Category: Human Interest

NEWS FLASH: Sacred Paths Center to Close in May

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Sacred Paths Center’s Executive Director Teisha Magee issued a statement by email today:

“After much heartache, soul-searching and tears, it has become clear that Sacred Paths Center cannot continue. Our expenses are too high in this location and we are just not getting enough money coming through the door. All of our resources are tapped, and our volunteers are worn out.”

Teisha states the center  will be closing its doors by the end of May 2012.  A  public announcement will follow later.

 

PNC Minnesota will provide follow up information as it is publicly released.

Nels Linde

Local Pagans offer Podcasts

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Several area Pagans are producing podcasts. These are sometimes live with call in options, and sometimes prerecorded. The subject matter is wide, and may be of interest to Pagan listeners. Your best bet is to look these up and bookmark upcoming shows that may be of interest to you!  There are doubtless others out there, but I was able to briefly talk with the host of most of these.

“Edge Mysteries & Beyond” with Joseph A. Amara   – Third Saturday of each month 3-4pm

Join Joseph A. Amara, one of the owners of Magus Books, as he discusses the Mysteries of life and spirituality that serve to bring wonder and meaning into our lives. He will highlight new and popular book titles, as well as answer listener questions and conduct interviews with luminaries in the fields of Magick and Mysticism. Joseph, “The show is pretty open ended. We explore ‘Mystery’ which is a wide field. It is a mix of lectures and will begin some interview shows. People can call, or  ‘chat’  in, during the broadcast. Upcoming topics are Neoplatonism, Gnosticism, and Alchemy”

“Sit a Spell “ with Lisa Lee – Every Wednesday night at 6PM CST

Sit a Spell is broadcast from ‘Heaven and Earth Essentials’ in Sauk Center, MN. The show includes both prerecorded and call in shows. The show appears on some FM radio stations nationally.Learn new spells, find out what the craft is really all about all while getting the latest news and reviews about topics that matter to us. The show blends an eclectic mix of conversation, interviews, and live events with recipes and rituals to empower the divine within. Lisa said the focus of the show is, “Empowering people, building them up. Making them feel strong and loved. Trying to displel all the negative stereotypes out there about ‘witches’. I am all about helping our community and what interests people, and am open to show ideas! ”

Circle Craft Study with Selena Fox – Live on Tuesday nights from 8-9 pm central time.
The show will include instruction, invocation, guided meditation, and a time for discussion & call-ins.
Call in number: (347) 308-8222. Shows also will be available for later listening on-line archives at the Pagans Tonight Radio Network site on Blog Talk Radio.

Other upcoming shows include:

Tuesday, April 10: Renewal with the Green Man
Green Man lore, magic & meditation for personal and planetary well-being.

Tuesday, April 17: Earth Day Ritual & Mother Earth Communion
Celebrate Earth Day with this guided ritual & meditation.

Tuesday, April 24: Celebrating Beltane
Old & new ways of bringing in the May. Creating personal & group Beltane rites.

Tuesday, May 1: Beltane Magic
Guided Beltane inner journey & ritual for creativity & inner growth.

The Great North Pagan Podcast  is a monthly broadcast from the Fargo-Moorehead area. Lion Lord produces episodes with an occaisional special broadcast of rituals or other events. The episodes (audio) and special events (video) are available on Youtube.   Lion Lord,  “Content is recorded and uploaded, but we have plans to offer some live podcasts in the future. We have covered the many shops in the area, covered paranormal phenomena, and Pagan rights. In a recent episode we discussed Paganism in the media and Hollywood. We also cover rituals and rites, and did a special of Pagan caroling. We broadcasted live a Ombolc ritual which is also available online.”

Bridging the Gap  – with Wildflower – First Thursdays each month at 8pm Central 

is an ‘as scheduled ‘ podcast to explore bridging the gap between metaphysics, success, and self-discovery. The show is sometimes live, sometimes recorded. Hosted by Wildflower the show both explores metaphysics and also offers tips for things to take away and apply in your personal life. Wildflower, “Listeners will gain new insights and tools to implement these. I recently interviewed Giorgio A. Tsoukalos of the show Ancient Aliens from the History channel, a very interesting discussion.”

“On the Edge…of Everything” with SchaOn & Cathy – Second Sunday of each month 11am-1pm

Join SchaOn and Cathy – as well as a Special Guest – as they talk about the latest news and updates in Holistic Health care .  SchaOn, “ It is a live show with call ins. We talk with a local guest or have an interview about what is happening in our society that affects people’s health. We make the connection between those things that may negatively impact our health and so also impact our spirituality, practice, and capabilities. Good health also involves caring for the Earth and our bodies, and so we ask the questions and seek answers for ourselves about what is best for both.”

