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Merry Meet 2008 will be held in Cherry Valley, California August 14-17, 2008 and
co-hosted by both Orange County Local Council and Touchstone Local Council. Merry Meet encompasses multiple events over several days. The
first event is the Leadership Institute, a day filled with workshops
geared towards being better leaders of our covens, and communities. The
next day is both Merry Meet itself as well as Grand Council. Merry Meet
is the annual Pagan Convention filled with workshops, lectures,
vendors, and entertainment. In contrast Grand Council is the national
business meeting of the Covenant of the Goddess. Members and
representatives of member covens come together to discuss relevant
issues that affect the Covenant and the Community. The Covenant of the Goddess is one of the largest and oldest
Wiccan religious organizations, est. 1975. Wicca, or Witchcraft is the
most popular expression of the religious movement known as
Neo-Paganism. Wicca or Witchcraft is the fastest growing religion in
the United States according to the Institute for the Study of American
Religion. It's practitioners are reviving ancient Pagan practices and
beliefs of pre-Christian Europe and adapting them to contemporary life.
The result is a religion that is both old and new, both traditional and
creative. CoG was founded to increase cooperation among Witches and to
secure for Witches and covens the legal protection enjoyed by members
of other religions. The Covenant of the Goddess is incorporated as a non-profit
501(c)(3) religious organization in California, though it has grown to
be an international organization. It is a confederation of covens and
solitaires of various traditions, who share in the worship of the
Goddess and the Old Gods and subscribe to a common code of ethics. The
Covenant holds a Grand Council annually to decide matters which require
deliberation by the full membership. Decisions are usually made by
consensus. We publish a newsletter; issues ministerial credentials on
request to qualified persons; sponsors a national festival each summer;
and encourages networking nationally, as well as regionally through
local councils. This event is open to the pagan community.
Intensive Healing with Vortices presented by Brook Still As leaders we hold space for others to heal, to grow to afford
each student the opportunity to step into their own power. In doing
this, we can only hold space for the things we have cleared ourselves.
In this workshop, you will find a powerful and nurturing space to help
you heal so you can be of greater service to your covens. So the
question is, are you ready to really let go of the past and journey
into a space of profound healing? If your answer is yes, then come and experience one of the most
profound healings available today! Working on all levels of your body
simultaneously, let go of what has been holding you back from
experiencing divine love and true self-healing. In this workshop we open a powerful vortex of healing through
Mother and Father God directly linked with the Masters. Through guided
meditation, music, energy and the shared knowledge from Avatar Derek
O’Neill, you can truly know what it means to have the truth set you
free! Many who’ve attended Brook’s workshops have described the healing
they’ve received in a few short hours as the equivalent to years of
therapy. Get to your core issues easily, effortlessly and finally
release them! Rediscovering the Joy presented by Amber K & Azrael Arynn K Remember how much FUN Witchcraft was, when you first started? Is
it still that much fun, or have your obligations as a leader and elder
crushed some of the joy from your spirituality? How can you recharge
your batteries, relight your fire, recapture some of the wonder of
those early days? We have a few answers, and you each have more--let's
share. Meeting Death, Grieving Loss presented by M. Macha Nightmare A participatory discussion of our experiences with dying and
death, our preparedness for our own deaths, and honoring our own grief.
We will do inner work that can bring about surprising intimacy. Come
with a willingness to allow your own vulnerability and to respect the
vulnerability of others. Based on material from The Pagan Book of
Living and Dying, this workshop is designed to do our own personal work. Opening ritual in the evening. How to Write a Pathworking presented by Patty Gray of the Lady's Cauldron A 'pathworking' is similar to a guided meditation. We'll cover the
steps in writing your own pathworking, including research, description,
touchstones, timing and follow-up. This technique can be used with any
tradition to help you discover more about your deities or yourself. I
will also lead the group through a pathworking and we'll discuss the
results. Are There Really Witches in Prison? presented by Malendia How can COG members best address the growing population of Wiccans
and Pagans who are in prison or have been released from prison? Three
main action points will be discussed: written correspondence with
inmates, working directly with incarcerated people, and receiving
released inmates into the community. Topics covered will include: statistical data on correctional
populations, challenges specific and common to correctional
populations, principles of restorative justice, constitutional rights
of institutionalized persons, current issues in prison reform, and
contemplative practices that have shown promise in rehabilitation and
addiction treatment in correctional environments. Talking About Being Pagan presented by Brian Lankford The topic of religious beliefs comes up very often in casual
discussions and if you actually tell the person you are Pagan, Wiccan,
or some other path then the inevitable question which follows is —
What’s that? This workshop explores ways of discussing being Pagan with
the non-Pagan public in ways that will seem neither threatening nor
proselytizing. We will explore some of the common questions asked by
non-Pagans and ways of answering those questions. This workshop is for
anyone who wants to talk about their faith in either individual or
group settings. A Wort-Cunner's Way presented by Raven Womack Wort-cunning or herbal magick is a specialized art of the Craft.
