Thursday, September 27, 2007

Letter Home to Pagan Parents from Elementary School Teacher

Letter Home to Pagan Parents from Elementary School Teacher
>
>
> Dear Mr. and Mrs. Thomas,
>
>
> I write this letter in concern of your daughter, Aradia Moon. Please
> don't take this the wrong way, however, although she is a straight A
> student and a very bright child, she has some strange habits that I
> feel we should address.
>
> Every morning before class, she insists on walking around the room
> with her pencil in the air. She says she is "drawing down the moon." I
> told her art class is in an hour and to please refrain until then to
> do any drawing.
>
> And speaking of art class, whenever she draws a night sky, she insists
> on drawing little circles around all the stars and people dancing on
> the ground. And that brings up dancing, I had to stop her twice for
> taking off her clothes during a game of Ring Around the Rosés! By the
> way, what does "sky clad" mean?
>
> Aradia has no problem with making friends. I always find her sitting
> outside during recess with her friends sitting around her in a circle.
> She likes to share her juice and cookies. It is nice how she wants no
> one to ever thirst or hunger. However, when I walked over to see what
> they were doing, she jumped up and told me to stop, pulled out a
> little plastic knife and started waiving it in front of me. I thought
> this a bit dangerous, so I took her to the Principal's Office. She
> explained to the Principal that she was "opening the circle" to let me
> in. She also said that her Mommy and Daddy always told her not to play
> or run with an "athame" in her hand, that she could put someone's eye
> out. I don't know what an "athame" is, but I'm glad she keeps it at
home.
>
> As for stories, your daughter tends to make up some whoppers. Just
> yesterday while I was talking sternly to Tommy Johson and shaking my
> finger at him, he started screaming and ran from the room. When I
> finally caught him, he told me Aradia told him and the rest of the
> class that the last time I shook my finger at someone, they caught the
> chicken pox. I explained to him that the Sally Jones incident was just
> a coincidence, and that things like that don't really happen.
> One of the strangest things that happened was when I asked the
> children to bring in Halloween decorations for the classroom. Aradia
> brought in salt, incense, and her family album. I see she has quite a
> sense of humor.
>
> One of Aradia's worst habits is that she is very argumentative. We
> were discussing what the Golden Rule was (Do Unto Others as you would
> have them Do Unto You), she firmly disagreed with me and stated that
> it was "Do As you Will, but Harm None" and she will not stop saying
> "So Mote It Be" after she reads aloud in class. I try to correct her
> on these matters and she got very angry. She pointed her finger at me
> and mumbled something under her breath.
>
> In closing, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, I would like to set up a
> parent/teacher conference with you sometime next week to discuss these
> matters. I would like to see you sooner, but I have developed an
> irritating rash that I am quite worried about.
>
> With deep concerns,
> Mrs. Livingston
>
> P.S. Blessed Be. I understand this is a greeting or closing from your
> country that your daughter informs me is polite and correct.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Witch Trials Still Continue in South Carolina

This is a more detailed account.
The more attention I can get on this the better! Please pass around
to anyone you think might listen.
Thanks. We are unable to go home at the moment because it isn't safe
for us there. They are always watching what we are doing and we are
afraid of more Police retribution so are staying at my Mother in-
law's house, but this isn't home.....so I am trying to get on the
computer whenever possible so bear with me....My life is turned
inside out right now.

Witch Trials Continue In South Carolina!

