Tag Archives: Crystal Blanton

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PMP: Crystal Blanton & Shades of Faith

Crystal Blanton returns to Pagan-Musings to talk about her new anthology Shades of Ritual. Crystal last visited with KaliSara and RevKess in 2011 to talk about her anthology Pain and Faith in the Wiccan World (please note, RevKess misspoke as to when Crystal was first/last on the show). Both this new anthology and her earlier edited work Shades of Faith share essays and personal experiences from several Pagans of color. In late 2014 or early 2015 another anthology will be released that talks about race issues from several Pagan perspectives, Bringing Race to the Table. Crystal will be visiting with the hosts again for that release, perhaps with her co-editors.

In a first for PMPChannel, five of the contributors to the anthology, including Crystal herself, joined in the conversation. In this special three hour edition of Pagan-Musings you will hear from these contributors about being a  Pagan of color. You will also hear the white folks on the show, RevKess and KaliSara, ask questions in an attempt to get a better understanding of what it might be like to be a person of color in the Pagan world.

The Guests (and when possible, links to their websites)

Crystal Blanton is an activist, writer, priestess, mother, wife, and social worker.  She is a advocate for true diversity and multiculturalism within the Pagan community.  Crystal is the author of Bridging the Gap and Pain and Faith in a Wiccan World, and the editor of Shades of Faith: Minority Voices in Paganism and Shades of Ritual; Minorities Voices in Practice. She also writes for The Wild Hunt, Sage Woman, and Daughters of Eve, a community blog on Patheos.com.  A frequent speaker at Pagan conferences and festivals, and in her professional life, she serves disenfranchised youth in Oakland, California, while studying for a master’s degree in social work at a California State University.

Luna Pantera is a native San Franciscan and mother of an amazing 24 year old. She is an out of the Broom Closet Witch, professional tarot reader, Navigator at the Cross Roads, Master Reiki Practitioner, and body worker specializing on adult survivors of sexual assault. She currently works at the Mystic Dream in Walnut Creek, CA. She is the founder of Theatre of the Ancestors. She is a feature author in the anthology, “Shades of Faith; Minority Voices in Paganism,” and is currently working on her forthcoming trilogy, “Both Sides Now.” She co-facilitates retreats up to Mount Shasta.

BlackWitch: Olivia Haynes writes Black Witch, a blog centered on the intersection of being Black and Pagan. She also currently resides in her hometown of Baltimore City, MD.

Clio Ajana is a high priestess, Hellenic Alexandrian tradition and Director of Education, E.O.C.T.O. She is deeply passionate about numerology, astrology, and writing as a spiritual practice. A writer for Daughters of Eve, her current projects include a work on the individual’s quest for a spiritual home, a second work on the intersection of racism, homophobia, and religious non-acceptance in modern society.and an exploration of eldercare in Paganism.

Szmeralda Shanel MA is a visual, ritual and performance artist. She is an initiate in the Anderson Feri/Faery tradition, a  founding member of CAYA coven and an ordained priestess of Isis/Auset with the Fellowship of Isis and the Temple of Isis. Szmeralda is the founder of The Iseum of Black Isis, an iseum dedicated to Goddess Spirituality and Sacred Arts. She currently lives in Chicago, IL and works as a teaching artist, expressive arts therapist/facilitator, and tarot reader.

Alisa Kuumba Zuwena (passed away before the book went to press), Crystal read an exert from Alisa’s contribution so that her “voice” could be heard during this broadcast.

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by, Peggy McIntosh was cited as a resource by all five guests.

MUSIC

  1. Big Bad Gina – Freedom Connection – Lake of Dreams
  2. Queen Mother Imakhu – Sacred Mother (Anuk Mwt) – Water Woman
  3. Spiral Dance – Raven’s Lore – Magick
  4. Omnia – I Don’t Speak Human – Musick & Poetree
  5. Frenchy and the Punk – Batgirl – Bonjour Batfrog
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PMP: 2013 in Review

On this week’s edition of Pagan-Musings, KaliSara and RevKess reviewed some of the highlights of 2013. Not just from the series, but some of their personal highlights. Late in the show they talk about some of their plans for 2014.

The following list is some of our favorite shows from 2013, and favorites from our listeners, in particular order.

  • Theisms – In which RevKess and KaliSara attempt to give brief descriptions and conversations regarding many of the “theisms” of modern Paganism.
  • Native/Indigenous Gender Attitudes and Issues – In which KaliSara talks with Scott Marker of Turtle Creek Reservation, and his wife, about some of the issues and attitudes of gender in some of the Native American cultures.
  • PWN #79 – The most popular episode of Pagan Weekly News for 2013. Unfortunately, RevKess was not very good at show descriptions for PWN in January 2013, so you will have to listen to the show to know why it was so popular.
  • Officers of Avalon – In which KaliSara speaks with Amber Moon and Tim Flanagan of Officers of Avalon, a Pagan networking and support group for police, paramedics, firefighters, etc.
  • Wendy Rule & Living the Magick – In which RevKess and KaliSara talk with Wendy Rule about her music and her online class “Living the Magick.”
  • Crystal Blanton – In which RevKess and KaliSara speak with Crystal Blanton about her books and issues that are unique to Pagans of color.
  • Heathenry Panel – Not as much of a panel as it was supposed to be, but a good conversation nonetheless.
  • Kari Tauring – In which RevKess and KaliSara visit with Kari Tauring about Heathen magic.
  • Sacred Sexuality Pt 6 – In which KaliSara and RevKess are joined for a while by Stormcrow to talk about polyamorous relationships.
  • Dark Goddesses – In which KaliSara explores the Dark Goddesses of various pantheons and shares how they are not “evil” or always “negative.”
  • Walking Through the Dark – In which KaliSara and RevKess discuss facing our darkest fears and coming through at the over end.
  • Origami Condoms – An episode of Lavender Hill from October.
  • Civil Divisiveness – An episode of Lavender Hill from December.
  • Kyrja & Tonia – In which KaliSara talks with Kyrja and Tonia about authoring and illustrating Pagan Childrens books.
  • Kyrja & Attacking Religion – In which Kyrja talks openly about the various attacks she and her family dealt with from December 2012 into the middle part of 2013.
  • Kyrja follow ups….
  • Environmentally Conscious Pagans – In which RevKess and KaliSara visit with Shauna Aura Knight on how to be more environmentally aware as Pagans.
  • Telergy & the Legend o Goody Cole – In which RevKess has a conversation with Robert McClung, composer and musician with Telergy.
  • Heartland Panel – Live recording of the 2013 Heartland Speakers’ Panel, moderated by Barbara Criswell. Ed Hubbard, Janet Farrar, Gavin Bone, and Mike Nichols participating.
  • Norse Mythology – KaliSara has had several episodes regarding Heathenry in 2013, most of which RevKess was not available for. Here’s a primer on Norse myth.

We spent a little time discussing Peter Dybing’s “Ten Pagans Who Made a Difference in 2013“, more as a wish list of guests for 2014.

Music from this Edition

  1. Anima – Ancient Future – Light of Aluna
  2. Kari Tauring – The Wheel – A New Yuletide Celebration
  3. Emerald Rose – Freya, Shakti – Bending Tradition
  4. Robert Linton – Seasons of Years Past – Throughout the Autumn Light