REVIEW: Max Dashu's Witches and Pagans

Witches and Pagans: Women in European Folk Religion, 700-1100, by Max Dashú (Veleda Press, 2016) trade paperback, 6” x 9” 406 pages. Available now only from the Veleda Press website.

This is the long-anticipated first volume of a 12-book series, Secret History of the Witches, by Max Dashú, who has been working on the project for 40 years under the auspices of the Suppressed Histories Archives, which she founded in 1970. Many of us involved in women’s spirituality consider Dashú the most thorough, reliable, and authoritative contemporary historian of women’s history that includes Goddess history, witches and witchcraft, women in religion worldwide, and related subjects. When the complete series is published, this first volume will volume 7, about in the middle chronologically, with the series beginning centuries earlier with the volume Elder Kindreds & Indo-Europeans,” and ending centuries later with the volume Legacies and Resurgences.

Dashú is also known internationally for her slideshows — which she has presented at universities, conferences, and many grassroots venues. She created the shows from the more than 40,000 images in the Suppressed Histories collection. They bring to light female realities hidden from view from ancient iconography to leaders, medicine women and rebels. Dashú has also produced two videos: WomanShaman: the Ancients (2013) and Women’s Power in Global Perspective (2008), and a series of posters on female iconography. For more information about these see suppressedhistories.net. The Suppressed Histories page on Facebook is followed by about 148,000 people, and views of Dashu’s articles consistently rank in the top 1% of views on Academia.edu.

In her Preface to Witches and Pagans, Dashú notes that her approach to the material is “ethnohistorical: looking for traces of folk religions....by “going through archeology” and also through written material as well as oral traditions. She also writes that “Much of the book

turns on language, the names and meanings that are an important part of the cultural record, but which remain mostly hidden in obscure texts, unknown to all but a narrow slice of specialists.” She uses language — linguistics — to help us learn more about these. Just a few of the themes in Witches and Pagans that she has found emerge from this examination are weaving, fortune and fate, incantation, prophecy and divination, and what was called “weirding.” Her analysis and tracing of words and their cognates, as well as deities, through languages and cultures is not only illuminating but can also become breathtaking. One example is her explanation of how “wyrd” in a variety of European cultures is connected to the Fates and to the word weird, meaning destiny. Commenting on its history, which includes Goddess meaning, Dashú writes that Wyrd spun “names into the web of language. She tucked under their origins and hid their deepest meanings, before herself sinking out of sight. She concealed her signatures even in the language of religion.” The author also shows the evolution of some of the Wyrd derivatives in other languages and how the English words such as worship and worthy are related to Wyrd. She also explains how both the word and the concept of Wyrd as a female divinity continued “long after the pagan religion was officially abolished.” There follows a discussion of the English Three Weird Sisters including the use by Chaucer and later Shakespeare in Macbeth, and in Christianity “as a triad of saints, or as three ladies, three nuns, or three Marys.”

Dashú has also included a large number of black and white illustrations throughout the book, including originals from the volume’s time period, such as the picture of the carved whalebone art, “Three Wyrds” from the Franks Casket, c. 700 CE, from which the book’s cover art is taken. There is also a significant amount of original art by Dashú, including the “Word Tree of Wyrd,” which, on a tree, shows this word in various languages, cultures, and derivations. These are more fully discussed in the text. The discussion in Chapter 1 also includes the words for Earth in various languages, and their Goddess relevance. The book moves on in Chapter 2 to the connection between the Fates, Wyrd, weaving, and the development of witchcraft, the origins of the words witch and wicce — and the persecution of witches.

It became fascinating to me how, in Dashú's explanations, one word or subject or culture leads to another and another and another. Weaving plays a big part in this book in several ways, and it seems that one of those ways is how Dashú weaves words from one language to another and her similar weaving with the subjects and cultures.

In chapter 3, “Names of the Witch,” and throughout the book, Dashú also shows how words that began with positive meanings came to be understood as negative. For example, in a chapter 3 discussion about “healing witches” she shows how the words for “herb-woman” in Frankish, Spanish, and Latin came to mean “poisoner,” with similar occurrences with words for other types of healing by women in Anglo-Saxon, Welsh, Old English, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Germanic languages. One instance is the word, lyb (related through the Icelandic cognate lyf to the English “life”), which originally meant “vitality” and/or “medicinal.” The original Anglo-Saxon word for the women who did this work was lybwyrhtan. Dashú tells how this word disappeared after archbishop Wulfstan of York denounced the healers as the opposite, unlybwyrhtan (“un-life workers”), and goes on to describe a similar word change in German which carried over into the 1400’s to demonize witches. This chapter, which goes into much detail about different types of witches, ends with a 6-page list that includes “Ethnic Names for Witches: Attributes and Powers” of 11 types of witches plus one that cannot be categorized with any of these titled “Various.” The witch names are given (according to my count) in more than 25 languages. A later chapter on Runes and other forms of divination, begins with a full-page graphic of “The Names and Meanings of Runes.”
 

What I’ve written here gives you just a taste of what’s in the book. And I’ll stop, so that you can fully enjoy your own discovery of this feast. If you want to nibble a bit more, go to www.veleda.net for a full list of links to what’s available on line,  just some of which includes:  an annotated table of contents, the Preface, chapter excerpts, and preview of contents in other books in the Secret History series. Backmatter material in the book itself includes about 32 pages of Notes and a bibliography of about 24 pages. The index of the book will be posted online. When it is live, you'll be able to find it from the home page of www.veleda.net or (according to the copyright page in the book) here .

I am thrilled with the publication of Witches and Pagans. The Goddess community and others familiar with Dashú’s previous contributions have cause for celebration with the publication of this first book the Secret History of the Witches series. Hopefully still others – including historians, academics, librarians, and students in other fields, related and unrelated – will, through its publication, also become acquainted with her extremely valuable work.

Review: Jailbreaking the Goddess

Jailbreaking the Goddess: A Radical Revisioning of Feminist Spirituality by Lasara Firefox Allen (Llewellyn Publications, 2016), 7.4” x 9.1” trade paperback, 288 pages. Also available as an ebook.

 Wow! is my first reaction to this extraordinary book. As I settle down to try to contain my excitement, I will attempt to tell you the reasons for my reaction. For starters, Lasara Firefox Allen not only revisions Goddess “faces” (aka, aspects or archetypes), but she also brings into her analysis, the feminist theory of intersectionality . She deconstructs what has become the traditional Goddess archetype in modern Goddess religion and Paganism of Maiden/Mother/Crone, because, as she writes on the first page of the first chapter, “We are more than our biology.” She points out that the triple Goddess concept is rooted in patriarchy. (Most sources trace its origins not to antiquity, but to the 20th century writings of Sigmund Freud and Robert Graves.)