My name is Rhonda Gruber AKA Wicked Lil Witch and I am a Proud Witch.
I am currently being persecuted as a Witch by a Lt. Kevin Duke of the
Horry County Police Dept. My life and the lives of my family and
friends are being threatened and destroyed by this man with the
backing of countless other officials. I was arrested Monday Sept
10th '07 by Lt Duke for Breach of Peace, Child Endangerment/ Neglect
and 1st degree Harrassement.
This all began around the end of May '07 from many false police
reports from a neighboring family, The Luisettis, who also seemed to
think I deserved to be arrested for my religious beliefs. They stated
such in their police reports. When this began to become a pattern of
filing false reports, we began seeking Police protection FROM them.
We were told numerous times that we had no reason to receive their
protection, just to ignore them. Yet they continued to file their
reports on us. We were told the only we could do is file a Civil
Suit. This wouldn't fix the problem for quite awhile if ever.The
Police Dept on numerous occasions, even refused to file any reports
for us. We had at one point searched out help from Magistrates in the
area. One told us that filing these reports was most definitely
something the Police could do something about and that they should
but he was fairly certain that they wouldn't. He went on a 10 min
rant about it to us. He even took the time to gives us copies of the
laws on filing false reports, which we took to this Lt Duke, who
after realizing we weren't going to leave his office too easily, Then
wrote us report stating that the report from the Luisettis was
investigated and the allegations were unfounded and seemed to be
stemming from harrassement from the neighbors.
Now Monday, my 16 yr old son was targeted for their harrassment . In
the morning the Luisetti's daughter had a young man assualt him at
the bus stop. We filed a report that morning. That afternoon another
allegation from their daughter that he beat her up Friday on school
property which led to his suspension since the school wouldn't
investigate it other than her statement and her 2 friend's
statements. She would have been getting on the bus at the time while
he was on the other side of the building getting a ride from one of
his friends. Then as we were sitting in my garage workshop working on
getting the suspension investigated by the school board, waiting to
see if the death threat my son received was going to take place. The
threat came from the Luisetti's daughter getting a young man
to "kill" my son due to the beating she received from him. He was
supposed to be coming to our house after school. We were then
visited by an irrational Lt. Duke as he whipped into our driveway
screaming that Spencer was reported to be brandishing and pointing an
assault rifle at the Luisettis. Which isn't even close to what he was
doing. Duke then stated that is is tired of all this and someone is
going to jail. He didn't care to hear anything we had to to say about
our side. Anytime I was trying to say something I was told to shut up
or be arrested. He was VERY aggressive and yelling. He seemed to
trying to provoke an altercation. I freely admit I was upset and a
little loud but I was trying to defend my son. I was never violent or
out of control. I was just pissed and trying to make some sense out
of the situation. When I was told to shut up I did which seemed to
further anger Duke. I was only arrested after they put the cuffs on
my son. I then told my Husband to find a f...ing attorney and quick.
This was when they arrested me.
I was never read my Miranda Rights to this day but the questions they
asked me were used in my arrest. Doesn't seem legal to me...
My charges of Child Endangerment were due to the fact that we have
several legal weapons around a minor. I must inform you my son is an
ROTC member with Marine Boot Camp training in weapons, can
disassemble/ reassemble an M16 on the field. He was also on the Rifle
Team last year and is Athletics Team Commander. He also knew our
weapons, from target shooting and cleaning. He even pointed out to
the Police Weapons Expert how to release the clip and open the bolt
chamber as they couldn't. He is very safe and well versed in weapons.
I must point point that is legally old enough to have a hunting
license. He is also looking to join the National Guard on his 17th B-
Day, Oct 3rd this yr. Upon his 18th B-Day he was planning a Military
career. We are proud of him and is a really good person. We are very
upset with all the things being alleged about him.

To summarize:
We are being persecuted because of my spiritual choices, not being
Christian. Lt. Duke has a web page stating his religious beliefs and
infertility and adoption problems which leads us to the belief that
he can no longer separate his personal feelings from his ability to
do his job in an objective manner. He seems to have appointed himself
as a personal victim's advocate for allegedly neglected and abused
children. The fact that I am a practicing witch is being noted in
complaints and warrants against me and my family. It has even been
voiced in court along with allegations stating I have cast spells on
2 cops and the luisetti family by the solicitor during proceedings.
My familiar pyewacket seems to have been mishandled during the search
of our home. She was running and flinching from us the day after. I
am very hurt by this. Though this can't be proven, I know my animal
and this is not her normal behavior.
We have always tried to help others and be good people, so this is
very hard for us to deal with. I am lucky to have a very strong
supportive circle of friends and family or we would still be in jail.
My in-laws had to take the majority of their retirement fund for some
20 thousand dollars to hire a powerful law firm to help us. Though I
will never be ashamed of being a witch, I am so very sorry for all
the trouble and loss of money it has cost them to stand up for us.
The reason for this letter is that we need all the help we can find
to fight this. Whether it is positive protective energy, advice, or
donations to help pay for this. I will not rest until I have made a
difference for all that believe in freedom of religion. I don't want
this to just disappear, I want to make a stand for all free thinkers
against persecution. We all know the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
For all that believe in freedom of choice, please stand behind me or
even beside me in court while I fight. I am not a quitter and I have
a loud voice. I always stand up for what I believe in, all I ask is
to not have to stand alone in this. It's time to fight for what we
all believe in, not just lie down and take it. I have enclosed the
papers that are in my possession to prove my claims. I will include
more as they come into my possession. I am not easily scared although
they are trying to intimidate us. Threatening phone calls have been
made to family and friends even now. In supporting us, you are also
supporting yourselves.
We are looking to get this story out to as many places as possible.
The more people who are aware the harder it will be for them to get
aware with it!

