Spokesperson Travis Peterson added: “At no time were any books removed because of LGBTQ+ (or any other) subject matter, authorship, or genre.” He said the goal was to ensure materials with explicit content weren’t prominently displayed where children could see them.
Peterson emphasized the store’s right as a private business to curate its shelves, stating, “Our goal is to be a welcoming place for every child and every family.”
Editorial Note: The Wild Hunt reached out to Bodaceous Books for comment about the removal of Witchcraft titles. We have not heard back at the time of publication, but will update the story as needed.
Ohio Faith Leaders Condemn Book Burning as Hate Crime, Pledge Action

[Public Domain
CLEVELAND – An interfaith coalition of Ohio faith leaders is speaking out after a man allegedly checked out and burned 100 library books focused on Jewish, Black, and LGBTQ+ history. The act, which took place in Beachwood, was first flagged by researchers at Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative, who alerted local officials. Police have launched an investigation.
“This is one of those things that’s like, I’m shocked, but not surprised,” Rev. Ryan Wallace of Fairmount Presbyterian told The Guardian. “We need to not get complacent. Every time it happens, we have to be there to say, ‘this is unacceptable.’”
Wallace is part of the Interfaith Group Against Hate, a coalition formed in 2023 to combat rising far-right extremism. The group has since engaged in advocacy for immigrant communities and against hate crimes.
Videos of the book burning—first circulated on a white supremacist Telegram channel affiliated with White Lives Matter Ohio—show titles such as Black Radical, Fighting Auschwitz, Page and Persistence, and The ABCs of Queer History. “We are cleansing our libraries of degenerate filth,” one post read.
Ohio State Senator Kent Smith called the act “fundamentally un-American.” Beachwood police confirmed the books belonged to Cuyahoga County Public Library and pledged to prosecute hate crimes vigorously.
Wallace and the interfaith coalition now aim to donate 1,000 replacement books. “As a person of faith, I am called to stand in solidarity with the whole community,” he said.

[Public Domain]
There are reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a new task force to investigate alleged anti-Christian discrimination within the agency.
In a message sent to staff, VA Secretary Doug Collins, a former Air Force chaplain, urged employees to report any incidents to a newly created email: Anti-ChristianBiasReporting@va.gov. Reports should include specific names, dates, and locations.
This move follows a February 6 executive order from former President Donald Trump aimed at “eradicating anti-Christian bias.” The task force will examine claims of discrimination, particularly those involving denied promotions due to religious beliefs or retaliation over requests for religious exemptions—especially related to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Several VA employees were terminated for failing to comply with those mandates, which President Biden officially ended via executive order in May 2023.
The task force is also investigating claims that employees were penalized for refusing to take part in certain medical procedures, such as abortions or hormone therapy for transgender veterans. Since September 2022, the VA has allowed abortion access in limited circumstances and protected its providers from state-level legal consequences after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Further, the VA seeks reports from employees denied religious accommodations, including leave for holidays or the display of Christian symbols. The Supreme Court’s June 2023 Groff v. DeJoy decision strengthened workers’ rights to religious accommodations by requiring employers to show “substantial increased costs” before denying such requests.
The VA is also requesting examples of retaliation against Christian chaplains for the content of their sermons.
For some Happier News

