Historic Milestone for an Ethnic Religion in the EU: Law Grants Dievturība Status as a Longstanding Traditional Religion in Latvia
RIGA, Latvia — Today, on October 9, 2025, the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia has made history by passing the Law of the Latvijas Dievturu sadraudze (henceforth — Sadraudze) in its third and final reading, with 63 votes in favor, 7 votes against, and 2 abstentions.
This is the first law in the European Union to formally recognize an ethnic religious union, explicitly affirming its traditional status: “Dievturība, as a traditional religion in Latvia, and the Sadraudze representing it have maintained a longstanding presence in Latvia; it is faithful to spiritual and moral values, nurtures the Latvian language and traditions, and preserves the nation’s spiritual heritage” (Article 2.2).
The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia has made history by passing the Law of the Latvijas Dievturu sadraudze (henceforth — Sadraudze) in its third and final reading, with 63 votes in favor, 7 votes against, and 2 abstentions. [Photo Credit: Dr. Uģis Nastevičs – Courtesy
The law grants the Sadraudze legal status; protects its name, sacred sites, shrines, and ritual objects; and secures the right to self-governance under its statutes (Articles 3–5). Key rights include legal marriage, spiritual care, education, and training. Sadraudze’s authorized priests may officiate marriages under Civil Law (Article 6), and provide spiritual services in military, medical, and correctional institutions (Articles 7–8), and the Sadraudze maintains a publicly accessible official Priests’ Registry submitted to the Ministry of Justice (Article 11). Sadraudze-founded educational institutions may determine curricula and train priests or other personnel for religious service (Article 10).
The spiritual roots of each European nation continue to be cherished by its ethnic religious communities, shaping their distinct traditional identities. “After eight centuries since the violent Christianization of the Baltic lands began, Latvia — now a member of the European Union, founded on the principle of unity in diversity — finally has the opportunity to return to and continue the ancient religious traditions upheld by the Sadraudze, whose roots have endured through Latvian folk songs and other forms of intangible cultural heritage,” said Andrejs Broks, Grand Leader of the Sadraudze in charge of spiritual affairs.
The Sadraudze has been a founding member of the European Congress of Ethnic Religions (ECER) since 1998, underscoring its role in promoting ethnic religious traditions across Europe. “This law — developed by the Dievturi since 2022, in response to a parliamentarian proposal introduced in 2018 to explicitly define traditional religious groups in Latvia — recognizes Dievturība as a traditional religion deeply rooted in Latvia’s history and culture,” said Dr. Uģis Nastevičs, President of the European Congress of Ethnic Religions. “In this auspicious year marking the centenary of the word Dievturība since 1925, the Law of the Latvijas Dievturu sadraudze safeguards the sacred traditions and sets a precedent for ethnic religious communities across Europe.” The adoption of this law underscores Latvia’s commitment to religious freedom, cultural preservation, and the recognition of indigenous spiritual traditions — establishing a model for ethnic religions in the European Union.
Editorial: Congratulations to Sadraudze! This is an extraordinary accomplishment after many years of struggle and advocacy.
Lady Liberty League Marks 40 Years of Pagan Religious Freedom Advocacy
MADISON, Wisconsin –
Founded in 1985 by Rev. Selena Fox and others, the Lady Liberty League (LLL) celebrates its 40th anniversary this year as one of the leading voices for Pagan religious freedom and civil rights. Sponsored by Circle Sanctuary, the Wisconsin-based Pagan church and community center, LLL has served for decades as a lifeline for individuals and organizations facing discrimination or misunderstanding because of their spiritual paths.
From its earliest days, the League’s mission has been to protect and defend the rights of Wiccans, Pagans, Heathens, and other practitioners of Nature-based religions. It offers information, education, and networking assistance to help address issues involving religious liberty, equal treatment, and interfaith understanding. Through its network of volunteers, clergy, and legal advocates, LLL provides both direct support to those in need and proactive outreach to institutions, government agencies, and the media.
One of the League’s most famous achievements was the Pentacle Quest, a nearly decade-long campaign that secured U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs approval for the Pentacle—a five-pointed star within a circle—as an official emblem of belief on military headstones and memorials in 2007. The victory represented a milestone not only for Pagan service members and their families but also for religious pluralism across the United States.
