Though I’ve written thousands of posts for The Wild Hunt, I couldn’t help but feel a certain sense of excitement writing today’s. Not just because I’ve been away for over a week, but because this is the first post of a newly independent Wild Hunt. A Wild Hunt that, while maintaining many of the things you’ve grown to love about our site, will also see a number of changes. The first will be that The Wild Hunt is no longer a solo venture. I am proud to welcome two new writer/reporters who will be making regular contributions each month here at this site: Rynn Fox and Heather Greene (Miraselena). Both have excellent resumes and backgrounds, and I’m excited about not only for what they’ll bring to you as readers, but also what they’ll allow me to do: spend more time writing and researching original journalism for the Pagan community.

In addition, The Wild Hunt is standing on principle, and will not only be paying our two new reporters, but will also be paying all contributors to the site from this point forward. I’ve seen a troubling trend within our culture to expect content and excellent reporting to happen without support from the community the writers are serving. While there is amazing free content out there, and many, many, talented writers who are doing this for the love of it, I feel there needs to be a space where this work is nurtured, supported, and paid for. From guest posts by top-notch writers like Eric Scott, a contributing editor at Killing The Buddha, to the contemplative writings of Teo Bishop, or the latest breaking story from a Pagan Newswire Collective bureau. So with my first post of the newly independent Wild Hunt, let me announce our annual Fall Funding Drive.

http://www.indiegogo.com/the-wild-hunt-fall-funding

Over the next month I’m hoping to raise $6000 to not only cover costs here, but to use that money to turn The Wild Hunt into an enterprise that pushes this site to a different level, one that sustains, trains, and propagates excellence in Pagan journalism, analysis, and commentary. Head over to the official IndieGoGo site for a full explanation of what the money will be used for, the various perks of becoming a Wild Hunt funder, and why your donation is so important. So spread the word, and if can, please contribute!

Here’s how we’ll spend that $6000 dollars:

$1000: Yearly Hosting Fee

$1200: $100 per month for reporter Rynn Fox

$1200: $100 per month for reporter/columnist Heather Greene

$1200: $100 per month to run stories from the Pagan Newswire Collective

$1200: Yearly budget for guest posts from other writers.

$200: Fees and other expenses.

This will, I believe, provide incentive to build better Pagan journalism, help train writers and reporters interested in emulating The Wild Hunt, and allow me (Jason) the time to write more in-depth journalism for our community.

But Jason, why aren’t you being paid in this budget? Good question! If we happen to surpass our goal, I will budget a salary for myself, but I’m more concerned with buidling a new model for Pagan media and I’m willing to put my time, energy, and money, where my mouth is. If we succeed here, maybe we can do more, build more, expect more, from our Pagan media outlets.

Free Chronic Illness Management Workshop – Friday 7pm, Oct 12th

October 11, 2012

Sherry L.M. Merriam, a Pagan and a therapist serving the Twin Cities Pagan Community at Franklin Family Services is offering a FREE workshop: Take Back Your Health: Power Tools for People with Chronic Illness, Their Caregivers, and Health Care Providers.

When: Friday, October 12, 2012, 7 PM to 8:30 PM

Location: Adler Graduate School – 1550 East 78th Street, Richfield, MN 55423

People with chronic illness and their care providers frequently feel dis-empowered – even helpless – when facing an ongoing medical condition or pain. This workshop will provide participants with empowerment through encouragement and practical tools to manage any health condition. Please register for free online .

Sherry Merriam has offered presentations of interest to Pagans at Paganicon, MARScon, CONvergence, and Minicon.

Lon Milo Duquette Releases New Song Collection – “Baba Lon II”

October 5, 2012

Ninety Three Records releases “Baba Lon II” (Anaheim Hills, CA) –

Lon Milo Duquette photo:Patheos.com

Just days before kicking off his European Fall Equinox Tour, Lon DuQuette and Ninety Three Records announced the release of his second collection this year, “Baba Lon II”, a followup to his first Ninety Three album, “I’m Baba Lon”, issued earlier this year. DuQuette, a prolific author and Aleister Crowley disciple, previously recorded for Epic Records. “Baba Lon II” continues where “I’m Baba Lon” left off, exploring his return to roots as musician, storyteller, sage and philosophical jester.

