Scottish Pagan Federation Logo
EDINBURGH – The Wild Hunt is dedicating this week’s Pagan Community Notes to the Scottish Pagan Federation to honor their decade-long advocacy to secure Pagan representation in the Scottish census with a prescribed tick box, a privilege given to other spiritual practices and faiths. The tick box allows Pagans to easily identify themselves without having to write in information that must later be identified as seen in other census activities.
The headline: Paganism is officially the 4th largest religion in Scotland.
That statement is backed up with accurate data from the 2022 Scottish census that has finally been released in May 2024.
There are now officially, 19,113 individuals in Scotland identifying as Pagan.
In a statement, Presiding officer Matt Cormack wrote:
“The census results are striking. Paganism is now the fourth-largest faith group in Scotland and has grown rapidly in the last decade. It is exciting to think about so many people building their own unique connections to the divine or nature. In recent years there have been significant strides forward such as the Scottish Pagan Federation joining the Scottish Government’s Faith and Belief Representative Group, a Pagan tick box on the census, and a Pagan delivering the Time for Reflection at the Scottish Parliament. I sincerely hope that this progress and the census results will be a symbol for Pagans to know that our various, diverse paths are being recognised and respected.”
The Wild Hunt contacted the Scottish Pagan Federation, Cormack added, “The SPF has engaged with conversations about the inclusion of a Pagan tick box for many years. The SPF worked on getting information released from the 2001 census about the number of people who wrote Pagan.”
Cormack noted that attempts to add a tick box to identify Pagans in 2010 did not succeed. Cormack recalls, In 2010 plans for a Pagan tick box were sadly dropped and SPF engaged with MSPs to challenge this. During the 2011 census, when there was the option to write in your faith, the SPF was actively highlighting this to our members and the wider community.” The 2011 census subsequently recorded 5,194 individuals who had to write in their faith.
“Over the years we continued to engage with conversations about the importance of a Pagan tick box with Scottish MPs, MSPs, and various committees,” Cormack added. “In early 2020, we shared the news that there would be a Pagan tick box in the 2021 Scottish Census.”
In 2020, The Wild Hunt reported on the SPF’s success to include the Pagan tick box. The then Presiding officer-elect Steffy von Scott noted “Having a Pagan tick-box has two important factors: it increases our visibility as a faith community and it ensures our numbers are accurately captured.”
The SPF observed in 2020 that population statistics are critical during governmental decision-making, particularly in the allocations of budgets to support community services. “It is used by central and local government, health boards, the education sector, the private sector, and the voluntary sector to plan and distribute resources that match people’s needs. The information collected must be ‘authoritative, accurate and comparable’ for all parts of Scotland, and down to very small levels of geography. Only the census can consistently provide such information.”
“The government and local authorities and many other agencies use the Census results when allocating provisions for the different faith communities in Scotland, of which Paganism is one, so it is essential that our true numbers are reflected,” von Scott told TWH. “Having our true numbers reflected also helps reduce prejudice and misinformation on Scottish Paganism and allows us to push for more rights as a faith community.”
Those numbers are now in thanks to the SPF’s work and persistence.
Congratulations!
Happening this Weekend
Convenção de Bruxas e Magos Casa de Bruxa- logo
The largest Witches and Wizards convention will take place this weekend in the town of Paranapiacaba, southeast of Sao Paolo, Brazil. They expect about 30,000 participants, 500 different lectures and events with some 450 professionals participating in the delivery of the program.
This year’s theme is “Symbols of empowerment.” This year’s program is extensive and includes topics on the sacred feminine, herbalism, cooking ancestral magic, and, of course, magical symbols and their use. The program also includes a considerable offering of workshops, rituals, exhibitions, services, and artistic performances as well as intersectional magic with dance such as flamenco.
The Brazilian Withcract Association is also requesting individuals bring 1 kilo of non-perishable food as a donation that will be distributed to families in need.
The convention is celebrating its 21st year. Additional information about Convenção de Bruxas e Magos is available on their website.
A maior convenção de Bruxos e Bruxos acontecerá neste fim de semana na cidade de Paranapiacaba, sudeste de São Paulo, Brasil. Eles esperam cerca de 30 mil participantes, 500 palestras e eventos diferentes com cerca de 450 profissionais participando da entrega do programa.
O tema deste ano é “Símbolos de empoderamento”. A programação deste ano é extensa e inclui temas sobre o sagrado feminino, fitoterapia, culinária, magia ancestral e, claro, símbolos mágicos e sua utilização. A programação inclui ainda uma considerável oferta de oficinas, rituais, exposições, serviços e performances artísticas, bem como magia interseccional com danças como o flamenco.
A Associação Brasileira Withcract também solicita que as pessoas tragam 1 quilo de alimento não perecível como doação que será distribuída às famílias carentes.
A convenção está comemorando seu 21º aniversário. Informações adicionais sobre a Convenção de Bruxas e Magos estão disponíveis em seu site.
Parabéns à Convenção de Bruxas e Magos!
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Announcements
Circle Sanctuary’s Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG) is one of America’s oldest and largest Nature Spirituality festivals. Since 1980, PSG has been bringing together Pagans of many paths and places to create community, celebrate the summer solstice, and commune with nature in a sacred environment.
Registration is now open for the 2024 Pagan Spirit Gathering, a national weeklong celebration of Summer Solstice, being held June 16-23 in south central Missouri, USA. This year’s theme is Resonating Radiance.
Pagan Spirit Gathering, also known as PSG, brings together Pagans of many paths and places to create and live in a magickal village community. The Gathering includes rituals, workshops, concerts, merchanting, bonfires, drumming, candlelight labyrinth, Pagan Leadership Institute, life passages programs, and other activities. Learn more & register.
The Delmarva Pagan Pride Festival will be offered June 30th, 2024 rain or shine at the Dover, DE outdoor Legislative Mall. This incredible day of classes, music, ritual, and shopping is offered to the community at no cost but we do encourage bringing a canned good donation for the local food bank which can be dropped off at the information desk. Please see our Facebook page for guest announcements and schedule releases. All are welcome, hope to see you there!
The Mystic South Conference announced that the sixth annual event will take place July 26-28, 2024! Mystic South is filled with workshops, educational abstract presentations, rituals, community building, and much more. With the backdrop of the grand city of Atlanta, be a part of our celebration of the diversity of the peoples and religious practices, both past and present, that make up the Southern US region.
The conference also announced that their tickets are on sale. Get your tickets now and, get some for your friends, your neighbors, or just some random person you met on the street!
Do you have news to share with our community?
Announcements? Elevations? Events?
Let us know at pcn@wildhunt.org.
Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: The Woven Path, curated by the Changeling Artist Collective featuring the artwork of 91 artists, independently published.
Card: Ace of Coins (Artist: Amanda Makepeace)
This week there is likely to be a focus on opportunities for growing ideas, prosperity, and visions for the future. The ability to nurture the dreams held within is liable to be clearer, as pathways to advance them open up and provide ways to manifest inner visions in physical reality.
Conversely, few things happen overnight or instantly and patience is liable to be required for bringing plans to fruition. Trying to rush a project is unlikely to produce the desired result. Staying focused and grounded is the key to achieving success.
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