Over the years, LLL has responded to hundreds of requests for help involving workplace discrimination, custody disputes, zoning and land-use conflicts, military chaplaincy issues, and school-based misunderstandings. The organization also promotes interfaith dialogue, building relationships with allies in other faith traditions and defending the broader principle of freedom of belief for all.
Today, as the landscape of religious diversity continues to evolve, Lady Liberty League remains a trusted resource for Pagan communities and allies worldwide. It continues to monitor legal developments, educate the public, and assist those whose rights are challenged.
Four decades after its founding, the Lady Liberty League stands as a testament to perseverance, compassion, and the power of collective action in safeguarding spiritual freedom—honoring the vision of its founders while carrying the torch of liberty into a new generation.
Congratulations!
Rewilding the Soul Ecospirituality Certificate now taking applications
The new ReWilding the Soul EcoSpirituality Certificate at Cherry Hill Seminary guides participants in rediscovering their sacred connection with the living Earth and developing earth-based spiritual practices that transform both personal life and community engagement. Through four seasonal modules aligned with nature’s rhythms, participants cultivate deep ecological relationships, embody earth wisdom, and emerge as grounded spiritual practitioners capable of guiding others into reverent relationships with the more-than-human world. This transformative journey moves participants from disconnection to deep belonging, from spiritual seeking to embodied earth practice, and from personal healing to community service—all while honoring the ancient wisdom that we are not separate from nature, but intimately woven into the sacred web of all life. More info on the Cherry Hill Site
Happening Today and This Weekend: Pagan World Congress Announces Global Virtual Gathering: A Landmark Event for Earth-Based Spiritual Communities October 9–13, 2025 | Virtual & Local Worldwide. Registration is Here.
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Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: Ghosts & Spirits Tarot Deck by Lisa Hunt, published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
Card: Queen Of Swords
This week is liable to call for guidance that is independent from the situation at hand, as well as unbiased decision-making that is underwritten with intelligence and the ability to see clearly. Being able to determine what is true versus wishful thinking is likely to play a major role. As is the ability to speak the truth, even if only to oneself.
Conversely, allowing emotions to drive decisions rather than taking a step back and taking time to fully examine an issue has the potential to result in poor outcomes. There may be hard choices to make this week, but being thoughtful and deliberative is the key to producing the most desirable results. Resist any urges to be callous or unkind.
A Newly Discovered Mouse Opposum!
PERU – A supercute new species of mouse opossum has been discovered in the Andes Mountains of northern Peru, according to a study published in American Museum Novitates. The small marsupial, now named Marmosa chachapoya, was found at 8,740 feet (2,660 meters) in Río Abiseo National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage site that protects cloud forests, high grasslands, and archaeological treasures.
The discovery was made in 2018, when researchers led by Silvia E. Pavan, a curator at Cal Poly Humboldt, set pitfall traps near an archaeological site. The specimen that fell into one of those traps turned out to be unlike any previously known species. Working with colleagues from Peru and the American Museum of Natural History, Pavan’s team combined detailed anatomical measurements with DNA barcoding to confirm the find.
Marmosa chachapoya (MUSM 48770) Image Credit: Pedro Peloso via American Museum Novitates.
By analyzing specific genetic markers — including the cytochrome b gene — the team compared the animal’s DNA with samples from museum collections. The results revealed about an 8% genetic difference from its closest relatives, Marmosa lepida and Marmosa andersoni, confirming it as a distinct species. For small mammals, this degree of divergence suggests a long period of separate evolution.
Physically, Marmosa chachapoya has a narrow, elongated face, orange belly fur with a gray base, and a dark facial “mask” that does not extend to the ears. Its tail is longer than its head and body combined — an adaptation for climbing trees in its cloud-forest habitat. Like other mouse opossums, it is nocturnal and primarily insectivorous, though it also eats fruit and small vertebrates such as frogs or birds.
So far, only a single specimen has been found, indicating that the Chachapoyas mouse opossum may be rare or restricted to a small range. Its discovery expands the known altitudinal limits for the genus, previously thought to occur no higher than about 5,200 feet (1,580 meters).
Marmosa chachapoya (MUSM 48770) Image Credit: Pedro Peloso via American Museum Novitates.
The find underscores the rich biodiversity and high endemism of Peru’s eastern Andes, where each survey can still reveal species new to science, a reminder of how much remains undiscovered in these remote, protected forests.
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