Statue of Lin Mo Niang in Park [Photo Credit: Pbdragonwang – CCA-SA 3.0]
TAIPEI — The Taipei Times reported that Kinmen County residents took part in the annual Bee Worship Ritual on Sunday, April 20, 2025on the birthday of the revered sea goddess Mazu in local folk religion. Residents of Kinmen County gathered outside Fengshang Tianhou Temple on Sunday, April 20, 2025, to observe the ritual honoring the sea goddess Mazu—and bees.
The event is reportedly held on the goddess’s birthday as marked by the lunar calendar, is part of an annual sacrificial festival celebrated across Taiwan. But in Kinmen, an offshore island county just kilometers from mainland China, the day is marked with a unique tradition known as the Bee Worship Ritual. Recognized as part of the county’s intangible cultural heritage, the ritual is said to stem from the belief that wild beehives once clustered near the temple grounds in Jinhu Township.
Participants—both children and adults—gathered to dodge swinging palanquins and catch red duck eggs and rice cakes tossed by temple elders. As the sedan chairs, representing Mazu’s divine presence, rocked back and forth through the crowd, the faithful darted forward in bursts of laughter and anticipation, hoping to snatch the blessed offerings. Temple officials also splashed holy water on participants, a gesture said to bring peace and good health.
“The Bee Worship Ritual is unique to Kinmen,” said Cheng Jung-chang (鄭榮璋), head of Fengshang Tianhou Temple. “It was inspired by the beehives that once existed near the temple. Though wild bees are rare now, the ritual continues as a link to our past and a symbol of Mazu’s blessings.”
Mazu (also known as Tin Hau) is a sea goddess revered for over a thousand years across coastal China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Worshipped within Taoism, Chinese folk religion, and some streams of Chinese Buddhism, she is often depicted in a red robe and imperial headdress. Her role as a protector of sailors and fishermen has earned her devotion among maritime communities from Fujian to Malaysia.
As TWH has reported previously, Mazu is increasingly at the center of political tensions between China and Taiwan.
Taiwanese officials have raised concerns over Beijing’s attempts to use Mazu devotion as a soft power tool aimed at influencing voters in Taiwan. According to the Taipei Times and recent reports from Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department has facilitated subsidized pilgrimages for Taiwanese worshipers to visit state-sanctioned Mazu temples on the mainland. Over the past six years, some 20,000 Taiwanese have taken part in these trips.
The goal, according to Chinese state media, is to promote “peaceful reunification” by emphasizing shared cultural and spiritual heritage. These efforts often align with political narratives favoring the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s opposition party, which supports closer ties with Beijing. In contrast, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which champions Taiwan’s sovereignty, is portrayed by Chinese officials as dangerously separatist.
Although Taiwan’s government has not banned such pilgrimages, it has cautioned citizens and religious leaders about potential manipulation. Some Taiwanese temple authorities have begun to distance themselves from the trips, citing concerns over politicization of their faith.
“Mazu is meant to unify and protect, not divide,” said one temple elder who requested anonymity. “We should be wary when worship becomes a tool for political agendas.”
The Bee Worship Ritual in Kinmen offers a striking contrast. Rather than serving as an extension of state influence, it remains a locally rooted expression of devotion, emphasizing folklore, ecology, and communal memory. Though wild bees are no longer abundant—largely due to deforestation and environmental degradation—the ritual preserves their symbolic presence in the region’s spiritual life.
News from The Wild Hunt
In response to recent events, concerns, and requests from our readers, The Wild Hunt has updated our main page to better serve the community. If you witness or become aware of violence or threats against Pagans, you can now report these concerns directly through a dedicated section on our site. Our team will investigate and provide reporting as appropriate.
Additionally, we’re expanding our coverage of community gatherings through Pagan Community Notes. We are also developing a comprehensive event calendar to help you more easily discover opportunities to connect with others in our community.
Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: The Field Tarot by Hannah Elizabeth Fofana, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
Card: Three (3) of Wands
The next seven days are apt to focus on advancing plans and projects that may call for dreaming large. Confidence in one’s ability to not only ride the wave of momentum that has been created, but to continue to devote energy and resources to maintain it is indicated. There is also the potential for multiple options for expansion to be presented that either may not have existed before or that went unnoticed. Dedication and sustained efforts have the potential to offer major dividends.
In contrast, while opportunities for furthering current endeavors may be available, the tendency to lean towards more conservative options has the potential to limit or even stifle growth. Unexpected delays are likely to cause frustration, particularly if projected plans for progress were unrealistic or not thoroughly plotted and researched. Taking extra time to fully assess plans and trusting the intuition can help to minimize possible delays and avoid obstacles.
Eurovision and Witchcraft
BASEL, Switzerland – We would be remiss not to mention Eurovision (Also, The Wild Hunt staff will be happy that Manny will stop talking about the contest for another year).
For the uninitiated, the Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international music competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union. Each participating country submits an original song, performed live, and then votes on other countries’ entries. Known for its spectacle, colorful performances, and unifying spirit, Eurovision draws over 160 million viewers worldwide. While most participants are European, countries like Australia and Israel also compete. Iconic winners include ABBA and Celine Dion.
Celebrated for promoting diversity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and cross-cultural connection, Eurovision is more than a contest—it’s a vibrant, joyful showcase of music and identity that captivates audiences around the globe every May.
The success of Ireland’s goth witch Bambie Thug at last year’s Eurovision has clearly inspired a wave of theatrical, emotionally charged performances in 2025. Poland’s Justina Steckowska returns with Gaja, a dramatic piece invoking Slavic magic and the Earth goddess to purge a toxic relationship.
Croatia’s Marko Bošnjak channels pain into art with Poison Cake, a haunting response to the homophobic backlash he received. His synth-heavy track, punctuated by eerie children’s sounds, is emotionally raw and compelling.
Latvia’s Tautumeitas offers something more subtle with Bur Man Laimi, a layered folk piece rooted in traditional wedding songs.
Cyprus’ Theo Evan presents a cryptic performance of Shhh, staged between scaffolding in a nod to mystical symbols and Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.
And of course, the excellent play on words, Serving, originally Serving Kant (Maltese, “to sing”) by Miriana Conte, representing Malta.
All have a little Witchcraft.
And Manny’s projected winner — which, to be clear, has absolutely nothing to do with Witchcraft (unless you count his argument that sauna culture which dates back to the Bronze Age and is therefore technically Pagan) — was also enthusiastically approved by a nameless TWH team member who declared, “I’ve heard this song over 100 times already, and it’s a testament to its strengths that I haven’t started to hate it yet.”
Sauna!
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