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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 19036
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
12/14/2007
9:08:32 am EST
Wvox Stats
Views: 4,767
RSS: 16,456
Comments: 4
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Who You Calling A Witch?
Author: Will Moredock Source: Charleston City Paper (SC)
Title: WHO YOU CALLING A WITCH?
A crowd of more than 20 people gathers around an altar in the center of a room. On top of the altar rest a chalice, a dagger, seasonal fruits and vegetables, incense, a rattle gourd, and a block of marble in which a pentagram has been carved. The old building with its pinewood floors, high wooden beams, and Gothic ceiling offer the perfect setting for this ancient Pagan ceremony.
Michael McGreggor addresses the coven. "I would encourage everyone, in all your relationships with other people and other creatures, to get in touch with your energy and bring that energy to your relationships." He is leading the ritual.
"We are about to go into the dark time of the year," his wife Jean McGreggor says in response. "You've got to look out for yourself and take care of yourself and reflect on what's important and what you want to keep and what you want to let go of as you go into the darkness. Understand that it is a time of quiet and reflection in anticipation of new life and new light."
Submitted by and Thanks to: Kate
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Community Thoughts: There are 4 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Not Disenfranchised Here | Dec 15th. at 3:16:13 am EST
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Shadowbear (Hillsboro, Oregon) - Email Me
Nope, always been a bit mainstream - college, married, no drugs, no drinking - just think for myself, that's all - so I'm a pagan. Don't actually expect any other pagans to necessarily be much like me - except I am always hopeful about the thinking part - and, for the most part, not too disappointed. Nice article.
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| ... | Dec 14th. at 5:45:20 pm EST
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Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
A couple notations:
1) * Darla Wynne of Great Falls, S.C., chose not to hide. In 2001, Wynne, a practicing Wiccan, sued the town of Great Falls over the invocation at the beginning of town council meetings. Wynne asked that the prayers not be delivered "in the name of Jesus Christ" or that alternative faiths be heard at invocation. She offered to lead such a prayer, in her capacity as high priestess of a group of about 35 Wiccans in the area. The Chester County town of 2,100 refused her request, and Wynne went to federal court. *
If they had asked Ms. Wynne herself, she would have told the paper that she was harassed by the townspeople (including members of the town council) over a bumper sticker on her car.
2) Perhaps a good way to understand Neo-Paganism is to compare it to Christianity 1,900 years ago. As you may well know, Christianity began as a religion of the oppressed and dispossessed. It appealed to slaves and conscripts and the displaced masses who thronged the cities of the Roman Empire (Think of it as globalism circa 100 A.D.) Likewise, modern Paganism draws heavily from the disenfranchised — the working class, gays, lesbians, transgenders, pacifists, feminists, and anti-globalization activists.
The broadest definition of "Neo-Paganism" would include the numerous "vampire" societies found throughout the world. I have firsthand knowledge that members of these societies include psychologists, lawyers, EMTs, and law enforcement officers of various legal status. As far as political affiliations go, if you make a claim (such as Chimpy McFlightsuit following the letter of the law) , back it up.
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| The Only Problem I Have | Dec 14th. at 10:27:54 am EST
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Libertarian (Langley, Washington) - Email Me - Web
Is the political association that was made regarding what type of people who become Pagan. Within the Pagan community, there can be any number of different political opinions. Nor for that matter is it necessary for a person to be disinfranchised or somehow different. Anybody can become a Pagan if the path satisfies their spiritual needs.
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| Wonderful - Keep It Going | Dec 14th. at 9:40:53 am EST
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Silverwing (Colorado Springs, Colorado) - Email Me
This was articulate and really got to the root of a problem that is much bigger than Witchcraft. I loved what Dellucci said.
"We must take away the fear and the erroneous information that has been passed on from generation to generation about us," Dellucci says. "The religious leaders made us 'evil' in their effort to control their flocks. They painted us with this brush. We fear what we do not understand, and they have used that fear against us. They killed off the herbalists and the midwives (in the 15th and 16th centuries) , and the ones they didn't kill they silenced. But the goddess still survives, and she is part of us. It is time for us to take away that fear."
She was right on target. It got me thinking about how great it would be if all people of whatever faith could open up their practices and beliefs at least enough for others to understand what they do believe and what they do not. But, that's a pipe dream I think. Sorry, I let the idealist come out every so often for air. Blessings and support to the folks featured here. Blessings and support to those who do likewise.
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