While many dabble with herbs and use them ritually or for
spellcrafting, the wort-cunner’s magick and traditions are more
plant-centric than many Pagans’. Come and discuss the theory, reality
and philosophy of modern wort-cunning. Introduction to Wheat Wheaving presented by William & Angela This class focuses on beginning weaving techniques along with how
to prepare straw for weaving, sources, and stories. In this class each
student will make both weavings (a harvest knot & Bridget's Cross).
All materials and supplies are provided. For an example of the project
go to www.weaversharp.com. Secrets of the Mexican Shamans presented by Brook Still The Mexican shamans are masters in their awareness on how “the all
affects the all”. Come join Brook and learn the Mayan secrets on
utilizing energy that you didn’t even know you were wasting. Start
working with the knowledge of creating a new perspective on how to use
every iota of energy, every iota of light you extend to be of the
highest benefit to yourself and others. Maximum of 22 students. Please bring a pen and notepad. Ethics Training as a Student Screening Tool presented by Catherine Duncan With the popularization of our faith, it is ever more important to
select ethical students. Ethics can be used as a screening tool to pick
people for craft training, and as a diagnostic tool for established
students. Ethics can be a controversial issue, but this class is less
about specific ethos than their use as a diagnostic and screening tool. Merry Mead Making Part 1 presented by John Morgenstern Mead, or honey wine is so ancient a beverage that the linguistic
root for mead, “Medhu” is the same in all Indo-/’European languages;
hence it’s important role in many ritualistic practices throughout time. Learn to start the brew in Part 1 (how to mix it and put into the carboy) Merry Mead Making Part 2 presented by John Morgenstern Learn to finish the bottling in Part 2. This will involve knowing
when it is ready, and of course decanting it and probably will involve
a taste test (so you know if it is young or not, how to adjust it if it
is nasty etc.) In addition anyone doing ‘tasting’ will need to be over
21 so bring ID if you look young. :P Mandated Reporting for Clergy presented by Catherine Duncan A review of the pertinent laws requiring clergy to be mandated
reporters for child abuse, and discussion of how to reconcile legal
mandate within Wiccan principles. Presentation of how to recognize
child abuse. (As this topic may be disturbing to some, recommend only
clergy (priest/ess, HP/HPS) attend.) Besom Brigade presented by M. Macha NightMare Reclaim the stereotypical Witch, the hag with her pointy black
hat. Join in the fun of learning synchronized broom twirling to silly
songs and chants. The besom brigade is a real crowd-pleaser. Bring your
witch’s hat, a lightweight broom, and a sense of the absurd. (Your
treasured gnarled besom may make your spells more powerful, but for
twirling try to find a slim aluminum-handled or silver-painted broom,
often only $3.99 at Target. Avoid blistered hands and tired arms.) Main Ritual with Sigrid and Robert of Bran Faol Reannag 9:00 pm SATURDAY: Grand Council, Merry Meet workshops, performances, and vendors. Quantum Physics & Magical Theory presented by Fellowship of the Illumination Covenstead Long has it been forseen a time where science and magic converge
and a greater understanding of life, existence and reality is then
unveiled before us. Quantum physics suggests such a possibility and
with its introduction into the public arena new possibilities and
understanding unfold before us. This workshop shall address the seven
fundamental principles of quantum physics and how they correlate and
impact magical theory. Introduction to the Numerology of the Pythagoreans presented by Grace What did Pythagoras actually teach about Numerology in the 6th
Century BCE? The only written material we have is fragments of his
teachings from some of his followers a couple of centuries later.
