Betty Osceola

Indigenous and Pagan leaders heal the water

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MIAMI – The issues around water resources in South Florida are complicated and entirely human caused. They uniquely center around trying to contain Lake Okeechobee, often called Florida’s Inland Sea. Lake Okeechobee is the second largest natural freshwater lake in the contiguous US and roughly half the size of the US State of Rhode Island. The Hitchiti Native people named the lake, big (oki), water (chubi). Lake Okeechobee is shallow averaging around 9ft (2.8 m) in depth.

Living

Column: Look at Everything That’s Come and Gone

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Pagan Perspectives

A few years ago, I attended a bonfire celebration in South Florida for Midsummer, complete with drinks and drumming. It took place close to the beach, so there was a constant breeze, and it was held later in the evening, so the thunderstorms had passed over and the mosquitoes were full and satiated.  The air was thick and accented by night-blooming flowers.  But it was also bearable. The night takes no toll like the day. That year, a few friends interested in Paganism asked to join. They let the drums lead their bodies and thoughts.

News

Religious freedom challenges in two public school systems: Florida and Louisiana

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TWH — The struggle for religious freedom, or freedom from religion, within the U.S. public school system is ongoing. As part of the government system, no preference of one religion over another is permitted on school property or within the buildings. However, in practice that is not always the case and, in areas where religious diversity is increasing, problems and challenges naturally arise. Today we look at two different cases that have appeared in recent months. Florida’s state legislature is considering a bill that would force all schools to display the words “In God We Trust” prominently, while in Louisiana, school officials in one parish include regular prayers as part of the daily curriculum.

Pagan Community Notes

Pagan Community Notes: Hurricane Irma, Earrach of Pittsburgh, Rosaleen Norton and more

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UNITED STATES – Hurricane Irma, one of the biggest recorded Atlantic storms in recent history, is making its way up the Florida coast and into the Southeastern states. In its wake, Irma has left a trail of damage to homes and structures and flooding across the Caribbean and southern Florida. According to the latest reports, the death told now stands at 24. When news of the storm broke, Florida Pagans, Heathens, and polytheists began preparations, as did the entire state. Some stayed, some boarded up and left.