Far From Stares And Jeers, Pagans Affirm Their Rites

The Reverend Kendra Vaughan Hovey, head of the First Church of Wicca in Duxbury, knows all about cold shoulders, hard stares, and verbal assaults.

Usually, Wiccans, witches, and other pagans worship in small, closeted groups. Hovey's church is one of a handful of such congregations across the United States that offer public sessions.

Opening the doors to what many Christians consider heretical and occult practice also has led to not-so-subtle accusations.

Raised Jewish, Hovey, 41, said the intolerance she experienced as a Jew has helped build a thick skin against prejudice. She says she feels a similar intolerance as a practicing witch in a new religion, which she joined when she was 11. Click here for the full story

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Update: Palin's Anti-Pagan Coreligionists

Since I first posted about Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin's troubling co-religionists, the mainstream press and several major blogs have homed in on the blessing Palin received from the African Bishop Thomas Muthee.

"Palin describes the visit of Pastor Thomas Muthee to the Wasilla Assembly of God in 2005. "As I was mayor and Pastor Muthee was here and he was praying over me, and you know how he speaks and he's so bold. And he was praying 'Lord make a way, Lord make a way,'" Palin remarked. “And I'm thinking, this guy’s really bold, he doesn't even know what I'm going to do, he doesn’t know what my plans are," she continued. "And he’s praying not 'oh Lord if it be your will may she become governor,' no, he just prayed for it. He said, 'Lord make a way and let her do this next step. And that’s exactly what happened.'" “So, again, very very powerful, coming from this church,” she added." Click here for the full story

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Pagans Show Their Pride Under 'Wide Umbrella'

Lisa Butler was brought up in a Christian family, but was agnostic until “I got to a point in life where I realized there was definitely something bigger than me.”

So Butler went searching for that something.

She researched various religious beliefs, read a great deal on religious thought, and attended a variety of services.

Then she came upon “some information on witchcraft, and it spoke to my heart.”

Butler organized the second annual Pagan Pride Day 2008 on Sunday at the former Ted Williams Camp in Lakeville, Mass., which drew a couple hundred participants despite driving rain throughout the morning. Click here for the full story

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Banishing Old Memories Spell

Color of the day: White
Incense of the day: Yarrow

Get a white cord or ribbon, a green fluorite bead, a cup of water, and an empty bowl. Pour the water into the bowl, saying “River of forgetfulness, wash me clean and bless me. Take away [name the specific memory] and leave my mind strong and clear.” Dip the cord into the water, saying, “White of purity and innocence, renew me.” Dip the bead into the water, saying, “Stone of perspective, clear my mind.” Now concentrate on the memory, pouring it into the cord. The memory is gone from your mind and is now in the cord. Pour the water out on the ground. Put the bead on the cord. Wear the cord around your ankle or wrist until it falls off on its own. When the cord falls away, the memory will be completely gone.

By: Deborah Lipp

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Halloween Is Harmless Holiday; Lighten Up On Vacation

Q: I do not like the implications of Halloween, but my husband does, so we allow the kids to dress up as fun/positive characters. Our son is now 7 and is asking to go to the local haunted house. My husband thinks this is OK, but I would like to keep the negative aspects of Halloween out of the picture as much as possible. What say you?

A: Halloween may have its roots in ancient pagan rituals, but then so does the Christmas tree and the Maypole. Speaking as an evangelical Christian, I think the brouhaha over Halloween is much ado about nothing, as is the brouhaha over the Harry Potter books. I do believe there's evil afoot in the world, but the notion that Halloween somehow lures children to the Dark Side is more than a tad over the top. Click here for the full story

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