Hounds

Unleash the Hounds! (Link Roundup)

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There are lots of articles and essays of interest to modern Pagans out there, sometimes more than I can write about in-depth in any given week. So The Wild Hunt must unleash the hounds in order to round them all up.

Do you want your hair to done up like a Vestal Virgin? Hairdresser Janet Stephens has been reconstructing ancient Roman hairstyles, including the “sini crenes” of the Vestals, recently unveiled at the annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America in Seattle. Quote: “Working alone on a live model with only tools ancient Romans would have had, the process takes about 35 to 40 minutes, Stephens said.

Pagan Community Notes

Pagan Community Notes: Pagan Federation Charity Fight, Thorn at Overlap, Temple of Witchcraft Fundraiser, and More!

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Pagan Community Notes is a series focused on news originating from within the Pagan community. Reinforcing the idea that what happens to and within our organizations, groups, and events is news, and news-worthy. My hope is that more individuals, especially those working within Pagan organizations, get into the habit of sharing their news with the world. So let’s get started! Pagan Federation Withdraws Tribunal Hearing Request Over Charity Status: The Wild Hunt has been covering the Pagan Federation’s quest to receive official charity status in the UK which had run into obstacles from the Charity Commission who didn’t think the organization met “all the essential characteristics of a religion for the purposes of charity law.” After first requesting a tribunal hearing on the matter of their denial, the organization has decided to not pursue this course, saying it now accepts the commission’s stance on the matter.

News

Updates: Temple of Witchcraft, Verdict in Abusive Coven Case, Charles Jaynes, and More!

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Here are some updates on previously reported stories here at The Wild Hunt. The Temple of Witchcraft Wins Zoning Permission: The Temple of Witchcraft, a religious organization co-founded by author Christopher Penczak, after encountering some resistance from neighbors to expand and make improvements to their new building in Salem, New Hampshire, has received unanimous approval from the local Planning Board. “The Temple of Witchcraft has received final approval to expand its operations on North Policy Street, despite opposition from neighbors. The Planning Board voted unanimously last week to grant the nonprofit organization the permission it needs to relocate from 2 Main St. to a two-story building at 49 N. Policy St.” Opponents insisted this was only about traffic and noise, and not about Witchcraft, though one neighbor did question if the Temple of Witchcraft was “truly a religious organization deserving of a zoning exemption.”

News

On becoming a charity: the UK Pagan Federation

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In November the media, along with The Wild Hunt, reported that the Charity Commission for Wales and England declined the the Pagan Federation’s request for charity status in the U.K. Upon hearing the unfortunate news, I worked with my fellow Covenant of the Goddess board members to offer support, “across the pond,” to those diligently working to achieve that coveted status.  As a result, I had the pleasure of corresponding with the president of the Pagan Federation, Chris Crowley. Our brief exchange gave me a much better understanding of the situation and I present my findings to you. In a letter dated Oct. 4, 2012,  the Charity Commission for Wales and England, a government organization charged with the regulation of all charity organizations, informed the Pagan Federation  that its application for charity status had been rejected.