In the second chapter titled, “More Than Our Biology,” the author explains in depth the problems she sees with the Triple Goddess concept including its exclusion of factors outside of reproduction. This, she writes, leads to a woman’s “basic worth” being “based in utility....or usefulness, her body is a commodity”; this prevents her from having “full self-determination.” She also sees it as excluding women who can’t or don’t want to have children, women who cannot have menstrual periods, and women born without uteri. She suggests that women’s bodies have been “colonized” by the dominant culture, delves into the ways that various groups—including racial, ethnic, and “trans”—have been colonized more or differently from others, and suggests ways to counter the dominant culture’s definition of woman as biologically-determined. She also discusses non-binary gender identity and the role of women’s use of language in various cultures

Firefox Allen describes herself as “a white woman” who acknowledges her “position and privilege,” and is dedicated to “the concept and practice of intersectional feminism.” She writes that in this book she is “making it up” as she goes along, and invites readers to do the same and not to necessarily accept or follow what she proposes. The bio on the inner flap of the book’s back cover describes her as a “family traditions Witch and second generation ordained Pagan priestess.”

She notes that she will be using some words that readers may not be used to, such as “feminal” (which I like— she frequently uses it where others might use “feminine” and sometimes “female”). She apparently has resurrected this word, as the Oxford dictionary defines it as archaic. Also noting that she uses the word “archetypes,” but not in the usual Jungian way, she proposes that the Maiden/Mother/Crone trinity be replaced by five “faces” or aspects of the Goddess with Latin names. Taking the definitions from the inside flap of the front cover, these are :

 --Femella: “girl. . . .the primal child, the divine child
--Potens: “able, patent, might, strong, powerful…the woman of strength, full of potential and power, bursting forth.”
--Creatrix: “female creator….the mother, the maker, the author.”
--Sapientia: “wisdom, discernment, intellect, a science….Master of her craft, teacher, leader, woman of science & art.”
--Antiqua: “Ancient, aged, time honored, venerable, traditional, essential….the old woman, the dreamer, the storyteller, the witch at the gate.”

The author greatly expands on these inside the book, devoting a chapter to each new face. She suggests that these aspects are not necessarily connected to age, but can also be connected to the stage we find ourselves in our lives—and that we may inhabit more than one face at a time, depending on the circumstances.

The chapters for each of her five proposed new faces of the Goddess begin with the “sigil” (magical symbol) and beautifully written poetic prose description of that particular aspect. They end with a poem/invocation to that aspect. Some of the material within these chapters include descriptions of the aspect in her “Occult” and “Empowered” (words she uses because she dislikes the racial implications of “dark” and “light” [as do I]) appearances, sexuality, stages of womanhood not necessarily linked to biology, deities from a wide variety of cultures that may be related to this particular face, attributes, relationship to elements, animals, plants, weather, seasons in both global hemispheres, holidays whose sources may be religious/spiritual or secular, and suggestions for rites, rituals and observances.

And all this is just in Part 1 of the book, which ends with a short chapter, “ Rewilding: the Path from Here.’’ This chapter acts as a transition to Part 2, which discusses “relationality, liberation, collectivism, self-reflection, and magick.” Its first chapter (chapter 9 of the book) discusses philosophical and ethical concerns of “The Relational” including collective liberation and personal responsibility. This chapter also discusses why “Intention is Not Everything,” revolving around the question of whether we are able—or even would want to—create our own reality. In the section immediately following this, Foxfire Allen writes: “We cannot live in the ‘believe it, and it shall be so’ and ‘everything happens for a reason’ bubble without casting blame on those whose cultures are being constricted, starved, contaminated instead of looking at the real perpetrators of the desecration.” Among the topics also discussed in Part 2 are “decolonizing our magicks” and the shortcomings of “White Feminism’; “Decentralizing Your Working Group” including examining and changing group power structures; being drawn to specific deities and spirit possession; and information and advice on creating rites of passage and other rituals. The book also includes two Forewords, one by Ariel Gore and another by Rosa De Anda, and an appendix with “Magical and Ritual Considerations for a New Practitioner.”

It seems to me that Jailbreaking the Goddess can be considered part of a trend in the last decade or so of books and teachers presenting alternatives to what was/is assumed to be ancient Goddess practice but at least some of which, like the triple Goddess concept, can presently be traced only as far back as the early 20th century. Examples of relatively new ideas and alternatives include Carol Christ’s She Who Changes (2003), which seeks to combine Goddess religion with process theology; Glenys Livingstone’s PaGaian Cosmology (2005), which combines the Maiden/Mother/Crone “female metaphor” with current scientific theory; and The Queen of Myself (2o04) by Donna Henes, whose proposal that “Queen” be added between Mother and Crone has been adopted in the teachings of Rev. Ava of The Goddess Temple of Orange County. What can also be considered another part of this trend is people creating alternatives in other religions, such as the 13 priestess paths related to both the understanding of the female divine and human or legendary women in [Rabbi] Jill Hammer and Taya Shere's The Hebrew Priestess (2015) and drawn from their work as leaders of the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute.

Speaking of updating, I want to mention the use of the term “jailbreaking” in this book’s title, as well as another incident that I’ll get to shortly. When I first saw “Jailbreaking” in the title,I was a bit startled. I showed the book cover to two other people. One had a little familiarity with Goddess spirituality and the other had none. Both people had the similar reactions to mine (I didn’t tell them mine until after they told me theirs), which went something like “Why does the Goddess need to be broken out of jail?” “What did she do wrong that caused her to be imprisoned?” “If we help her break out of jail, aren’t we also doing something illegal?” Of course the Goddess hasn’t done anything wrong and neither have we. But that seems to be a gut response for some people. So I thought about it, knowing at that time only a bit about what was inside the book. I decided that what the title really meant was something like freeing the Goddess or liberating the Goddess. And I had another thought: Maybe there was another meaning for jailbreaking.  I think I favor this iPod/iPad/iPhone-related definition as a metaphor for breaking out of limitations in general because there is less confusion about meaning. The second incident also seems techie-related. In Chapter 14, “Ritual Elements and Templates,” in a section of templates for “Rituals of Invocation and Rituals of Initiation,”  there is discussion of guided visualizations. But sometimes (at least in the copy the publisher sent me) the word is spelled "vizualizations" in the heading and "visualizations" in the text (often directly under the heading spelling). What’s going on here, I wondered and headed over to Google again. And guess what! There is a spelling with the 2 z’s and it’s apparently related to technology,  possibly adopted from street slang, “Vizual.” So I have to wonder, was this a magickal manifestation of the contemporary Goddess Computa?

Before leaving this review I want to mention that throughout the book, as part of each section (yet set apart typographically), the author gives suggestions for journaling topics and subjects for action (voluntary, of course). This increases the book’s usefulness not only for individuals, but also for use in groups and classes.

I also want to note – as the author herself recognizes in several places – that not everyone will agree with some of the ideas nor want to adopt some of practices discussed in this book. (For example, I am not comfortable with the idea of me practicing spirit possession though I have observed it on a few occasions and understand and respect it as part of a number of cultures’ practices.) That we might not agree with everything in the book doesn’t detract from its value – in fact, may increase its value – as Firefox Allen offers a vast array of different ideas/practices and encourages readers to adopt or develop whichever they wish.

Jailbreaking the Goddess is a scholarly, spiritual, poetic book. Theoretical and practical and inspirational, it is beautifully structured and beautifully written – a welcome contribution to the growth of feminist/Goddess spirituality at this time of evolution and expansion in these living religions.

