So the annual glut of Pagan, esoteric, and “weird” Halloween stories are finally tapering off. While we all wait for the election results to roll in, lets catch up on some articles, essays, and opinions of note I may have missed.

Time magazine interviews popular horror/fantasy author Laurell K. Hamilton about her work. During the interview she outs herself as a Wiccan.

“I’m still very religious, but I’ve changed religions. When I first started out in college, I was Christian, and I became Episcopalian, which is still one of my favorite flavors of Christianity. But currently I’m Wiccan. One of its biggest tenets is, Do as thou wilt, but harm none. And that applies to yourself as well. So every choice you make, all day long, every day, goes through that filter. But there’s no intrinsic guilt in this religion. Since everything is sacred, you don’t have to feel ashamed about your body or what you’re doing with it, as long as you’re harming no one. You don’t have to feel guilty, or apologize, for being human.”

According to a friend of mine who is a Hamilton fan, her Paganism has been something of an open secret for some time now. Perhaps not coincidently, since 2000 Hamilton has been alternating her popular Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels with a newer series set in the world of faerie (the Merry Gentry books).

Of course, this past weekend most Pagans celebrated Samhain (others are awaiting “true Samhain”), and in many cases the press was there to interview them. The Washington Post held an online Q&A with Lee Ann Kinkade (see if you can spot my question), who recently wrote a Samhain-themed piece for Slate.com, while the Washington Post-sponsored blog “On Faith” saw Starhawk weighing in on the holiday.

“We like to say that at Samhain, ‘the veil is thin that divides the worlds, the seen from the unseen, the living from the dead.’ The ancestors return to visit, and the old custom was to put a candle out to light their way, and set out offerings of food and drink. In much the same way, today in Latin America people visit graves at this time of year, and make elaborate altars with favorite foods and objects of their loved ones. November 2 is Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead–not a mournful holiday but a time for sharing memories and celebrating life.”

Other papers interviewed Circle Sanctuary’s Selena Fox (who recently celebrated the sanctuary’s 25th anniversary), Mohawk Valley Pagan Network members, fellow Pagan blogger Deborah Oak Cooper, Texoma residents Sue and Charles Cherry (who are protesting their town moving official Halloween celebrations), Priestess Alicia Folberth of the Panthean Temple, Madrone, founder of the Goddesses of the Cinder Moon, and the Pagans at Pathfinders Bookstore in Northern California.

From Salem, comes a heart-warming tale of reconciliation and capitalism. Local shop owner Laurie Stathopoulos and event organizer Christian Day, who were bitter opponents during the town’s recent psychic wars, have patched things up and are working together.

“Around this time last year, Laurie Stathopoulos and Christian Day weren’t talking. In fact, they couldn’t even be in the same room. The two Salem witches had filed charges against each other after Stathopoulos smashed a lamp over Day’s head … After a mediation session with her attorney and Day, the two decided that the new ordinance [regarding licensed psychics] could help bolster the city’s economy and bring more tourists into Salem. “Sometimes more can be better,” said Stathopoulos, who began working with Day last winter on marketing her own psychic fair. Day, a graphic artist, designed her psychic fair ad in the Salem October guide Haunted Happenings, and redesigned several logos for her store. In turn, Stathopoulos helped Day launch his new witch shop, Hex.”

That must have been some mediation session. Looks like the wounds over licensing in Salem are truly healing up. Maybe we’ll even see Laurie “Official Witch of Salem” Cabot and Christian Day pose for photos together someday soon.

If you found your celebrations a bit underwhelming this year, maybe you should take a trip to Scotland to see the Beltane Fire Society’s annual Samhuinn festival.

“The pageant began at the entrance to the Castle Esplanade, where the King of Summer stepped out to drink a boozy toast, little knowing it would be his last. Accompanied by scantily-clad dancers in summery reds and oranges, he set off down the Royal Mile, unaware that he was being followed by a host of ghouls and demons, who pursued him to Parliament Square. He was met by the King of Winter for the reenactment of the Goloshan Play, in which the two do battle and Summer is finally vanquished.”

Check out their amazing gallery of photos to see the massive scale and detail that goes into this celebration. American Pagans: take notes!

We couldn’t end this Halloween hangover edition without taking a moment to acknowledge the headaches that come with all hangovers, namely Christian opposition to our awesome holiday. Religion “expert” (and senior pastor at the Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa) Rick Reed explains the “dark side of spiritual power” so prevalent during Halloween.

“In light of the Bible’s warnings, Christians should be discerning when it comes to Halloween. Some will choose to sit out any celebration of the holiday. Others will find creative ways to allow their children to enjoy candy and costumes without dabbling in what is spiritually dark or destructive. While Christians should be spiritually alert on Halloween, we don’t have to be afraid. That’s because Jesus has already defeated the forces of darkness…”

You know, if Jesus has already defeated the forces of darkness, why is everyone still so worried? Meanwhile, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sons of Faith is taking Rick Reed’s advice and holding a Christian-friendly “Harvest Party” to avoid the (already defeated) forces of darkness.

“The whole element of Halloween is contrary to Scripture,” said Albert Walker, a minister and president of the local Sons of Faith ministry. “I think if we understand the history of it all, it would make people really second-guess Halloween.”

And by “people” they obviously don’t mean “Pagans” who understand and celebrate the “history of it all”. If throwing a “harvest festival” (because, you know, that doesn’t have any Pagan connotations to it) isn’t your thing, you can just do what fervent Catholics do and skip meals until we leave town.

“What did we do about the coven in the town where I was priest? A few members of the youth group and I fasted on Fridays. Within six months the coven had moved out of our geographical parish, and within the year they had moved out of the town altogether. I don’t know if it was our prayer and fasting that drove them out, but the Gospel says that a certain kind of demon only comes out through prayer and fasting … when confronted with those who have given themselves to evil, I recommend skipping meals on Fridays…”

Its the new “Pagans live near us” diet! Feel holier-than-thou and shed pounds at the same time! Be slim, trim, and Pagan-free! Order now.

Well, that about does it for the journalistic avalanche that is Halloween/Samhain. I hope you had a good holiday, and weren’t too bothered by pesky local reporters or the grumbling stomaches of your Catholic neighbors. Have fun watching the election returns tonight, and have a great day!

Tags: Catholicism, Christianity, Halloween, journalism, Laurell K. Hamilton, Pagan News of Note, Paganism, Salem, Samhain, Wicca, Witchcraft