Pagan community mourns loss of Jaime Johnson (1979-2017)

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – One week ago, police performed a welfare check at the Towne Square condominiums in Windsor Oaks. Inside they found two people dead. One of the persons was Jaime Johnson, who had recently moved to Virginia, but was planning to move back to Minnesota. Police say she was killed by her ex-boyfriend, who then killed himself.

Andras Corban-Arthen re-elected as president to ECER

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA – Andras Corban-Arthen, current President of the European Congress of Ethnic Religions (ECER) has been re-elected to serve another five year term as President. Mr. Corban-Arthen has served as president since 2011 when its first president became ill and could no longer serve out his term. ECER was founded in 1998 to preserve and revitalize the indigenous, ethnic religious traditions of Europe and to “oppose discrimination against such groups.”  

Corbin-Arthen says he has been honored to serve as president is proud of the re-organizational plan which called for greater involvement from the members, the development and procurement of necessary resources, and for ECER to increase its activism in pursuing its mission. “I convened a steering committee which met monthly for well over a year, and we proposed a number of changes to the statutes governing the ECER, which were adopted at last year’s Congress in Prague,” explained Corban-Arthen.

Protests sparked after The Satanic Temple memorial approved

BELLE PLAINE, MN – After The Satanic Temple offered to create a monument for inclusion in the city’s free speech area at Veteran’s Memorial Park, the City Council voted unanimously to eliminate the area, bringing an end to a year of controversy. Just under a year ago, a two foot high sculpture entitled “Joe” was installed at the park. The sculpture shows a soldier kneeling before a cross shaped headstone. In January, the city removed the sculpture, concerned about potential lawsuits as the park is owned by the city. Concerns were raised that having an explicitly Christian monument could be seen as discriminatory toward other religions.

Heathen musician and filmmaker robbed at gun point

EAST OAKLAND, CA – Musician and filmmaker Paul Nordin was robbed at gunpoint Monday as he was shooting a short film project. The suspects were three males, who arrived in a rental car, and stole approximately $100,000 worth of equipment. As of press time, the suspects have not been apprehended. Mr. Nordin is known in the Pagan and Heathen communities as a band member in Pandemonaeon and part owner in EMB Studios, along with his life partner Sharon Knight and Winter. The robbery
Nordin says he was operating his camera when the robbery took place, “My head was down and all my attention was on my camera viewfinder.  The first time I realized something was wrong is when I felt one of the robbers tugging on my camera.”

Fire destroys home and business of Raven and Stephanie Grimassi

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – On June 27 a fire broke out at the home of Raven and Stephanie Grimassi. According to the fire marshal, the blaze was caused by a lightning strike during a thunderstorm. Raven Grimassi is best known as an author of books on Wicca, Stregheria, Witchcraft, and Paganism. He and his wife operate the store Raven’s Loft, out their home.