Modern scholars have pulled this information together, translating it
into English. Grace has been studying these works and has distilled the
essence of Pythagorean thought about Numbers. Come find out how the ancient Pythagoreans really viewed Numbers
and discover an entirely different approach to these amazing little
tools that we use so thoughtlessly as to assign sequential sequences of
them to our homes, the districts of our cities, our communication
devices, and even to each other. Podcasting For Pagans presented by Peter Paddon Ever wanted to be the Pagan Billy Graham? No, me neither, but
podcasting (audio or video shows on the internet and iTunes) is an
excellent tool for teaching, networking and outreach, and they provide
a valuable service to your fellow Pagans. Learn how to find them,
listen to them, and create them yourself. Beaded Peyote-Stitch Bracelet presented by Carol Cunningham Step into the wonderful world of seed beading! During this
workshop, participants will make a beaded bracelet using the peyote
stitch and learn how to read a peyote stitch graph. Due to a limited
number of kits, the maximum number of participants is 25. The World of Braiding presented by Phyllis Ukatu This workshop aims to teach a few techniques of different braid
patterns, as well as their effective uses, from utility purposes to
more decorative. Beginners to moderately skilled braiders are welcome.
We will be using synthetic kanekalon fibers and cotton/polyester yarn
to create these pieces. Materials will be provided. We will cover the
basic three strand braid, the Senegalese Twist (or Rope Braid), four
strand braids (Prussian, Dereck or box and traditional), five strand
braids and The Herringbone (or Fishtail) braid. The Evil Eye: Folk Magic of the Silk Road presented by Tandemonium Join us for a presentation about the Evil Eye in Central Asian
cultures, what it is, causes, and how to protect against it.
Presentation will include a slide show, display of Central Asian
costumes, jewelry and charms and a shamanic healing dance. Clay Meditation presented by Foster & Sheri Holt Inspired by the famous psychologist Carl Jung's work, this is a
meditation using clay sculpting to connect with one's subconscious mind
and the universe. It is a great tool for self-discovery. All materials
are supplied. Commerce Magick in the Ancient World presented by Tony Mierzwicki A brief overview of techniques used by shopkeepers in the ancient
world so as to increase and maintain their profits. These techniques
are readily applicable for cultivating and optimizing a successful
contemporary business. If time and circumstances permit, a short
invocation to Hermes, will be included so as to illustrate a technique
used to bring customers into a shop. Participants wishing to put
commerce magick into practice are encouraged to obtain a small statue
of Hermes or Mercury. The Hermes invocation, if performed, can be used
to charge this statue. Mystical Secrets of Music presented by Hobbyhorse Everyone is moved by music, but do you know the deeper, spiritual
reasons why? This interactive, fun and informative workshop will
introduce you to the esoteric meaning of sound and music. It is open to
both musicians and non-musicians. Learn about the music of the spheres,
the wisdom of the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras, how to use
toning to stimulate your chakras, and how to invoke the four elements
on one of the oldest instruments: the frame drum. Learn how you, the
cosmos, and the awesome power of music are all connected. Beginning Bellydance presented by Lauren Mazzeo An entry into the world of bellydance. Get in touch with your
inner goddess! Class will include a warm up and cool down along with
basic bellydance movements. Please wear comfortable clothing, and a hip
scarf if desired. A Wort-Cunner's Way presented by Raven Womack Wort-cunning or herbal magick is a specialized art of the Craft.
While many dabble with herbs and use them ritually or for
spellcrafting, the wort-cunner’s magick and traditions are more
plant-centric than many Pagans’. Come and discuss the theory, reality
and philosophy of modern wort-cunning. Shielding presented by Estara T'shirai Shielding is a basic yet sometimes misunderstood practice.
Come and explore some of the various uses and techniques available.
