The Summit for Religious and Combatting Christian Nationalism
Hill Day 2025 participants in the Summit for Religious Freedom, including Covenant of the Goddess’ National First Officer Manny Tejeda y Moreno, Rev. Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary, Dennis Carpenter [Photo Courtesy: SRF via Facebook]
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – “Friends- we are living in dark times. But these brave individuals who are willing to tell their stories and to defend our collective freedom to live as ourselves and believe as we choose INSPIRE US …Throughout the weekend,” said Rachel Laser, President and CEO of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, “As the Hopi American Indian proverb says: ‘Those who tell the stories rule the world.’”
Over the past three years, the Summit for Religious Freedom (SRF)—pronounced “surf”—has become a pivotal gathering for resisting growing threats to religious freedom. Organized annually by Americans United (AU), SRF is a collaborative effort with key allies to counter coordinated campaigns by Christian Nationalists and their political supporters who seek to impose a narrow religious vision on everyone. The conference took place this past weekend from April 5-7.
SRF 2025 brought together advocates from across the country to educate, build grassroots power, and take action in defense of true religious liberty and church-state separation. The summit addresses a wide range of intersecting issues, including LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, public education, and the protection of democracy itself.
Through keynote speeches, workshops, and panel discussions, SRF offered tools and strategies for resisting extremist ideologies and promoting an inclusive vision of religious freedom—one that respects all belief systems, including those of non-religious individuals.
This year, leaders from the Pagan and earth-based spiritual community had a strong presence. The Covenant of the Goddess’ National First Officer Manny Tejeda y Moreno, Rev. Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary, Dennis Carpenter, and a delegation from CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) actively participated in the conference both in-person and online.
On Monday, April 7, 2025, Carpenter, Fox, and Tejeda y Moreno also took part in Hill Day, a signature SRF2025 event held at the U.S. Capitol, where participants met with lawmakers to advocate for the separation of church and state. U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen, Bill Foster, PhD, and Jamie Raskin addressed the group, offering words of encouragement and affirming the importance of their work.
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ARLINGTON, Virginia – On Friday April 4, 2025, Ivo Dominguez Jr., Elder in the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, Heathen Witch Irene Glasse, Heather Greene, freelance journalist and acquisitions editor at Llewellyn Worldwide, and Wendy Mata, a Bruja and Curandera, participated in a panel at the Religion News Association Conference, a key gathering of journalists who cover religion and spirituality.
The panel served as an outreach initiative aimed at improving media representation of marginalized spiritual communities. Panelists addressed the frequent inaccuracies in reporting on Pagans, Heathens, and Latin American and Mexican traditional healers and magical practitioners. They also challenged stereotypes and misinformation, pushing for a more informed and respectful portrayal of these traditions.
I think we changed some minds, cracked open a door or three, and did some really great ‘10% better’ shifting of the narrative around our religions.” Green wrote on Facebook. “ I am grateful for the honor of speaking on behalf of Inclusive Heathenry in one of the places where it really matters.”
The Feast of the Book of Law
Aleister Crowley – Liber AL Vel Legis [Public Domain
The Feast of the Book of the Law is a Thelemic holy day observed on April 10th, marking the completion of The Book of the Law (Liber AL vel Legis), the foundational text of Thelema. This book was dictated to Aleister Crowley in 1904 over the course of three days—April 8th through 10th—with each day corresponding to a different chapter and deity: Nuit (Chapter 1), Hadit (Chapter 2), and Ra-Hoor-Khuit (Chapter 3). The final day, April 10th, is celebrated as the culmination of the transmission and the formal reception of the Thelemic Law, famously encapsulated in the phrase, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”
Celebrations of the Feast vary but often include readings from Liber AL vel Legis, rituals honoring the deities of the text, and communal or solitary feasting. Many Thelemites take the opportunity to reflect on the spiritual and philosophical implications of the Book, engaging in meditation, magical work, or discussion. Those affiliated with organizations such as the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.) or the A∴A∴ may observe the day with more formal ceremonies, while others may honor it privately with offerings, candlelight readings, or other devotional acts aligned with the spirit of Thelema.
