all-magick.com

I read this story on recordonline.com.  It’s so hard to explain to people what Wicca is about without thier negetive and pre-programmed idea of it. 

Times Herald-Record  October 29, 2007

New Paltz — When it comes to religions, Wicca is perhaps the most misunderstood.

The confusion actually begins by classifying Wicca as a religion, which it is not. Its reputation is also tainted by how it’s portrayed in mainstream media.

Yes, people who practice Wicca are called witches, and they say incantations. But there’s no flying around on broomsticks, no pointy black hats and no charmed sister witches like on the WB’s “Charmed.” Sorry for the disappointment.  >> Full story

An Egyptian man was executed for desecrating the Muslim holy book and sorcery.  WTF!

What is with those barbarians over there?  Can’t they have thier own beliefs and leave others alone?

Here’s a snippet and link to the original articlet:

Saudi media first reported the case in April, saying mosque worshippers had complained that a pharmacist in the northern desert town of Arar had placed copies of the Koran in washrooms. No accusation of adultery was mentioned at the time.

Clerics of Saudi Arabia’s austere form of Islam, known as Wahhabism, take accusations of sorcery seriously and recently held a conference in Riyadh on how to combat it. Clerics dominate the legal system, acting as judges.

“This is a sad day for justice in Saudi Arabia. This execution is a clear indicator of the medieval character of the Saudi judicial system,” said Ali al-Ahmed, a Washington-based rights activist of Saudi Arabia’s Shi’ite Muslim minority.

“This man was murdered in cold blood while the Saudi king is in Europe being touted as a reformer … This man was sentenced to death without any explicit evidence to prove what was perceived as violation of the law,” he told Reuters.

Executions are usually carried out by public beheading with a sword for murder, rape, drug smuggling and armed robbery.

Saudi authorities say they apply strict Islamic law which ensures full rights for Muslims and non-Muslims. Families of victims have the right to waive the death sentence and claim financial compensation instead.

But in an apparent acknowledgement of problems, King Abdullah last month announced a reform of the court system which the state-run government Human Rights Commission said will include putting the penal code in writing.

Friday’s execution takes the total number of executions this year to well over 120, compared with a record of 192 recorded by Reuters for all of 1995.     -Source Reuters  - original article

Here’s the new blog from Medium Channel….  psychic mediums and more….

I just found this really neat site that has ratings and interviews with some of the best psychic mediums and psychics.  The guy has an interesting blog, and talks about each of his readings with the psychics.  He has interviewed many, but ony has a few in his top psychic and top medium lists.

Check it out  www.mediumchannel.com

More than 60 years on, the case of Helen Duncan, the last woman in Britain to be jailed for witchcraft, refuses to die. As her supporters seek a posthumous pardon, evidence has emerged that she may have been the victim of a plot involving British intelligence agents, including Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond. In the 1940s Duncan, a Dundee housewife and mother of six, travelled the country performing seances for a war-weary public often seeking reassurance about their loved ones. As a ‘materialisation medium’, which involved her going into a trance and producing ‘ectoplasm’ through which spirits would take on earthly features to communicate with the living, Duncan built a reputation as one of spiritualism’s greatest heroines. However, during a sitting in Portsmouth on 19 January, 1944, Duncan, 47, fell foul of the security services when a sailor from HMS Barham is alleged to have formed in ectoplasm and greeted his surprised mother sitting in the audience. His death had been kept a secret by the Admiralty, which had been trying to conceal news of the ship’s sinking three months earlier  >>more

A study of teenagers and their consumption of books, magazines, kits, film and other media found that there are some 700,000 internet sites for teenage witches. The Pagan Federation claims to have several hundred inquiries a week from young people, and has set up a network for those under 18. 

“There has been a noticeable rise in the number of young people identifying themselves as witches,” saidDenise Cush, professor of religious studies at Bath Spa University.  Full Story

The VA has settled a dispute with 11 Wiccan families.  Families can now display a pentacle on soldiers’ graves.

The Wiccan pentacle has been added to the list of emblems allowed in national cemeteries and on government-issued headstones of fallen soldiers, according to a settlement announced Monday.

A settlement between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Wiccans adds the five-pointed star to the list of “emblems of belief” allowed on VA grave markers.

Eleven families nationwide are waiting for grave markers with the pentacle, said Selena Fox, a Wiccan high priestess with Circle Sanctuary in Barneveld, Wisconsin, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

The settlement calls for the pentacle, whose five points represent earth, air, fire, water and spirit, to be placed on grave markers within 14 days for those who have pending requests with the VA.

“I am glad this has ended in success in time to get markers for Memorial Day,” Fox said.

