Pagans.net Blogs

Struggling to organize witches to celebrate Halloween

By Lee Ann Kinkade - Slate Magazine: “In a grove near you, pagans are gathering to celebrate Samhein, the night when the veil between the living and the dead, between this world and others, is thin. We will wear cloaks and have ritual daggers, called athemes, at our waists. The prerequisite silver jewelry will gleam in the firelight. Natural fabrics flow as freely as the mead. There will be an unfortunate excess of tie-dyed material. In other words, we will look most like your picture of witches.

This picture leaves out an important detail, and I don’t mean the whole human-sacrifice-and-stealing-Christian-babies thing. Planning a ritual, whether it’s for Halloween or any other holiday, is a conflict-filled battle. It’s like trying to herd jack rabbits on horseback. Those who practice witchcraft tend to be strident nonconformists, and the very nature of paganism, which has no unifying body or text, means that we have no obligation to believe the same thing or listen to anything beyond the dictates of our own consciences to unite in perfect accord. Often we flow together, achieving unity in which we are transported beyond ourselves, connected with the earth we love and the energy we feel from it.”

(Via Slate.)

Are Witches Real?

Are Witches Real?: “Aleister Crowley was an English witch. He reveled in his description as ‘the wickedest man in the world.’ He was a shameless self publicist, a fraud and a charlatan, but he was also an educated, intelligent and willful diabolist.

He was indeed very wicked and was definitely involved in just about every kind of vile perversion, drug addiction and occult religious practice imaginable. He died in Hastings, on the south coast of England, in 1947.

In 1982 I moved to Bexhill-on-Sea, a town one step along the coast from Hastings. I was newly ordained as an Anglican priest and was heading to my first parish. Living just around the corner from the ancient parish church was a coven of witches whose leader claimed to be the successor of Aleister Crowley. The ‘witches’ were well-known in the town. They lived in a kind of hippie commune, and their leader — a lecherous man in his 50s — frequented all the bars and pubs. Rumors abounded about their drug use, sexual immorality, corruption of young people and dark, occult practices.”

(Via NCRegister.)

Stone Age man took drugs, say scientists - Telegraph

Stone Age man took drugs, say scientists - Telegraph: “Scientists believe that the drug being used was cohoba, a hallucinogen made from the beans of a mimosa species. Drugs such as cannabis were not found in the Caribbean then.

Opiates can be obtained from species such as poppies, while fungi, which was widespread, may also have been used.

Archeologists have suggested that humans were extracting mind-expanding drugs from mescal beans and peyote cacti as far back as 5,000 years ago, but have not found direct evidence that this is true.

They consider that drugs were being used to induce spiritual or trance-like states by people who had religious beliefs.”

(Via Telegraph.)

First Church of Wicca schedules Halloween party

First Church of Wicca schedules Halloween party - Duxbury, MA - Wicked Local Duxbury: “he First Church of Wicca will host its annual Halloween party from 4 p.m. to the witching hour Sunday, Oct. 25, at The Hovey’s, 539 Summer St., Duxbury.

Activities include a traditional Samhain Ritual for anyone who would like to observe or participate at 6 p.m., followed by an authentic fest of the dead. Bring a dish and drinks to share and wear costumes. First Church of Wicca members are asked to wear all black and their church belts and capes.”

(Via WickedLocal.)

British Paganism Alive and Well

British Paganism Alive and Well: “lad in floor-length white robes, members of The Druid Order of London marched up Primrose Hill in London’s west side to participate in the pagan celebration of the Autumn Equinox on September 22. It is the only time during the year in which there are equal amounts of daylight and dark.

Originally founded in Oxford in 1245, the group dates its first official ceremony to 1717, when the Order was established at one of the highest points in the city, Primrose Hill. Since then, it has established several other annual seasonal celebrations in and around London, including the Spring Equinox Ceremony at Tower Hill and the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge.”

(Via RealTruth.)