This talk is based on Estara's "Shielding" class at the online Grey
School of Wizardry. Book-signing! 7:00 - 7:45 Mythology Show performed by Hobbyhorse Ancient Mythology comes alive with an entertaining mix of original
songs by folk/rock duo Hobbyhorse. Annie’s poetic lyrics and Phil’s
intricate guitar work will enchant you and transport you directly into
the symbolic world of myth. Their songs are inspired by stories from
around the world about the Gods and Goddesses, and timeless themes such
as creation, love and loss, renewal, and the end of time. Masquerade Ball "Come as your Favorite Fae!" with DJ MistressPrime (Hey, that's me!) 8:45 - ? Cash bar will be available
The Schedule for Merry Meet 2008:
THURSDAY: Leadership Institute
Thursday, August 14th:
9:00 - 1:00
2:00 - 6:00
6:00 - 8:00
FRIDAY: Grand Council (the business meeting for CoG) begins, Merry Meet workshops, and vendors.
Friday's Workshops
9:00 - 10:30
9:00 - 10:30
10:45 - 11:45
10:45 - 11:45
1:30 - 3:30
1:30 - 3:00
4:00 - 5:30
4:00 - 4:45
5:00 - 5:45
7:15 - 8:30
7:15 - 8:30
Saturday's Workshops
9:00 - 10:30
9:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 12:00
10:30 - 12:00
1:30 - 3:00
Limited to 25 participants
1:30 - 3:00
1:30 - 3:30
No late admittance.
3:15 - 4:45
3:15 - 4:45
4:15 - 5:45
5:00 - 6:00
5:00 - 6:00
Want to meet your favorite author? Either bring your own copy (or
purchase one at MerryMeet) and have a chance to chat with some of your
favorite pagan authors including
* Amber K -- author of True Magick, Covencraft, Ritualcraft (with Azrael Arynn K) and more!
* Azrael Arynn K -- author of Heart of Tarot, Candlemas (both with Amber K) and more!
* Bryan Lankford -- author of Wicca Demystified
* M. Macha Nightmare -- author of The Pagan Book of Living and Dying
(with Starhawk et al), Witchcraft and the Web, and Pagan Pride
* Peter Paddon -- author of The Book of the Veil, and Through the Veil,
editor of The Crooked Path and director (and star) of the Craftwise
spellcrafting series on DVD
* Raven Womack -- author of The Raven's Flight Book of Incense, Oils, Potions and Brews
* Tony Mierzwicki -- author of Graecco-Egyptian Magick
8:00 - 8:45
Closing ritual 11:00 am, end of Merry Meet 2008.
THE VENUE
Merry Meet 2008 is being hosted at a beautiful venue that offers plenty
of outstanding amenities to choose from: a swimming pool, men's and
women's dry saunas, a large jacuzzi and , a fully equipped fitness
facility with a full range of equipment, including stationary bicycles,
treadmill, stair step machines and free weights.
Soothing massages (reservation required) are available for an additional cost.
There are horseshoes, croquet, ping pong, badminton, jogging
paths, paddle tennis and three regulation tennis courts available. Our
basketball, volleyball, shuffleboard and two of the tennis courts are
lit for night play.
There are plenty of scenic hiking trails which stretch back into the
wooded canyons along with over 60 miles of bridle paths with over 900
acres available.
TICKETS
There will be various prices for hotel stay including meals
(breakfast, lunch and dinner) for 4 and 3 days. This cost will include
Saturday's concert and masquerade ball and access to resort facilities:
Check the website for Day Pass prices.
_______________
Contact Us:
email: MerryMeet08@gmail.com
website: MerryMeet08.org
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1554
San Bernardino, CA 92402
Merry Meet 2008 Festival Aug 14-17
Gerard Butler and K2G
The World Wide Web to the rescue!
It took me a whopping 10 minutes, if that, to find out that it was Puffy Amiyumi and the song is called "K2G". I wasn't able to find an "official" video for the song, but I found a pretty neat Gerard Butler dedication video of his visit to Japan with the song. They disabled the embedded player so to watch it you'll have to click on the link.
Puffy Amiyumi - "K2G"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mmzYCoBmhY
Busy Week in September
Because a few folks asked and some never saw the CBS interview...
This story was on the front page of the Orange County Register on Wednesday Sept 12. CBS saw the article and called me that day to come out and conduct an interview that afternoon.
