The Wild Hunt (https://wildhunt.org/tag/norse-mythology-blog)
In this week’s Pagan Community Notes: Art Contest Deadline, update on Pagan Elder Diana Paxson, Ásatrúarfélagið releases a statement on the Israel-Hamas war, Cherry Hill announces professor of the year and Hypatia award recipient, more announcements and Shavo.
In this week’s Pagan Community Notes, Fun with Krampus, Cherry Hill awards, Birthday wishes to Jonathan and more news.
In this weeks Pagan Community Notes, US celebrates Thanksgiving Day, The Troth is organizing an International Pagan Day of Prayer and Action for Peace, Red Wheel/Weiser announces acquisitions, holiday events, announcements, and even talking crows.
UNITED STATES – The Department of Defense (DoD) has added several Heathen and Pagans religions to its recognized faith groups list after a multi-year effort by Heathen and Pagan religious organizations and individuals. The DoD added or updated just under 100 religions to its document: Faith and Belief Codes for Reporting Personnel Data of Service Members. Being listed on this document allows Pagan and Heathen military members to accurately communicate their religious preference, rather than being designated “Other,” and grants them associated benefits and protections.
Four of the religions added to the document include Heathenry, Asatru, Seax Wicca, and Druidry. The Army had already recognized The Troth, while the Air Force had already recognized Heathenry and Asatru.
The Open Halls Project has announced that “the Department of Defense has requested, reviewed and accepted [its] Heathen Resource Guide for Chaplains.” For over seven years, the Open Halls Project, headed by Josh and Cat Heath, has been working diligently to have Asatru and Heathen added to the U.S. Army’s religious preference list. During that process, as Josh Heath explained, his working group was asked to “produce a document explaining the basics of Heathenry.” Heath said, “We produced a document for him modeled on the Army Chaplain’s Handbook excerpt for Wicca. This basic framework assisted us in developing information that was generally applicable to the largest amount of Heathens possible.”