The Pink Moon is upon Us! (and, sadly, it won’t be pink)
Photo Credit: S. Ciotti
April’s full moon—called the Pink Moon —will grace the sky on the evening of Saturday, April 12. Despite its name, the moon won’t actually appear pink. What makes this full moon unique is that it’s the smallest of the year, often referred to as a “micromoon.” That’s because it occurs when the moon is at apogee, the farthest point from Earth in its orbit. As a result, it will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual, though most people won’t notice a major difference.
Various sources write that the term “Pink Moon” has long been linked to April’s full moon, marking the time when spring flowers begin to bloom—especially the moss pink, or creeping phlox. This early-blooming perennial spreads across sandy or rocky ground, creating a vibrant carpet of color. While it’s most commonly pink, its blossoms can also appear in shades of purple and white. The flower’s arrival, along with the butterflies it attracts, is a cheerful sign of spring’s return.
In parts of Asia, particularly China, this moon is known as the “Peony Moon,” named for the season when peonies are in full bloom. These beloved flowers are often blush pink, but can range in color from cream and white to deep, vivid pinks—making “Pink Moon” an equally fitting name.
Our friend, Astrologer and Witch, Susan Levitt shared this weekend full moon will be in Libra. “Air sign Libra rules the 7th house of marriage and partnerships. On this full Moon, Venus goes direct to focus on and appreciate the best in your relationships,” Levitt writes. “Mercury, Venus, and Saturn are in Pisces to be in touch with deep emotions, to communicate what you feel, and fairly discuss any resentments or misunderstandings to find balance with others.”
The Pink Moon will reach peak illumination at 8:22 p.m. EDT (0022 GMT on April 13), though exact moonrise and moonset times will vary depending on your location.
Happenings This Weekend!
Pagan Community Retreat
Pagan Community Retreat (PCR) is a Pagan camping event that brings the Pagan community together, in nature, for an enlightening, spiritual, and educational camping experience enjoyed by pagans and their families.
Our 12th year theme is “Unity in CommUnity” and it is held April 11-13th, 2025 in Sage California (just north of Murietta)
Our website: https://pagancommunityretreat.org/
Our 2025 programming app: https://pagancommunityretreat.lineupr.com/pagan-community-retreat-2025/
Current membership pricing is $70 for the weekend; this includes general camping and all programming. Food offerings and private sites are an additional charge.
Children 17 and under are FREE.
We have rituals, workshops, talks, and children’s programming.
We are very excited about our Midday Crow Party on Saturday!
We will celebrate all things corvid, as we have a chance to socialize
More Next Weekend
Restored Rites of Eleusis to Return for 39th Year at Spring Mysteries Festival
Spring Mysteries Festival, the premier event dedicated to the revival and celebration of ancient spiritual traditions, is thrilled to announce that the Restored Rites of Eleusis will be performed in Seattle, Washington this coming spring. The sacred rituals, once lost to time, will be brought to life through an immersive experience during the festival, a vibrant celebration of the ancient Greek Mysteries held in honor of Demeter, Persephone, and the agricultural cycles that define the seasonal rhythms of the Earth.
The Eleusinian Mysteries, which date back over 2,500 years to Ancient Greece, were deeply rooted in themes of life, death, and rebirth. For centuries, they were held in secrecy and exclusivity, open only to initiates who experienced profound spiritual awakening through symbolic rituals, including the myth of Demeter and Persephone. The Restored Rites of the Eleusinian Mysteries at the Spring Mysteries Festival will carefully recreate these sacred rites, blending historical authenticity with modern interpretation to create an awe-inspiring, immersive experience.
More information about Spring Mysteries is available on their event site.
