Pagans.net Blogs

Paganism and America’s Future, Part II: The Divine Feminine - A Pagan’s Blog

Paganism and America’s Future, Part II: The Divine Feminine - A Pagan’s Blog: “But an alternative form of feminism also began to grow in importance, as women asked ‘Why should women have to be like men to be accorded the same respect as men?  What’s wrong with being like women?’  This current marked the entry of Cultural Feminism into our culture, and inaugurated a rethinking of the role feminine values play in all levels of our society.”

(Read more at Beliefnet.com.)

Watch as witch becomes wicker woman

Watch as witch becomes wicker woman: “Meet the late 16th century gaoler as he prepares a witch for her execution at a re-enactment this Saturday [18 July] at 11am, 12noon, 2pm and 3pm at The Tolbooth Museum, Castle Street, Aberdeen.

Meet local woman Janet Walker as she waits to be burned at the stake in 1597 after being convicted of being a witch. Her daughter Isobel and Mistress Kerr - one of Janet’s accusers will also be at the museum.

Burnings for witchcraft were comparatively rare in Aberdeen apart from one particular year, 1597. Encouraged by King James VI there was a wave of persecutions against so called witches throughout Scotland during that year with over 20 people executed in Aberdeen.

“

(Via AberdeenCity.gov.uk.)

Pagan networking: Federation of Circles and Solitaries in Downriver Detroit

Pagan networking: Federation of Circles and Solitaries in Downriver Detroit: “Along with networking and education, their mission includes environmental preservation through volunteer efforts such as Adopt-A-Road Cleanup.  Charitable activities include the Pagans In Need program to help provide food and other items for families and individuals and the Adopt a Shelter program which donates time, money or goods to at least one different shelter chosen annually.”

(Keep reading at Examiner.com.)

New Age 101 - Brief history of the Celts, major precursors to New Age beliefs - Part 3

Examiner: “In the book ‘Celtic Magic’ by D.J. Conway, we are told that ‘The Celts were a very clean people, using soap long before the Romans did. The Celtic men and women of Britain sometimes wore swirling blue tattoos or paintings on their bodies. All Celts played lyres and harps, loved song, music, and recitation of legends and epic adventures. They used metal or ornamented natural horns for drinking.

Children took their mother’s name and daughters inherited her possessions. Virginity was not highly valued; twice the dowry was given for a woman previously married or with children. Abortion and choice or change of mate was a woman’s right.

Both sexes loved jewelry: brooches decorated with gold filigree, cuttlefish shell, garnets, lapis, and other stones; buckles of gold filigree and stones; pins and linked pins with animal-style decoration; necklaces of amber, granulation and chip carving. They wore torques, pendants, bracelets, pins and necklaces. The women sometimes sewed little bells on the fringed ends of their tunics. The elaborate intertwining of their artwork was a guard against the evil eye or curses.”

Keep reading at the Examiner

The witch job that earns £50,000

BBC NEWS: “A Job Centre is advertising a ‘witch’ vacancy with tourist site Wookey Hole, in Somerset, for £50,000 a year.
The witch, who has to live in the site’s caves, is expected to teach witchcraft and magic.
Wookey Hole staff say the role is straightforward: live in the cave, be a witch and do the things witches do.
The advert for the post, placed in the local press as well as job centres, says applicants must be able to cackle and cannot be allergic to cats.”

(Via BBC.)

Pagans litter Stonehenge as 35,000 celebrate the summer solstice

mirror.co.uk: “The summer solstice passed off peacefully at Stonehenge with only a few arrests and litter proving the biggest bugbear from the record 35,000 crowd.

There was a carnival atmosphere as pagans, Morris dancers and others gathered at the ancient stone landmark on Salisbury Plain to celebrate the longest day of the year yesterday.

Druid Jim Saunders, 33, from Reading, said: ‘It is upsetting to see so much litter, and some people can be disrespectful. But it is nice to see a lot of people here. There is no better place to learn about our culture and history.’

Crowds began to gather at 7pm on Saturday.

There was music and dancing all night and cheers to greet the 4.58am sunrise.”

Proud pagans party for magical time

ajc.com: “The annual Atlanta Pagan Pride festival draws hundreds of Wiccans, witches and other earthy worshippers to Decatur’s Glenlake Park. Last weekend, the fourth celebration brought together 800 colorful characters.

As in Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream, ’ fairies showed up —- the youngsters wearing synthetic wings made of wires and see-through cloth. ‘Lords’ and ‘Ladies’ walked amongst commoners. Children danced the maypole.

Pentagram amulets, ponytails and tattoos —- the quarter-moon on the forehead —- were everywhere. Vendors hawked Doritos, detachable horns and magic potion —- actually bath salt that promises to spike your income for $3.”

Family tree leads some to witches, naked queens, Romeos

AZCentral.com: “Winnifrid Benham was tried in 1600s in the last Witch Trial in Salem, Massachusetts and Benham even found a book containing a transcript of the trial.

Meanwhile, his wife Anne claims that her paternal ancestor, William Wainner, made shoes for Tom Thumb, the real life, diminutive character that inspired the folk tale.

Genealogy can be akin to solving a mystery, as many Gilbert residents have found out. They say you’ll never know what you’ll discover after poring over the manuscripts and databases available at the Mesa Regional Family History Center at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints Temple in downtown Mesa.”