Witches and Pagans Protest Ban on Fortunetelling

February 8, 2001

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On February 8, 2001, The Columbus Dispatch reported that "witches and pagans demonstrated recently that they know how to mobilize for political action" when Moraine, Ohio, "considered passing an ordinance that would have banned fortunetelling for a fee...Council members began receiving e-mails and phone calls...On the night the ordinance was to come up for a vote, it was standing-room-only in council chambers, which seats about 150...After hearing objections that the ordinance was an unconstitutional restraint on religious freedom, council tabled it." One protester explained, "'Not only would this have affected my business, but I'm a practitioner of Wiccan religion, and using divination and communication with spirits is an integral part of my spirituality.' Wicca is a pagan religion whose practitioners sometimes call themselves witches...It's an earth-based religion with a goddess and a calendar of celebrations based on the turn of the seasons." The same protester said, "We have a master rule of 'Do what ye will, but harm ye none.' "