This is what religious bigotry looks like

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Editorial by Cara Schulz

If I told you this was the illustration placed at the top of an article on a Heathen politician in a Pulitzer prize winning news publication, would you believe me?  What about if I told you the article was titled America’s Top Heathen?

The target of the article is Dan Halloran, elected to 19th City Council District in Queens in November of 2009.  The election was hotly contested and towards the end of the campaign things got ugly when Halloran’s religion, Theodism (a branch of Heathenry) was used to smear the candidate.  Disparaging articles appeared in the press and jokes were make.  Yet Halloran was still able to win the election by a narrow margin.

Now this article comes out which shows that religious bigotry is still alive and well in the New York press.  Oh good.  I had thought for a moment that NY journalists had come to their senses and realized that ridiculing a minority religion is against journalistic ethics.

The lengthy editorial appears to have been written to highlight what it perceives as Councilman Dan Halloran’s political failings while weaving in his alleged religious shortcomings.  Because of the prominent and vile cartoon and the mocking of his religion it also paints Heathenry as a joke.

Byron Ballard, who commented on the article, says it best, “But this piece takes pot shots at an elected official through the lens of his religion–mocking both interchangeably. And if that wasn’t enough, the author also takes a cheap shot at Wicca. This is a nasty piece, illustrated as offensively as possible, Sure it’s about Halloran, but the title of the piece leaves no doubt about what makes him so preposterous (and somehow amusing)–his religion.” 

 

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Jultide Celebration

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For Pagans and Heathens looking to celebrate Jule according to Old Norse traditions the options can be limited, even in Minnesota where cultural diversity means you’re of German descent instead of Norwegian or Swedish.

If a Juletide celebration is something you crave, mark December 18th on your calendar.  Guests pick a rune as they come through the door, listen to the stories of the season, dance in a circle of community, and feast and toast to one another in the Old Norse way.  You’ll also be treated to performances by Kari Tauring and Carol Sersland.

Kari Tauring says dance parties are an ancient way for a community to affirm and build their relationships with one another. “Dancing in a circle, arms linked and singing together is a way to share the mott and meign, physical space and energy,” says Tauring.  She notes that circle dances are intergenerational and much more ancient than couples dances and are important to the celebration, along with other activities you’ll experience that night, ” These celebrations have formal and formulaic rituals that bind the community together through gift-giving, food-sharing, making toasts, and singing and dancing together.”

Juletide Celebration
Sunday, December 18, 6-8 pm
Tapestry Folkdance Center
3748 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN
Admission $10 for individuals $15 for groups of up to 5
For questions call 612.722.2914

Jultide Program Includes:

  • Each attendee receives a rune on a string jule gift at the door of the Hall.
  • Opening Toast and Special Program by Kari Tauring, Carol Sersland, Stavers in the House, and recent workshop attendees.
  • Integrative Ring Dances
  • Ritual “Vaes du Hael” (Old Norse for “To Your Health”): a three-part toast to the yard (outside the building/house), the doors of the house (Tapestry Folk Dance Center), and then finally the Hall (the doors of the large studio space).
  • Grand Entrance – a longdans that leads us back onto the dance floor.
  • Lighting the rune tree and calling with runes and stavs
  • Children’s Circle Dances
  • Community Circle Dance and Farewell Song
  • Guests may bring treats to share

Organizers say that everyone is welcome and ask attendees to bring their dancing shoes as the shoes you wear to the Hall cannot be worn inside.

Starhawk to support Occupy Minnesota Dec 5-6th – Interview

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Starhawk

Starhawk,  Pagan author, Reclaiming Tradition co-founder, and social justice activist will be visiting the Twin Cities in support of the Occupy Minnesota movement next Monday and Tuesday, December 5-6th. Starhawk will be appearing Monday, December 5th at Mayday Books, 301 Cedar Ave S, on the West Bank, Minneapolis from 5-7pm offering a meeting facilitation training session. The Occupy General Assembly begins after  at 7pm at the Occupy Minneapolis site, 300 S. 6th St, Mpls, MN.   This is a fairly spontaneous trip and further details of Tuesday’s schedule and further training opportunities will be updated.

I interviewed Starhawk by phone this morning about Pagans and the Occupy movement.

What do you see as your role for the Occupy movement in Minnesota?

My role with the Occupy groups has been trying to plug-in around training and meeting facilitation. That is where I have the greatest contribution to make, and I have seen the biggest need. Everyone suddenly decided to go out for large consensus in the park, but most people don’t have any training or experience with meeting facilitation. General Assemblies are not the easiest place to start in facilitating a meeting! I have many years of experience with consensus and with different forms of meetings and group process and with democratic and horizontally structured group organizing. I think this type of group is very familiar to us in the Pagan community.

What particular experiences and perspectives might Pagans bring to the Occupy Movement?

What Pagans bring is first, most of us have experience working collaboratively in circles or small groups. That is a form of organizing. We have a basic approach to life, spirituality, to the world, that doesn’t depend on an external authority, No, we are our own authority. Secondly most Pagans learn about energy and awareness, and that is really key in preparing for action and holding and maintaining non-violence in the face of violence. Facilitating a meeting is a lot of watching the energy and moving with the energy. Thirdly, I think we bring an ethic that we are supposed to take care of the Earth, and take care of our people. We are all interconnected. We have to live our lives and shape our society based on those values. That is why the Occupy movement is really exciting.

Occupy Minnesota March

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Community Notes; Nov28-Dec4

The library of the recently dissolved Temple of the River is now available to the winner of an essay contest. The library includes books on Celtic Studies, Celtic lore and traditions, Indo-European religion, and related topics Details are available here.

There are a couple events this week at Magus Books & Herbs being taught by their amazing herbalist Liz Johnson. The first is a class Tuesday night on digestion, and the next is Wednesday and begins a three year exploration of herbs. This is one of the most in depth herb classes available in the Twin Cities. If you have a chance, this is an opportunity to learn from an expert.

Many of you remember John Michael Greer from Paganicon last year. By all accounts, he was the best guest we could have ever hoped for, and people genuinely loved him. In just a couple months he’s coming back for a weekend intensive on ceremonial magic. This is an amazing opportunity.

Speaking of Paganicon, next year will be bigger and better, March 16-18. Check it out at http://tcpaganpride.org/paganicon/ and register at http://paganicon.eventbrite.com/

Essay Contest Gives Away Celtic Temple Library

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Image courtesy of Celeste

Temple of the River has closed its doors, but not before amassing a significant library. The temple’s book collection was built to help polytheists study Celtic religion and myth. The priest of the temple, Drew Jacob is now holding an essay contest to give away the entire library to one lucky winner.

Drew Jacob, the “Rogue Priest” helped found Temple of the River in 2004 and directed the temple through its seven years of community service, including the construction of an Irish cottage building as its final worship space. “We want to see the books go to someone who will actually use them,” Jacob said. “Putting them in storage just seemed like a waste, when they could be out there in the hands of polytheists.”

The library includes a moderate collection of respected, high-quality books on Celtic Studies, Celtic lore and traditions, Indo-European religion, and related topics. A total of 41 books are included in the library.

The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2012. Entries will be judged by Jacob and at least two others, including Humanistic Paganism editor B.T. Newberg. The panel expects to announce a winner by Imbolc 2012.

Contest details and a submission cover sheet can be found here.

Editor’s note:  the above article was submitted by Drew Jacob.