Formerly half of the 1970’s duo Charley D. & Milo, DuQuette was signed to Epic after a Southern California bar gig. He and his partner spent the next few years recording their own songs, writing and recording with Johnny Rivers, opening for Sammy Davis Jr. and performing with Arlo Guthrie. Lon “retired” from life in the fast lane in 1977 settling with his wife and son in Costa Mesa, California.

Continue reading →

Eye of Horus joins MNUnited.org

October 2, 2012

On Wednesday, September 26, the Eye of Horus Metaphysical shop announced through its Facebook page:

“Eye of Horus, as an organization, has officially joined the coalition of Minnesotans United for All Families. Owned by life-partners Thraicie Hawkner and Jane Hansen, they felt the Eye should take a stand for the spirituality and freedom of all.”

Jane shares her thoughts

We know there may be some of you who disagree or who think we shouldn’t “get involved with politics,” but we don’t think of this as a political issue. It is about human rights. At Eye of Horus, we have sought, since our inception, to create a safe place for people of alternative religious views or spiritual paths. It’s our welcoming “vibe” that people like so much.

We consider ourselves privileged and blessed to live in a state and in a city which allows us to support alternative beliefs, create rituals, and sacred spaces like our labyrinth to honor the earth and spirits of this land without hindrance. We don’t tell people what to believe, but we do hold the space which allows for the full expression of Spirit.

In fact, Thraicie and I held our hand-fasting/marriage ceremony in the 2nd floor gallery of the old Eye of Horus location over seven years ago. Our union was blessed by a Priest and Priestess of our faith, and witnessed and celebrated by our birth-families. Although we still don’t have access to the same rights as a legally married couple, it was not unconstitutional, and we can continue to hope that the laws will expand to provide us with the full rights and responsibilities of other couples.

In this time of year, so close to Samhain, I think of the ancestors who have lived here before, whose bones rest in Minnesota, including the Native Two-spirit people and my 2nd generation Norwegian father who gave his blessing to my marriage with Thraicie. It is an affront to them and to the land they have become a part of to insult them by changing the state constitution.

I’m voting NO on the Constitutional Amendment to ban marriage for same-sex couples. By doing so, I hold the space known as Minnesota as sacred space for ALL peoples and their families.

~Jane Hansen

CEO/Creative Director

Eye of Horus, Inc.

We’ve joined over 650 coalition partners

Nels Linde

Schulz co-chair on Johnson/Gray 2012 Minnesota presidential campaign

October 1, 2012October 1, 2012

Life Cycle Announcement:

Cara Schulz* has accepted a role as the co-chair in the Minnesota Gary Johnson presidential campaign for 2012. Schulz has actively supported Johnson’s candidacy after initially covering him for PNC-MN, organizing two campaign events, going door to door collecting petition signatures necessary for Johnson to appear on the Minnesota ballot, and soliciting reporters to cover the campaign whenever possible.

Says Schulz of her hopes for the Johnson campaign and her own involvement, “It’s an honor, but a daunting and unpaid one. Governor Johnson is polling at 6% nationally and 5% in Minnesota.” She adds that after a radio campaign that started last week, Johnson ranks in Ohio polls at 11%.

Schulz states that even if Johnson is not elected to the office of President of the United States, his campaign can accomplish a win for those who vote for him. “Johnson, and voters, can still win even if he doesn’t win the election. If Johnson achieves even 5% of the vote, the Libertarian Party can receive millions in federal funding and is treated as major party. This could help break the two party stranglehold we are suffering under. Johnson is also raising important issues like gay marriage being protected under the constitution, the failed drug war, our eroding civil rights, our increasing debt and suspect monetary policy. ”

Johnson runs on a platform of fiscal conservatism and socially liberal views that Schulz states she supports.

He made national news last week for filing suit over his exclusion from the presidential debates, citing violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

*Disclosure: Schulz is an editor for the PNC-Minnesota bureau.

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