The Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG) family is mourning the loss of one of its devoted members, Barb Moss (1969-2015). Barb was also a facilitator of the Daughters of the Dark Moon coven as well as a member of the Open Circle Unitarian Universalist congregation in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. In addition, she was a working artist, known for her enthusiasm and creativity. Last October, Barb were interviewed for a local paper’s bi-weekly feature: “The Artist Next Door.” According to the report, Barb had overcome many obstacles in her life including addiction, failed pregnancies, and divorce. Many of these struggles were featured in her paintings.
Barb’s latest struggle was with breast cancer. She was diagnosed in 2011. After various treatments, she went into remission. Then, this past summer, doctors discovered that Barb’s cancer had spread to her liver and bone. On May 11, she lost the fight. As her friend Cathy Fia Moritz shared, “My friend, Barb, squeezed the last bit of life out of that paint tube yesterday. Even though I only knew her for a short time, she touched my life greatly. Her creativity, welcoming attitude, and her unflagging optimism were just a few of the bright qualities that made her a wonderful woman.”
The Open Circle Unitarian Church held a fundraiser and memorial service this past weekend. Then on Sunday, there was a second service at her parents church – Salem United Methodist. PSG will be “honoring her … as part of [its] Circle of Remembrance on the opening Sunday, June 14.” In addition, since Barb was scheduled to co-lead this year’s Daughters of the Dark Moon ritual at PSG, coven members decided to include an honoring of her life as part of the rite. Rev. Selena Fox said, “She was beloved by many. [I am] glad to have connected with her as part of my life’s journey.”
* * *
On Thursday, May 21, the West Valley Area, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is co-sponsoring a meet-and-greet with local Pagans. The focus of the event will be on how best to handle and report “Hate Crimes/Speech” against the Pagan community. As the flyer notes, “This is also an opportunity to get to know your local officers.”
The idea for this community meet-and-greet was born last year when Pagan Wendilyn Emrys, a local activist, attended the LAPD Hate Crimes Forum in Encino, California. She said, “I was attending in my capacity as a Pagan Priestess, and because I am a member of a number of political groups that often get attacked by right wing psychos. I wanted to know my rights...” After asking a few questions, an officer approached her and offered to meet with her and other Pagans.
Although the event took some time to coordinate, Emrys and the current facilitating officer Sergeant II Frank Avila were finally able to secure a date. Emrys is enthusiastic about the opportunity, saying “I think it is essential for Pagans to get to know their local Law Enforcement Professionals, and Governmental Representatives … It is also important for us to know what is and is not a Hate Crime, or Hate Speech, and how to get in touch with our local Law Enforcement should someone inflict such a crime or criminal speech against us.” She is hoping for good turnout. The meet-and-greet will be held at the West Valley Area Police Station at 7 p.m., the event is open to anyone interested in the subject matter. For more information, contact wendilynemrys@hotmail.com.
* * *
Courtesy: NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center
The Pagan Community Statement on the Environment has garnered 4,249 signatures in just one month’s time. The signatures hail from all over the world and from nearly every continent. There also now eight translations of the statement available, including Spanish, French, Italian, Hungarian, Russian, Polish, Lithuanian and Portuguese. More translations are currently in the works.
In a recent blog post, coordinator John Halstead wrote, “If you peruse the list of signatories of “A Pagan Community Statement on the Environment”, you will see a lot of names you may recognize…” but many you do not. Then he featured an interview with the person who signed directly before Starhawk.
Since that blog post, Halstead has noted that the group’s goal is to get 10,000 signatures by mid June. Why June? This is the scheduled time of Pope Francis’ publication of an encyclical on the environment. Halstead views this as “an ideal opportunity to share a Pagan vision of sustainability with the world.” Patheos blogger John Beckett agreed, saying, “If the leader of the world’s largest Christian denomination can issue a progressive statement on the environment, why can’t Pagans – most of whom hold Nature in much higher regard than do Christians – do at least as much?” Halstead and the many people involved are now asking others to pass along the statement through social media and other sources. Where can it be found? The statement, its history and all the translations are available at Ecopagan.com.
In other news:
- On May 25, the Pagan/Academic European Associates Network (PAEAN) will be holding its 3rd online academic conference. Held in cooperation with the Pagan Federation International, the PAEAN Conference will “focus on the different aspects of development of Contemporary Paganism and its challenges.” The online platform allows “scholars, lecturers and attendees to engage in meaningful discussions to “hopefully increase learning and understanding.” This year’s theme is “The Future of Contemporary Paganism.” and will include lectures by Mr. Stanislav Panin, Dr. Lila Moore, Mr. Shai Feraro, Ms. Martina Capuleti and Mr. Gwiddon Harveston. There will also be several group panels. Information can be found online.
- T. Thorn Coyle has just released her first fiction novel, titled Like Water. Nayomi Munaweera, author of Island of a Thousand Mirrors, described the book, “Like Water is a love letter to both the streets of Oakland and the youth who walk them. It tells of the city’s history as well as the conflagrations threatening to devour it. These are characters attempting to love through the fire.” Inspired by her social justice work, Coyle calls the book “visionary fiction.” It s now available in both paper or electronic forms from online and local bookshops.
