Pagan Community Notes: Week of December 18, 2023

Ayu Putri Kenyo Jati of Indonesia, the teen category first-place winner of the 2014 Midwinter Art Contest [via Norse Mythology Blog]

The Norse Mythology Blog Announces Midwinter 2023 Art Contest

Ten years after the website’s first international art contest and three years since its most recent one, the return of the event features the theme “Gods and Goddesses Gather at Midwinter.”

This year’s guest judge is UK comics artist Lee Carter, best known for his intense and often terrifying work for the British weekly 2000 AD and its monthly sister publication, the Judge Dredd Megazine.

Age categories for the contest are kids (twelve and under), teens (thirteen to nineteen), and adults (twenty and up).

Past winners and runners-up have come from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and all over the United States.

Past judges have included authors (Joanne Harris, Utkarsh Patel), academics (Helga Hlaðgerður Lúthersdóttir, Kendra Wilson), musicians (Joris van Gelre of Heidevolk), artists (Richard Elson, Erik Evensen, Steve Parkhouse, Anker Eli Petersen, Liam Sharp), and Icelandic elf whisperer Ragnhildur Jónsdóttir.

Entry deadline is 11:59 pm (Chicago time) on December 23, 2023 – Details and rules.

Diana Paxson

BERKELEY, Calif.– Last week, we reported that well-known Pagan elder, leader, and author Diana Paxson was attacked in her home in the Claremont neighborhood in Berkeley California and a shelter-in-place order was issued for the area.

Briefly, Paxson and her son Ian were stabbed in the later afternoon/early evening of December 9^th in her home. Both received treatment at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect, Byron DeCles, 21, has been arrested. On December 13, DeCles was charged with two counts of attempted murder as well as one count of elder abuse according to court records. He was also charged with one count of misdemeanor battery related to a previous incident.  DeCles entered a not-guilty plea on December 14. He is scheduled for a subsequent court appearance on January 14, 2024.  Reports noted DeCles has a history of mental illness.

Paxson released a statement via Facebook:

Night in the ER–

First, I want to thank the personnel at Highland Hospital ER for their care. They were responsive and careful, but ER is not a health spa.

My son Ian, being the more seriously injured (dislocated shoulder with bone damage, and a stab that fortunately did NOT reach his ear drum) was in a curtained space in a hospital bed. I, with the nick in the temporal artery and the slice on the neck safely sutured up, only needed observation, so I was lying on a gurney beneath a glaring light in “Hall 1, Bed 2”. Remembering recent news footage from Gaza, I told myself to be grateful the hospital I was in was not being shelled.

Eventually the people uttering repeated moans were sedated or sent home. Once the meds cut in, my chief pain was a very first world problem–my phone was out of charge. With internet access, I would have been fine, or with a book, or even a pad of paper and a pen. Note to self– always carry a cable.

At this point, a nurse came by to say that there was “a man” downstairs, and was he approved to visit? It was my grandson, Michael Grey, who had Ubered to the hospital. He started by alternating visits to Ian and to me, but eventually the staff pulled a recliner into Ian’s cubicle, and let me bed down there for awhile. So we ended up creating a little extension of Greyhaven in the ER. We don’t see Michael nearly often enough, so what had been something to be endured became a blessing. Meanwhile, my grand daughter Arael and our housemates spent the night scrubbing up bloodstains. Apparently hydrogen peroxide is the best thing to use. I had never envisioned a situation in which both Ian and I were out of commission, and it’s good to know that that the household can survive.

That was Friday night. On Saturday, Mike left and my sister Tracy (who has a gift for turning up when there’s an emergency) arrived with clothes, and brought first me, and then Ian, who had needed some additional surgery on his shoulder, back to Fortress Greyhaven, where we discovered that the news had spread.

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

Ásatrúarfélagið, also known as the Ásatrú Fellowship of Iceland, released a statement on December 13  that the organization had joined other organizations in a “Statement of the faith and life-thought fellowship” regarding the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.

