The closing of the Sacred Paths Center leaves people grieving. All five stages are represented. Anger: “Someone must have done something wrong.” Denial: “So they’ll just have another fund raiser and open up again.” Bargaining, “What can we do to keep it open?” Depression: “There’s just something wrong with us that we can’t make this work.” And acceptance. It was a good three years, and a lot of good came from having the Sacred Paths Center. It was five years between the closing of The New Alexandria Library and the opening of the Sacred Paths Center. Each was open for over 3 years, and demonstrated that this community does want a community center. There are lessens to learn, memories to cherish, and work to continue.

If the Sacred Paths Center had a positive experience on your life, please leave a comment telling about your personal experience at https://pncminnesota.com/2012/05/07/sacred-paths-center-to-close-an-obituary-for-our-community-center/ . If you would like to read more about the situation leading to the center’s closing, you can do so at https://pncminnesota.com/2012/05/10/after-the-obituary-a-post-mortem-on-sacred-paths-center/ It’s also discussed in the popular Pagan blog The Wild Hunt at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2012/05/the-closing-of-pagan-community-center.html

With the closing of the Sacred Paths Center, several regular events are having to find new locations.

* Coffee Cauldron is still looking for a new home, but for now will be continuing at Caribou Coffee, 1127 Larpenteur Avenue West, Saint Paul, MN 55113.

* The Briar Patch American Tribal Style® belly dancing classes will continue every Wednesday with Level 1 at 6:30 and Level 2 at 7:30 at Shift Studio at 1304 University Ave NE, Minneapolis and more information at http://www.petalsthornsandhips.com/mn/ .

* The Mentoring Elders program will be meeting at various people’s homes, so contact Volkhvy at volkhvy@stonedragonpress.com and include “Mentoring Elders Program” in the subject line to find the next location.

* People interested in classes and sessions with Reiki Laughter can contact Maggie through http://www.reikilaughter.com/

As the community is still recovering from the shock of losing the Sacred Paths Center, it was just announced that Shadow Lights Minnesota will be closing. It’s sad to lose a metaphysical shop, and in the course of one month, we’re losing two. Here’s the entire official notice about the closing of Shadow Lights Minnesota:

Dear friends,
It is with much sadness that Kim and I must make the following announcement. As many of you know, Kim has a full time job outside our store. Her job is now requiring us to move on for her to remain employed. Shadow Lights Minnesota, at least our physical location here in Prior Lake must close to facilitate this move.

This breaks our heart as it’s been our hope to provide something needed to the community and you’ve all responded with great enthusiasm. Albeit our store, since day one, has continued on the right road and has become self sustaining, it is not where we need it to be to support our whole family in our short 19 months of existence. Our little brick and mortar shoppe opened in Sept, 2010 and has slowly continued to prosper in a very tough economy and we owe all of that to you!

As our thank you to our friends and customers, Shadow Lights Minnesota will have a “Moving Sale” starting this Friday, May 11th, 2012. All items in the store will be sold. This is your chance to purchase every item in the store at 40% or more off and this includes displays, tables, shelving, etc. We will sell all merchandise at our cost. This means you’ll be able to purchase all new merchandise at the wholesale price. Displays, etc will be properly depreciated and sold below cost.

Please understand we won’t sell out for less than we’ve invested in this and if you own a business and wish to purchase items “wholesale” bring in your tax EIN, etc. and we’ll accommodate you for sales tax purposes. Kim will continue to make candles and they will continue to be available on our website after the store closes. Thank you all so very much for your support. ~ Kim and John Hinnenkamp, Owners, Shadow Lights MN.

Next Sunday is the huge May Day celebration in Powderhorn Park. There is nothing else on the calendar for that day. Really, what could possibly compete with the Heart of the Beast May Day celebration? There’s a huge parade which is scheduled to start at 1pm, but will most likely start later. There’s a pageant across the lake, to the stage. There are vendors and booths galore. It is the return of summer to our land.

Traditionally, Paganism was always the religion of the place it is practiced. With that in mind, the May 6th May Day celebration at Powderhorn Park is a huge part of how our community celebrates this festival on the wheel of the year. Hopefully you’ll be able to make it.

There’s a mixer for Heathen Men & Wiccan Women at Merlin’s Rest Monday May 7 at 7pm. Yes this event does have heteronormative love-connection overtones, but for many years heterosexual Wiccan women have had a difficult time finding spiritually like-minded heterosexual men. Also, the Pagan movement is very Wiccan-centric, so it’s important for Wiccans to mix with people of other paths to remember that this movement can accommodate many views.

Many Heathens are looking at modern Paganism and finding that it does not reflect who they are, and they are declaring that they are not Pagan. Historically, there are few people who have more claim to the Pagan label then Heathens, so losing them is significant. The Pagan movement is large enough to accommodate many different religions.

The character of the local Pagan community should be able to accommodate the Heathen community. We are the Northern folk. We are people of ice and water. Heathens should have a place in this Pagan community, and if they don’t feel like they do, then maybe more effort needs to be made to make sure that they do.

So hopefully next Monday’s mixer will be well attended, and hopefully there will be many more events which attempt to integrate Heathens and other Pagans. The loss of the Heathens could be the single greatest schism taking place in the Pagan community.