29th Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Official Portrait (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)
FORT WAYNE, Indiana – In late September 2025, United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rounded up hundreds of top generals and admirals and scolded them on military standards and the Trump administration’s expectations of the armed forces under his civilian leadership. Hegseth closed with a sharp denunciation of current grooming standards, promising to end what he called an “era of unprofessional appearance.” “No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression,” he declared, adding that the days of “rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles” were over. “No more beardos.” He noted that Special Forces would retain its longstanding exemption and quipped, “If you want a beard, you can join Special Forces. If not, then shave. We don’t have a military full of Nordic pagans.”
His remarks immediately raised questions about how a strict “no beardos” policy squares with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which requires the military to demonstrate a compelling interest before restricting religious practice. But it also drew the attention of Pagans, Heathens, and Ásatrúar serving in the military, and a relatively unanimous rebuke of Hegeseth’s characterization of and references to the Pagan community.
On Wednesday of this week, Secretary Hegseth visited northern Indiana to headline the 4th Annual Northeast Indiana Defense Summit, a two-day forum that highlights the state’s role in national defense. Hosted by Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), the summit brings together senior national security officials, defense industry leaders, and state and local policymakers. Banks delivered opening remarks before Hegseth addressed the Trump administration’s priorities, including recent attacks in Latin America. “We’re doing it in defense of the American people… treating these terrorists like the al-Qaeda of the western hemisphere,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth then doubled down on his prior comments about Pagans, “We don’t need to be a military of beardos anymore. Do you know how many troops claim to be Nordic Pagan? No, suddenly it’s become this real religious fake religious affiliation inside the Pentagon where troops came to be Nordic Pagan so they can grow a beard and nobody challenges them on it.”
He claimed that no one challenges troops because the military has not upheld standards. He also claimed that a quarter of a platoon have beards because “they are suddenly now Nordic Pagans.”
“We aren’t doing that stuff anymore,” he said.
The full speech can be viewed below with his comments above beginning at mark 9:31.
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SEATTLE – On Monday this week, we covered the Aquarian Tabernacle Church’s (ATC) celebration of Rev. Selena Fox, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Hekate’s Sickle Festival. As The Wild Hunt reported, the ATC Matriarch Belladonna LaVeau presented the award, praising Fox as a “bright star” who carved out space for Paganism at a time when women faced steep barriers. In her acceptance speech, Fox reflected on her life’s work and reaffirmed the community’s need for visibility, equal rights, and spiritual connection. She closed with a call of “Libertas!”—a theme carried into the festival’s main ritual, Aradia and the Resurrection, where Fox embodied Aradia, the liberating witch-heroine of folklore. The ceremony invited participants to break old chains and embrace renewal, highlighting Fox’s enduring legacy of empowerment, justice, and collective strength.
There were additional honorees as well, including dedicated members of the ATC community and several other figures from the wider Pagan world, each recognized for their service to the Church and/or their leadership in various roles.
The ATC also announced that the full awards ceremony will be broadcast on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 6 p.m. Pacific (9 p.m. Eastern). “ATC is airing the Award Ceremony for all to see!” organizers wrote. “This will be a watch party, with everyone who participated in the ceremony joining online so you can chat together in real time.”
U.S. Catholic bishops ended their Baltimore meeting approving a “special message” on immigration, an action the conference has taken only once since 2013. then promptly denouncing gender-affirming care.
The statement on immigration expresses deep concern over the climate of fear affecting immigrant communities, noting that Mass attendance has dropped in some parishes due to anxiety about profiling and enforcement. Bishops also highlighted poor conditions in detention centers and barriers to pastoral care.
“We are saddened by the vilification of immigrants,” the statement reads, urging lawmakers and the administration to pursue meaningful immigration reform. Multiple bishops spoke in support, including Archbishop Paul Coakley, the newly elected conference president. Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich successfully pushed for stronger language, leading to a firm declaration that U.S. bishops “oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”
Shortly afterward, the bishops also took a bizarre step: formalizing a nationwide ban on gender-affirming care in Catholic hospitals. More than one in seven U.S. patients are treated in these institutions, which in some communities are the only available medical center.
The updated ethical and religious directives prohibit surgical or hormonal interventions that seek to change a person’s sex characteristics, aligning with Vatican guidance and the bishops’ 2023 doctrinal note. Bishops will decide how to codify the rules within their dioceses.
Supporters of the ban, such as Bishop Robert Barron, argued that the Church must counter “gender ideology.” The Catholic Health Association, while thanking the bishops for incorporating feedback, emphasized that transgender patients will still be treated “with dignity and respect.”
Significant dissent came from progressive Catholic leaders and from other religious denominations. Michael Sennett, a transgender Catholic active in his Massachusetts parish, noted that gender-affirming care “makes life livable” for many. New Ways Ministry highlighted the spiritual dimension of transition for some Catholics, calling it a path to living as the people they believe God created them to be.
That same day, leaders of ten major progressive faith traditions—including the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Episcopal Church, Reform Judaism, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—issued a joint statement affirming transgender, intersex, and nonbinary people. “Our beloveds are created in the image of God—holy and whole,” they wrote, countering the perception that all religious voices oppose gender diversity.
Numerous Pagan organizations, including Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF), the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, the Covenant of the Goddess, and Heathens Against Hate, embrace gender-affirming values and stand in strong support of LGBTQI+ individuals, their rights, and their access to compassionate health care.
Events and Announcements
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Let us know at pcn@wildhunt.org
More Events at our new Events Calendar
Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: The Uncommon Tarot by Theresa Reed, artwork by Shaheen Miro published by Weiser Books, an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC.
Card: Three (3) of Coins
This week emphasizes both the desire and need for collaboration and teamwork. This is likely to be especially true when it comes to creative endeavors and those that would greatly benefit from the contributions of skilled individuals. There may also be an element of apprenticeship and passing on key knowledge and skills this week, which reflects making solid investments in the future that are apt to pay big dividends eventually.
In contrast, disagreements and the inability of team members to work through issues have the potential to derail projects and produce an end result that reflects shoddy workmanship and a lack of attention to detail. There is also likely to be a potential for very stagnant finances and stunted growth. If not reined in, infighting and dissension are liable to result in wasted energy, money, and time.
Bagpipers Unite for AC/DC’s “Long Way to the Top” and Set World Record
MELBOURNE, Australia– This story has seemingly nothing to do with Paganism, but it’s too awesome not to share. Hundreds of bagpipers set a new world record in Melbourne on Wednesday by powering through AC/DC’s classic “It’s a Long Way to the Top.” Billed as “The Great Melbourne Bagpipe Bash,” the performance took over Federation Square—just steps from Swanston Street, where AC/DC famously filmed their 1976 music video atop a slow-rolling flatbed truck.
The square, already buzzing ahead of the band’s first Australian show in a decade at the nearby Melbourne Cricket Ground, drew thousands of spectators. Many of the 374 participating pipers had to thread their way through the packed crowd to reach the stage. Organizers noted the oldest performer was 98. Among the pipers were Les Kenfield and Kevin Conlon of the Rats of Tobruk Memorial Pipes and Drums, two of the original musicians who rode the truck with AC/DC nearly 50 years ago.
“It didn’t strike you at the time how big this would become,” Kenfield told ABC. “Now it’s probably the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
The event was captured by NO CommentTV by EuroNews:
TWH – It’s unclear what exactly spurred this release, but considering the Polk County Pagan Market’s past tensions with certain neighbors, it makes sense. The market, organized by Jason McLelland, who also wrote the music and lyrics for the video below, has been targeted by local Christian groups.
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