News

Pagans and police: what you need to know

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“Just because you have rights doesn’t stop anything from happening to you.” – Don Frew, consultant on ritual crime

GRAPE CREEK, Texas – Nikki Featherston was driving home after stopping at a convenience store when she saw police lights in her rear-view mirror. She didn’t think she was speeding or committing any other traffic violation, but pulled over to the side of the road to await the sheriff’s deputy. Their exchange during the stop highlights the misunderstandings which can take place when Pagans have something they consider ordinary in their possession, but police consider suspicious. Ms. Featherston, a solitary Green Witch, gathered her driver’s license and proof of insurance as the deputy approached her car, and then handed them to the officer.

News

Witches at the Women’s March on Washington

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WASHINGTON D.C. – On Friday Jan 20, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. Then, on Saturday Jan 21, an estimated 200,000 women will march on Washington in protest against an administration that they say is hostile toward women and unwilling to protect their civil rights. The march organizers’ mission statement begins: “We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families – recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.” Among those thousands of people marching in Washington will be a contingent of 64 plus Witches, who plan to frist meet at the Museum of the American Indian at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, and then they will join up with the larger event. The Firefly House, an organization of Witches and Pagans based in Washington D.C., has called for this gathering.

Living

Sidewalk shrine by homeless family sends a powerful message

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PORTLAND, Ore. – Stumbling across a spontaneous shrine is a common experience in the United States. It may be a cross on the side of the road marking the place where a loved one died in a car accident, or a photos, card, and flowers stuck in the links of a fence where a recently passed celebrity lived. Throughout history, humans have created these shrines to remember and reconnect with the dead. On Sunday, Alley Valkyrie passed a sidewalk shrine that was very similar, yet very different, than most spontaneously created shrines.

Culture

Resolving to write a book in 2017? Publishers share advice

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TWH – The new year has been rung in and resolutions have been made and, for many, high on the list of resolutions is to finish writing a book and have it published. This is, would be their first attempt at becoming a professional author. While there are many resources devoted to the budding writer, there isn’t much specific to publishers who work with Pagan, Heathen, and other occult topics. The Wild Hunt spoke with several publishers about the kinds of books that they are looking for this year and what common mistakes prevent a book from being accepted. They offer some helpful and direct advice for budding authors.

Canada

Dragon Ritual Drummers winter solstice event cancelled last minute

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ST. CATHERINES, Ont. — A Canadian Pagan group says their Winter Solstice celebration was cancelled for being “too overtly Pagan.” The Dragon Ritual Drummers, a musical troupe headed by Witchdoctor Utu, planned to host a solstice ritual and concert at the Niagara Cannabis Club, but says the club canceled the event just hours before it was to start. The Winter Solstice Witches Mass and Concert is an annual Ontario event, during which the Dragon Ritual Drummers usually perform. This year the group decided to host it themselves, and they picked the town of St.