Culture

Pagan Community Notes: Reported “Wiccan” accused of human trafficking, COMISS Network, and more!

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FREESTONE COUNTY, Texas – Last week, charges of human trafficking were filed against a woman that centered around a minor in her care in Mexia, Texas. The initial bond being set at $25,000, and one day later was increased to $250,000. There are reports that Amber Michelle Parker, allegedly had ties to a Witchcraft or Wicca groups. A Facebook account under the name Zhoe Singer displays a picture of Parker as well a number of memes and photos that contain “Witch” and “pentacle.”

A report from news station KWTX contained a statement that Parker’s husband had given to deputies investigating the case, “Mr. Parked explained that at some point during the year his wife had created an anonymous Facebook page to where she could secretly communicate with strange men associated with the Wicca organization,” the document reads. “During the year his wife had left to go to Louisiana to meet with her healer and again to Waco to meet with someone in her group.”

News

Pagan Community Notes: Loki ban rescinded, Hellenic Polytheists attacked in Greece, and more

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PHILADELPHIA – Last week, Robert L. Schreiwer, Steer, announced on behalf of The High Rede of The Troth that the organization was officially rescinding the ban on hailing Loki at Troth-sponsored events. In the official statement released on January 2, 2019, The High Rede reported that, after deliberation on various related issues at their fourth quarter Rede meeting in 2018, “Loki may be hailed freely at Grand Sumbel and at any Troth-sponsored event.”

The statement went on to detail some important considerations. The Troth statement noted that although the change in policy now allows for hailing of Loki, at all official Troth events, Troth Kindred Program [TKP] kindred thew (virtues) is sovereign and each kindred’s rules, culture and etiquette how and who is hailed at their events. The Troth noted that another exception to the hailing of Loki would be the annual Idunna Blót at Trothmoot because Idunna is the Patroness of the Troth and deserves singular veneration at that event.  The Troth commented that  “Idunna deserves to be recognized and honored in that role, the Idunna Blót at Trothmoot will be reserved for hailing only (solely Idunna by any of Her known names).”

The statement went on to say that since the ban on Loki lasted for ten years, “the organization will hold an official Loki Blót for the next ten Trothmoots in a prime time slot. After the tenth Trothmoot, Loki Blóts may be held as any other blót or Sege, and the timing of the Blót will become adjustable to meet scheduling needs.”
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ELEUSIS,  GREECE – On Saturday, December, 29 outside the archaeological site of Eleusis in Greece, about 10 miles northwest of Athens, a group of Hellenic polytheists of the Cultural group, Γλαυκώπις [Glaukopis], were attacked while performing a ritual for Demeter.

Australia

Pagan Community Notes: Most Impactful Pagan News of 2018 and more!

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TWH – This week we take a look back at a few of the new stories in the mainstream that we covered that had an impact on the collective Pagan, Heathen, and Polytheist communities.  

The Parliament of World Religions hosted a larger amount of programming featuring Witches and Pagans than in the past. TWH spoke with four Pagans who planned to attend PoWR to get their perspective and what they hoped to accomplish by attending. After the conference, guest contributor, Karen Dales gave us aa bird’s eye view of some of the activities in her article. As a lead up to PoWR, the Global Wicca Summit cyber conference was held in early September and centered around the theme “Wicca as a Global Faith” with the primary purpose of providing the community with open discussion and worldwide networking.

Canada

Pagan Community Notes: Dr. Bones, Canada Witchcraft, and more

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This weekend, a now former writer for Gods and Radicals, “Dr. Bones” a self-described anarchist / egoist-communist, occultist, and gonzo journalist, was accused of sexual misconduct in a lengthy Twitter thread. Gods and Radicals promptly responded to the accusation and tweeted a brief statement early Sunday morning supporting the accuser and announcing that they would be removing all of Bones’ articles. Gods and Radicals added that they would no longer be distributing his book. Later on Sunday, Dr. Bones posted an apology on his blog site, The Conjure House, stating “This will be my last post, and it is not to ask for pity. It is to firmly and clearly state I have committed unforgivable actions, and as such will retire completely from both writing and politics.”   He further added that “I have violated not only the trust of my readers, of my comrades, but most of all my wife.

Pagan Community Notes

Pagan Voices: Reflections of Yule

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Pagan Voices is a spotlight on recent quotations from figures within the Pagan community. These voices may appear in the burgeoning Pagan media or a mainstream outlet, but all showcase our wisdom, thought processes, and evolution in the public eye. Is there a Pagan voice or artist you’d like to see highlighted? Contact us with a link to the story, post, audio, or image.  

“Perhaps most of all, however, it is our expectations of ourselves that are the most difficult to deal with. There is much to be done and it all must fit into the time we have, regardless of the fact that life does not come to a halt at Christmas time.