The statement reads:

For two months, war on the territory of Israel and Palestine has led to overwhelming tragedy with thousands of lives lost, families separated and children left orphaned or died.

Our organization expresses its sorrow and amazement at the atrocities that are now happening to the public in this area.

We condemn all kinds of terrorism and violence and urge for an immediate permanent ceasefire and necessary relief work, as the world’s nations push parties to find a future solution to the problem that has created a continuous cycle of conflict for decades.
Now more than ever, humanity needs to stand together and work on solutions to urgent problems without violence and war.

More than ever, it is necessary to respect the lives and rights of all people, regardless of religion, beliefs, nationality, color and other aspects that have become the cause of discrimination and conflict.

We need to overcome such threats, and work to ensure that people and communities can clean side by side in peace with the welfare of all guided.

The Ásatrúarfélagið joined a statement by 20 Religious and Life-Stance Associations in Iceland which reads:

Ásatrúarfélagið was officially founded in 1972 by Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson, an Icelandic farmer and poet. It gained legal recognition in Iceland in 1973, and it became the first Ásatrú organization to be officially recognized as a registered religious group in the country. Since then, the organization has played a key role in the resurgence of Ásatrú, not only in Iceland but also internationally.

Dr. Keith Cates

Cherry Hill  Seminary named Keith Cates, PhD, EdS, Dept. of Pastoral Counseling & Chaplaincy, as the recipient of the Wendy Griffin Professor of the Year Award. Cates received his Ph.D. In Counselor Education and Supervision from Auburn University. Additionally, he holds an Ed.S in Guidance and Counseling, an M.A. in Psychology, a B.A in Psychology and a B.F.A. in Fine Arts from the University of West Georgia. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has held state licensure in Georgia, Alabama and Alaska. He currently works in higher education and continuing adult education as faculty, clinical director, and consultant in the areas of assessment, accreditation, and program curriculum development.

From his student nomination we read, “Dr. Cates provided as each the opportunity to dig deeper into our own understanding, discuss it with each other and grow substantially from the interaction. We learned as much from each other as we did from him, but it was his facilitation process and class design that allowed that to be possible. . .The design of this class, and the facilitation method of this professor is one of the best that I have experienced so far.”

“To be nominated by the students for this award means everything to me,” said Cates. “A class can go from good to great with the involvement of the kind of students you find at Cherry Hill. These are the students that propel a class by asking deep and difficult questions, and promote a desire for learning that you hope to find in graduate classes. I have been fortunate to be a part of such classes. Thank you for this honor.”

Dr. Candace Kant

Dr. Candace Kant was also honored wi ththe new Hypatia Award for Excellence. Kant holds  a Ph.D. in history from Northern Arizona University. She taught history, women’s studies, and religious studies courses at the College of Southern Nevada since 1976, including such classes as the History of Witchcraft, Goddess Traditions, Introduction to Modern Paganism, and Modern Pagan Thought, all of which she developed. After 32 years of teaching she retired and was awarded the title Emerita.

Kant joined the faculty of Cherry Hill Seminary in 2009. Over the years she served as chair for the Department of Theology & Religious Studies, was Dean of Students from 2012 to 2018, and was Academic Dean from 2018 to 2021. A devotee of Sekhmet, Kant formerly served as a priestess at the Temple of Goddess Spirituality, participating in creating and leading rituals there. An active member of the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada, Kant is often asked to speak to local groups on the topic of Witchcraft and Paganism.

“Working with Cherry Hill Seminary is the ultimate reward for long years in higher education,” said Kant. The students, faculty and staff are absolutely the best. My work with the Seminary has brought so many rewards and wonderful experiences.”

