The Community Issue (Preview)

#22 Winter 2011 W&P 1 BBIMEDIA.COM CRONEMAGAZINE.COM SAGEWOMAN.COM WITCHESANDPAGANS.COM

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26 36 people 26 Selena Fox: Priestess of the People Michael Night Sky explores the cornucopia of projects, campaigns, festivals, 49 gatherings and communities nurtured by the legendary Pagan rights activist and Circle Sanctuary founder Selena Fox.

49 A Teacher and His Vision Diotima Mantinea explores the challenges of creating a thriving community and magical tradition with priest, author and organizer Ivo Dominguez, Jr. place 36 Southern, Pagan, & Proud Pagans in the American South, the “Buckle of the Bible Belt”? You betcha. Hank Eder takes us on a tour of this surprising hotbed of Pagan activism, home to a growing number of stout-hearted Wiccans, Witches, Heathens and Pagans. PLUS Pagan resources in the American South, a guide to over 130 Pagan-friendly stores and community groups in twelve Deep South states. practice 55 Weaving the Web: 30 Years of Building a Culture Deidre Arthen describes the challenges and triumphs of creating and growing an enspirited, sustainable magical home in the EarthSpirit Community.

58 Called to Lead Three steps from Lisa McSherry to creating a healthy magical group — one that lasts! 55

#22 Winter 2011 W&P 1 witches&pagans Earthwise Spirituality for Today

departments 3 Evocation Letter from the editor 4 Contributors Meet our writers! 5 Give & Take Feedback from readers 13 Art & Craft DIY Magick Make Your Own Mojo Bag by Deborah Castellano 15 Insights Ideas for reflection Passing of a Modern Druid by Alan Salmi 17 Clio’s Corner Pagan poetry by Chris Hoffman, Caroline Misner, Hugh Eckert, and Lorraine Schein. 15 19 Enchantment Pagan short fiction The Sisters of Maria by Eli Effinger-Weintraub. 85 Spell It Out Reviews with moxie. Plus Bespelled mini-reviews. 95 Marketplace Products & Services 96 Good Witch/Bad Witch teachers & mentors 63 The Craft Tess Whitehurst 67 Connections Archer 69 Underworld R. J. Stewart 73 Beyond the Circle Ashleen O’Gaea 75 Wyrd Ways Galina Krasskova 77 Wild Child Sierra Black 79 Rite Behavior Kenaz Filan 81 Figs & Honey Ruby Sara 83 Magick on a Shoestring Deborah Blake 19 witches&pagans (ISSN 1546-2838) is published quarterly by BBI Media, Inc., P.O. Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 97116, and at additional mailing offices. Periodicals postage paid at Forest Grove, OR 97116 and at additional mailing offices. Yearly subscriptions: in U.S. $22, elsewhere $33. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to witches&pagans, P. O. Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 97116. Editor: Anne Newkirk Niven; Art Editor, Design and IT Support: Alan Niven; Editorial Assistant: Arthur Niven; Proofreader: Shanti Fader; Review Wrangler: Phil Brucato; Office Deities: Aidan & Andrew Niven. Cover image © 2010 EyeDance Photography.

Office: BBI Media, witches&pagans, P. O. Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 97116 · USA · Phone 888-724-3966 or (503)430-8817. B B Office hours 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Pacific, M-F. Contents copyright ©2010 BBI Media, Inc. Printed by Ripon Printers, Ripon, WI. http://www.witchesandpagans.com · [email protected] · Order online at http://bbimedia.com/store/. On Facebook (fan site for Witches and Pagans), and Twitter http://twitter.com/WitchesandPagan (“Pagan” is singular not plural).

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2 W&P witchesandpagans.com EVOCATION Editorial Notes by Anne Newkirk Niven

Nothing to fear but fear itself. The battle for Pagan civil rights begins at home.

