Let’s start with some good news: we could all use some:
SEATTLE – The Wild Hunt was humbled and honored to receive the Hands of Influence Award for “outstanding and consistent excellence in service to the Pagan community” from the Aquarian Tabernacle Church at the Hekate’s Sickle Festival.
TWH’s Manny Tejeda y Moreno was honored with an award for over 20 years of dedicated service to the Pagan community and was inducted into the Order of the Magi. The Aquarian Tabernacle Church also congratulated him on his appointment as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess.
Rev. Terry Riley was recognized with the Green Man Award and Vessel for his 20 years of service to the community.
Rev. Ivy Moon was recognized for 20 years of service as well and robed with the Circle of Stars, the Green Man, Diana’s Bow, and was inducted in ATC’s Order of the Magi. Mary Malinski was also recognized for 20 years of service and leadership in the community.
Matriarch of ATC, Belladonna LaVeau, was recognized with the Vessel Award, Votary Award, for 20 years of service. Lord Dusty Dionne was honored for 20 years of service.
Brenna Grace, Dean of Ministry, received awards for her service and joined the Order of the Lotus.
Tori Sinclair, Phoenix Silverstar, Rev. Niko Shadowsky, Deb Morgan, Katheleen Gray, Victor Malinski, Isidora LaVeau, Alanna Mitchell, Pip Zebrowan, Tasha Zebrowan, Candy McKivett, Aedi LaVeau, Mictlán Moonshadow, Nicholas Bragg, Raven WolfenOne, Mydnyte Windham, Kuri Suti, Jessi Spencer, Carrie Soderquist, Shawn Smith, Glenn McKee, Mary Malinski, Joy Mainer, Suzanne Anderson, Soleil Étoilé, Lilliana Blackstar, Lady Rebecca Delph, Lord Darrell Delph, Jesse Sterland, Cassandee Meter, Isabel de Fleur, were also honored.
A full list and their accomplishments and others honored is available on the Aquarian Tabernacle Church’s Facebook announcements.
Congratulations to all the recipients! And, of course, The Aquarian Tabernacle Church for their amazing Hekate’s Sickle Festival.
The Wild Hunt extends its congratulations to Raven and River Faeron. They were each elevated to third degree in the Blue Moon Tradition.
“Blue Moon Wicca became an autonomous tradition in July 2001 when current coven leaders/Elders Forest Jones and Joe Butera hived from the Blue Star tradition. Circle of the Moonlit Sea began in October 1991 as a Celtic/eclectic coven/study group with five members including current coven leaders/Elders Forest and Joe. In February of 1992 the structure was changed to that of a study group within the British tradition Blue Star Wicca (which was founded in 1975 and has both Gardnerian and Alexandrian lineage). Blue Moon Wicca operates as a traditional Wiccan Coven and Mystery School.” More information on the Blue Moon tradition is available on their website.
The First Priesthood of the Correllian Nativist Tradition released the following statement on the 2024 US Presidential election:
Correllians have long labored as the midwives of the Age of Aquarius. This task was presented to us by the Ancestors and has always been a driving force underlying our faith. The Age of Aquarius is meant to be a period of hope, creativity, and innovation. Birth is a painful and long process and on a grand scale the birth of an age is longer still and rife with shadows. These shadows present us with opportunities to recognize the remaining healing that must be addressed before we can confidently and sincerely move into that place of hope, creativity, and innovation.
As a world religion, we Correllians are staunch defenders of human rights and the inherent sacredness within all things. We resist the narrowing of viewpoints and the passing of laws that limit the rights of people to be who they are without fear of reprisal. All humans deserve the right to practice their religion openly, to marry whoever they want, to live the life they want in peace, to have control of their own bodies, to be safe from harm. We will always defend these rights and stand as a bastion against those who would tell us there is only one right way, only one acceptable path.
Today, we call to all Pagans, Heathens, Wiccans, Witches, and Allies to join us in doing the only things we can do, especially in times of disappointment, devastation, and hopelessness. Utilizing prayer and spellwork to manifest a loving, peaceful, diverse, and inclusive world is where we start, but we encourage everyone to take it a step further. With our actions and our lives, we must choose now to truly be the change that sweeps over the world. Correllians know that diversity will always be our greatest strength. We also know that it must be vigorously defended.
The most important thing is to never lose hope. We are creatures of energy, emanations of the divine and we must believe that our inherent magick is stronger than this last gasp of a dark past. We must remember that the struggles related to being alive are not new, our Ancestors faced these exact same struggles. Their wisdom and affinity toward survival and thriving will continue to help us do this work wherever it appears. We must hold steadfast together and pull the hope and love of the Aquarian Age into the light of day by using our lives to demonstrate who we can truly be. We are the answer to their prayers. We are the answer to each other’s prayers.