We NEED your help!!!
Blessed be.
Rhonda Gruber
AKA wickedlilwitch@ gmail.com

New and Interesting Issues

Hi gang,

I know that I've been quiet for quite some time - life tends to get
in the way of my preferred activities :) There are several issues
coming up that I have recently been made aware of and would like a
little advice. The Arkansas Legislature has, unfortunately, voted -
several years ago - to not separate church and state. Now, a local
group - Arkansas Family Counsel - is trying to get a measure passed
to not allow same sex couples to act as foster parents or to even
adopt. I find this very offensive and a potential problem for the
pagan community. I have posted this information to the AR_PUC group
and am hoping to have some type of feedback and action.

The next issue is one that concerns all progressive groups across the
board. It seems that many Christian groups have been doing their
best to take up all of the available radio frequencies thereby
blocking new and upcoming radio stations that are non-profit and very
progressive. The Christian radio groups are also in violation of FCC
regulations by not staying within or on their assigned frequencies.
Folks are hesitant to turn them in because they are 'a christian
group' and all of that nonsense. This is a perfect opportunity for
the pagan community to work with many of the progressive peace and
justice groups out there. I have found that several of these groups
are very welcoming and sincerely want to work with pagan groups for
peace and justice ends. This could be a very powerful and validating
opportunity for the pagan community to move into the mainstream of
activism. What do you all think? I am hoping for further discussion
and ideas on this.

Thanks for your time and advice.

Bright blessings, Jasmin.

Healing for Rosemary Williams

Please send healing to Rosemary Williams of Illinois who was
hospitalized on
Saturday, September 22 in Illinois. Rosemary already is improving,
although
she expected to be in the hospital until at least the end of this week.
Please remember her in your meditations and rituals.

Mama Cat of Four Winds Sanctuary thanks everyone who was part of the
Healing
working for Rosemary during Circle Sanctuary's Fall Equinox Festival on
Sunday, September 23.

Well wishes for Rosemary can be sent by emailing Mama Cat:
fourwinds@jisp.net


Healing Circle: Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Healing & Help for Indigenous Women Leaders in the Amazon

Send healing to Gloria Ushigua & Rosa Gualinga, Indigenous Women
Leaders in the Amazon

Healing Circle: Wednesday, September 12, 2007


Andras Corban Arthen who sent the following report to me is a long time
friend of mine as well as a colleague in international and interfaith
endeavors.

Usually the Circle staff only sends short healing messages out as part
of this Healing Circle list --- however, in order to help with networking
and to encourage the drafting of letters of support for this urgent
situation involving Gloria & Rosa, we are including both Andras' introductory
email as well as the report he received from a contact who works with the Zapara
and who has just departed for South America to help with this situation.

* Please remember Gloria and Rosa, their peoples, and their lands in
your meditations, prayers, rituals, and other spiritual workings.
* Please send emails to the authorities listed below.
* Please help with networking efforts by forwarding this email or a
summary of it to those you know who may be willing to help.

Thanks!
Selena

Selena Fox
High Priestess, Circle Sanctuary
circle@circlesanctuary.org
www.circlesanctuary.org
(608) 924-2216


Dear friends,

I apologize in advance for any multiple posts you may receive on this
subject. I'm forwarding you a very distressing news report and urge
you to take prompt action by writing to the addresses listed below. Of the two
women mentioned in this article, I personally know and have worked with
Gloria Ushigua, the Zápara leader; I've found her to be a strong,
wise, sincere, deeply-committed, and thoroughly delightful person. Gloria is
the daughter of César Ushigua, the last Zápara shimano (shaman) from
Ecuador, who died a few years ago. She was taught by her father, and is now
completing her training with the last remaining Zápara shaman from
Perú.

