Category: Human Interest

Editorial – UMPA Pagans Walk the Talk

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Many Pagans describe their religion as “Earth-Centered.” I’ve found this a rather puzzling statement since I wouldn’t describe my path as that way and I don’t usually see much difference between the actions of Pagans and non-Pagans in regard to the earth. I hear a marked difference how they talk about the earth as sacred, but as my mother taught me, “If you want to know what a person really believes and values, watch their actions and ignore their words.” I don’t know, I don’t think we show by our actions that we are any more or less “Earth-Centered” than any other group in the US.

Which is why I was excited by the prospect of picking up garbage with a group of fellow Pagans last Sunday. The group is the Upper Midwest Pagan Alliance, UMPA for short. They used to sponsor a 2 mile stretch of highway out by Anoka under Minnesota’s Adopt a Highway Program. Now they have claimed a section of 35E near Hugo. Last Sunday was the first time UMPA cleaned their new bit of interstate.

I was delayed by work and arrived on scene about an hour late. A group of five had already donned their attractive safety vests, put on work gloves, grabbed trash bags and sticks, and were picking up trash along side the North-bound lane. Judy gave me safety tips, helped me suit up, and then John joined us to do the South-bound lane.

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Witches Respond to O’Donnell’s “I’m Not A Witch” Ad

Delaware Senatorial candidate Christine O’Donnell aims to get her campaign back on track after a video of her admitting to “dabbling in witchcraft” came to light. While some on the political Right were quick to attack O’Donell as a Satanist, it was the ridicule from the Left that took many Pagans off guard. The very thought of witchcraft was publicly mocked in the media and treated as a reason O’Donnell is unfit for office.

To counter this, the O’Donnell campaign has released this ad with the attention grabbing title “I’m not a witch, I’m you”:

In it, O’Donnell attempts to position herself as an everywoman candidate saying “I’m not a witch, I’m nothing you’ve heard. I’m you.”

But what if you are a witch?

Pagans from around the country have begun to respond by posting “I am a Witch”videos to YouTube.  As these videos come out, PNC-National is adding them to our YouTube channel.  (Click the link to see all the videos) One of the of videos so far:

This series of videos by witches not only push back at the idea that witches are the “other”, but they highlight that witches pay their taxes, are active in their community and they vote.

What about Minnesota witches? Will you be posting an “I am a witch” video? If so let us know and we will add you to our channel.

Patrick Stewart Remembrance – Saturday, Sept 25th

From Circle Times:

Sgt. Patrick Stewart, was the first Wiccan soldier to be killed in action in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was killed along with four other US troops of “Mustang 22” when their helicopter was shot down by enemy fire.

Patrick Stewart

Saturday, September 25, 2010 is the fifth anniversary of their death and will include the dedication of a US Army National Guard Memorial in their honor at the Army National Guard facility near Reno, Nevada at 2 pm PDT:

In addition, a Remembrance Rite will be conducted by Selena Fox & Pagan Continue reading →

Adopt/Release a Hawk

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By Susu Jeffrey

(Hawk Ridge, Duluth, Minnesota) She is three months old, with golden irises in her unblinking eyes. This female sharp-shinned hawk—“my” sharpshin, but I know better—is on her way to wintering in Central America. She was born in northern Minnesota or southern Canada, was just netted and banded and will be released in minutes.

Juvenile Female Sharp-shinned Hawk, Photo by David Smith, Grand Junction, Colorado


It’s Tuesday and Equinox eve, I just drove 165-miles through early fall color. Lake Superior is three shades of blue and I can feel a heart beat in my right hand holding the warm, three-month-old, female, golden-eyed, sharp-shinned hawk.

She eats song birds (sparrows, robins, chickadees, even blue jays) and occasionally dragonflies a staffer says. She catches her prey in a lightning strike with her talons, then perches somewhere to pluck the feathers and eat.

There are three staff members, plus a bird banding team, plus four volunteers, and an hourly count of passing raptors. She is one of nine sharpshins released today—so far.
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Festival Virgins Find Community

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Below are interviews of two new attendees to Sacred Harvest Festival. What they both found on arrival was that unique sense of community created by our experienced Minnesota festivants. Zach attended as a practicing Lutheran, Rachael as a dedicated Gardnerian student.

Click to listen to Zach’s interview.

Zach, –  Festival Virgin, Practicing Lutheran
I identify my self as a Lutheran. I teach Sunday school and do a lot of volunteer work there. I don’t make it every Sunday, but I try to be active.

This is all completely new to you?
Well it kind of started out with me asking a friend of mine about it, I asked him what he does for his religion. I’m kind of a religious nerd I guess. I have gone to Native American reservations, gone into Islamic Mosques, and talked to people. I just like to gain perspective I guess. I was curious to begin with and when invited to attend, I said , “Sure, sign me up!”. I’ll see what it is all about.

What has your experience been like?
I was a tiler  for The Hunt last night. That was really awesome to see the breakdown of how it went. I have never really done a ritual like that before, never one that was that in-depth for people. A friend was a hunter, and so it was fascinating to see the three days fasting and the change from then to today. I don’t know if I can feel the ‘energy’ and stuff that people talk about, but I could definitely tell that spiritually there was a lot going on. Continue reading →