Pagan Village News

Welcome to the First Edition to Pagan Village News, brought to you by Pagans United, a group working towards Freedom of Religion for all, and for the preservation of our Mother Earth.

In this Newsletter, we will be covering a wide variety of news and information regarding Today's Pagan lifestyle as well as our work in the political arena and what we as Pagans can do to help preserve our freedoms and rights.

So again Welcome and Enjoy!

United We Stand

By Winterwolf

America as a nation was founded on the principles of freedom, of unity and trust. Today, a new age has come to pass where pagans worldwide have been able to begin the process of standing up for what they believe in without so much of the fear and persecution they often faced in the past. It’s like a revival, or better yet, a honeymoon, a marriage of ideas, concepts, and ideologies. It’s a renaissance of old ideas with new to create a better and more beautiful world. We see a new acceptance of individual paths to spirituality and enlightenment. We see festivals and rituals more common place. This new resurgence has allowed many to finally enjoy their beliefs and individualities. It is a beautiful transformation to see so much joy coming from the pagan community.

I also see popularity in ethics for pagans to go by. In itself it’s very important to have these ethics discussed. It serves to give guidelines for the community at large to live by on common ground. I see articles on taking responsibility and taking care of the Earth around us. These are all very valid things to discuss. But where does discussion end and action begin? I’ve never been known to be one who minces words. The fact of the matter is that people still aren’t getting active enough even though we ascribe to being stewards of the Earth. Still I see so many too fearful of their own shadow to step out and be active in roles to protect our lands and oceans. So many still hide behind veiled secrecy and fear of the Christian bogey man. Does this apply to everyone? No, but try on the shoe, and if it fits…well then look in the mirror and see what the truth is of one’s convictions are.

Recently I was made aware of the site www.paganpolitics.com where one could take the census as a pagan voter to show the world we as a community were a force to be reckoned with. Sadly, I also saw that only a bit over a thousand had actually sat down and put there names and their convictions to the test. Of course I put my name on the list as well. I believed in the thought and hoped others would do the same. Currently on this site, there are 2556 voters as of this writing. Now that’s a start for a section not even a month old. But when I thought about it and saw that on Witchvox.com, many states held over a thousand people who claimed to be openly pagan, I wondered what’s going on. We have so many people who could join ranks and show the politicians we have a real voice. I spread the word where I could and knew how to do. At least I know there are a few out there, but we need more.

I also saw more and more people getting active in helping spread the word for the petitions to show congress we want to protect our natural resources. Wonderful things happened. But still it’s not enough. Too many people feel that they are alone when they should be banding together. We do have a responsibility to go out there and vote for people who will get things done for this nation to protect its natural resources and start working towards a more environmentally sound agenda. But still too many people feel they must hide in the quote “broom closet”. There is no need when a network of pagans is continuously growing. Or perhaps they are too busy going to school, or work to sit down for a few moments and take a step into the political process for our Land’s defense. Oh I know there are plenty of hard working environmental activists out there working hard towards bringing awareness and protection for the world’s environment. But they are only a few brave warriors in a desperate struggle. They need more support and still so many pagans sit back, drink wine, run naked at festivals and party down when it’s to their advantage. But many are not doing the work which the Lord and Lady need them to do. We are stewards here. We are protectors and too long have we slept dormant, watching others carry the fight and defense of our lands. All of us have a duty and responsibility to get active in politics even if it is a distasteful process. It is still a process guaranteed by our constitution. If we fail to exercise these rights, how can we cry for religious freedom and tolerance if we don’t walk the talk?

I am pretty sure my words are inflammatory. I am sure more than a few heads will pop veins because of my remarks. But I am also very sure that a few more people will listen. Perhaps I only hold a candle to light the darkness around me. But think when hundreds and thousands of my fellow pagans hold those same candles all together in UNITY. We can accomplish so much together and get our politicians to listen to us. So I say in closing, United We Stand, Divided we fail not only the God/ddess, not only ourselves, not only the environment, but every future generation out there. Your children, their children, their children’s children and so on. Think on those things as you enjoy your summer. Think on them the next time that voting time comes around. Remember, each person can make a difference and it take everyone to keep our world protected for every future generation. I for one will continue with all my heart to be active in any way possible to help protect our environment, not for glory as there is none. People will automatically laugh and jeer those who stand for the rights of the earth. But out of duty and responsibility. This friends, is what responsibility is truly about as stewards of the Earth. The honeymoon is over, time to wipe the Fairy dust from our eyes and stand together, strong and proud.

Winterwolf

But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
--Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

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