Gloria Ushigua has dedicated her life to work on behalf of her people,
a tiny tribe comprising just a few hundred members who live in isolated
villages in the jungles of Ecuador. The Zápara were long thought to be
extinct, until a few of them were sent to make contact with the outside
world in the hope of securing help so that their families could
survive. As a result, the government of Ecuador granted them ownership of their
tribal lands, though to the Zápara, the idea that humans could "own" the
Earth makes no sense. Despite that attitude, they now find themselves in the
difficult position of struggling to retain that ownership as the only
way to protect those lands from the multinational petrochemical corporations
that want to raze the forest in order to dig wells, and the pharmaceutical
conglomerates seeking to gain control of the many rare medicinal plants
that abound in the Ecuadorian wilderness.

One of Gloria's sons was murdered several years ago in retaliation
for her activist efforts; now she and her collaborator, Rosa Gualinga, have
been directly attacked and almost killed, and remain in dire need of medical
help which, being "poor Indian women," is being denied them.

Please contact the authorities listed below --- it doesn't matter if
you can't do it in Spanish --- to express your support for Gloria and
Rosa, and make sure to tell them what country you live in, so they will
understand that, truly, the whole world is watching. Feel free to forward this to
any others who may also be willing to help.

In the Spirit of the Earth,
Andras Corban Arthen
Director, The EarthSpirit Community
andras@earthspirit.com
www.earthspirit.com


Ecuadorian indigenous women leaders attacked, left for dead.

At the end of August, two indigenous leaders in Puyo, Ecuador were
attacked after months of receiving death threats for their efforts to protect
the territory of the Zápara people in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Gloria Ushigua and Rosa Gualinga were beaten until unconscious, thrown
in the trunk of a car, and later left for dead.

Both women are internationally known human rights defenders. Gloria
Ushigua is a leader of the Zápara people. Rosa Gualinga is of the Andoas
people and works closely with the Zápara. The Zápara are an indigenous people in
danger of becoming extinct, with a current population in Perú and Ecuador of
approximately 650. Gloria is an elected representative of Nacionalidad
Zápara de la Amazonia Ecuatoriana (NAZAE), the official representative
organization of the Zápara people in Ecuador, which works to promote
and protect the lives and lands of the Zápara people.

Zápara territory is rich with natural resources, like oil, timber and
botanical medicines, and there are varied interests who are trying to
exploit them --- oil companies, the military, illegal loggers,
settlers, scientists, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as fraudulent
"indigenous rights" groups who want to act as middlemen in the exploitation of
those resources, and who appear to be willing to do pretty much anything to
get a piece of the pie. For quite some time, one of those bogus groups of
people who are not Zápara have made several attempts to illegally seize from
NAZAE the official right to represent the Zápara people and take control of
Zápara land. Several individuals in this group have been threatening Gloria
and Rosa for more than a year. In recent months, after NAZAE won a legal
victory over the group, these threats have intensified.

On Sunday, August 26th, a woman approached Gloria in the street in
downtown Puyo. She said that her mother was Zápara and that she had an
organization that worked with indigenous communities. She invited Gloria and Rosa to
her house to discuss her work and the possibilities of collaboration.

At about 9 pm, they were sitting in the patio area outside of the
woman's house when a man entered, kicked Rosa, and sprayed Gloria and Rosa in
the face with a large quantity of what appears to have been tear gas. Three
other men followed, and the four of them viciously beat Gloria and Rosa
with fists, feet and clubs. Gloria was hit on the head with a rock.
Witnesses say that the four men threw the two unconscious women into the trunk of a
car and sped off.

Gloria and Rosa were found in the middle of the night, still
unconscious, in the middle of a road. Gloria's son got them home, where they regained
consciousness at around 4am on Monday. Although they have been to the
military hospital in Puyo several times, they have still not been given
a proper medical examination. Gloria's arm is broken and she has a high
fever. They are both in need of medical treatment and a complete examination
so that they can know the full extent of their injuries.

