Madison, WI Pagans Speak Out – Interviews

Beket is a now retired, Dept. of Revenue worker. She made the choice to retire the first of the year, when the writing seemed on the wall with Governor Walker’s election. She has been a member of the Circle community for ages.

“I had been planning on retiring, but because I worked at the Dept of Revenue, I was hoping to work into the spring. A week after Walker’s election I had my annual physical, and my doctor, who worked at the Medical College of Wisconsin said, he thought Wisconsin was in for a rough ride. I turned in my resignation the next week.”

What about this vote concerns you?

“This will take our money out of our pockets twice. The amount that is taken out to pay our retirement and health insurance is in lieu of higher wages. By making us pay more, it is basically a wage reduction. By taking away union rights. He could change the amount of say, personal religious holidays available. A lot of people aren’t aware, but Lady Cybele, is a retired field ‘rep’ for AFSCME Council 24, and they got the personal holidays increased. She was on the bargaining team, and it was her intent to get that, so that Pagans could take their Pagan holidays off. ”

 

Capitol Gallery Scene photo: Nataraj - Eyedance

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Sacred Temple Violated in Wisconsin – Editorial

I am a resident of Wisconsin, have been for 35 years now. I am 230 miles from the state capitol building in Madison, but I have spent a lot of time there. I used to exhibit at Art on the Square, and found it a magnificent place to find cool summer comfort and relief, and explore the history of my adopted state.

This building is an inspirational symbol,  is  a National Historic Landmark since 2001, and  has been systematically restored to its 1917 appearance over the last thirty years, inside and out. It is such a source of pride in WI, that a 1990 state law prevents any building within one mile of the capitol from being taller than the base of the columns surrounding and supporting its dome. It can be seen for many miles. Continue reading

Community Notes; February 21-27

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TwinCitiesPagans/
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Local community grandfather Ken Ra got a new kidney this week donated by a local Pagan. We wish them each many years of good health.

UMPA’s 4th Anniversary Bash is next Saturday at the Sacred Paths Center. If you are a Pagan in the Upper Midwest, then you are extremely qualified to attend. They are planning a wonderful celebration, and these are people who know how to throw celebrations. Really, I’ve been to their celebrations before, and they do it right. http://www.umpaganalliance.com/schedule.shtml

Nationally known author and lecturer, Orion Foxwood, will be presenting the workshop Path of the Faery Seer at the Eye of Horus this Saturday & Sunday. They’re flying him in just for this. http://shop.eyeofhorus.biz/Faery-Seer-Module-1-p/cls-fs1.htm

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SPC Annual Meeting – Elections and Bread and Brew

New SPC Board Members - photos by Jenna Touchette

The first Sacred Path Center (SPC)  board of director’s election took place Sat, Feb. 12th.
The SPC board had four open positions  up for election. The five candidates were Ci Benson, Jim Mosser, Mary Oczak, John Stitely and CJ Stone.

The newly elected board members are: Ci Benson, Jim Mosser, Mary Oczak, and CJ Stone.

SPC Board of Directors for 2011

Board of Directors for 2011: Keith Vorderbruggen, Mark Digatano, Cindy Miller, George Edgar, Carol Haselmann, Mary Oczak, Jim Mosser, CJ Stone, Ci Benso, and Teisha Magee

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Notable Area Pagans Speculate on 2011

I sent a request out to several Pagans I considered notable, experienced, and yes, maybe intuitive enough to speculate on the coming year with some degree of accuracy. I asked three questions:

  1. What is your intuitive vision for the future of the Pagan community for the next year?
  2. If a Tarot card, or another archetypical symbol would reflect your vision,  which would it be and why?
  3. How will Paganistan look different in a years time?

Responses I received in no particular order:

Susu:

1. The financial squeeze for many should result in a tighter embrace of our collective of our ties to each other.
2. The symbol I see is the spiral cycling in and out simultaneously.
3. Paganistan’s  population will grow as the gods of the dominant religion continue to fail the people.

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