Ebay Bans Sales of Spells and Potions

by Dierdre Hebert

Angry Witch

Royalty free stock image from http://www.dreamstime.com


Deirdre will also be covering the eBay changes on her show, PaganFM.

Online auction eBay has new terms of service that may reduce the number of Pagans selling on the site.

The fall 2012 fall seller update bans common Pagan and occult goods and services. Per the eBay communique: “The following items are also being added to the prohibited items list: advice; spells; curses; hexing; conjuring; magic; prayers; blessing services; magic potions; healing sessions; work from home businesses & information; wholesale lists, and drop shop lists. ” This policy becomes effective August 30th.

This same seller update explains, “Transactions in these categories often result in issues between the buyer and seller that are difficult to resolve. To help build confidence in the marketplace for both buyers and sellers, eBay is discontinuing these categories and including the items on the list of prohibited items.”

Sellers who post items after August 30th risk having the items removed and face account suspension or removal.

Currently, under the Readings category, there are 1,922 listings. Spells, Potions includes 6,519 listings. Prices for spells range from a few dollars to thousands of dollars.

 

M. Macha NightMare Withdraws from Reclaiming Tradition

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On Tuesday, August 6th M. Macha NightMare issued the following press release (excerpted below).

M.Macha NightMare

 I, M. Macha NightMare, Priestess & Witch, aka Aline O’Brien, withdraw from the publicly recognized organization known as Reclaiming Tradition Witchcraft and hereby dissociate myself from further involvement with the tradition.  I make this statement formally and publicly because I am a public figure known to be connected to Reclaiming.

I do not make this decision lightly or without forethought and considerations for potential consequences.     [Read the full Press Release]–

Pagans, both within the Reclaiming Tradition, and independently, are struggling to understand the significance of this departure by a co-founder.  Some say it is insignificant, people and traditions change and grow. Others want to characterize the withdrawal as an indicator of crisis within a tradition. Neither is accurate. Macha acknowledges in a statement to PNC-MN :

Macha:   …  over the next weeks and months I’ll be exploring and trying to articulate in an understandable but constructive and non-accusatory way the various reasons that led me to this decision.  It’s much more complex than it might seem to someone not part of the community, and to most who even are part of it, especially those who have no knowledge of our history (which is most everyone).

The Reclaiming Tradition just completed approval of revised Principals of Unity (POU) underway in discussions for several years prior, at the biennial Reclaiming Dandelion Gathering immediately before the release of the press statement of withdrawal by Macha. In a statement from Starhawk, an additional co-founder of the tradition, this change is indicated as a possible cause of the withdrawal.  [The 1997 Reclaiming Principles of Unity can be read here.]

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Sacred Harvest Festival – Shrines Unveil the Sacred

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This years Sacred Harvest Festival ended Sunday and down came at least twenty five festivant shrines expressing worship and devotion to deity. Festivants were asked to bring shrines and they sprouted like fall mushrooms after a rain. I am sure I didn’t photograph them all, they had to be sought out in both public and hidden spaces. Some shrines had a clear focus, others were a reminder of our diversity. These photos on a windy day give a casual look, at night they transformed and were all lit and tended, and offerings of incense and libation graced many of them. Some grew as the week progressed, others disappeared or re-appeared in new forms. The theme of the event was “Unveiling the Sacred, Immersed in the Luminous Light of Love”, and shrines were an important aspect of this years festival experience.
Enjoy!

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Nels Linde

Paganistan Weekly; August 13-19

Sacred Harvest Festival was astounding. Old friendships were reestablished. New friendships were begun. New skills were learned. Old skills were honed. There was much growth, and much rest. The organizers have an amazing knack for finding excellent guests of honor. It was a perfect festival experience. http://harmonytribe.org/content/sacred-harvest-festival-2012-our-fifteenth-year

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival begins this Saturday. For many in the local Pagan community, please check back again after September 30th.

If you have not yet done so, please join the yahoo group. This newsletter will end after December 21, at which point the TwinCitiesPagans Yahoo group will be the only way to stay in the loop about all the wonderful local Pagan events. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TwinCitiesPagans/

JRob