Gloria and Rosa were able to identify the first man who attacked them,
and a witness recognized a local police officer as another of their
attackers. Although Gloria and Rosa went to the police station in Puyo to file
criminal complaints against these men, they have been largely ignored and, to
date, no arrests have been made. Until justice is served, it is reasonable to
assume that the two women's lives remain in danger.

RECOMMENDED ACTION (please send appeals as quickly as possible):

- express concern for the safety of Gloria Ushigua and Rosa Gualinga,
and urge authorities to take immediate and effective action to protect them
and ensure that they receive the medical attention that they require.

- call on authorities to order a thorough investigation into this
attack, with results made public and those responsible brought to justice.


MAKE APPEALS TO:

Ismael Fabricio Arcos Lopez
Gobernador de Pastaza
Calle Atahualpa y 10 de Agosto
Puyo, Pastaza
Ecuador
Telephone: 03-2885308 03-2885423
Fax: 03-2885457
E-mail: secretariagober@yahoo.com


COPIES TO:

Gustavo Larrea
Ministro de Gobierno
Espejo y Benalcazar
Quito, Ecuador
Telephone: 593 2 2955666
E-mail: gustavolarreacabrera@hotmail.com


Dra. Lourdes Tiban
Secretaria Ejecutiva Nacional
Consejo de Desarrollo de las Nacionalidades
y Pueblos del Ecuador (CODENPE)
Ave. Garcia Moreno
Quito, Ecuador
Telephone: 593 2 258 1319
Fax: 593 2 258 1559, ext. 109
E-mail: ltiban@codenpe.gov.ec

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Wiccan Dedicate Grave at Arlington

Posted by: BettyJane on Monday, July 09, 2007 - 01:29 PM

Wiccans dedicate grave at Arlington
WASHINGTON — The Rev. Selena Fox said Wednesday wasn't the first
time she visited a Wiccan's grave site at Arlington National
Cemetery in Virginia. It was just the first time one was identified
that way.

"This is the first time the Christian cross and Wiccan pentacle have
both been engraved on a tombstone here, and it's great news for us,"
said the senior minister of Circle Sanctuary, a Wisconsin Wiccan
community. "It's recognition we've fought for for so long."

On Wednesday Fox, members of her congregation and other pagans held
a consecration ceremony at the grave site of Jan Deanna, a Wiccan
minister who passed away more than two years ago.

Her husband, Army Capt. William O'Rourke, passed away nine years
earlier and had the Christian cross engraved on his tombstone. But
Deanna's side was left blank, because until May the Department of
Veterans Affairs had no symbol to recognize her faith.

Wiccan groups have been pushing for the pentacle as a recognized
religious symbol for almost a decade, but efforts have been stymied
by paperwork and administrative delays by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.

This spring, after new rules from the department and continued
unsuccessful lobbying by pagan groups, Circle Sanctuary and
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State sued the
department for the right to put the symbol on gravestones and
plaques.

In May the department settled the suit, agreeing to include it among
the 38 other religious symbols permitted for veterans' memorials.
Veterans and military spouses at Wednesday's event called it an
important First Amendment victory.

Retired Army Capt. Richard Briggs, who is working toward becoming a
Wiccan military chaplain, said over the years pagan servicemembers
have faced discrimination from commanders and other troops, but as
people learn more about the religion the military has become more
accepting.

"Coming out of the broom closet can be dangerous, but we have to,"
he said.

Army Staff Sgt. Frederick Twombly, a member of the 63rd Engineer
Support Battalion, helped set up a Wiccan worship community in
Baghdad during both of his deployments over to Iraq.

"We had guys from all over, all different units, all different
ranks," he said. "People would look and say, `Wait, he's a major and
he's a Wiccan?' And then they'd understand that it's not just some
hidden thing."

The event was designed not just to celebrate the legal victory but
also to remember Deanna, who friends called a kind and generous
woman. The Rev. Paula Johnson, who belonged to the same worship
community in Florida, said she worked with local charities every
Christmas to help poor families with gifts for their children.