On Sunday Sept 9th I was honored at the Pagan Pride Los Angeles festival with their Pagan Community Service Award.
Below are two links. One is to the newspaper's article, the other is a file of the news report that aired on both the 5pm and 11pm news on CBS (channel 2) and also on KCAL (channel 9) at 8pm and 10pm.
Orange County Register
http://www.ocregister.com/life/witch-tombstones-wicca-1843163-witchcraft-orange
CBS News (Los Angeles)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYC9Nt-P2_0
From my other blog:
The newspaper seemed to have a few facts twisted around. I did not personally fight for this cause. I supported it, but I didn't personally fight it. Selene Fox and Paula Johnson had a lot to do with it. I fear this article downplays the part Circle Sanctuary and LLL did. I definitely do not wish to take any of that away from them.
Some of my words or wording is twisted a bit. That bothers me. I was a little shocked to read that I was "born to a homeless woman". While in essence it is true, I've never seen it worded that way. I never thought about it like that before. Besides, it's not like she's still homeless or something. I just felt it was strange to read. Frankly, I felt it was rather irrelevant to the whole of the story. Some friends thought it was to give the readers another way to connect with me as a person. *shrug*
Oh and I'm sure a few folks with the Meetup crowd are gonna laugh at the "The 37-year-old Huntington Beach native organizes three Meetup.com social networking groups for Orange County witches, pagans and ghost enthusiasts." part since my friends LOVE to make me count out all seven of my groups during introductions. It's become a running joke! Of course she didn't mention the Bluegrass Meetup I run. I guess witches with banjos just aren' t that interesting.
I like that she mentioned the Merry Meet 2008 Festival, but I'm disappointed that she didn't name it. The description isn't entirely accurate either, but what can I do about it now?
MerryMeet08.org
During the photo shoot for the Register I didn't know if I should smile or just look serious since the article was tied to the pentacle headstone project.
I was concerned about the photographer's focus on my skull collection. Yes, I have a lot of them. I was afraid folks might lump it with the terrible stereotypes and just the mere showing of them would set us back on the "acceptance front". *sigh* I kept explaining that the skulls were more about me than Wicca on whole.
The photographer wanted me standing behind my larger skulls, as the first image shows. Then she wanted me holding up a string of large bone skull beads I had. She wanted me to act like I was inspecting them or something, hence the second shot. Frankly I don't think those two shots are all that interesting but they do look like something you'd find in the newspaper. I suppose they look "sensational" enough though. :(
I'm on the 5pm CBS news tonight
KCAL news was in Dana Point shooting a story and wanted to interview me as well. They saw my on the front page of the OC Register today and decided they needed to talk with me.They called and essentially gave me an hour to shower, dress, look good, and shape up my living room for this tv interview.
They spent time shooting a photo of Jan Deanna O'Rourke's headstone, took some shoots of my PPLA Community Service Award that I received on Sunday, even the OC AIDS Walk certificate for my Pagan and Witches Meetup team. They did a close up on my CoG logo pin, the Interfaith pin I bought from Don Frew, and my pentacle necklace.
They asked me about my ancestor altar, took lots of footage. I was given the opportunity to discuss the photos of my mother, her mother, my father's mother and some pets. Of course they asked about all the crystal skulls. I was also quick to explain the skulls were my interest and not about Wicca.
So, I'll be on the 5pm news. I'm told it would be the 5pm on channel 2 (CBS Los Angeles) BUT, they share news media with (KCAL) channel 9 so there's really no telling.
Tonight is my OC pagan meetup so I've set my DVR to record things, just in case.
One of the most important questions I thought Michelle Gile (reporter) asked me was "Why did it take till now for us to hear about this?" I looked at her and said, I didn't know. I told her we've trying to get the media's attention.
So wish me luck. I hope this news report looks and sounds good for our community and brings greater awareness.
*breathing much better now*
OC Witch Fights for Pentacle-Inscribed Tombstones
O.C. witch fights for pentacle-inscribed tombstones
http://www.ocregister.com/life/witch-tombstones-wicca-1843163-witchcraft-orange MAGIC WOMAN: Yvonne Conway's wiccan group lobbied the federal government to recognize the pentacle as an official religious symbol. ROSE PALMISANO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER |
ORANGE - Yvonne Conway sees dead people, so tombstones were a no-brainer.