- The Norse Mythology Blog has begun its annual midsummer art competition. This year’s theme is based on “an excerpt from the Old Norse poem Sigrdrífumál (“Sayings of Sigrdrifa”) from the Poetic Edda.” The specific except is posted on the site along with project suggestions. In addition, Dr. Karl E. H. Seigfried also wrote, “Throughout Northern Europe, there are local traditions that celebrate midsummer. Some of these practices preserve very old rituals. Your original piece of visual art should capture the midsummer spirit of Norse mythology.” Past winners and their art are posted in the blog’s archives. The submission deadline is midnight June 19.
- On May 11, Molly Khan launched the Heathen at Heart blog on Patheos Pagan Channel. In her opening post, Khan wrote,”Hello, and welcome to Heathen at Heart! Here I hope you will find a thoughtful commentary on Heathenry, polytheism, and Paganism in general; as well as practical information, prayers, and rituals.” Khan is member of a local Kindred as well as a Scribe for an ADF Grove. She is also a wife and mother of three, and a strong supporter of her local Pagan community.
- The Wiccan group Silver Circle, founded in 1979, has commissioned a film on Witches in Holland or Heksen in Holland. The project is part of the group’s recent 35 year anniversary celebration. The organization has established a foundation that is “committed to expanding and evolving Wicca to an ever growing public.” To help fund the project organizers have launched an Indiegogo campaign. However, they have already begun production with the help of a variety of volunteers
That’s it for now. Have a great day.
The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content.
To join a conversation on this post:
Visit our The Wild Hunt subreddit! Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click “JOIN”. Make sure to click the bell, too, to be notified of new articles posted to our subreddit.
Congrats to Silver Circle! I’m really looking forward to their documentary and other happenings – the information about the development/state of witchcraft in the Netherlands can really use an update.
Just remember, if it does not have a direct threat, hate speech is protected speech.
Right. But with decent community organization, victims of hate speech can be supported psychologically.
Did Molly Khan’s press release or intro on her blog say that she is “a wife and a mother of three”?
Whether it was there or not, might it also be stated for any person being introduced to us, what their family status is? It’s come up recently that the press mentions female candidates and business leaders hair, attire, and family life, where the equivalent for men is not. One would like to see equal treatment there.
In general, on TWH, gender and/or orientation, with occasional familial data IS mentioned relatively equally for those being interviewed, at some point, even if it is not that interview–but spiritual identification is also noted, because of what we are here.
Thanks for commenting. Molly Khan introduced herself with this family data in her public blog post. It appeared to be an important aspect of her life, as is her spiritual work and blogging. When introducing someone (anyone), I look for the points that are or seem to be emphasized by that person, whether that be religious affiliation, professional work, family or otherwise.
What a loss for the loved ones of Barb Moss! I am so truly sorry.
I’m going to have a look at the ecology statement and sign it if find myself in reasonably strong agreement with it. At the same time, I don’t know that fear of shaming or being one-upped by the RCC is a good reason for adopting a statement. For one thing, it’s not some great feat of political courage or organizational soul-searching for the Vatican to come up with a progressive-sounding statement. They have organizational charts brimming with men whose full-time job is writing and parsing theology and doctrine. They also don’t really have to do a lot to “find the voice of the movement.” You don’t even have to substantial agreement among the masses (ie the position on birth control). When you have a pope, you have to muster a quorum and majority vote of exactly one.
It’s also important to remember that written statements and white papers do not, in and of themselves, convey what an organization truly believes. They convey what the movement wants to be seen as believing. They’re worth the paper they’re printed on unless and until and only so long as, the leaders and stakeholders hold the core belief deep in their guts and create a culture that supports those beliefs in action. The Catholic Church has had very progressive statements on sexual abuse for 20 years or more now. They panned out to nothing because the leadership culture had no buy-in and utter contempt for transparency and accountability. The results showed.
We have a track record on environmentalism. A hell of a track record. Modern environmentalism and modern Paganism grew out of the same seeds of thought and spiritual awakening that sprouted during the Romantic Era and first skepticism of the Industrial Age. The deep ideals of environmentalism are fundamental to our spiritual practices, and our spiritual beliefs are fundamental to modern environmentalism. The latter is so true that the numbers of people who identify as Pagan is almost irrelevant in my estimation. Our core values have been adopted and internalized in mainstream culture far beyond our demographic fighting weight.
What is the Catholic Church’s record on the issue? I won’t presume to judge that on a global scale, but here in the U.S., it’s a little underwhelming. The bishops at least have been the water boys of the Republican Party, whose environmentalism consists of “drill baby, drill” positions written by the hydrocarbon industry and fanatical denialism of global warming.
I hope we do pull off a statement with many signatures, but whether or not a Pagan encyclical hits the newstands at the same time as a Catholic one won’t keep me up nights.