With all our Love and Blessings,
M. Rev.’s Alyssa Kemp-Highcorrell and Phoenix Coffin-Williams
Scotland’s faith communities celebrate 20 years of collaboration
Faith and belief communities from across Scotland are celebrating 20 years of Scottish Interfaith Week this November.
The annual festival, established by Interfaith Scotland in 2004, celebrates the nation’s religious and cultural diversity. During their time as first ministers, Humza Yousaf, Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond praised the festival for uniting communities and providing opportunities for mutual understanding.
First Minister John Swinney said, “As it has done for 20 years, Scottish Interfaith Week brings people from across Scotland together. To recognise and better understand the important role our faith communities play in cultivating a diverse, inclusive and cohesive society.
“The great variety of events taking place over Interfaith Week offer many opportunities for discovery. I know that everyone taking part will gain a deeper understanding of the many things our diverse communities have in common, from shared challenges to shared hopes.”
Scottish Interfaith Week has grown since its inception and around 70 events are hosted each year by local councils, communities and organisations. Events have included family fun days, concerts, film screenings, craft workshops, interfaith services, and tours of places of worship.
Faith communities in particular are keen to engage in the week. Several of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland’s current and former moderators have called on local congregations to engage in the festival.
Church of Scotland Moderator, Rt Revd Shaw Paterson, said: “The week gives us the opportunity to celebrate Scotland’s religious and cultural diversity, which helps to bring about more cohesive communities, it challenges stereotypes and it’s through meeting and talking together that we can get to know and encourage one another. So please, engage as far as you’re able with this year’s Scottish Interfaith Week.”
Dundee City Council will co-host the festival launch event with Interfaith Scotland in Dundee City Chambers on Tuesday 12 November.
The launch event will be a National Interfaith Conference with over 100 guests from Scotland’s faith and belief communities, and local and national government.
Lord Provost Bill Campbell and Scottish Minister of Equalities Kaukab Stewart will open the National Interfaith Conference alongside keynote speaker Charandeep Singh, Deputy Chief Executive at the Scottish Chambers of Commerce. Singh is the founding member of The Sikh Food Bank, established during the early years of Covid-19, for which he received a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year Honours List 2021.
The conference will mark the festival’s 20th anniversary and the first anniversary of Dundee City Council’s faith covenant. Dundee became the first local authority in Scotland to sign such a document with local faith group representatives in November last year.
Director of Interfaith Scotland, Dr Maureen Sier, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the launch event for Scottish Interfaith Week in partnership with Dundee City Council, the first council in Scotland to create a faith covenant.”
Interfaith Scotland will host eight other events for the festival including an exploration of the impact of COP26 faith-based initiatives on policy, and a reforesting discussion with Trees for Life.
Alan McDonnell, Head of Nature Restoration at Trees for Life, said: “Trees for Life is delighted to be playing a part in this year’s Scottish Interfaith Week – its messages of hope and peace really chime with our own hopes for a sustainable future for Scottish nature and people’s opportunities to enjoy it.”
Trees for Life maintain the World Interfaith Harmony Grove in the Scottish Highlands. For the festival’s anniversary Interfaith Scotland has fundraised for 20 more trees to be planted in the Grove, taking the total to 1,000 trees.
Dr Srihari Vallabhajousula, Interfaith Scotland board member, has also been fundraising for the festival. He cycled 600km through the Indian state of Kerala in September and raised nearly £400 to support local communities who wish to host events for Scottish Interfaith Week.
Further notes
Photo opportunity at National Interfaith Conference on Tuesday 12 November (13:00) in Dundee City Chambers. Planning for Lord Provost Bill Campbell and Scottish Minister of Equalities Kaukab Stewart to be present for a photo, along with members of local faith communities wearing religious dress.
Interfaith Scotland is the national interfaith organisation for Scotland. Interfaith Scotland works to ensure good relations between the diverse religion and belief communities of Scotland and also to share good practice in interfaith dialogue, education, engagement and training nationally and internationally. interfaithscotland.org
Scottish Interfaith Week is a festival held in Scotland every November to celebrate the nation’s religious and cultural diversity. This year’s festival will be held from Monday 11 November to Monday 18 November.