Dear Media: Isis is a Goddess

What started me on posting about this issue at this particular moment is Susan Morgaine Stanley's March 20 post on The Motherhouse of the Goddess blog,  "Ritual for Reclaiming the Name of the Goddess ISIS."  Susan writes that listening to the news one night, she again heard  the name of this Goddess used to describe a terrorist organization. She continues:
"I immediately cringed and once again, felt sick inside. I think that for most of us who practice a Goddess-based spirituality, the name of our beloved Goddess becoming the name of an international terrorist organization, is painful....I also began to realize that I just did not want to sit back any longer. I wanted to fight against Her name being taken in vain."
She then offers a ritual, complete with  instructions,  actions,  words, and pics.

I then came across a Feb. 10 post on The Wild Hunt blog by Terence P Ward, "Facebook Deletes 'Following Isis' Group."  And then there is the statement on the Fellowship of Isis website. Some may say "it's just an acronym, get over it." But I can't.  At this point, some newspapers, such as Britain's The Guardian, don't even capitalize all four letters, as is appropriate for an acronym. Here's one example from its U.S. online edition in coverage of the Brussels attacks . And here is the same mistake in its Global edition.

All of these led me to Google "goddess isis terrorist." Here are just some of the links you can find there:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/21/world/europe/when-youre-named-isis-for-the-goddess-not-the-terror-group.html?_r=0

http://sacredcenters.com/in-the-name-of-the-goddess-isis-and-the-thugs-of-iraq/

http://yournewswire.com/goddess-isis-has-magical-powers-stop-associating-her-with-the-islamic-state/

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-thousands-ask-media-stop-using-acronym-islamic-state-1530096

Deadline Extended to Oct. 6 for Abstracts for Pagan Studies Conference

According to an email received from the organizers of the Conference on Current Pagan Studies to be held January 23-24, 2016 at Claremont Graduate University, the deadline for "paper abstracts" has been extended to October 6. The theme of the Conference is Social Justice. Quoting from the email, with words of particular interest to readers of this blog italicized by me, and with the addition of the bracketed phrase at the end ):

"We face issues of social justice everywhere we look, from something as overwhelming as #blacklivesmatter to the seeming trivial Wiccanate privilege.  Like the innumerable heads of the Lernaean Hydra, it seems that every time we manage to quell an issue involving racism, sexism, or privilege, two more such issues appear.  Add to this the poisonous breath of the hate rhetoric that surrounds these issues, and virulent ichor of the rigid beliefs from which such transgressions emerge, the task of those on the side of social justice does appears quite Herculean. How do we as Pagans, Wiccans, Druids, Witches, Heathens and the many other paths that have arisen incorporate these concerns into our research, our outlook, our activism, etc.? We are using this idea in its broadest terms. We are hoping to encompass issues concerning racism, feminism, womanism, eco-justice, food security, gender justice, classism, neo-colonialism, etc. seen through the eyes of our scholars/activists.

"We are looking for papers from all disciplines. A community needs artists, teachers, scientists, healers, historians, philosophers, educators, thinkers, activists, etc. As usual, we are using Pagan in its most inclusive form, covering pagans, wiccans, witches and the numerous hybrids that have sprung up as well as any indigenous groups that feel akin to or want to be in conversation with Pagans. Abstracts should be no longer than 300 words. . . Go to our website www.paganconference.com for advice on presenting papers..." [and for the email address to which you can send papers].

AAR Extends CFP Deadline for 2015 Regional Conference

The American Academy of Religion, Western Region, has extended to Oct. 5 the deadline of its Call for Papers.  The regional conference will be held in  Santa Clara CA on March 20-22. 2015. Among the many religions and traditions included in the Call is Goddess Studies, for which the Call includes:
"Whatever your methodology (archetypal, cultural studies, feminist, postcolonial theory, queer theory, race and ethnicity) or academic field (anthropology, archeology, literature, mythology, philosophy, psychology, religious studies), this panel seeks contributions to the importance of Goddess Studies within academia. From Egyptian goddesses to Catholic saints to the Haitian Vodou pantheon, we welcome a wide array of perspectives."

Among the other topics included in the CFP are Buddhism and Magick; Ecology and Religion; Ethics; Indigenous Religions; Pagan Studies; Philosophy of Religion; Queer Studies; Religion and Arts; Religion, Literature, and Film; Womanist/Pan African; and Women and Religion. 

Z Budapest, Temple of Diana, Claudiney Prieto

As far as I know, this is the first public publication of the response of Dianic High Priestess Ruth Barrett and the Temple of Diana to Z Budapest's recent announcement concerning what transpired during Z's visit with Claudiney Prieto of Brazil. We have received Ruth's permission to publish these statements here. They were previously published on Ruth's Facebook "friends" page.  Z's announcements and press releases are published on her blog and we link to them in the following information. I am not a Dianic Witch in Z's or any other lineage.  I'm presenting this material because I consider these groups and individuals, and their opinions and actions, important to the greater Goddess community and spiritual feminists.

 In an August 13 post to her blog, Z Budapest, founder of the feminist Dianic tradition in the United States, announced  that she had blessed or ordained (depending on when you've read the post/press release or whom you ask),  Prieto, Brazilian leader of the Dianic Nemorensis Tradition.

The Temple of Diana, founded by Ruth Barrett, responded:

August 16, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Dear Temple of Diana Community and our Dianic Sisters everywhere,

 

We feel it is our responsibility as the first national Dianic Temple sourced from the Z Budapest lineage to respond to the recent ordination in Brazil by Z Budapest of Claudiney Prieto, as the first Dianic High Priest in our tradition. This unprecedented event was announced in their own words publically on Facebook on August 10th by both Budapest
and Prieto as an “ordination”. Subsequently the wording of the post was changed after initial uproar, to a “blessing” of his work. It is also a matter of public record, posted on the internet by first hand witnesses, including Sorita D’Este, who posed in pictures of herself with Claudiney after what she described as his “historic” ordination into the feminist Dianic tradition by Z Budapest.

In addition to the changes in wording, it is also evident from the many photographs taken on Prierto’s Facebook page that he is wearing the identical “kata” that Budapest has used to signify Dianic High Priestess ordinations in recent years. Since Prieto received the Kata from Budapest in this ceremony, it is evident that he was ordained as a High Priest in our Dianic tradition. As Budapest has written herself, “The Kata is a pure silk white scarf which is given in our tradition to those who are elevated.”

 

Temple of Diana, and other Dianic sisters would have been thrilled to stand with Budapest if this had been honoring a goddess-centered man in spiritual service by blessing him and his work. However, this is not what happened. Budapest’s actions are contradictory to the foundation of our Dianic female-centered tradition. We are truly baffled that Budapest would ordain a man in a tradition that excludes him. For us, it is impossible for any male to participate in Women’s Mysteries, or any female-embodied Mysteries tradition, given our physical/cellular differences, and socialization from birth. This is why our tradition excludes males and trans-individuals wishing to attend or be included in our rites, and why there has never been a male Priest in our tradition however sympathetic with our tradition he may be.

 

We will not recognize Budapest’s ordination of Prietro, or any man, as a Dianic Priest in our tradition, and most certainly not as a High Priest. The vast majority of Wiccan and pagan traditions already include all sexes. Our tradition was simply not created to meet the needs of male physiological and cultural socialization. 