Visit Edgetalk radio for several other offerings that Pagans might find interesting!

Nels Linde

A Day with Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson

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Note from the Editor: On Thursday I was able to do something few have the chance to do: spend the entire day with a Presidential candidate.  Two-term Governor of New Mexico and likely Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson came to Minnesota for a fundraiser.  What I learned during our time together reinforced the idea that this candidate means it when he claims to represent all Americans.  

Gov. Gary Johnson, from the GQ article “Is This the Sanest Man Running for President?

Gary Johnson doesn’t pander to religious extremists. He also shrugs off the conventional wisdom that associating with religious minorities, such as Pagans, is a bad idea.  Back in October, he participated in a Pagan Media Town Hall, at the time when mainstream media most loves to write derogatory fluff articles about Pagans and “real” witches.  Johnson was roundly mocked for his participation by the mainstream press. Even after that, he still accepts me, an open Pagan,  as his Minnesota host.

I meet Johnson at the airport on Thursday; he’s dressed casually with a backpack slung over one shoulder.  It  looks natural on him, an avid outdoors man.  Paragliding, climbing Mount Everest, ironman triathlons, are all part of his life.  His fitness can only help him: his schedule has him running from one event to the next for the next five days, with a schedule that spreads from 4 am to very late at night.

IMG climber and former governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, on the summit of Everest with his guide Dave Hahn. photo credit International Mountain Guides

At the baggage claim we talk about safe subjects like weather, the flight, losing your luggage.  I can’t help teasing him just a bit.  I ask, “So, have you ever been picked up by a crazy cat lady with six cats waiting for you in the car?”

He stops scanning the carousel for his bag and looks at me, “Do you have six cats waiting for me in the car?”

I laugh, assuring him no cats await him in my car.  This sparks a discussion of a bill put before him during his time as the Governor of New Mexico.  It sought to limit the number of animals a person could own in an attempt to stop animal hoarding.  He vetoed the bill because people should be able to have as many pets as they can care for, and if the pets are not cared for, animal welfare addresses that.  He notes that animal hoarding is a mental illness; no bill can cure someone of mental illness and this bill would have made that illness a crime. His views on illness extends to drugs.  “Drug addiction is a public health issue, not a criminal justice issue,” he says. Johnson favors legalizing marijuana and commuting sentences for persons incarcerated on non-violent drug charges.

After grabbing his bag we head to the cat-free car and drive to Hyatt Place South Minneapolis.  There, like most everywhere we go, Johnson acts like an average citizen.  His unassuming demeanor and lack of entourage grant him anonymity. Also contributing is the 7% to 9% he’s at in the polls, the reason that brings him to Minnesota.

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After the Snakes: Photos from 2012 Paganicon All Snakes Day Ball

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This slideshow requires JavaScript.


Reports are coming back that 2012 Paganicon had double the attendance it had in its inaugural year, including about half the participants going to the All-Snakes Day ball. As Cara Schulz has noted in the past, Pagans have a rather unique take on festival fashion – and as you can see in the above slideshow, interpretations of style this year got downright mythological.

Note: Despite best efforts, the colors in certain costumes appear different on different computer screens.

Pagan and Poly – A Single Mom – Last in an Interview Series

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Michelle is a busy single mom. She has a ten-year old daughter, and two adult sons, one of whom lives with her.

How long have you known you are poly?
I ended a marriage about five years ago. After that I just knew marriage wasn’t going to work for me. I didn’t know what to call it until someone told my what poyamorous was. When I was dating  after my divorce, it just seemed silly to have to make a decision about who I wanted to have a romantic relationship with. Why did I have to do a choosing? If everyone was agreeable why couldn’t we have more than one relationship?

What was the discussion like when you talked about polyamory?
I had tried dating a few times but  the first time I clicked with anyone he lived about 70 minutes away. We decided to try an ‘open’  relationship, because of the distance. He was presuming we each might have a ‘casual’ encounter now and then, but not an additional ongoing romantic relationship. I didn’t know what polyamory was, or have any definitions. It was a little more difficult to adjust to when I found an additional romantic relationship, because of our casual definitions.  I had to find my own way, negotiating into polyamory. He got over it. In the other relationship, he was polyamorous, and knew how it worked. For him it was , “Yup, that’s great!” He is a lot closer, he only lives a few miles away.

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