Message to Pagans

Last updated on: September 14, 2011 at 9:48 pm By Jason Pitzl-Waters

[The following is a report from Cara Schulz at PNC-Minnesota on a message sent to Pagans from the organisers of “DC40,” a spiritual warfare event put together by leaders from within the New Apostolic Reformation movement.] The Reformation Prayer Network, led by Cindy Jacobs, and the Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network, headed by John Benefiel, have joined together to produce a nation-wide event called “DC40.″ The goal of DC40 is to effect “eternal change in our nation’s capitol so our elected... Read more

Arthur Evans 1942 – 2011

Last updated on: September 13, 2011 at 9:23 pm By Jason Pitzl-Waters

Pioneering gay activist and writer Arthur Evans died on Sunday, September 11th, from a massive heart-attack. In addition to being one of the first openly gay men to appear on national television, heavy involvement in the gay liberation movement, and early AIDS-related activism, Evans was also a pioneering figure in the development of gay Pagan spirituality, publishing “Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture” in 1978 and “The God of Ecstasy: Sex-Roles and the Madness of Dionysos” in 1988. The latter featured his translation of Euripides’ play “The... Read more

Peter Dybing Elected President of Officers of Avalon

Last updated on: September 13, 2011 at 10:02 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

Officers of Avalon, a non-profit benevolent association for Pagan and Wiccan law enforcement, firefighting and emergency medical personnel and their families, has elected Peter Dybing as its new president starting on October 1st. On hearing the news, Dybing commented that “for me this is a great oppertunity to build on and add to the successes of this trusted Pagan organization.” The outgoing president, Kimberley “Windwalker” Long-Ewing, wished Dybing and the rest of the incoming governing board the best, and thanked all Officers... Read more

Unleash the Hounds! (Link Roundup)

Last updated on: September 12, 2011 at 11:06 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. The Seattle Times reports on the passing of Brian Fairbrother, a well-known and liked barista, who was also a member of the local Pagan community. Fairbrother defined himself as an “urban Pagan,” and commissioned the “Sacred Shrine of Caffeina, Goddess of the Waking Day” near his... Read more

9/11: Honor, Remembrance, and Reconciliation

Last updated on: September 11, 2011 at 9:21 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

On this, the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks on New York and Washington D.C., I feel I have little that I can personally add to what has already been said, and what will no doubt be said today. I’ve mentioned before that 9/11 acted as a catalyst in my life, that it drove me towards what is now The Wild Hunt, urging me to stop sitting on the sidelines of my faith community and become an active... Read more

Updates: Phoenix Goddess Temple, Santa Muerte, New Apostolic Reformation

Last updated on: September 10, 2011 at 11:05 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

I have some updates on recent stories covered here at The Wild Hunt. Phoenix Goddess Temple Arrests: Since my report on Thursday, this story has hit the national and international newswires. It is now revealed that charges include prostitution, pandering, and conspiracy. Most reports I’ve read seem pretty confident that this was nothing but a brothel with a veneer of spirituality painted on as a legal smokescreen. I’ve never seen so many scare quotes being used in a mainstream newswire report... Read more

Illegal Immigration, Santa Muerte, and Religious Fear-Mongering

Last updated on: September 9, 2011 at 10:49 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

Last year I warned that intensifying polarization over the issue of illegal immigration was leading to the demonization of Santeria and related syncretic faiths practiced by immigrants. Since then things have only gotten worse, especially in Arizona where a series of draconian laws, including one tailored to eliminate public school classes that are seen as too Mexican-focused, have deepened divisions. It didn’t have to be this way, many prominent conservatives, including George W. Bush, Orrin Hatch, Charles Hagel, Richard Lugar, and John McCain once supported... Read more

Phoenix Goddess Temple Raided by Police

Last updated on: September 8, 2011 at 10:17 am By Jason Pitzl-Waters

The Phoenix Goddess Temple in Arizona, a neo-tantric religious organization that defines itself as “a sacred place to know the secret inner wisdom of the Cosmic Mother,” was raided by police on Wednesday. Eleven women and five men were taken in for questioning, and made to do a “perp walk” for the cameras, but police would not say, exactly, what the raid was looking for. “CBS 5 News has also learned this was part of a long term investigation that spanned... Read more