The bottom line is: Temple of Diana Board stands for the integrity of our Dianic tradition, as sourced and evolved from its origins in Los Angeles, California in the early 1970s. Our national Groves will continue to provide spiritual service to women and girls, and to maintain the core values of our religion based in providing life-saving female-only space and Women’s Mysteries.

 

Board of Directors

Temple of Diana, Inc.

In an August 19 post, "Elder and Originator Z Budapest’s Official Statement to the Dianic Community,"  Z responds to the Temple of Diana's criticism and specifically to Ruth Barrett, whom she ordained several decades ago.  Z's post includes a press release dated August 18,  that begins by stating that she "was prepared to amend her previous press release from August 13, 2014."

On August 20, Ruth Barrett published the following on her Facebook page:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Members of the Dianic Tradition in the Zsuzsanna Budapest Lineage
August 20, 2014

I feel joyful that Z Budapest decided to tell the truth at last. However, it is evident that Z used me as her excuse for not being honest in the first place. It was her own words and actions that caused the media drama. There would have been no need for statements from me privately or from Temple of Diana’s Board of Directors if Z had told the truth originally. Her explanations of what happened in Brazil changed so many times in the public record, I know that many of us couldn’t help but notice this and document the ever-changing story. The letters we wrote were written respectfully and clearly, with no malice. We just wanted to hear the truth.

I don’t wish to continue correcting or commenting on several things written in the latest public statement from Z and the Women’s Spirituality Forum. I have to trust that those who are following this situation will do their own critical thinking on what has transpired and this latest spin. I hope that interested women will read about the role of the Kouretes as documented by Jane Ellen Harrison in Epilegomena To the Study of Greek Religion & Themis: A Study of the Social Origins of Greek Religion (University Books – out of print, but can be found). Kouretes often served as caretakers of children, dancers, initiators of male children into Men’s Mysteries, and guardians. As Dianic separatists we have no need for Kouretes, we have our own Priestesses of the Guardian Path who provide spiritual service by protecting our circles from possible intruders, plus we do our own dancing and child care.

With our paths diverging now, I release my commitment to Z Budapest that I made on Halloween night in 1980. I bless Z’s new direction and wish her well.

My sacred commitment to provide and ensure Dianic female-only space, our female Mysteries, and our female-only clergy will continue as it has been. I am thankful knowing that I have truly done my best to stand in my integrity with the responsibility I took on so long ago. I bless the path before me and my Dianic sisters as we continue onward.

In Her Service,
Ruth Rhiannon Barrett

 

Morning Glory Zell, 1948-2014

We join the Pagan community in mourning the passing of Morning Glory Zell (aka Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart), a founder with her husband Oberon of the Church of All Worlds and a creator and editor of  Green Egg Magazine, both founded in the mid 20th century. According to her Facebook page, she died May 13 at 5:42 p.m. For more information, see The Wild Hunt and her FB page.

May she rest in the arms of the Goddess and be renewed.

Maetreum of Cybele Wins Court Battle

The Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater , a Goddess-centered and Pagan-identified not-for-profit incorporated religious organization in the town of Catskill NY, won a battle Thursday that began in 2009 to defend their tax-exempt status. The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court reversed the Court's previous decision which would have upheld the Town of Catskill's efforts to deny the Maetreum's real property tax exemptions despite the the Maetreum's IRS tax-exempt status. The Appelate Court's decision affirms the religious nature of the Maetreum's activities and annuls the town's denial of tax exempt status for 2009, 2010, and 2011.

 As I wrote last night in response to Rev. Mother Cathryn Platine's "status" post announcing the victory: "Thanks and blessings to Cathryn and the Maetreum of Cybele for persisting and achieving a victory not only for Goddess folks, but for Freedom of Religion."

The Maetreum's website today has the following statement about the case:

"The Maetreum would like to thank the greater Pagan community for the spiritual and financial help to win this case.  It is truly a win for all minority religions setting forth the standard that we Pagans are to be treated in law the same as the so called mainstream religions.

"Throughout this battle we at the Maetreum of Cybele have kept doing our charitable works and recently have applied for a low power FM radio license to further serve our community with true community radio.  If we recover our costs that money will go towards further green projects at the Maetreum, continued charitable housing, funding the community radio station and setting up a local food pantry.

"The lessons from this battle are keep true to your beliefs and values and never give up even when it looks rocky.

"Blessings,
Rev. Mother Cathryn Platine from the Maetreum of Cybele."

Also covering this story, The Wild Hunt, Witches and Pagans, New York Law Journal, Wiccan Woman  [links updated 11/26, thanks to Wiccan Woman for NY Law Journal link]
   

Women's Equality Day Challenges

The celebration of Women’s Equality Day in the U.S. tomorrow comes with a special urgency this year, 2013. Women’s rights are under attack, especially from the right wing of the Republican party, with their so-called reasoning often based in religious doctrine.

The U.S. has been marking Women’s Equality Day since 1971 when, at the urging of the late Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), a Congressional and then Presidential proclamation was issued designating Women’s Equality Day to commemorate the passage of the 19^th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920 that gave women the right to vote. The Day's purpose is also to continue a focus on women’s issues. Every President since 1971 has issued a Women’s Equality Day proclamation,  including this year’s proclamation by President Obama.

 On this Women’s Equality Day, both the right to vote and women’s health care are among the issues backtracking to what seems to me like the middle ages, but is probably more accurately the early 20^th century for voting and the mid-20^th century for health care. In the wake of the recent SCOTUS decision on the Voting Rights Act, Republican-led State actions, such as curbing voting hours and requiring photo IDS, impact not only minorities and university students but also women. In addition—and more specific in its aim—health care for women is increasingly imperiled by a growing number of laws in a growing number of States aiming to get around the 1973 Roe v.Wade SCOTUS legalization of abortion. Among other things, these State actions set up impossible-to-meet requirements that result in the closing clinics which include safe and legal abortion in the health care they provide to women. The anti-abortion advocates often give biblical scripture as source for their sometimes violent actions, and for the imposition of tests such as transvaginal ultrasound, which, when performed without the patient’s consent as these proposals require, fits the definition of rape. In general, this maltreatment of women can be seen as an outcome of the interpretations and doctrines particularly in fundamentalist religions that give men dominion over women, and insist on speaking of deity in masculine/male-only language. The impact of fundamentalist religion has caused a backtracking on a trend to more egalitarian language in public prayer and references to deity. For example, I don’t remember ever hearing William Jefferson Clinton, while president, referring to deity by gender. He used the term God, but did not combine it with “he” or “Lord” or any other gendered term. This is not true of President Obama, whom I have heard use masculine pronouns when speaking of deity when he could have easily just left off the pronouns. Others seem to be following the President's example. Yesterday, in the speeches at the commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington for Civil Rights, in the prayers I heard, all god-language was male/masculine, including prayers by women. This use of exclusively masculine-gendered words for deity reinforces, empowers, enables the ongoing political actions imperiling women’s rights.

