Buzz Coil: December '11

A look at some posts of interest from our blogroll and sometimes beyond:

Association for the Study of Women and Mythology: In a Dec. 8 post, "Announcing the Kore Award for Best Dissertation," ASWM gives details on how to apply for this monetary award. Deadline for applications is Feb. 15.

Feminism and Religion: In a Dec. 22 post, Gina Messina-Dysert announces, "Hildegard of Bingen to be Canonized and Named Doctor of the Church." Messina-Dysert mentions that she and many others assumed Hildegard was previously canonized "since she has been called St. Hildegard and had a feast day since 1940." She goes on to explain the complexities involved. With links to other articles about Hildegard.

In a Dec. 19 post, "Women Are More Spiritual Than Men? The Mormon Conception," Caroline Kline discusses the problems that this characterization presents for "some Mormon feminists like myself."

Carol P. Christ writes a very moving account in her Dec. 16 post of what it’s like to attempt to go "Home For The Holidays" when you are devalued by and disaffected from your family.

Broomstick Chronicles and COG Interfaith Reports: Beginning Nov. 30 and continuing through Dec. 12, Macha NightMare reports in 4 posts on the recent meeting of the American Academy of Religion, especially its incorporation of Pagan Studies, including spiritual feminist speakers.

Hecatedemeter: Blogger Hecate’s Dec. 17 post, "All Politics Are Local" tells about a political house call made by an Iraq war veteran that turns in to a conversation about holiday differences and the importance of religious freedom.

The Village Witch: In her Dec. 21 post, "Becoming Winter Solstice," Byron Ballard writes about the significance of Solstice in nature and in our psyches.

The Wild Hunt: In his Dec. 21 post, "A Blessed Solstice," Jason Pitzl-Waters gives background on a variety of historical and current Solstice celebrations and shares quotes about Solstice from others.

ZBudapest Blog: Z Budapest begins her Dec. 20 post, "Rocking the Goddess in Topanga Canyon and a New Old Rule," about the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Susan B. Anthony Coven Number One, with this:

They had a throne for me to sit on. I didn’t want to. I am not a feudal lord, but I understood that this ritual was about the honoring me and themselves. About honoring the four decades of worshipping the Goddess; teaching new women and girls the Dianic Tradition. It is quite an achievement.

Z then gives a summary of the coven’s history and details of the celebration, in which the Circle of Aradia also participated and which included the ordination of 2 priesteses by Ruth Barrett.

Goddess in a Teapot: In her Dec. 18 post, "Find Yourself By Getting Lost," Carolyn L. Boyd writes on several different levels about being lost and wandering lost. Included are a nun’s visit, goddesses who "wander lost" after tremendous losses, and departure from the constant pressure on women to be "doing."

American Witch is moving to americanwitch.tumblr.com, Annie Finch announced on her Dec. 2 post on the former blog location, whose posts of the last 2 years will remain there. Her Dec. 2 post at her new blog home, "How to Create Poetic Tradition, Redux," about the situation among female poets, could also apply to women who write in other genres, create art, and who are scholars, including those who write about religion.

Chess, Goddess and Everything: In a Dec. 18 post, "Don’t Think It Can't Happen Here," blogger Jan writes about current persecution of people in minority religions around the globe. She then quotes a Der Spiegel article about the "rehabilitation" of Witches in Germany.

Hail Columbia: In a Dec. 13 post, "NAR tries to build a big tent," blogger Literata begins to explore the motivations of the New Apostolic Reformation’s claim that they have no official doctrine.

Walking On Fire: In a Dec. 17 post, "Sacred Magic - Awen and the Seal of Solomon," Myfanwy (Liorah Lieucu) finds similarities in a Celtic Druid symbol and the Seal of Solomon, and explores evidence that Solomon’s Temple was a Goddess shrine.

Onion Work: In her Dec. 1 post, "Winter Quarters Hibernation," Ruby Sara writes of beginning and then apparently abandoning projects, and explores magic as a theologic principle, its relationship to "Beauty," as a "force" and a "movement," as "illusion," and as "miraculous." She implies she will be exploring magic more instead of blogging. But in a blog post of Dec. 15, "Then Again, Silence," she writes, "what I have decided is to take a major break from making any kind of declaration about blogging."

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