In this episode we discussed pagan festivals, and the benefits they can provide to a new seeker on the path. The festivals I mentioned in the show were:
Heartland Pagan Festival May 22-24 Camp Gaea in McLouth Kansas. www.kchsa.org
St. Louis Pagan Picnic…June 7th and 8th at Tower Grove Park in St. Louis…http://paganpicnic.org/
My advice to get the most out of festivals:
Go to the workshops – Broaden your horizons, learn about new approaches to the craft, see the craft from a different view point, and learn something new!
Go to the rituals – I always go to the opening and closing rituals because they provide a nice context for the festival. Look at your program/schedule, and attend the other small rituals that may be held during the festival.
Camp, and make friends – If you are attending a camping festival, then plan to set up camp and make friends! We are a nature based religion…so camp and experience nature!
Join into discussions – Don’t be afraid to tell people you are new to the pagan path! We are a friendly lot, and people will be more than happy to answer questions.
Don’t forget the Pagan Pride Days! These events are designed to share our path with the community. http://www.paganpride.org/
The 98th edition of Pagan Weekly News aired at 9am Central on 18 June 2013. Among many topics discussed, RevKess and Zaracon spent some time with Summer Solstice, some recent and upcoming book releases and an update on PRISM and Edward Snowden.
Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice is being celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere this time of year. It is also known as Litha by some and Midsummer by others. The names for this festival vary depending on your tradition, heritage, culture and region. Suffice it to say, it is a celebration of Summer and of Life.
Our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are celebrating the Winter Solstice or Yule. We give a salute to them with a song at the end of the show.
Kupala‘s Feast, the celebration of a little known Eastern European Goddess?
Pagan Spirit Gathering is one of the most popular summer festivals in the United States. Hosted by Circle Sanctuary, PSG is now held at Stonehouse Farm outside Earlville, IL. PSG is well underway at the time of our broadcast, but we still wanted to share news and information with our listeners who could not attend this year’s festivities.
The Wild Hunt gives us a list of books to look out for this Summer. That led Z and RevKess to talk about some books they have recently read or are currently reading.
The Pagan History Project launched on Facebook with a new website soon to follow. “We are using “Pagan” in its broadest sense, encompassing: Witchcraft , Traditional and other, Wicca, Heathenry, Druidry, various Reconstructionisms, Magical Lodges, etc. All the groups and traditions and paths that make up the American Occult/Magical/Pagan movement from the early days ( the 1930s, 40′s 50′s…) to present. We are focusing on everything and everyone pre-1995 at this time, due to our aging population.”
Isaac Bonewits – We Won’t Shave Any Longer – Avalon is Rising! (RevKess misspoke during the show, this is We Won’t Any Longer. Still a good song! RevKess may be making a video for We Won’t Shave Any Longer later this year.)
Damh the Bard – Cloak of Feathers – Herne’s Apprentice
Spiral Dance – Solstice Evergreen – The Quickening
Update & Further Info on Snowden & PRISM
On Tuesday the 11th of June, 2013, RevKess reported on the PRISM scandal and the whistle blower Edward Snowden who at that time was hiding from US officials somewhere in Hong Kong. Since then, there have been some concerns on the veracity of his claims and his history.
Yet others say he has gone from whistle blower to traitor. See the story SCMP.com “Edward Snowden: US Government has been hacking Hong Kong and China. You can also read, on the Guardian no less, how Snowden has potentially weakened his own defense if brought to trial in the US on charges of espionage: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/11/edward-snowden-defence
War in Syria: NYTimes, the Independent, the Economist and Times of Israel all report on the growing unrest and protests leading towards a possible civil war.
Pagan-Musings Podcast Channel 