Follow the Moon: Astrology of intention and mindfulness

by Teri Parsley Starnes

Teri’s interest with astrology lies with helping people see how following a practice of intention and self-awareness leads to a fuller relationship with Mystery. Astrology is a wonderful tool for this. Her weekly column orients readers to the seasonal energy of
each month’s Sun sign in order to set magical/mindful intention for the lunar month beginning at the New Moon.

Each week Teri will write about the unfolding energies that support and challenge our intentions. The ebb and flow of the lunar cycle resides deep in our souls. Through following the phases of the Moon, we remember the natural cycles that guide us.

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Pagan tornado relief effort for Oklahoma underway

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MOORE, OK - MAY 20: Debris covers the ground after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma.

MOORE, OK – MAY 20: Debris covers the ground after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma.

Pagans are doing what they can to assist the victims of the recent Oklahoma EF-5 tornado and Solar Cross, a group devoted to service and education for Pagans, is soliciting donations for relief efforts.  Solar Cross is working directly with Marcia Carter Tillison, a Pagan in Norman OK, and with OpOK, a consortium of Occupy, Food Not Bombs and other activist groups working together to get supplies and help with on the ground clean up efforts in Moore. Ms. Tillison has on the ground experience in disaster relief in Haiti.  Pagan author T Thorn Coyle, who has lead workshops in the Twin Cities, is spearheading the fundraising drive for Solar Cross.

Marcia-Tilson-Volunteer-Coordinator1-300x300As of Saturday, Solar Cross has collected $545 in donations and was able to send 400 N95 rated respirators, 58 pairs of work gloves, 50 safety goggles, 20 tarps, and 10 shovels. Tillison said, “Thank you thank you thank you! Your donations will be distributed within 24 hours of the time they arrive and sent out to Little Axe, Newcastle and the outlying areas that are not receiving the outpouring the greater area of Moore is.”

More donations are needed. Continued storms and hail pelt the devastated region, hampering relief efforts and destroying what little possessions people have left.  OpOK says there are over 13,000 homes, a school, and a hospital affected and they are working to help   people that are falling through the gaps.

The fundraising effort by Solar Cross help provide supplies such as garbage bags, rakes, shovels, gloves, duct tape, tarps, and heavy duty storage bins. Donations can be made via paypal to solarcrosstemple@gmail.com with the subject line marked “Tornado Relief”.

New Pagan Emblem for Veterans Grave Markers

Thor’s Hammer or Mjolnir

With no announcement or fanfare the image of a Thor’s Hammer appeared May 2nd on the list of approved images for “Emblems of Belief’   for veteran’s grave markers.  After the approval of the Pentacle in April, 2007 , many Pagans expressed the desire for support to seek approval of other pagan images, including the Mjolner. The Department of Veterans Affairs consistently maintained their established process of application would accommodate new images. Applications for a new image must be from a relative of the deceased veteran, and contain all the required information, including a copyright free image.

The story of this symbol of belief’s approval was reported May 14th, on the The Wild Hunt . Personal details were withheld at the families request, but it was reported the deceased, Shane, was an Odinist and a Sargent in the United States Marines.  At the request of his mother and with the help of comrades this image was applied for, and for her husband, Mark’s grave marker.

I asked Bress Nicnevin, from Lodge Yggdrasill, what this meant to him:

Are there veterans in your group?

Yes, there are.

How do you feel now the Mjolnir is approves as an emblem of belief?

I think it is appropriate and long overdue. Everyone should have whatever symbol they request on their grave memorial. This approval is a very good thing for all Heathens and Pagans ! Veterans should have the choice for an emblem that represents their faith, it is not about what is an approved religion.

Is the Thor’s hammer a specifically Odinist symbol?

I believe they have a specific symbol of a cross within a circle. The Mjolner is associated more with Asatru and Heathenism in general. The Mjolnir speaks to a broader spectrum of Heathen and Norse faiths including Odinism.  Thor is the “working mans” god, and over the centuries has become the “free mans”  god.  The plight of Heathenism today is probably more on Thor’s shoulders than Odin’s in the modern age.

Since the approval of the pentacle as a symbol of belief area Pagans have gathered at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery to honor Sgt. Jason Schumann and Specialist Daniel Schrankler as part of a Memorial Day observance.  Sgt. Schumann was the first soldier whose marker included a pentacle after the approval.

With the approval of the Thor’s hammer we know how future Pagan symbols will be approved, at least under the current administration and Dept. of  Veterans Affairs leadership. The upcoming holiday is a reminder to honor our fallen soldiers for their sacrifices, and for relatives to know the desires for the marker image  for our aging and active duty veterans.

Nels Linde

Report for PNC-Minnesota

Do you have a corner of Paganistan you’d like to see covered more? Here’s how you can make that happen.

Pagan Newswire Collective Minnesota needs volunteer reporters, photographers, and videographers.  As part of the PNC, you would be joining an autonomous portion of a global news service and take part in the development of the first ever Pagan newswire service.

Benefits

  • A chance to develop portfolio clips and links.
  • A valid excuse to walk up to people and start talking to them.
  • A way to learn how to apply old-school reporting methods to new(ish) technology and media distribution methods… like  on a WordPress blog.

Obligation

PNC-Minnesota ideally needs reporters that contribute 1-2 times a week, and that have the flexibility to pick up stories on short notice.

Requirements

  • PNC-Minnesota is based in the English language, so a functional command of written English is necessary.
  • A willingness to comply with PNC-Minnesota reporting standards and ethics as defined by the PNC-Minnesota staff.
  • A somewhat thick skin, or a very well-developed sense of humor.
  • A willingness to allow your work to be edited for clarity, quality, reasonable objectivity, and accuracy.
  • A tolerance for the Oxford comma.

You do not need to be a journalist or have a journalism background to volunteer with the PNC.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact us.