[Pixabay]
MOBILE, Ala. – Queen Co.Meadows announced earlier this month the launch of her new, Black-owned publishing company, Conjure South Publications.
An announcement on their website lists the date of founding as June 6, 2020, and purports to be “The world’s first Black-owned traditional spiritual, healing & metaphysical publication company. Providing authentic and traditional literature written by the descendants and community of the spiritual practice you seek.”
Her company joins the growing list of Black publishing companies both in the U.S. and around the globe. The African American Literature Book Club has a list of 149 Black-owned publishers on their website, with more under review and pending being added to the list.
Conjure South Publications has four book titles scheduled for release on August 8, 2020, with pre-orders being accepted beginning July 6:
- Queen of Spades: African American Conjure & Divination by Queen Co.Meadows
- Mama’s Mojo: A Mother’s Guide to Hoodoo & Rootwork by Mama Baderinwa Rolland & Queen Co.Meadows
- Magia Magia: Invoking Mexican Magic by Alexis A. Arredondo & Eric J. Labrado
- Heaven’s And High Magick : Introduction To Astrology & Ceremonial High Magick by High Magic Leader, Arson McLean
- Queen Co.Meadows also operates the Conjure South Hoodoo Institute, and the Conjure South shop.
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[Courtesy NASA]
TWH – A Facebook page created in May of 2020, Darksome Moon: An All Paths Pagan Community is planning to launch a new website that is geared towards filling the void left when The Witches’ Voice Inc. took down their website, Witchvox, earlier this year.
The posts on their Facebook page indicate plans to be “A Pagan community space for connecting groups, seekers and resources” offering listings for Pagan groups around the world, shops in all 50 U.S. states, blog articles on a variety of Pagan topics, resources for seekers, podcasts, art, music, and poetry, and event information.
Their posts indicate that similar to The Witches’ Voice, Inc., it will be a free site, and their page is listed as a non-profit organization.
They also have a number of separate private groups for events in various regions of the U.S., as well as one for online events and workshops, and an all-inclusive parenting group.
TWH reached out to the page administrators for more information, who issued the following statement,
“This website will launch on July 15. Darksome Moon will serve as a pagan community space which connects seekers, groups and resources, as well as looks to support pagan makers, creative and shop owners. We hope to provide this resource in a sustainable way, which will include community involvement and collaboration, and we will work to preserve this resource for generations to come. The website will feature group listings for Pagan groups around the globe, Pagan shops, Pagan artists, musicians, and poets, and a blog on various Pagan topics, which will be updated frequently.
Our mission statement is: To provide spaces for the pagan community to connect, support, celebrate and collaborate with one another.”
They also stated that there is “a team of pagans working together on this project.” And that the web designer and creator of the site is Aeowyn Riverwood.
We will continue to follow their progress.
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Image credit: Pixabay
TWH – Desperate House Witches (DHW) and The Wild Hunt are teaming up to provide a new monthly broadcast that will recap and offer commentary on news stories and politics that impact the Pagan community.
The new broadcast is titled The 4:15. It will air the first Thursday of every month on BlogTalk Radio, beginning at 4:15 pm EDT, and will be hosted by Raina Starr and TWH news editor, Star Bustamonte.
July 2 will be the premiere episode and will include discussion about Facebook’s recent ad policy in response to major advertisers pulling their ads, a new Black Publishing company, Conjure South Publications, and more!
In other news:
- Reaktion Books announced late last week that Miracles of Our Own Making: A History of Paganism by TWH contributor, Liz Williams will finally soon be available in the U.S. Williams’ book was released in the U.K. in March just before the country was shut down in an attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. release of her book had been pushed back to August, but it appears that it will available sooner than August 1. Williams holds a PhD in philosophy of science from Cambridge University and has authored a substantial number of works of fiction in genres of urban fantasy, science fiction, and horror.
- WitchFest USA which normally takes place on the street in the heart of Manhattan, this year has opted to take their Pagan Faire online. The event runs from July 10 – 12, 2020. Witchfest USA presenters for this year include: Selena Fox, Rev. Donald Lewis, Phyllis Currott, Lady Rhea, Starr Ravenhawk, Lilith Dorsey, Christopher Penczak, Silver Ravenwolf and dozens of others. Musical performers include: Dark Moon Spirit, Wendy Rule, Dragon Ritual Drummers, Tuatha Dea and many others. The famed Witch Pride Parade which was founded by Lady Rhea, will for the very first time be an online event and will feature video of Witches from around the world. The annual event usually draws people from all over country and was even featured on a segment of Inside Edition last year. TWH will keep you posted on how you can watch the parade. Online registration for Witchfest is still open.
- Ralph Harvey (Count Sir Ralph de Straet von Kollman) a senior Wiccan High Priest in Britain who crossed the veil in late May, was given a Pagan funeral ceremony earlier this month at Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground which was attended by representatives from the various fields he was involved in–the Pagan community, re-enactment society, and even the stunt industry. Harvey’s family kept the ceremony quiet and small over concerns that news of the event would draw too many people and make the pandemic guidelines of social distancing impossible. The Argus published a biography and memorial to him last week.
- A number of Pagans in several areas of the United Kingdom defied an order to not assemble to celebrate the Solstice in large numbers. Dozens of people showed up at Stonehenge despite the site being closed to the public, and less than desirable weather. Among those who intended to gather at Stonehenge was Druid Arthur Pendragon, who said publicly he intends to bring legal challenges against the Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Council, and English Heritage for refusing to let him park his vehicle on any of the roads leading to Stonehenge, and insisting that he pay to park in the Stonehenge lot, which caused him to miss the sunrise on the solstice. At the Nine Ladies Stone Circle in Derbyshire, apparently hundreds of people showed up to celebrate the solstice and left behind garbage and debris. Glastonbury Tor also saw hundreds of people show up, many with sleeping bags, and tents, and few wearing masks or following social distancing guidelines. The number of people present at the Rollright Stones in Oxfordshire was far less and those in attendance mostly were reported as maintaining a safe distance and quietly observing the sunrise.
Editorial Note: TWH administration team would like to thank everyone who has contributed so far to our fundraiser on Facebook. Your donations help us to keep the torches lit, as it were, and continue The Hunt. You have our heartfelt appreciation!
Tarot of the week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: The Linestrider Deck by Siolo Thompson, published by Llewellyn Publications.
Card: Major arcana, (14), Temperance
This week calls for finding and maintaining the balance point and avoiding extremes. Conversely, the potential for conflict is high if no balance or moderation can be found, leading to stress that can manifest in a number of ways.
Decks generously provided by Asheville Raven & Crone.
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