Cherry Hill Seminary Executive Director Holli Emore, MDiv, said, “To our new CMCs, we affirm the value of the work that each of you has chosen to undertake, the preparation that you have put into your training, and the honest self-examination which have brought you to this achievement. Our spiritual path is often very different to those in other religions. Each of you will make your own unique journey from this point. We give you our blessing and send you from here with our unwavering support of you in your life’s work, in whatever form you create.”

Cherry Hill Seminary was founded in 1997 and has been a pioneer in offering higher education for individuals following pagan, Wiccan, Druidic, and other earth-centered spiritual traditions. The seminary aims to facilitate academic and practical training for those interested in serving their communities as spiritual leaders, counselors, and educators within the context of contemporary pagan and nature-based religions.

Do you have news to share with our community?

Announcements? Elevations? Events?

Let us know at pcn@wildhunt.org.

2024 is on its way!

A new Pagan Calendar and App is available.  The GBG calendar has Pagan feast days from pantheons around the world, interesting info every day of the year.  Sample are to owww.ta-apps.com/download  or  www.GBGcalendar.com for a printed version

Upcoming Events:

The next Earth-based Spirituality Action Team (EBSAT) will be meeting on January 8 titled “After COP 28, what now?  The meeting is via Zoom with the passcode of CCL.

EBSAT is for “anyone who keeps the sacred Earth at the center of their practice. We see action on climate change as an urgent moral imperative. We aim to reach out to our global communities and recruit volunteers for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. We recognize and honor the spiritual nature of climate work.”

The Earth-based Spirituality Team is for Pagans, Wiccans, Witches, Occultists, Druids, Gaians, Goddess-worshippers, Earth-worshippers, Animists, Deep Ecologists, Scientific Pantheists, Creation-centered Christians, Secular Humanists, and Religious Naturalists. We enthusiastically welcome indigenous people, followers of African Diasporic Traditions, shamanic practitioners, and anyone who shares our reverence for Mother Earth.

The Polk County Pagan Market (PCPM) has announced dates for  2024 that we are excited to share.

More Pagan Outreach, and more educational workshops all at no cost, we have added LGBTQIA+ reps so that we may do more in that area as well. We are also going on the road to host a variety of “On The Road ” events for 2024 and 2025.

In 2023, Polk County Pagan Market became a center of debate between both Pagans and Christians throughout the state of Texas as a local pastor threatened the market with a backlash.

The dates announced are,

• Imbolc Festival- Jan 27, 2024 Livingston TX @ Pedigo Park,
• Ostara Festival – March 9,  2024 Livingston TX @ Pedigo Park ,
• Beltane Festival – May 4, 2024 Livingston TX @ Pedigo Park,
• ETX Mabon Meet & Metaphysical Expo September 7, 2024 @ Tyler Texas Downtown Square,
• Mabon festival September 21, 2024 Livingston TX @ Pedigo Park,
• ETX Samhain Meet & Metaphysical Expo October 26, 2024 @ Bergfeild Park Tyler Texas,
• Samhain Festival Nov 2, 2024 @ Pedigo Park Livingston Tx.

Upcoming Gatherings:

The Troth announced this week that Frith Forge 2024, the International Conference of Inclusive Heathenry, will be hosted at the Hotel del Bosque in Costa Rica from April 13th to April 16th. Frith Forge is an international conference among inclusive Heathen organizations, kindreds, and individuals. The broader inclusive pagan communities and interfaith allies are welcome to participate as well. This year the Frith Forge will be the Asociación Ásatrú Yggdrasil.

The Troth wrote that “International Relations and Exchange was founded as a program to facilitate and support international collaboration and education by creating Frith Forge, an international conference for inclusive Heathens. We didn’t just find groups that shared our values, but groups that had already started this work overseas, with long histories of their own, struggles of their own, and problems that we could solve better together than apart. We continue to nurture these lasting alliances and true friendships. We value the chance to participate in such high-quality educational and frithful exchange. This connection helps us all weather the storms together that affect us all.”

More information regarding Latin American Heathenry is available on the Frith Forge YouTube channel:

Positively Noteworthy

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