“We must hang together, gentlemen...else, It wasn’t her anxiety about being “outed” as a Pagan You see, the thing that most effectively fights we shall most assuredly hang separately.” that surprised me but the seeming contradiction between bigotry — kills it dead, really — is building personal — Benjamin Franklin the two parts of our conversation. “How,” I fulminated to connections. We humans are a clannish species, we divide Alan (my copublisher and husband), “can anyone expect up into our little cliques and don’t give a good gol-darn took a call yesterday from a subscriber that got me the media to take us seriously when we act like such, such about offending those “outsiders” — but if we become thinking about the media, Pagan civil rights, and, sitting ducks?!” When I finally wound down long enough friends, neighbors, even family with a member of that Ieventually, Pagan self-respect. to take a breath, he inserted sensibly, “It all comes down “other” group, well, that’s a different thing altogether. My caller began by telling me how angry she was to fear, my dear — the more fear rules us, the less likely However, it is very difficult, if not downright impossible about the ridicule being heaped on Witches (and, by we are to stand up for our rights.” for us to create these most essential connections on behalf reference, on Paganism in general) in connection with the Of course, he was completely right: fear causes of our faith whilst we are hiding in our wardrobes. campaign of Christine O’Donnell. paralysis. That’s bigotry’s not-so-secret weapon — divide Yes, Broom Closet denizens, I’m talking to you. O’Donnell — for those of you who turned off your and conquer. Want to take over a social group, especially I’m not saying that everyone reading this should run media feeds during the mid-term campaign this fall and, in a time of anxiety? Pick a little-understood minority, right out and put up a billboard with their photo that says, honestly, who could blame you — was the Tea Party isolate them, and when they are most vulnerable, attack. “My name is [your name here] and I’m a Witch. I’m not darling and Senate candidate from Delaware who “outed” Follow up by encouraging others to join in and don’t anything you’ve heard. I’m you.” (Although it’s a tempting herself as having “dabbled in witchcraft” as a teen. This forget to demonize the victims. Sadly, such primal bullies image, don’t you think?) Instead, what I’m suggesting admission didn’t work out so well; her first major TV ad prey on deeply-rooted parts of the human psyche. is much more simple: by Imbolc/Brigid/Groundhog Day focused on disavowing her past by declaring, “I am not a In his 1996 book, Emotional Intelligence, Pulitzer- “come out” (as Pagan, Heathen, Wiccan, or whatever you witch. I’m not anything you’ve heard ... I’m you.” Prize nominee Daniel Goleman coined the term call your path) to just one other person. Pick anyone — a Both establishment media and the blogosphere “Amygdala Hijacking” to describe an emotional response fellow volunteer at a local charity; your postal carrier, hair- didn’t let up on the Witch jokes for the remainder of the which is out of measure with the actual threat. As dresser, or dog-walker — it doesn’t really matter who. campaign. Some were mildly amusing (Saturday Night Goleman explains it, the brain processes stimuli by Don’t preach, teach, or screech; just drop your tidbit into Live’s “I am not a witch” parody ad) while others were directing sensory information to the neocortex (the the conversation as if you were talking about being a fan notably rude. First place in the latter category has to go to “thinking brain”), which then routes the signal to the of a college football team or a popular sitcom. Be drama- Keith Olberman’s bizarre October 5th Countdown segment amygdala (the “emotional brain”) for the proper reaction. free, and let it go. If your colleague, friend, or fellow featuring a green-skinned, cross-dressing comedian as a Perceived threats, however, can bypass the neocortex transit-rider wants to know more, they’ll ask. Otherwise, “genuine witch” who claimed to “have a broomstick up and trigger our most primitive responses. Goleman you’ve dropped your stone in the pond; let the Universe my a--.” In general, O’Donnell’s “witchy” past was treated comments, “Emotions make us pay attention and give us guide where the ripples go. as clear evidence that she’s a member of the lunatic an immediate plan … Do I eat it, or does it eat me?”1 I know just how scary this is, believe me; I have my fringe. (She lost, big time, on Election Day.) Today’s issues, however, are more subtle than facing Broom Closet moments almost every day when someone My caller hammered on for a good ten minutes down a sabre-toothed tiger; as a result, our instinctual asks me what I do for a living. about how Paganism is the Rodney Dangerfield (“I can’t emotional responses are rarely effective. For example, in “I publish magazines,” is my chirpy reply. get no respect!”) of modern religions. “Why can’t they the face of the mockery, veiled threats, and systematic “What kind of magazines?” comes the inevitable understand that we are a legitimate path?” she asked devaluation that we Pagans endure every year from follow-up. plaintively. Gently nudging her onto a topic that I thought Samhain through Yuletide, our instinctive reaction is to And that’s the moment when I have to decide just might be less emotionally loaded, I noted that her retreat into solitary hermitage until around Beltane. But how intimate I want to be with my loan officer, postal subscription was in need of renewal, and maybe she’d like while this “strategic retreat” may be soothing (and who clerk, or auto repair person. Mostly I take a deep breath, to do that over the phone? doesn’t want curl up with a good book until spring?) it and say, “I publish three magazines — they are called “Does the magazine still come in a plain white doesn’t serve us well as a community of faith. SageWoman, Witches & Pagans, and Crone.” Sometimes wrapper?” she queried tremulously. I reassured her that It’s a simple fact that no civil rights campaign — that stops the questions dead, and other times it sparks all our magazines are sent in innocuous, fully-sealed and never forget that the right to practice our faith an entirely new conversation — but in any case, in one envelopes, but she continued to stress how frightened she without persecution is a fundamental human right — simple sentence I’ve put a new face into one person’s was that someone might discover her secret identity. “I was ever won without struggle. And in that difficult and mind, a face that they’ll flash on the next time they hear guess I’ll have to go back to buying it from the store in the essential undertaking neither the most dedicated Pagan those hot-button words “Witch” and “Pagan.” My face. next town over, even though I can’t really afford the gas leaders (like those featured throughout this issue) nor the Every one of us has a broom in our closet some- to drive there,” she concluded as she rang off. “It’s too bad, most powerful magic can hope to succeed without the where; but together we can take just one more brave step towards the Light. ANNE NEWKIRK NIVEN. but I don’t want anything bad to happen to me.” efforts of each and every one of us, the foot soldiers in the 1http://www.umass.edu/fambiz/articles/values_culture/primal_ I was floored. battle for Pagan civil rights. leadership.html.