Other Events and Happenings
Kithaka Dun
We received the following from the First Polestari of Marion:
We host a Mayday festival every year called Kithaka Dun out at Shelby Forest. Standard adult admission for the weekend is $55, which gets you access to all activities, lodging in the bunkhouses, and 5 meals. Our vendor tables are just $10 extra for a 10×10 space, and a vendor can claim up to 3 spaces. We also ask for an item contributed to our raffle & auction that benefits a local non-profit. This year’s proceeds will go to Friends For All Memphis.
More information and registration is available at their website: First Polestari
Spirit Northwest: West Coast Pagan conference in Portland, May 1 – 4, 2025.
Spirit Northwest is a transformative and new format gathering for seekers, offering 90 and 120-minute immersive workshops on Paganism, witchcraft, and natural magick.
We heard from many in the occult community that people longed for in-depth workshops and rituals, hands-on learning, and make-and-takes with well-known speakers, ritualists, and practitioners.
Amy Blackthorn is the award-winning author of the best-selling Blackthorn’s Botanicals series.
J. Allen Cross is an accomplished author and folk magician known for his book American Brujeria: Modern Mexican American Folk Magic and The Witch’s Guide to the Paranormal.
Maria Minnis is a tarot reader of 20+ years who teaches people about blending their spirituality with magic, liberation work, and eroticism in their everyday lives.
Your Hosts: Courtney Weber, Kanani Soleil, Hilary Whitmore, and Silent.
More information is available on the Spirt Northwest website
Mystic South is coming back to Atlanta, GA! Join us July 11-13, 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia for 3 days of workshops, rituals, panels, academic PAPERS, and community building. Come for the weekend, or just for the day, and enjoy all the offerings Mystic South has to offer.
Our headliners this year are Pamela Chen, Mawiyah Kai El-Jamah Bomani, and Courtney Weber. They will be joined by over 100 other presenters from around the country who are presenting offerings during our conference weekend. Mystic South will also feature a Friday evening performance by Ginger Doss and Lynda Millard, along with our Saturday evening dance party.
The Mystic South Vendor Hall features over 20 vendors selling their handmade Pagan craft items. The vendor hall is open to the public, so if you’re in the area, stop on by! Our divination room is making a comeback, too! Also, open to the public, come by for a reading from one of our talented community members.
Tickets are on sale now! For more information and to purchase your tickets, head to the Mystic South Website
Do you have news to share with our community?
Announcements? Festivals? Elevations? Events?
We’ll share it with the community!
Let us know at pcn@wildhunt.org
Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: Dancing in the Dark Tarot by Gianfranco Pereno and Lunaea Weatherstone, published by Lo Scarabeo.
Card: Three (3) of Cups
This week, the desire to concentrate on relationships and collaborations are highlighted and liable to play a major role. Recognizing the creative strength and the well of ideas that solid relationships produce will likely only make them stronger and more productive. There is also the potential for celebrating the kinship discovered when unifying with partners for a common cause or project. Strength lies in concerted efforts and may produce an otherwise unexpected joy.
In contrast, while a step back from intense collaborations may be necessary to recharge and reorganize, it is likely equally important not to step so far back as to be completely isolated. It can be easy to become so wrapped up in a project that other needs and relationships get neglected. Reconnecting with folks and relationships that have inadvertently been placed on the back burner could be a welcome shift from other all-consuming focuses.
This week, Radio Prague International reported that “n Telč, a two-meter-high figurine, representing the death goddess, was cast into the pond by a vibrant costumed procession.”
The Morana river ritual, known in Czech as Vynášení Morany, is a traditional Slavic ceremony that marks the symbolic end of winter and the arrival of spring. Practiced in countries like Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland, the ritual centers around the figure of Morana (or Marzanna)—a Slavic goddess associated with winter, death, and decay. An effigy of Morana, typically made from straw and dressed in old clothing, is carried in a procession through the village, accompanied by songs and chants calling for the end of winter. The effigy is then burned, drowned in a river, or both, symbolizing the banishment of cold and darkness and the cleansing of old energy to make way for spring’s renewal. After the destruction of Morana, participants often return to the village with symbols of new life, such as flowers, budding branches, or even a figure representing spring, sometimes called Líto in Czech tradition.
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