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On to the more distressing news…
Official seal of Nashville
Skyler Philippi, a 24-year-old, was arrested on 2 November on charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to destroy a power substation in Nashville, Tennessee. Federal authorities allege Philippi, a white supremacist, planned to attack the substation with an explosives-laden drone, motivated by an extremist ideology known as “accelerationism.” This belief advocates for the deliberate collapse of society to prompt a violent “reset,” often targeting critical infrastructure to destabilize systems.
Court documents reveal Philippi expressed interest in violence against public locations, including discussing a potential mass shooting at a YMCA in Columbia, Tennessee, with a law enforcement informant. He allegedly outlined that damaging several power stations would “shock the system.” Philippi also shared his “manifesto,” describing attacks on “high-tax cities or industrial areas,” including antisemitic language, revealing his extremist motivations. He further admitted affiliation with hate groups such as the Atomwaffen Division and the National Alliance, both known for violent extremism and targeted hate against various communities.
In September, Philippi allegedly detailed his plans for the drone attack on the power station to undercover agents, who had gained his trust. He shared logistical steps, such as using a rented car to blend into the area and advising agents on measures to avoid detection, including wearing disguises and leaving personal devices behind. Philippi also instructed the agents to wear boot covers and larger shoes to minimize evidence.
Skyler Philippi, right, is accused of planning to destroy a power station in Nashville, Tennessee in the name of Odin. Photo: Justice Department
The Department of Justice wrote:
On Nov. 2, 2024, Philippi participated in a Nordic ritual, which included reciting a Nordic prayer and discussing the Norse god Odin. Philippi told the UCEs that “this is where the New Age begins” and that it was “time to do something big” that would be remembered “in the annals of history.” Philippi and the UCEs drove to the operation site. The UCEs moved to their assigned positions as lookouts for Philippi. Law-enforcement agents arrested Philippi. When he was taken into custody, Philippi was at the rear of the vehicle, with the drone powered up, and the explosive device was armed and located next to the drone.
On the evening of the planned attack, undercover agents drove Philippi to the target site. He was reportedly wearing a shirt reading “Töten für Wotan” (“Death for Odin”)—a phrase used by white supremacists referencing Adolf Hitler’s interest in Norse mythology. As Philippi prepared the drone and explosives, authorities arrested him on the scene.
Philippi has remained in custody since his arrest. His lawyer has not issued a public statement.
Cherry Hill Seminary quickly released:
Columbia, S.C.—A man was arrested by federal agents and charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction to destroy an energy facility serving the Nashville, Tennessee area. As he began the attack, accompanied by undercover agents, he started with a ritual invoking the Norse god Odin. He was quickly arrested and charged by the FBI.
Attorney General Merrick Garland issued this statement: “As charged, Skyler Philippi believed he was moments away from launching an attack on a Nashville energy facility to further his violent white supremacist ideology – but the FBI had already compromised his plot. This case serves as yet another warning to those seeking to sow violence and chaos in the name of hatred by attacking our country’s critical infrastructure.”
The Pagan world has struggled for some years now to distance itself from what is often called “volkish ideology.” Cherry Hill Seminary held a joint symposium with the University of South Carolina in 2019 called “Paganism and Its Discontents; Enduring Problems of Racialized Identity”, subsequently publishing the papers in a book with that title.
In his keynote for that conference, CHS professor Dr. Michael Strmiska said:
“We who embrace the spiritual value of Paganism must protect it from the disease of racism . . . there are Pagans who have been taking up this battle with courage and determination. Anti-right-wing, anti-racist Norse Pagans have created several networks to advance their cause. These include Heathens Against Hate, Heathens United Against Racism, and the Alliance for Inclusive Heathenry, all of which stand in adamant opposition to racism and white nationalist versions of Norse Paganism.”
Executive Director Holli Emore emphasized the Seminary’s commitment to inclusive Pagan practices. “In the same way that the Ku Klux Klan does not represent Christianity, neither do extremists who pursue violence and hate in the name of a Pagan tradition represent the great majority of today’s Heathens who are committed to values of democracy, inclusivity and peaceful co-existence.”
Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: The Mind’s Eye Tarot by Olivia Rose, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
Card: Nine (9) of Cups
This week may bring opportunities for emotional fulfillment and satisfaction, possibly through the achievement of a long-sought-after goal. There’s also likely to be a renewed focus on well-being, self-care, and gratitude, adding to a sense of contentment. The 9 of Cups is often known as the “wish card,” as it can signify forces aligning to pave the way for achieving dreams and goals.
Conversely, there may be moments of disappointment, dissatisfaction, or even unhappiness with one’s current situation—even when certain dreams have been realized. This could call for a re-evaluation of unrealistic desires and a period of introspection, guiding one to seek happiness from within rather than looking for fulfillment from external sources.
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