The backtracking-on-women’s-issues trend has made its way into parts of the Pagan community. A number Pagans, both women and men, use the supposedly generic term “gods” when referring to both male and female deities. Pagans can’t even make the argument that these deities are ungendered as those in Abrahamic religion try to do when they use the word God (followed by “He.”) When you use “gods” to include female deities, it disappears the female deities; a god in Paganism is widely understood to be male. This is just one of the ways that fundamentalism or right-wing thinking is influencing Pagan thought and practices among some Pagans—and again, I’m not just talking about men. I think, for the most part, this is not intentional, it is just that we are influenced by the dominant culture we live in and unconsciously adopt its practices and sometimes beliefs, though they may be somewhat disguised so that the bias is not easily recognized. It is, however, easily remedied (and I know you want to remedy this, right?) by using “gods and goddesses” alternating with “goddesses and gods”; or, when writing, god/dess; or using inclusive terms such as deities and divinities.

This Women’s Equality Day, let’s see if we can become conscious of practices in our communities that go counter to equal treatment of women. Maybe we can call it Pagan consciousness-raising—a first step to restored equality.

 

 

SageWoman Lists Goddess Spirituality 'Wisdom Keepers'

The Summer Into Fall issue (Issue 84) of SageWoman magazine just out contains an article, "Tapestry of Voices: Wisdom Keepers of the Goddess Spirituality Movement," by Hayley Arrington, who prefaces the article by explaining that it was undertaken in response to "a number of 'Top Pagan Leaders' articles that recently appeared in the Pagan blogosphere....Many such lists omit important figures in the women's spirituality movement. This piece is intended to remedy that lack."

The article contains an annotated list with 78 entries (not limited to Pagans), divided into three sections: "Pioneers 19th to mid-20th Century"; "Popularizers: 1970s and 1980s"; "Remodelers and Renewers: 1990-Present."   Most of the entries are about individuals (most --but not all--of them women), but there are also entries about organizations (such as the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers), courses (such as Cakes for the Queen of Heaven), and magazines (such as Of A Like Mind). 

Lake Okeechobee Summer Solstice Pagan Festival Success

With help from Circle Sanctuary's Lady Liberty League, the Lake Okeechobee Summer Solstice Pagan Festival at Pahookee, Florida went on as planned, and successfully. We received permission to post the following from Mx. Nathan Tamar Pautz, written at the time of the Festival, which he attended:
"Solstice blessings from this first-time Pagan festival in the small town of Pahokee, FL. In spite of initial outrage on the part of many local Christian churches, the festival went on without incident and was a success. Thanks to the Lady Liberty League for helping to educate Pahokee leaders regarding minority religions and to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department and the Pahokee Fire Department for watching over festival goers."

Festival Program


Local TV coverage, with Lady Liberty League's Peter Dybing


A drum circle at the festival
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From Lady Liberty League About Fox News

February 18, 2013
For Immediate Release

Statement by the Lady Liberty League on Fox News

Barneveld, WI - The Lady Liberty League denounces the ignorant and unprofessional statements made by Fox News commentators this weekend. The statements, made by Fox personalities including Anna Kooiman, Clayton Morris, Tucker Carlson, and Tammy Bruce were in regards to the University of Missouri's 2011 decision to include Wiccan and other holidays, along with the holidays of other many other faiths, in that university's "Guide to Religion."

We are deeply disappointed that Fox's leadership would chose to allow such ill-informed statements on the air. The commentary of the Fox News personalities over the weekend betrayed not only deep ignorance about Paganism and Wicca but also a fundamental distain for the nature of religious diversity in the United States and the establishment clause in the US constitution.

Paganism and Wicca (not "Wiccanism" as stated by Tucker Carlson) are contemporary religious practices that include an honoring of the Divine as immanent in Nature. Nature religions are growing in significant numbers not just within the United States, but significantly in the UK, Australia, South America, and Europe. The Lady Liberty League (LLL) is a program of Circle Sanctuary founded to dispel misconceptions and combat discrimination against Pagans, Wiccans and other Nature religion practitioners.

Rev. Selena Fox, Executive Director of the Lady Liberty League said, "In 2006 and 2007 Fox News was among the media sources that covered the quest to have equal rights for Wiccan and Pagan US Military veterans, and they did so in a factual and respectful manner. We are extremely disappointed at the ill-informed and disrespectful tone of their coverage about academic accommodation of Pagan and Wiccan holidays. We hope that Fox News will adopt and stay with a policy of respect for diverse faiths and philosophies in the USA."

The Fox News personalities, and others making similar arguments, seem to assume that because a religious faith is in the minority, that it should not be accorded equal rights or respect.

What they fail to realize is that the same protections granting Pagans at public universities fair treatment are what, for example, prevents a public school teacher from telling a child that she 'isn't really a Christian' because of the way she was baptized, and which prevents the government from banning the sale of bread during Passover. In the United States our government is not allowed to favor one religious practice over another and that is a good thing for everyone. Our founders knew very well the suffering that religious wars had inflicted in Europe and they worked to ensure that their new United States would be a place where people were free to worship and still coexist with one another.

We applaud the work done by the University of Missouri and by numerous other colleges, universities and public school systems across the country, to extend respect and understanding to all religions practiced on their campus. We are disgusted by the attempt of Fox News employees to belittle their efforts and to go for a cheap laugh at the expense of people and religions they obviously do not understand. We should expect better of American journalists.

---

REVIEW: Patricia Monaghan's Alaskan Creation

Alaska by Heart: Recipes for Independence by Sarah Pagen, a novel created by Patricia Monaghan (McRoy & Blackburn) trade paperback, 186 or so pages.

In a riot of misspellings, malaprops, mixed metaphors, grammatical goofs, garbled history, and screwy science, Alaska by Heart: Recipes for Independence by Sarah Pagen created by Patricia Monaghan presents a sort of autobiography of the FICTIONAL CHARACTER which, according to the back cover of this book, "possessed" Patricia Monaghan , an otherwise mild-mannered (well I actually never met her in person, but I imagine her to be mild-mannered) Ph.D.-holding, university professor and award-winning poet, whom you may know best from her scholarly books on Goddess subjects. I must stress that Alaska by Heart is a work of fiction, as emphasized by the following statement from the book:

Any resemblance to actual persons or events is unsurprising. However, the reader should stand reminded that this is wholly a work of fiction, not intended to portray any real people or situations, and it world be a serious mistake to try to read more into this book. It is not, nor was it intended to be, a rendition of facts.

In other novels, this information, which is usually more boilerplate-y, almost always appears on in small print on the same page as the copyright information (known in the trade as the verso). In this book it appears on the page usually given over to dedications (known in the trade as the recto, in this case the one following the copyright verso) in the same size print as the rest of the book (my guess—11-12 pt).

Before going further, I’d like to explain that I would have had this review done sooner, but it took me twice as long usual for me to get through each page because I spent as much time laughing as I did reading.

The narrator of the book is Sarah Pagen, an Alaskan (did I mention that Patricia Monaghan grew up in Alaska?) who is running for President on the American Independence Party ticket. Ms. Pagen’s married last name was changed from her husband’s Italian family name, Pagani, because, as she tells it, Pagani means

"hicks-from-the-sticks." When we got married I didn’t want anyone to think that I was connected with homosocialist Satan orgies, dancing naked in the woods, and human sacrifice, so we changed the name to Pagen.

