Image courtesy of HBCM
ASHEVILLE, North Carolina – As we reported two weeks ago, The House of Black Cat Magic (HBCM) was invited to speak at the Remembering Lil BUB Weekend Celebration. Co-owners, Hannah Soboleski and Star Bustamonte presented at the Remembering Lil BUB Weekend Celebration at the Burskirk-Chumley Theater in Bloomington, Indiana last week.
Soboleski and Bustamonte gave a short talk on how they came up with the idea for HBCM, as well as defining their business model which provides a unique opportunity to connect spiritual practices with the mission of finding forever homes for black cats. They also announced the premiere screening of the first episode, “My Job is Cat” of the docu-series, “Black Cat Magic”. The first episode of the docu-series is now available!
Lil BUB was a special needs kitty discovered in a tool shed in rural Indiana in the summer of 2011 and was the runt of a healthy feral litter. She quickly became an internet sensation and celebrity cat, helping to bring awareness to the plight of animals who require special care around the world. While Lil BUB crossed the rainbow bridge in 2019, her memory lives on. The Lil BUB’s Big FUND has raised over half a million dollars to help animals that require special care. A full list of programming for the event is available on the venue’s website.
PHOENIX – A state Senate committee approved a measure on Wednesday aimed at excluding anything related to Satan from public spaces. Introduced by Republican Sen. Jake Hoffman, the bill, also known as the Reject Escalating Satanism by Preserving Core Traditions Act (SB 1279), gained a 5-1 vote from the Committee on Government, with two senators abstaining. The proposed legislation seeks to prohibit symbols, statues, or displays honoring or representing Satan on public property.
Critics argue that the bill is unconstitutional, contending that it violates the First Amendment. Micah Mangione, an opponent of the bill, expressed concern, stating, “In only 25 words, this bill seems to violate three separate clauses of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.” Mangione warned of a potential slippery slope against other religions, questioning the selective targeting of religious symbols. He asked, “If you can go after the Satanic Tempe, which is an established religion, what about paganism next? What about Judaism next? How about Islam? How about LDS? Does any religion matter that’s not your Christian religion?”
Sen. Hoffman disagreed with the criticism, asserting, “It is legally and constitutionally suspect to argue that Satan, someone who is universally known to be an explicit enemy of God, is somehow a religion. I mean, that is an absolutely ludicrous statement to make.”
The bill’s progression includes a review on the Senate floor, and if it passes there, it would proceed to the House for further consideration.
This morning, the Arizona Government Committee will vote to advance SB 1279, also known as the Reject Escalating Satanism by Preserving Essential Core Traditions (RESPECT) Act. https://t.co/tzlOfcEOsL
— The Satanic Temple (@satanic_temple_) February 7, 2024
The bill has advanced despite heated debate.
“It is a desecration of public property in Arizona,” said State Senator Jake Hoffman (R), the lead sponsor of the bill and leader of Arizona’s far-right Freedom Caucus. “We have more respect for our public property and for the people who call Arizona home than to have satanic altars and displays on public property.”
“This bill would directly limit our religion. We do and already have performed satanic rituals on public property,” Oliver Spires a minister at the Satanic Temple said, “These buildings are democratically sacred, not religiously sacred, and the Constitution makes that clear.”
Hoffman repeatedly insisted that “Satanism is not a religion. It is the antithesis to religion. The antithesis of God is Satan.”
State Senator Juan Mendez (D) was the sole vote against the bill. “This proposal isn’t even a dog whistle, it is a straight-up attack on religion,” Mendez said. “He [referring to Hoffman] is literally trying to erase an entire religion.” The bill now advances from committee.
DES MOINES- In an unrelated story to the above, a man who, in December, vandalized and decapitated a sanctioned Baphomet statue erected for holiday purposes by the Satanic Temple at Iowa’s Capitol now faces a felony charge under the state’s hate crime statutes, according to the prosecutor’s office this week.
The statue has been incorrectly and repeatedly referred to as a “pagan idol” by media sources.