"A year before she died, she spoke often about not tolerating
religious persecution, " Johnson said. "She's an inspiration to us
all."

Deanna's tombstone is one of two in the cemetery bearing the symbol;
Pfc. Abe Kooiman, a World War II veteran who died in 2002, also left
instructions to have his headstone marked once a Wiccan symbol was
approved. Fox said at least four other veterans have also had the
symbol etched into memorial plaques since the lawsuit was settled.

"And now, I'm hearing from people that are requesting and getting it
without me being included in a fight," she said. "That makes us
very, very happy."

source:

http://www.pentacle magazine. org/pn760/ index.php?
name=News&file= article&sid= 2270

Wiccan Humour

How do you scare a UU (Unitarian Universalist) our of your neighborhood?
-Answer: Burn a Question Mark on their lawn

What's another name for Irish sunblock...?
A pub.

Carpe Nocturnum:
'We get more done after 2 a.m. then most people do all day'

Q: How many Druids does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Thirteen; one to hold the bulb, and twelve to drink enough to make the room spin.

Q: How many ceremonial magicians does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One; he stands still with the bulb, and the universe revolves around him.

Q: How many Thelemites does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. Crowley never wrote a book about it.

Q: How many Witches does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Depends on what you want to change it into.

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?

" I believe in dragons, good men, and other fantasy creatures "

A skeptic goes in to see a fortune teller. "You are the father of 2 children,"
the fortune teller says.
"That's what you think! I'm the father of 3 children!," says the man.
"That's what you think," says the fortune teller.

WASP...We Are Sexy Pagans

Witches do it in the moonlight

Practice safe hex

We're Gardnerians. ..off with your clothes

I'm doin my part to piss of the religious right.....r u??

Did you hear, Easter is canceled this year........ yeah, they found the body.

Q: What do pagans put their trash in?
A: a wiccar basket

Q: What do you call a dating club for unattached Wiccans?
A: Craft singles!

Did you hear that Kraft was so offended by that last joke that they moved their macaroni plants to Israel? Yeah, now they're called Cheeses of Nazareth!


"Sorry I wasn't in church last Sunday, but I was practicing witchcraft."


Knock, knock!
Who's there?
Wicca!
Wicca who?
Wicca dance in the moonlight together, yes?

Wiccan Teacher Wins Lottery

NOTTINGHAM, Md. - Elwood "Bunky" Bartlett says a New Age book store made it possible for him to become an overnight multimillionaire.


He and his wife, Denise, were on their way to the shop where he occasionally teaches Wicca and Reiki (RAY'kee) healing when they stopped at a liquor store and bought two $5 Mega Millions tickets for Friday night's estimated $330 million jackpot. On Sunday, he said one ticket was a winner.

"If it wasn't for this place I wouldn't have won the lottery," Bartlett said Sunday at Mystickal Voyage, the New Age shop.

Four winning tickets to the Mega Millions jackpot were sold in Maryland, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia. Lottery officials said Sunday they cannot confirm the validity of Bartlett's ticket before they meet with him on Tuesday.

"There's no reason to believe it's not legitimate, but it has to go through security," said Maryland State Lottery Director Buddy Roogow, who said he has spoken with Bartlett.

Bartlett, an accountant from Dundalk, said he made a bargain with the multiple gods associated with his Wiccan beliefs: "You let me win the lottery and I'll teach." Both tickets he purchased had numbers chosen randomly from the computer.

Bartlett had not decided if he will accept his winnings as an annuity or choose the lump sum cash option. The jackpot could get larger once ticket sales are tallied, Roogow said, but the lump sum payment would be at least $48.7 million, or about $32 million after taxes.

According to preliminary calculations, each ticket would be worth about $82 million if the prize were taken in 26 annual payments.

Bartlett said the money won't change him, although he plans to invest in Mystickal Voyage. "I'm going to live my life like I have been," he said.

The odds that any ticket would match all five numbers — 8, 18, 22, 40 and 44 — and the Mega Ball number — 11 — were one in 176 million.

If estimates of the jackpot hold true, it would be the fourth largest in the lottery's history. It was known as The Big Game when it awarded jackpots of $363 million in 2000 and $331 million in 2002.

Mega Millions tickets are also sold in California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Washington.

___