The real Rev. Selena Fox
TWH – It is currently being reported that the Facebook-based phishing scam involving Rev. Selena Fox’ name has not stopped. Over the weekend, people began receiving Facebook messages from the someone pretending to be Rev. Fox and asking for personal information. We confirmed with Fox that she is once again being impersonated over the popular social media site. She said, “I am not sending out messages connected with Trust Community Foundation … this is a scam.” She changed her own photo to the one at the left.
As we reported in April, the scammer first appeared April 23. Fox immediately changed her profile photo then, so others would know it was her, and she announced publicly what was going on. Facebook did remove the first fake Selena Fox account April 24. However, the account or one like it is back, and its user is following a pattern of behavior found in other similar impersonation scams. The would-be victim assumes that the scammer is a friend and engages in cordial conversation via messenger. Then the “friend” asks if they received money from the Trust Community Foundation, or asks for a donation to support the foundation. One Facebook user, whose phone is connected to messenger, received a similar text from the fake Selena Fox account.
Rev. Fox is concerned that people will mistake the fake account for hers, and fall for the phishing scam. She urges people who are contacted through that fake account to take screen shots and to record the URLs, and report all the activity to Facebook. She hopes that this new scam will be shut down as quickly like the first one. As of publication, the fake account has not been removed.
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Candace Kant, Ph.D., was named Academic Dean by Cherry Hill Seminary. Kant holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in History from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Ph.D. in History from Northern Arizona University. She has taught history, women’s studies, and religious studies courses at the College of Southern Nevada since 1976, including such classes as the History of Witchcraft, Goddess Traditions, Introduction to Modern Paganism, and Modern Pagan Thought.
A devotee of Sekhmet, Kant was ordained at the Temple of Goddess Spirituality in 2003 and has “served as one of the temple priestesses since 2006. She developed and taught courses in practical Pagan and Goddess Spirituality at the Temple of Goddess Spirituality dedicated to Sekhmet in Cactus Springs, Nevada and through the College of Southern Nevada Continuing Education.” She has served as Cherry Hill Seminary Dean of Students since 2012.
In moving to this new position, Kant said, “I am honored to be able to serve the Pagan community in this capacity. I have enjoyed serving as Dean of Students, and now am looking forward to this new challenge. Cherry Hill Seminary is a unique institution, providing quality education and training for the Pagan community and it is a pleasure to be a part of it.”
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GRATTON, Vir. — The Washington Post recently published a report about a man being arrested after lying about his disappearance. The title read, “A Pagan biker gang kidnapped him, a businessman claimed. The FBI didn’t buy it.” After reading the headline, some modern Pagans became concerned and curious about this “Pagan biker gang.” However, this gang is not a Pagan religiously-affiliated group, despite its logo depicting the Norse god Surtr.
The article is referring to a well-known motorcycle club called “The Pagans.” They are based in Maryland, but have groups throughout the East Coast. Since its inception in the 1950s, the club has reportedly been long associated to violence and criminal activities, and has also reportedly been connected Nazi and White Supremacist groups to some degree. They are considered the rival gang of the famous motorcycle club Hell’s Angels. As for the business man in the article, he allegedly made up the entire story to cover up an attempt to escape extreme debt. He has since been arrested.
In other news:
- The Satanic Temple will offering a lecture presented by Stu de Haan and Lucien Greaves. The topic is “A Christian Nation: Exploring the Myth of America’s Christian Foundation.” This lecture will explore “the American mythology of its origins and contemporary Judeo-Christian culture that has infiltrated into the lives of it’s citizens. Discussion topics will include the Pledge of Allegiance, life beginning at conception, our national motto “In God We Trust”, and the other theocratic arguments that have permeated common knowledge against reason, the Constitution, and religious freedom.” The event will take place June 4 from 7-9 p.m. in Salem, Massachusetts at TST headquarters.
- Australian ritualist and author Jane Meredith will be releasing a new book titled Aspecting the Goddess. Published by Moon Books, Meredith’s new book is described as “a memoir, a workbook and an exploration of twelve different Goddess myths.” It will be available May 25 through Amazon and other outlets.
- For those in the U.K., there will be a “Midsummer Celebration on Carn Brea celebrated in the traditional Cornish way” including live music, and dancing. The hosts add: “Magical beings may appear on the night.” The event is officiated by the Cornubian Branch of the Oddfellows Society, Kernow Matters To Us and the Cornish Cultural Association. They ask attendees to gather “at the summit on Carn Brea June 22 at 9pm. There will be a procession from the car park up to the top by the Basset Memorial and the ceremony at around 9.30pm.” This is an annual private celebration but members of the public are invited.
- A May guest post on Felicity’s Blog explores the history behind nudity in Wicca and Witchcraft. The article is the first part two part series written by Caroline Tully and Liam Cyfrin. They begin, “There are countless quirks about humans, but one of the real doozies is that most are confused, divided and downright ditsy when it comes to their own physical nature.” The first post explores the history of nudity in practice and the second explores why people continue to do disrobe in modern day.
- Mystic South Conference, the Atlanta-based indoor event, has just published a list of the workshops, lectures, and entertainment that will be available over its three days.The headliners include John Beckett, Sangoma, Yaya Nsasi Vence Guerra, and Ivo Dominguez, Jr, and musical guests Mama Gina and The Night Travelers. Along with its workshops and its academic tract titled PAPERS, the Mystic South Conference will play host to Cherry Hill Seminary’s annual retreat. The lectures offered by CHS will be open to all attendees at the conference. The list of workshops is now available, and the board said that the schedule will be available within the next few weeks.
Tarot of the week with Star Bustamonte:
Deck: The Archeon Tarot by Timothy Lantz, published by US Games Systems, Inc
Card: Eight (8) of Pentacles
This week the emphasis is on labor, skills, craftsmanship, and doing work that fills our soul. Sometimes the fulfillment we seek is born and revealed in the process of performing what is necessary, possibly even from work with which we have no great affection. It can also signal to beware of the false expert; those who might cheat or misuse their skills for their own advancement.
The decks generously provided by Asheville Raven & Crone.
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