Conway is the national spokesperson for the Berkley-based witchcraft organization Covenant of the Goddess.
She may also be Orange County’s most prominent witch.
The 37-year-old Huntington Beach native organizes three Meetup.com social networking groups for Orange County witches, pagans and ghost enthusiasts.
She belongs to a coven of eight, believes in magic and says that ghosts routinely flutter through her Orange County home.
In 2008, she will help co-host a four day national conference on witchcraft near Yucaipa.
As a fully “out-of-the-broom-closet” witch, Coway says her job is to put a public face on Wicca, the pagan faith she estimates up to 1,000 Orange County residents practice.
Tombstones seemed the perfect way to do just that.
This past spring, a coalition of Wiccan organizations including Covenant of the Goddess, won the right to have the symbol of their faith – a pentacle – inscribed on government-issued tombstones and grave markers.
The decision by the Veteran’s Department to include the pentacle as one of 39 official faith emblems came after nearly a decade of repeated requests and three lawsuits by Wiccan groups.
This summer, the Veterans Department issued the first pentacle tomb marker for Arlington National Cemetary.
For Conway, pentacle-bedecked graves are an overdue recognition of a long maligned religion.
“We’re showing we’re not the monsters people have been led to believe we are,” Conway says.
The battle for identity is one that Conway knows well.
Born to a homeless woman at St. Joseph’s hospital in Orange, Conway says she was given up for adoption to a family from Huntington Beach.
Her new family were Catholics and Conway says she was attracted from an early age to the mystery and ritual of her adopted parent’s faith.
“I wanted to be a nun,” Conway recalls. “That was the closest thing I could think of to women who could dedicate themselves to God and their community.”
She was troubled however by the idea of original sin – the Christian notion that humans are born sinful – and she had a less spiritual attraction to “cheesy horror movies – Elvira and so forth.” That attraction led her to a bookstore in the Westminster mall and a $5 book about witchcraft.
It was a child’s fascination with magic as viewed through a television screen. But Conway soon found out “witchcraft is not like ‘Bewitched’ – although that would be awesome,” she says. “My house would be so much cleaner.”
Instead, Conway discovered what she describes as a nature religion in which both masculine and feminine divinities are worshipped, love is emphasized over sin, magic is possible and ‘spells’ take the form of “just real focused prayers,” Conway says. “You’re sending your will out in hope of a specific outcome.”
Conway always believed in the supernatural – she says she used to see objects moving in her house growing up – “but at 12 years old you don’t necessarily have the vocabulary or the comprehension to understand it.”
She did note that her strongly felt wishes tended to come true.
Conway recounts the time she wished for a friend to appear among the throng of people during a trip to Disneyland. A half an hour later, he did.
“That was interesting,” she says.
Later in life she says her faith made her sensitive to ghosts, who would walk through her yard or turn on lights in her house.
“It got to the point when my blender would turn on when it was unplugged,” Conway says. “Magic – I believe in it.”
Her beliefs led her to tarot cards, astrology, crystals, as well as to wiccan organizations like Covenant of the Goddess, one of several prominent Wicca and pagan groups that advocated repeatedly for federal recognition of the pentacle emblem with the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Conway says that each application by Covenant of the Goddess for recognition of the pentacle foundered upon new and shifting rules issued by department staff.
“They were giving us the runaround,” Conway says. “I’m not going to go off on conspiracy theories but it does seem a little strange.”
In the meantime, arguably more obscure religious emblems – such as the circular “EK” of Eckankar, a faith founded in 1965 that espouses, among other things, “soul travel” – were approved.
“It was religious prejudice that prevented putting it on the list,” says Selena Fox, the senior minister of Circle Sanctuary, a Wicca church that settled a successful lawsuit against the Veterans Department this past April. “None of the other symbols took a decade and three lawsuits to get this done.”
Circle Sanctuary’s lawsuit – a continuation of a previous effort by Covenant of the Goddess and other groups – was not the only driver of what Fox calls “the pentacle quest.”
“Our soldiers were coming home and they weren’t able to have the pentacle put up as a religious symbol on their tombstone,” Conway says. “They served their time for their country – they should be allowed to have that freedom of religion they fought for.”