Ms. (Mrs.?) Pagen explains that the proper pronunciation of her surname is "Pay-GUN." Say it a few times and you will see that this pronunciation totally prevents any confusion with the word Pagan. To further avoid this confusion, and for brevity’s sake, I will heretofore refer to the protagonist or author, as the case may be, as Ms. GUN (she really does like guns!!! so I hope this makes her happy, fictionally speaking, of course). Ms. GUN lets us in on her Alaskan life leading up to her Presidential campaign, including many intimate details such as her mother’s two marriages and other details of her mother’s (what many would consider) scandalous past; Ms GUN's childhood growing up on JesusHaven where marijuana was one of the crops and which she insists was not a commune; her husband Tommy and her children, including two sets of twins; her fondness for growing vegetables as well as hunting (and killing!!!) animals, and the fact, fictionally speaking, that she has red hair (before I forget, have you ever seen a picture of Patricia Monaghan?). Ms. GUN also tells us about her TV cooking show, and she shares a number of Alaskan recipes (if I were you, which I’m not, I wouldn’t read the recipes immediately before or right after a meal, but don’t miss the one for "Sourdough Vodka," which includes instructions on building a still).

Mixed in with the recipes, family tidbits, and Alaskan history (some of which may be actually be true), and her muddled interpretation of U.S. history, she shares her political views. Possibly to exhibit her American patriotism, Ms. GUN exhibits a strong disaffection for royalty, particularly the British royal family, while asserting that over 20 U.S. Presidents had genealogical ties to that family. She refuses to call the present British Queen by her proper name, instead referring to her variously as "Betty," "Lizzie," Libby Windsor," "Beth Windsor," "Elsie Windsor" and possibly other silly names which I neglected to write down. Ms. GUN also shares with us her campaign promises which include:
–Elimination of the U.S. Department of Transportation (all roads will be privately owned)
–No federally-covered health care (or maybe no health care at all, she doesn’t make this very clear, just says, "Health care? If you were eating right...you don’t need it." )
–Return of U.S. to the gold standard.
–Emphasis on family values ("...the family that preys together, slays together.").
–No platform on foreign affairs because "We won’t have any."
–Moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to encourage the arrival of Armageddon.
As the footnote from the "copyeditor" explains, the latter is one of the ideas of Christian Dominionists. Oh, I didn’t tell you about the footnotes yet? The footnotes from the "copyeditor" form a subplot of sorts. (Here I need to note that the "copyeditor" insists on making one word out of what most style guides including the Chicago Manual of Style and AP specify be two words "copy editor," copy modifying editor, telling us what kind of editor this person is—for example, there are also substantive editors, which is what I used to be. However, often individual publishing houses have their own style guides, so I will assume that for the Alaskan publisher of this book, "copyeditor" is its style, plus dictionary.com gives it both ways, so I will use that style in this review henceforth, without the quotes.) The first footnote reads:

The publisher affirms that Sarah Pagen wrote every word in this book with no assistance from ghostwriters. We also affirm that editorial challenges were kept to a minimum and involved only correction of typographical errors with the author’s consent.

The footnotes that follow tell a story of increasing tension between Ms. GUN and the copyeditor, along with Sally from legal and Randy the fact-checker, as they try to get Ms. GUN to correct misuse of words, misspellings, intentionally erroneous or sloppily misunderstood history and science, and a fuzzing of the line between reality and imagination, such as in Ms. GUN’s insistence that John Galt, whom she frequently quotes to back up her political stands and who is a fictional character in Ayn Rand’s novel, Atlas Shrugged, is a real historical person. Ms. GUN refuses to make this and almost all other corrections suggested by copyeditor and other staff, with the exception of their suggestion to, when citing biblical chapter and verse (another thing she does to back up her arguments) that she include the entire quotation. This Ms. GUN mostly did (after the first few such citations) and it is very helpful to those of us who many not have our Bibles handy. There is another aspect to the footnote subplot—one of romance—but I’ll leave that for you to discover.

Alaska by Heart:Recipes for Independence is a total hoot! So funny and so topical that I'd like to suggest the possessed Dr. Monaghan be interviewed about this book on The Daily Show, the Stephen Colbert Show, and even The Rachel Maddow Show (probably on a Friday night, right before the cocktail ritual).

Speaking of Stephen Colbert, did I mention that the book was (and is?) printed in Canada? I wonder if Ms. GUN is aware of this fact. In the book, she uses the term "Canooks," to refer to Canadians even though the copyeditor et al. try to get her to stop this usage which Canadians (and others) consider disparaging. Given her strong feelings of patriotism, for both the U.S. and Alaska, and the high value she places on independence, I wonder what Ms. GUN would think about straying outside their borders to obtain a printer for her book. (In case you weren't aware, though Canada has its own parliamentary system, it is still part of the British Commonwealth and even has the Queen’s picture on it’s twenty dollar bill.) Now that I’ve let the cat out of the bag, I wonder if Ms.GUN will comment on the printing situation on her campaign blog.

BTW, the official release date for this book is Presidents Day, but if you know where to look , you can probably get it earlier.

TAGS: reviews political satire Presidential campaignThe Daily Show Stephen Colbert Rachel Maddow Alaska Patricia Monaghan

From Selena Fox: Help for NC Pagans in Church-State Conflict

I received the following by email from Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary, who requests that it be shared:

Please send blessings of Protection, Healing & Well-being to Ginger Strivelli of Weaverville, North Carolina & her family.

Ginger is co-founding priestess of The Appalachian Pagan Alliance. Her writings have appeared in CIRCLE Magazine and other publications. She lives with her husband and six children in rural North Carolina near Asheville.

Last month, Ginger challenged the policy that permitted distribution of Gideon Bibles at the local elementary school after her fifth grade son came home with one on December 19, 2011. When the school stated that any religious literature could be available for students to pick up, Ginger brought Pagan books to the school for distribution. However, the school refused to accept these books and have them distributed in the same way they had been distributing the Bibles, indicating that a new policy was being crafted.

This separation of church and state situation has been covered in various media reports for several weeks, and on Thursday was covered by national/global television news:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/18/pagan-mom-challenges-bibles-in-north-carolina-school/

That evening, Ginger received a death threat phone call while at home with her family. She immediately contacted the police who have begun investigating. A news article has just been published:
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20120121/NEWS/301210018/School-Bible-giveaway-protester-reports-threats?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage

Lady Liberty League is among those in the coalition that has formed to provide support to the Strivelli family and the quest for fair and equal treatment of students of all beliefs in the local school system. Byron Ballard, a writer & Wiccan priestess from Asheville, North Carolina, is coordinating the coalition and helping to administer the Strivelli Family Support page on Facebook.

HOW TO HELP:

(1) Do prayers, meditations, rituals of Protection, Healing, & Well-being to Ginger Strivelli & her family.
(2) Learn more & Post words of support for Ginger & her family on their support page on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strivelli-Family-Support-Page/300249743360631?sk=wall
(3) Speak out in support of separation of church & state in comments sections of media sites carrying news and editorials about this issue.
(4) Those with interfaith and/or law enforcement contacts in North Carolina interested in working with Lady Liberty League in providing support to the family and this situation should contact:liberty@circlesanctuary.org as soon as possible.
(5) Share this email & support page link with others - by email, through social networking sites, on blogs & websites.

