Paganism

Column: Pagans and New Year’s Resolutions in 2014

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The New Year often comes with resolutions, promises, renewed dreams, and interest into the unfolding of the future. It is the time of year when mainstream society tells us to invest in the concept of a healthier self and a healthier world. New Year’s resolutions range from weight loss to spiritual rededication; some people approach it with a belief of possibilities previously not available. It is a magic fueled by individual and collective belief, cast forward for the year. I find this subject very interesting, and find that I was quite curious about other’s New Year’s beliefs, practices, and resolution magic.

Paganism

Pagan Reflections of Santa; Race, Myths, Beliefs, and Importance

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Controversy hit the airwaves this month when Fox News correspondent Megyn Kelly referred to Santa as being white. She was responding to an article on Slate magazine, by columnist Aisha Harris, about the complications of having a white Santa in a multicultural society, and suggested he should instead be no race, like a penguin. Kelly responded to this by having an on air discussion about the “Attack on Christmas”, and her views of the “facts” that Santa is indeed a white man. “For all you kids watching at home, Santa just is white. But this person is maybe just arguing that we should also have a black Santa.

Culture

Column: Rooted in the Body, New Anthology Gives Voice to Disabled Pagans

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There are a plethora of experiences within the Pagan community, and this has become a focal point of many different discussions within the last several years. From privilege, racism, hate, disabilities, and gender discussions, our community has seen some recent surges in dialogue around macro level social issues within our greater society, as they apply to us. The increasing population of people that are drawn to Paganism, nature based spirituality, and/or polytheism, has brought additional discussions of need and equal access to community. The complexity of intersectionality has become more visible, and these complexities are being addressed with resources, and publications. Immanion/Megalithic Press released their newest anthology, this one addressing Pagans with disabilities.

Culture

Column: American Horror Story: Coven, Witches, Television, and Diversity

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“Television has been credited with providing the most influential interpretations of social reality of all the mass media” – Richard L. Allen. Media outlets covering minority groups in truthful and positive ways has long been a concern of many communities. The Pagan community is not immune to these concerns about the media, and there is often a lot of apprehension with the type of coverage we have gotten. There has also been a lot of scrutiny about the lack of media coverage that ethnic people, specifically African American, have had in mainstream television; this is not limited to television, and also extends to print and movies. People of Color in the Craft have not been represented equally in television or movies unless looking at something that is specifically VooDoo inspired.

Living

Column: Incredible Ancestral Altar For Samhain

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There are so many different ways to celebrate during this time of year, and the plethora of Pagan celebrations go throughout the month of October and through the first week of November. While a large majority of Pagan practices happen on October 31st or November 1st, the actual astrological day for Samhain this year is November 7th, lending for more time to have more celebrations. Festivals of ancestral honor continue in many different traditions and cultures; two of the most known, of course, include Dias De Los Muertos ending November 2nd, and All Saints Day on November 1st. After writing my ancestral piece last month, we were contacted by a priestess in the Bay Area about her coven’s practices and process of ancestral worship. I took the opportunity to correspond with Cynthia of Circle of Winged Toads, a coven that is a descendant from the Compost Coven started in the 70’s, because I was very moved by the pictures of their elaborate ancestor altar.