The VA sought the settlement in the interest of the families involved and to save taxpayers the expense of further litigation, VA spokesman Matt Burns said. The agency also agreed to pay $225,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs.

The pentacle has been added to 38 symbols the VA already permits on gravestones. They include commonly recognized symbols for Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, as well as those for smaller religions such as Sufism Reoriented, Eckankar and the Japanese faith Seicho-No-Ie. 

>> read more

21 MAR 2007 - Roberta Stewart attended the 74th Session of the Nevada Legislature on Wednesday, March 21, 2007. The widow of fallen Wiccan hero Sgt. Patrick Stewart was invited by Executive Director of Nevada’s Veterans ServicesTim Tetz to witness the passage of Resolution 15, which honored 35 soldiers from the state of Nevada killed in the Global War on Terrorism. The session opened at 11:23 am in Carson City, Nevada with a prayer by Chaplain James Satilek in which he asked that God “Unify mankind and illumine the world of humanity.” The “Presentation of the Colors” by the Honor Guard of the Nevada National Guard, was followed by a vote on Resolution No. 15. Sixty-six members of the Nevada State Assembly and Senate passed the resolution in a unanimous vote.

“WHEREAS, since the launching of the Global War on Terrorism in response to attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, through the Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom Operations, over 3,500 Americans have lost their lives, including thirty-five Nevadans; and

WHEREAS, the service of these women and men required sacrifice, hardship, endurance, dedication, courage and the highest level of patriotism; and

WHEREAS, Those Nevada citizens who served our country in the name of freedom and justice deserve special recognition for their sacrifice; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, THE SENATE CONCURRING,

That the following Nevadans are hereby honored for sacrificing their lives in service to their country.

RESOLVED, that the members of the 74th Session of the Nevada Legislature honor these brave Nevadans who made the ultimate sacrifice through their service, dedication and commitment to this country and their fellow man.”   >> more

A Pagan who erected a stone circle in Lincoln has been warned that he could be evicted from his home.

Paul Blades put up a miniature stone circle in Boultham Park with his friend Gary Turner.

First the council ripped down their stones, then Mr Blades, his partner and their four children were threatened with eviction from their council house.

Mr Blades, who has been a pagan for more than 10 years, set up the miniature stone circle in Boultham Park after he and Mr Turner had an out-of-body experience there.

His partner Sue Ledbury, who lives off Newport, Lincoln, said she was shocked and angry when a letter arrived from the council threatening them with an eviction notice.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it when the letter arrived this morning.

“We have been council tenants for 14 years and we have never had any problems at all.

“We may have different beliefs to other people but all Paul has done is expressed our beliefs and we have been threatened with eviction.

“We have four children aged 14, 12, seven and a two-year-old little girl and I can’t believe they would seriously threaten them with eviction.

“I know some people have the wrong idea about paganism but we are not involved in witchcraft or anything like that. We are just average people who have different beliefs to the majority.”

Mr Blades (33) erected the stones overnight on Sunday using 13 local stones to make the circle.

He said he wanted the site to be somewhere for people to go and feel at peace. “It’s a pagan place of worship,” he added.

“We have churches for Christians, synagogues for Jews, mosques for Muslims but nowhere for pagans - this is the first of its kind in Lincoln.”

He said he had been half expecting the council to remove their creation but was gobsmacked when the letter threatening eviction arrived.

City council spokesman Anna Edlin said: “This letter is a warning to Ms Ledbury that she is responsible for all the people who live with her.

“This is a serious matter, Mr Blades has admitted putting up this stone circle which damages council property.

“When council tenants sign their tenancy agreements they agree to abide by the rules, which include not causing damage to any council property.

“We will be looking to recoup the costs of reinstating the park from Mr Blades.”

CENTRAL ISLIP, New York (AP) — Was she casting spells or teaching spelling?

In an unfolding trial, lawyers are debating a former teacher’s claims in a $2 million federal lawsuit that she was improperly fired from Hampton Bays elementary school because administrators and others thought she was a witch.

Lauren Berrios, 37, who denies ever practicing witchcraft, sued in 2001 after she was fired following her second year as a reading specialist teacher. She has since moved to the Atlanta, Georgia, area, where she is working as a teacher. The trial in the lawsuit began Wednesday in New York.

While the school district was not under obligation to explain why Berrios was not granted tenure, its lawyer claimed Wednesday that Berrios didn’t get along with co-workers, had a condescending attitude and was eventually reported to Child Protective Services after telling tales about imaginary injuries to her own son.

“It’s been quite a long time since we’ve seen a witch trial in this country,” defense attorney Steven Stern told a jury during opening statements in U.S. District Court.  full story