Thanks!
Selena
Selena Fox
Lady Liberty League & Circle Sanctuary
www.circlesanctuary.org
(608) 924-2216
PO Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507 USA

Saturday, January 21, 2012

REVIEW: Desert Priestess by Anne Key

Desert Priestess: a memoir by Anne Key (Goddess Ink 2011), trade paperback, 192 pages

Anne Key, priestess of the Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet from 2004 to 2007, has written a candid and intriguing book about her 3 years at this temple in the Nevada desert. The book also gives insight into the history of the temple. Founded and funded by Genevieve Vaughan, founder also of The Gift Economy , this Temple is probably one of the few today able to provide salary and housing to a full-time priestess.

In the Introduction, Key describes how she learned of the position opening while writing her dissertation for a PhD in Philosophy and Religion with an emphasis on Women’s Spirituality from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Although confident that she had the stated requirements for the priestess position, later in the book she describes her nervousness about the interview in Las Vegas with the then current priestess, Patricia Pearlman, who had served at the Temple for 10 years. Key’s description of why she felt nervous is just one of the places in the book where she is excruciatingly honest about her feelings of inadequacy, especially in relation to the spiritual aspects of the position; she sometimes characterizes this as feeling like "fraud." In the chapter on "Initiation and Personal Evolution, Key writes:

I had to rid my mind of the continual message that I was a fraud

This "message" was coming from within herself, from her own thoughts and her interpretation of other’s attitudes and questions. She continues:

I began wondering why I kept thinking I was a fraud. I had never thought of myself as a fraud when I was a college faculty member or administrator....But there is no universally recognized governing body that designates priestesses....I could not depend on outside help and strength with respect to this role. My convictions and assurance had to come from within

Of course she wasn’t and isn’t a fraud. Rather, her self-examination and honesty in describing her feelings show her to be authentic. This honesty and openness are unusual and valuable hallmarks of this book. Also valuable is Key’s description of the steps she took to overcome her negative feelings, including the body modification she decided should be part of her initiation.

Key also writes of moving to the desert from the moister climate of her Oregon home, and of the unusual surroundings of the temple, located about 50 miles from Las Vegas. To the north of the Temple is Creech Air Force Base and its test bombing range, where, Key writes,

The planes actually use the temple to line up their approach to the runway.

Because the desert is similar to the land in Afghanistan, it has been used to train troops before deployment there. Also to the north are the Yucca Mountains, a proposed nuclear waste dumping site. To the west is the Nevada Test site, best known for its use in above-ground testing of the atom bomb. Key notes the irony:

A Temple dedicated to peace sits in a place were one can never forget war.

To the east is a large prison complex. She notes that the location of the temple, together with its dedication to Sekhmet, a Goddess associated with both creation and destruction, emphasizes the tension between aggression and protection. The temple is also sits on land of the Newe (aka Western Shoshone), whose ancestors are buried on Snake Mountain (aka Yucca Mountain) and who consider the water in the area, including the water of Cactus Springs near the Temple, sacred. Key explains that after Vaughan purchased 20 acres of land there, she realized she would not need all of it for the Temple and ceded back a substantial portion to the Newe. The open-air Temple was built in 1993, with permission from the Newe. Today the Temple and the Newe enjoy a good relationship, with the Newe sometimes using the Temple for their activities.

In a chapter on "The Folk" who frequent the Temple, Key defines "Pagan" as including "anyone who is not Jewish, Christian, or Muslim." While this may be consistent with the use of the term "pagan" or "heathen" or similar terms in the Bible or even in some forms of Abrahamic religions today, I wonder if Buddhists, Taoists, Sikhs, followers of Confucius, for instance, consider themselves Pagan. Do the Newe and other indigenous peoples consider themselves Pagan? And what about agnostics and atheists? While you are thinking about that, let me return to my main point: Key’s fascinating description of the various Temple visitors. In addition to Goddess folk, they include include peace activists involved with the Temple because it is close to places they protest. Some of these peace activists are critical of Sekhmet because of she is associated with war. Other visitors include "a variety of atheistic and theistic grassroots groups" advocating for social justice, such as the Nevada Desert Experience and the Catholic Workers; feminists who are not necessarily Goddess feminists; Pagans who don’t like combining the political and spiritual; Kemetic Reconstructionists drawn to the temple’s dedication to Sekhmet, some Wiccans who are not shy about trying to foist their opinion that having a Temple dedicated to a Goddess (as well as having altars to other goddesses) without any accompanying gods is "absurd," or even "sacrilegious"; the individuals and groups, fortunately rare, whose intent is to disrupt rituals; the merely curious, and some who are in a class by themselves.

Key also describes the role her husband played in her years at the Temple, the relationship she and the Temple have with the land on which it is built, and the flora and fauna that exist there. . Woven into this book are passages describing Key’s trance journeys and a variety of rituals held at the Temple, and the myths and mysteries of Sekhmet, including their relevance to her, the Temple location, and its visitors.

Desert Priestess is a very valuable book about priestessing at a contemporary Goddess Temple, both from the standpoint of its openness in revealing a personal story and in its place as part of our shared herstory.

Important Information for People Attending Oct. 30 Celebration in Lafayette Park, DC

The following message is from Caroline Kenner, an organizer of the Celebration of the Divine Feminine and Religious Freedom, who has given me permission to share it here:

Dear Ones, here is the memo about the site requirements for Lafayette Square Park, across the closed section of Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. If you plan to attend the demonstration, please read this memo carefully. And please arrive willing to comply with the regulations in every respect.
Blessings and gratitude, from Caroline

Site Requirements for The Celebration of the Divine Feminine and Religious Freedom In Lafayette Square Park, across from the White House To be Held on Sunday, October 30th between Noon and 5pm

Because we have chosen to hold our demonstration in Lafayette Square Park, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, there are stringent security requirements we must meet. We want this to be a peaceful exercise of our rights to freedom of religion and freedom of assembly, the same rights granted to all American citizens by our Constitution.

We do not want violence or arrests to mar our celebration of the Divine Feminine and Religious Freedom. So please come to the event with the intention of avoiding any confrontational behavior or civil disobedience.

There are several different agencies with jurisdiction over Lafayette Square Park, the President’s Park. The Park is covered by the National Park Service’s Park Police, the Washington, DC Police and, because of its proximity to the White House, the Secret Service. Members of these police forces will attend our demonstration, firstly to protect the President and his family, and secondly to protect us from any interference by the New Apostolic Reformation people, or their allies. The police are aware of the possibility of anti-demonstrators at this event.

We will have our own group of marshals on site for the demonstration, identified by red, white and blue ribbons. If you are coming to the event and see anything untoward, whether it is a package lying unattended on the ground or a person who looks like they might cause problems, please speak to one of our marshals immediately. If they decide there is a threat, they will tell one of the police officers.

Some of the prohibitions of the site are very obvious: no ceremonial weapons of any kind, no swords, no athames and no staves. Please respect this. You will be asked to leave the site immediately if you are carrying any weapons, including staves.

The most daunting requirement is that we erect no “free standing structures” on the site. This means no portable chairs, no pop-ups, and the most difficult requirement of all: no djembes can be placed on the ground at any time in Lafayette Square Park.

If you are bringing a djembe to the demonstration, please arrive at the north end of Lafayette Square Park, on H Street NW where 16th Street dead ends, promptly at 10:30am for the security sweep and dog sniff of all equipment. Or you may arrive at noon when the event begins, and wear your djembe on a harness for the entire event. Otherwise, please bring smaller drums, such as dumbeks. And please be willing to allow the Park Police to inspect your drums visually.