#22 Winter 2011 W&P 3 CONTRIBUTORS EDITORIAL NOTES Deirdre Pulgram Arthen (“Weaving the Astrologer, gardener, and writer Diotima Web: 30 Years of Building a Culture”) is the direc- Mantineia (“A Teacher and His Vision”) COLUMN RENEWAL & ADDITION tor of EarthSpirit. She writes rituals, songs, and practices Wicca, and utilizes shamanic practices We’ve had a bit of a shake-up in our columns chants, organizes large for healing and to live in harmony with Nature. with this issue. In honor of her long connections events, teaches and Studying Chinese martial arts has given her a in the Pagan community writes, and has been deep appreciation of Taoist thought, and she is (and the fact that her kids a Witch for over thirty currently learning an are growing up) Ashleen years. She is active in the African indigenous O’Gaea has changed the international interfaith spiritual tradition topic of her column “Family movement and has with Malidoma Magic” to the wider theme of Pagan community, and offered presentations at Somé. Find her retitled it “Beyond the Circle.” four Parliaments of the astrology practice Replacing Ashleen in this World’s Religions. Her life partner Andras Corban at http://www. critical position is Sierra Arthen is the founder of EarthSpirit. raniaswell.com/ Black with her new column diotima.htm. “Wild Child.” If you like Sierra’s column, also check Deborah Castellano out her blog at www.childwild.com. (“Make Your Own Interviewer Michael Night Sky (“Selena Sadly, Judy Harrow, who has been writing the Mojo Bag”) has been a Fox: Priestess of the People”) is a Witch and “Mind & Magic” column (first in PanGaia and then in practicing hearth witch student of Magick, currently Red Priest with the Witches & Pagans) since 2004, is retiring the column for the last thirteen years. Circle of the Heartbeat’s due to health issues. We wish her well and send her She posts regularly in her Drum. He has been a healing energy. blog, “Charmed, I’m Sure” longtime contributor ` and her fiction has been to Witches & Pagans. STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, published by Cleis Press and Freya’s Bower. He lives in San Diego MANAGEMENT and CIRCULATION County, California, Publication Title: Witches&Pagans. Publication Journalist Hank Eder (“Southern, Pagan & and can be reached at No: 021-794. Filing Date: 9/29/09. Issue Frequency: Proud”) lives in the mountains of Western North [email protected]. Quarterly. No. of Issues Published Annually: 4. Annual Carolina. He likens himself to the character in Subscription Price: $22. Hesse’s Siddhartha, who borrows a little bit Priestess Lisa McSherry (“Called to Lead”) Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: P.O. Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 97116. Full from many paths to make his own way. Hank has been working in groups of various forms names and Complete Mailing Address of Publisher, has been a graphics for more than thirty years and has led a coven Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: Blessed Bee, designer, news (www.jaguarmoon. Inc., P.O. Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 97116; Editor: Anne reporter with the org) for ten. She Newkirk Niven, P.O. Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 97116. Miami Herald, middle is the author of Owner: Blessed Bee, Inc., P.O. Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 97116. Anne Newkirk Niven, P.O. Box 687, Forest Grove, school teacher, and Magickal Connections: OR 97116, stockholder; Alan Niven, 3130 Lavina Dr., “busking” street Creating A Lasting Forest Grove, OR 97116, stockholder. Known Bondhold- musician. His current and Healthy Spiritual ers, Mortgages, and Other Security Holders Owning or projects includes co- Group and owner of Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, writing a screenplay Facing North (www. Mortgages or Other Securities: None. about bipolar illness and canned religion to be facingnorth.net). Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average Num- produced by an Asheville film company. Catch ber of Copies each issue during preceding 12 months/ Alan Salmi (“Passing of a Modern Druid”) Actual Number of Copies of Single Issue published up with Hank at [email protected]. nearest to filing date. Total Copies: 14943/15450 is an initiate of the Hermetic Order of Sales Through Dealers and Carrier, Street Vendors and Eli Effinger-Weintraub (“The Sisters of Chicago, an astrologer and a psychotherapist. Counter Sales and Other Paid Distribution Outside Maria”) is a naturalistic Reclaiming cottage witch His passions include comparative religions, USPS: 6611/7184. Paid or Requested Mail Subscriptions rooted in the Twin martial arts, hypnosis, Stated on Form 3541: 3074/3249. Paid Distribution Cities Watershed. Her and classical in Other Classes of Mail Through USPS: 422/361. Total writing is included in astrology. He lives Paid and/or Requestor Circulation: 10107/10794. Free Distribution by Mail Included on USPS Form 3541: anthologies by Seal in Chicago with too 295/308. Free Distribution Outside the Mail: 0/0. Free Press and Alyson Books, many books and not or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes through and in Steampunk Tales. enough time. He can the USPS: 0/0. Total Distribution: 14943/15450. Copies Follow her at http:// be contacted at alan@ Not Distributed: 4445/4348. Percentage Paid and/or backbooth.thesane.net. alansalmi.com. Requested Circulation: 97%/97%. `

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