Michael Cassidy, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for Mississippi’s state House of Representatives, is accused of third-degree criminal mischief in violation of individual rights, as per the Polk County Attorney’s Office announcement on Tuesday.
The prosecutor’s office stated, “Evidence shows the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating he destroyed the property because of the victim’s religion.”
Initially charged with a misdemeanor, Cassidy, 36, now confronts an upgraded charge, classified as a class D felony under Iowa’s hate crime laws.
Cassidy, hailing from Lauderdale, Mississippi, had run for Mississippi State House District 45 and his campaign biography identifies him as a former Navy pilot and “a Christian conservative who loves our nation.”
Following the statue’s beheading, Cassidy appeared on Fox News, labeling his actions as “Christian civil disobedience.” He explained that the sight of the Capitol display offended him and then described his actions as “righteous indignation.”
“It touched a nerve. It was, you know, righteous indignation” Cassidy said as he openly admitted to decapitating the statue of Baphomet during the interview. Multiple commentators on social media supported Cassidy and rejected the right to religious freedom.
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Cancellation!
Phoenix Festivals which has served the Pagan Community for over 30 years is deeply saddened to cancel Phoenix Phyre in March 2024. The post-Covid world and concerns about our current site have led to low registration numbers which prevent Team Phoenix from presenting a quality event.
What will happen now?
The PFI Board of Directors is currently in contract negotiations with Camp Cloverleaf in Lake Placid for Autumn Meet 2024. This site will provide air-conditioned cabins and workshop spaces, RV sites with water and electrical hookups, and paved walkways which make all areas handicap accessible. The Board hopes that this move will allow Phoenix to rise from the ashes again in a new and beautiful way. Blessed Be Phoenix Phamily.
Happening this Week!
Imagine being in a family of marvels – an aunt who discovered DNA, a nephew who can fly, a cousin who can swim as fast as Olympic swimmers, and more. It’s real! Science shows that all life on Earth is our literal family – and that connection fills me with joy and awe. It also spurs me to action. Our Earth is my body as much as my arm or leg, making climate change a direct threat to so much that I love. Join me on February 12th, discovering the biology which connects us all – including all mammals, all animals, and all life on Earth! The meeting will be hosted on Zoom and facilitated by a member of our Action Team.
Join Zoom Meeting: or, open the Zoom app and enter the Meeting ID and Passcode:
Meeting ID: 890 3027 2698, Passcode: CCL
Upcoming Events
Circle Sanctuary’s Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG) is one of America’s oldest and largest Nature Spirituality festivals. Since 1980, PSG has been bringing together Pagans of many paths and places to create community, celebrate the summer solstice, and commune with nature in a sacred environment.
Registration is now open for the 2024 Pagan Spirit Gathering, a national weeklong celebration of Summer Solstice, being held June 16-23 in south central Missouri, USA. This year’s theme is Resonating Radiance.
Pagan Spirit Gathering, also known as PSG, brings together Pagans of many paths and places to create and live in a magickal village community. The Gathering includes rituals, workshops, concerts, merchanting, bonfires, drumming, candlelight labyrinth, Pagan Leadership Institute, life passages programs, and other activities. Learn more & register
The Mystic South Conference announced that the sixth annual event will take place July 26-28, 2024! Mystic South is filled with workshops, educational abstract presentations, rituals, community building, and much more. With the backdrop of the grand city of Atlanta, be a part of our celebration of the diversity of the peoples and religious practices, both past and present, that make up the Southen US region.
The conference also announced that their Early Bird tickets are on sale. Tickets are $135 until February 29, 2024 (Yup, it’s a leap year!) get them now and, get some for your friends, your neighbors, or just some random person you met on the street! The clock is ticking, lock in savings today!
Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot, by Phyllis Curott, artwork by Danielle Barlow, published by Hay House.
Card: Seven (7) of Fire – Benevolence
The next seven days hold the potential to offer up the insight necessary for moving forward with integrity and conviction. There may also be elements of transformation that reflect self-determination and inner strength and lead to healing past issues and wounds.
Conversely, challenges abound that are unlikely to be resolved by embracing a path forward that utilizes brute strength or angry combativeness.
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