Please do not bring any hang drums. As they are metal, they resemble bombs way too much for this site.

If you intend to bring signs, hand held signs with no sticks attached are required. Please make the signs ahead of time: no paint is allowed on the site. We encourage you to make hand held signs if you would like. No signs may be attached to any structure in Lafayette Square Park.

No masks are allowed on site. Face paint is fine, but needs to be done ahead of time.

Please bring your own beverages and food, but not in glass containers. No glass containers are allowed on site. We need to stay hydrated at our Celebration! There may be some vendors selling junk food in trucks on the north and east sides of the Square, but the nearest wholesome food and beverage sellers are two blocks away.

One bathroom stall catering to each gender is available at the north end of the Park, but I’m told the women’s room is not working properly. One block west of Lafayette Square Park, past Blair House on the closed part of Pennsylvania Avenue, is the Renwick Gallery, a branch of the Smithsonian dedicated to American Crafts. There are bathrooms and drinking fountains available inside the Renwick, but the Gallery requires a security check of people’s bags upon entry. And there are some businesses offering wholesome food nearby, including a Starbuck’s, on the next block west from the Renwick, across 17th Street NW, on the part of Pennsylvania Avenue open to traffic.

We will be on the east side of Lafayette Square Park, with the back of our stage to the statue of Stonewall Jackson. We encourage festive garb or ceremonial attire, and please dress for the weather. Please bring your personal items in a backpack you can wear all day. We cannot put anything down on the ground at any time.

There are ample numbers of benches lining the paths of the Park, so there are plenty of places to sit where you can enjoy the ceremony and the drumming. Please do not bring any portable chairs: they are not allowed at any time in Lafayette Square Park.

The nearest Metro stations are the Farragut stations, coming from both Maryland and Virginia. Street parking near the site is usually available on Sundays, and it will be free. There are also garages nearby, but they are expensive, in the $15-$25 dollar range for the entire day.

Please be advised: we are expecting media attention from the Pagan press, and we also hope for some coverage by the mainstream press.

Some of us will be adjourning to [a restaurant in Silver Spring], for dinner after the event....[for more info, ask at the Celebration or contact Caroline Kenner through her website.]

I apologize for the lateness of this announcement. I know this is a busy time of year for all Pagans. I filed for the permit to demonstrate on August 11, 2011. The granting of the permit took more than nine weeks, and I was not allowed to advance the event during the lengthy wait. Both Maryland senators and my congressman tried to help speed up the process, to no avail.

Please consider joining us on Sunday, October 30th, when we will exercise our Constitutional rights and demonstrate our devotion to our Goddesses in public in front of the White House! We are making history by demanding that the promise of our Constitutional rights be made good for all religions, not just for monotheistic religions. We need your participation to have a successful event.

And thank you for your compliance with the many rules necessary for demonstrations in Lafayette Square Park, the President’s own park! We are privileged to be able to show our devotion to our Goddesses in such an historic location.

D.C. Demonstration Oct. 30 to Counter NAR

At Hecate's request, I'm passing along this information from a post on her blog:

DC Pagans to Hold Halloween Ceremony Countering the New Apostolic Reformation Cursing Prayer Campaign On October 30th in Lafayette Square Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Silver Spring, MD, October 19th, 2011---Priestesses and priests from the Washington, DC Pagan community will hold a Celebration of the Divine Feminine and Religious Freedom in Lafayette Square Park across from the White House on Sunday, October 30th, 2011, as a protest to the New Apostolic Reformation’s 51-day prayer campaign targeting Pagans, Wiccans, Witches, Druids, Heathens, and other Goddess-worshipers nationwide.

The New Apostolic Reformation is a Dominionist group of Christians preaching that all feminine forms of deity are demonic. The NAR is engaged in a 51-day campaign of imprecatory prayer to create a fundamentalist Christian theocracy in the USA. Republican presidential hopefuls Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry are influenced by the NAR agenda.

Reverend Barry Lynn, United Church of Christ minister and executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said, “Some people think the Dominionists and the New Apostolic Reformation are a newfangled movement. I call them what they are: the Religious Right in a new gown. They’re not fooling anyone. This is the same old bunch of theocrats we’ve been dealing with for more than 40 years. It’s the same crew that believes only its narrow version of Christianity is acceptable and pleasing to God. It’s the same collection of people who believe their religion gives them the right to run everyone else’s lives.”

Rev. Lynn went on to say, “I have news for them: Wiccans and Pagans are part of the American religious mosaic, and they’re here to stay. Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison gave us religious liberty – and that means religious liberty for everyone. The followers of nature-based faiths are going to use it because they don’t want to lose it. What could be more in keeping with the great American tradition?”

Katrina Messenger, a writer, teacher, blogger, poet and Washington, DC native, will be the main celebrant in Lafayette Square Park. Ms. Messenger said, “The methods used by the NAR and other Dominionists are founded upon hate, fear, and ignorance. Their demonization of our Gods and Goddesses uses inflammatory language that can lead to violence and discrimination against followers of minority religions. We have choices in how to respond to this threat to our freedom and our faiths. Many are resorting to prayer, some to writing letters, and some to defensive strategies. We decided to honor the Queen of Heaven, the Goddess Inanna, in a public space, and demonstrate the very freedoms the Dominionists seek to destroy.” Ms. Messenger is the founder of Connect DC and the Reflections Mystery School in Petworth.

Event organizer Caroline Kenner is a Washington, DC-born shamanic healer and teacher who now lives in Silver Spring, Maryland. “Nationally, many in our community are appalled by the scurrilous lies about our Goddesses spread by the New Apostolic Reformation. We Pagans are proud American citizens entitled to all the religious freedom granted by the Founders of this country in our Constitution. We are dismayed by the hate-filled rhetoric the New Apostolic Reformation uses, and we wish to show the public that our Goddesses are beneficent and peaceful deities.”

The event in Lafayette Square Park begins at noon and ends at 5pm on Sunday, October 30th, Samhain eve to many Pagans, leading into one of the most holy days of the Pagan year. “Samhain, or Halloween, is the Feast of the Ancestors in some of our Pagan religions. We will invoke the Founding Fathers and Mothers of our nation during our ceremony, along with a multitude of Goddesses from pantheons both ancient and modern. Among our Goddesses will be Lady Liberty and Columbia, the Goddess who stands guard atop the Capitol Building,” said Ms. Kenner. “The New Apostolic Reformation people would topple Columbia from Her pinnacle, and rename DC the District of Christ.”

There will be a number of people offering prayers during the ritual, including a Unitarian Universalist minister and celebrants from several Pagan faiths. After the religious ceremony, there will be drumming, dancing, chanting and energy raising designed to protect people in all fifty states and DC who support freedom of religious belief and practice for everyone. People of all faiths or none are welcome to join the event.

Sacred Space, an annual conference on metaphysics, mysticism and magick, now in its 22nd year, is the sponsor of the celebration in Lafayette Square Park on October 30th. Supporting organizations include Connect DC, Reflections Mystery School and Gryphons Grove School of Shamanism. Individual supporters include Washington, DC Pagan bloggers Hecate Demeter, Literata and David Salisbury.