Column: Pop Culture Witchcraft and the Queer Shadow

Pagan Perspectives

Today’s column comes to us from Storm Faerywolf, whose column covers the intersection of Paganism and queer identities. Storm is a professional author, experienced teacher, visionary poet, and practicing warlock, and is author of “Betwixt & Between” and “Forbidden Mysteries of Faery Witchcraft.” He lives with his two loving partners in the San Francisco Bay area and travels internationally teaching the magical arts. For more, visit faerywolf.com. The Wild Hunt always welcomes submissions for the weekend section.

Pagan Community Notes: Parliament of World Religions, Satanic Temple threatens Netflix with lawsuit, Statement from CoG, and more

TORONTO — The Parliament of World Religions kicked off its 2018 conference in Toronto last week. The theme for this year is “The Promise of Inclusion & the Power of Love: Pursuing Global Understanding, Reconciliation, and Change.” In a statement on its website, the Parliament states that theme was partly inspired by this year’s host city and its focus on inclusiveness and how the programs it endorses reflect the values of the Parliament’s practices and ideology. Among the notable keynote presenters are Alisa Starkweather, founder of the Red Tent Temple Movement, and Priestess Path Apprenticeship, and Phylis Currott author, Wiccan Priestess, and founder of The Temple of Ara. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the conference. TWH will have a full story on the conference next week.

Pagan Community Notes: Druid ritual, Gods & Radicals, Stan Newcombe, Memorial for Las Vegas victims and more

ATHENS, Tenn. – The Wayist Druid public Samhain ritual was successful despite threats of mass protest and violence. Due to threats the week before, the city posted warning notices to citizens that stated that it was illegal to disturb or interfere with any person or event that had been giving a permit. According to ritual host Archdruid Angela Wilson, Saturday’s event attracted more than 250 people. She said, “I want to personally thank everyone for coming yesterday it was a beautiful thing.”

Netflix to release the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina series Oct 26

TWH – Many of the most beloved American television and films about witches premier in October, and that is no different this year. A new version of the popular 1990s show Charmed is scheduled to begin airing on the WB October 14. And, Netflix will begin streaming The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina October 26. These shows are capitalizing on the popularity of witchcraft in pop culture as well increasing awareness and even notoriety of modern Witchcraft practice in the U.S.

Both shows are eagerly awaited as Charmed was one of the most popular witch-based shows in American entertainment history, and was created during a time when modern Witchcraft phraseology was being incorporated into the narrative in a more or less positive way, even if sensationalized. As for Sabrina, she is one of the most influential, long-lived and popular witch characters in American entertainment history, making her debut in the early 1960s.