Author: Kathy Nance

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/civil-religion/nance/2009/12/local-artist-sends-prayer-for-unity-to-parliament-of-world-religions/

On this first full day of the Parliament of World Religions (PWR) in Melbourne, Australia, a group of Pagans met to give blessings to four rattles created by St. Louis artist...

Author: Christopher Behnan

Source: Daily Press & Argus

http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20090310/NEWS01/903100307

Mona Lindsay, like most people, only asks that you don't prejudge her.

If you're interested, she'll give you a peak into her world.

Lindsay, a practicing Wiccan — a religion that follows the cycle of the moon and seasons and the sun rather than one central deity — is perhaps best known...

Author: Kevin Kinder

Source: Northwest Arkansas Times

http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/living/74657/

Why a month to celebrate goddesses?

Well, there are two main reasons. The first is standard. March is Women's History Month, and so it is fitting that women are celebrated then.

The second gets to the core of the Goddess Festival, a new event in Fayetteville, a little faster.

"We've been silent for too many years, and we've found our...

Author: Michael Cohen

Source: All News Web

http://www.allnewsweb.com/page8998996.php

When one thinks of pagans in modern day Europe one generally thinks of teenagers rebelling against Christian upbringings or older alternative type peopl referred to as Neo-Pagans. Many readers would be surprised that there remains one corner of Europe where at least in some areas Christianity never took root at all and the locals remain pagans just like their parents and their...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Western Daily Press

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/news/environment/Pagans-able-camp-Avebury-festivals/article-675615-detail/article.html

The residents of Avebury, Britain's only village set inside a Neolithic stone circle, have reluctantly voted to back allowing pagans to camp there for their festivals – because they fear banning them would...

Author: Lindsay Melvin

Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/feb/02/into-the-light/

They were led, blindfolded and in ritual robes and sneakers, through the darkness.

When their eyes were uncovered they stood in a room lit by a single candle at the center.

Kindling smaller candles from that flame, each candle was passed around until the group formed a blazing circle of light....

Author: Jennifer Riley

Source: The Christian Post

http://christianpost.com/Society/Polls_reports/2009/01/survey-wicca-unknown-to-majority-of-americans-26/

Although some say Wicca is the fastest growing religion in the United States, most Americans still say they have never heard of the term before, according to a new survey released Monday.

Slightly more than half of Americans (55 percent...

Author: David L. Hudson Jr.

Source: First Amendment Center

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/analysis.aspx?id=21124

Iowa prison officials did not violate the religious-liberty rights of three Wiccan inmates by giving them three hours to hold a religious ceremony, a federal appeals court has ruled.

The three-hour time limit for the ceremony did not impose a “substantial burden” on the inmates under the free-exercise...

Author: Lynda Waddington

Source: The Iowa Independent

http://iowaindependent.com/10388/three-hours-long-enough-for-prisoners-religious-observance

Three Iowa inmates, convinced that they were not allowed enough time for proper religious ceremony, have lost their claim on appeal. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a decision released today, affirmed the 2006 ruling of U.S. Magistrate Judge Ross Walters that...

Author: Victoria Handysides

Source: Metro

http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/article/158292

Hundreds gathered at city hall yesterday afternoon to celebrate the holiday season through pagan ritualistic chanting and calling to the four corners of the universe.

Winter solstice celebrations are among many alternatives that replace conventional Christmas traditions for thousands of Edmontonians.

“It’s a celebration...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=9516782

A woman has filed a lawsuit against the University of Nebraska, claiming she was fired because she is a witch.

The lawsuit was filed earlier this month by a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe.

The filing says the woman, who practices witchcraft as her religion, was hired by the university in February 2007 to direct a youth program. She...

Author: Bronwynne Jooste

Source: All Africa

http://allafrica.com/stories/200812081089.html

The pagan priestess who took the South African Air Force to the Equity Court for unfair dismissal is now set to meet defence authorities with the hope of changing their "discriminatory" approach to minority religions.

On Friday Donna Vos, also known as Donna Darkwolf, reached a settlement with the air force after two years of legal proceedings. The matter...

Author: Todd R. Brown

Source: The San Jose Examiner

http://www.examiner.com/x-1396-San-Jose-Culture-Examiner~y2008m11d16-Cool-Yule-in-the-South-Bay

As every good culture examiner knows, Christmas has pagan roots.

Amid the modern-day trappings of tinsel, plastic snowmen and competitive Christmas-light decorating, a hearty few still celebrate the traditions of their ancient ancestors, including Yule...

Author: Jessica Keil

Source: The Current Online

http://media.www.thecurrentonline.com/media/storage/paper304/news/2008/11/03/Features/Pagans.Want.Religious.Education.And.Acceptance.At.Umsl-3523386.shtml

Kristin M. Smith, sophomore, biology, goes by the name Kris, and spends most of her time in the depths of the Mercantile Library. In her freshman...

Author: Frank Juliano

Source: The Connecticut Post

http://www.connpost.com/ci_10858408?source=most_viewed

No, this is not a joke. Wiccan Priestess Alicia Folberth wants to clear up what she says are confusion, misinformation and downright lies that years of cheesy horror flicks and people of other faiths have spread about witchcraft and neo-pagan practices.

"Halloween in the Wiccan religion is known as Samhain [pronounced Sow-en], which...