One such soldier was Army Reserve Sgt. Patrick Stewart, a wiccan from Nevada who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2005. In late 2006, officials in the state of Nevada lost patience with the federal government’s unwillingness to issue a pentacle tombstone to one of their fallen citizens. In December, the state of Nevada issued their own.
There are no pentacle tombstones yet in Orange County, although one can be seen in Riverside National Cemetery.
But Conway says the fight for recognition of their identity has united wiccans – often reluctant to take a public stand about their controversial faith – around a cause.
“It’s tough for (wiccans) to find a way to work together,” Conway says. “But this was about prejudice and being treated like second class citizens or less because of our religious beliefs. There was absolutely no controversy.”
###
I'm not really sure how I feel about this article. Do I sound like a nutter? Will this help or hurt our cause? They seemed to have a few facts twisted around. CoG didn't officially jump into the fight until 2005, as I recall. Circle Sanctuary and the Lady Liberty League were fighting long before we joined in.
I did not personally fight for this cause. I supported it, but I didn't personally fight it. Selene Fox and Paula Johnson had a lot to do with it. Kathryn Fuller had more to do with it than I did. I fear this article downplays the part Circle Sanctuary and LLL did. I definitely do not wish to take any of that away from them.
Some of my words or wording is twisted a bit. That bothers me. I really didn't want this article to sound dumb either. I know that people who don't like us for being Wiccan will dislike it either way. That's just how it is. I'm not saying that Gwen had an issue with Wiccans, I mean readers who are anti-Wiccan.
I was a little shocked to read that I was born to a homeless woman. While it is true, I've never seen it worded that way. I dunno, I never thought about it like that before. Besides, it's not like she's still homeless or something. I dunno, it was strange to read. Frankly, I felt it was irrelevant.
Oh and I'm sure a few folks with the Meetup crowd are gonna laugh at the "The 37-year-old Huntington Beach native organizes three Meetup.com social networking groups for Orange County witches, pagans and ghost enthusiasts." part since my friends LOVE to make me count out all seven of my groups during introductions. It's become a running joke!
*breathe*
I tend to hope for the best, and I hope this article is a good thing for the cause and for me too. I have to remember I deserve good things too. I tend to put my needs and happiness on hold for other things, or people.
*breathe*
I like that she mentions Merry Meet 2008 Festival, but I'm not happy that she didn't name it. She just calls it a four day national conference on Witchcraft. WHA?!? It's a four day festival in Cherry Valley that prominently includes witchcraft but is not limited to witchcraft. Sheesh! If you're reading this and are interested go to
This is supposed to be a good thing, this article, right? I should perhaps be happy, right? Never mind that I can see every freckle in those photos, and what's up with my hair in that first photo?!? Ugh! It's all limp. It was so hot in the house, I was dripping with sweat.
I didn't know if I should smile or just look serious since the article was tied to the pentacle headstone project. I did smile in a number of the photos, but they chose not to print them.
There was one photo she took of me where I was sitting in front of my ancestor altar, (where the skulls all sit) and I was showing a bit too much cleavage... it wasn't bad, just saucy and not really appropriate for the article.
I was concerned about the photographer's focus on my skull collection. Yes, I have a lot of them. I was afraid folks might lump it with the terrible stereotypes and just the mere showing of them would set us back on the "acceptance front". *sigh* I kept explaining that the skulls were more about me than Wicca on whole. I don't think that came across very well.
The photographer wanted me standing behind my larger skulls, as the first image shows. Then she wanted me holding up a string of large bone skull beads I had. She wanted me to act like I was inspecting them or something, hence the second shot. Frankly I don't think those two shots are all that interesting but they do look like something you'd find in the newspaper. I don't think either shot was really good. I suppose they look "sensational" though. :(
*breathe*
Holy crap my face is on the front page of the freakin' newspaper!!!
*breathe*
*exhale*
*breathe again!*
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merry meet! i lived in oc for about 6 years and now live about 45 mins away! i would love to hear about your meet ups! sounds cool! enjoyed the articles!  bb, Alysia, Bran's Chroi |
08:56 PM CST