SECTION II - FAMILY ISSUES
Promoting Pagan Family Values - Selene Silverwind
Gathering of The Tribes 2001 - Reported by Brenna Fey D'Amaurot
3rd Pagan Internet Conference - Reported by Umbria, PIC Admin
First National Pagan Summit - Reported by Brenna Fey D'Amaurot
Unity And Religious Tolerance - Reported by Candie Arnold Society of Independent Pagans
Promoting Pagan Family Values
By Selene Silverwind
SeleneSilverwind.com
Beltane is here. Spring is halfway over already. It doesn't feel like it where I live, but that's what the calendar says. In some places the flowers might be tall and bursting with color, while in others their budding stems might just be peaking out of the ground. So how do you celebrate Beltane without fresh flowers? I have a solution.
May Baskets are a popular gift from children to mom's on May Day, or Mother's Day. If you don't have live flowers you can put in a decorative basket, have your children make a profusion of tissue paper flowers. They're quick, fun, and easy to make. All you need is tissue paper in a variety of colors and green chenille stems, also known as pipe cleaners. Both can be found just about any craft store, fabric store, and maybe even a larger drug store. If your tissue paper comes in large sheets, cut it into smaller pieces. I found 5 by seven inch sheets to work best, although I also used seven by ten inch sheets to make larger flowers. Stack four to six pieces of tissue paper. Now accordion fold the stack along one of the long edges. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the middle, then very carefully separate and pull up the individual sheets. Viola! Bright, cheery flowers that look a little like poppies.
This same activity can be used in the classroom to create a spring garden that doesn't need water. Get a long cardboard box and have the kids paint it to make it look like a planter, or use several small terracotta pots. Fill the box or pots with dirt, sand, gravel, or anything else firm enough to hold the pipe cleaners in place. You may need to stiffen the stems by attaching them to green garden stakes with green floral tape. Once the flowers are made, simply stick them in the planter and there you go. Spring without any effort. After the kids are done, serve a snack of sugar cookies cut in the shape of flowers and decorated with icing. Explain to them that spring doesn't arrive at the same time everywhere, but that the plants are growing under the ground and if they watch closely they can see new flowers being born. This paper garden is simply a reminder of what's to come.
May Day marks the start of garden party season (at least for Pagans). Again, if you're garden is still buried under a mountain of snow, use your paper flowers to throw an indoor garden party. Put a green tarp or crinkled green tissue paper on the floor to make grass and liberally sprinkle your paper flowers throughout your home. An outdoor garden party is simple to throw together with bright floral tablecloths and natural blooms in the yard. If your garden is still a little sparse or you're loath to pick your precious blossoms, a vase full of paper flowers makes a festive centerpiece. Simply bundle the stems, twist them together, and stick in a vase. You can also twist the stems into hanging chains or attach them to garden stakes and poke them into the ground and bushes to evoke the feeling of full bloom.
With your flowers in hand, whether real or tissue, you can happily go "a-Maying". Enjoy!
GATHERING OF THE TRIBES 2001
June 14-17, 2001
Reported by Brenna Fey D'Amaurot
Come and join with us and participate in the Gathering of the Tribes 2001 to be held June 14, 15, 16, & 17, at the Etowah River Campground near Dahlonega, Georgia. This is in the beautiful Blueridge Mountains, with Crystal Clear streams, clean air, No Pollution. Fantastic surroundings. The Gathering is sponsored this year by the Grove of the Crystal Dragon, The Association of Cymry
Wiccae, and the Southeastern Pagan Alliance (SEPA). See
http://www.tylwythteg.com/gathering.html
Leave your mundane worries at home, get your tent or camper set up, and settle in for an enjoyable weekend of Pagan Networking, Drumming, Music, Knowledge Exchange, and Fun.
THEME
This year's Gathering will be dedicated to the Leaders and Teachers who have gone over to Gwlad yr Hav (Summerland): Leo Martello, Doreen
Valiente, Stewart Farrar, Gwen Thompson, Scott Cunningham, Taliesin Wynne, Cecile Williamson, Lady Janet Partin and many others. Who were they? What was their contribution to the advancement of the Old Ways? What can we do to remember them?
This is a critical time for our religions and our way of life. Not only are we losing some of our most important leaders who have grown elderly and are passing on to Summerland, but we are beset on all sides by fundamentalists, publicity seeking government officials, and societal ignorance. It is time that we learn how to stand up for our own rights as citizens under the U.S. Constitution, learn how to defend ourselves implementing our Constitution, and learn to be affirmative rather than aggressive.
PAST GATHERINGS
The first Pagan Gathering of the Tribes in the U.S. was held in the Northern Maryland forests in 1967 for four years. It was then moved to North Georgia in 1971 and was held was held in 1976 at Unicoi State Park, Helen Georgia, by Church of Y Tylwyth
Teg. Over the years Raymond Buckland, Margo Adler, Janet & Stewart Farrar, Amber K, Selena Fox, Issac
Bonewits, and many other well known Pagans have graced our Gatherings.
FUTURE GATHERINGS
The Gathering is growing by leaps and bounds! There is a tremendous upsurge of interest in Pagan,
Wiccan, and other "Earth" Traditions. This is an International wonder to behold and we are proud to be a part of it!
DISCOUNTS
Members of Y Tylwyth Teg, Association of Cymry Wiccae, and Southeast Pagan Alliance receive a $5 discount off the registration donation. Groups can receive a discount if they register together and camp together. See Registration Form.
Feel free to notify your friends who are involved with Earth Religions. To help you defray the cost of your attendance, if you can collect at least five registrations for the Gathering from your Coven, grove or Pagan Friends and send them to us with your signature on the top right hand corner, you will be given a free admission to the Gathering. Good Luck! This offer is good until May 1, 2001. (Also, there is Group pricing if your coven wishes to reserve a site and stay together in group tents.)
SPONSORS:
The Grove of the Crystal Dragon is a member of the Welsh Tradition which has several Groves in the Southeast. Lady Cerridwen teaches Introductory and Advanced classes in Kennesaw Georgia, and YTT has a correspondence course available for those who cannot travel to Kennesaw. Their Homepage is at:
http://www.tylwythteg.com/index.html e-mail: cerridwen@tylwythteg.com
The Association of Cymry Wiccae was formed to create a way whereby pagan churches would have a way to legally become tax-exempt and offer a way whereby individuals would have a way to become ordained a priest or priestess/Minister into the Earth Religions.
The South Eastern Pagan Alliance (SEPA) are Covens and Groves of Wiccans and Other Earth Religion groups who reside in the Southeastern Community and wish to work toward unifying behind common beliefs and solving common concerns of our community. The Southeastern Pagan Alliance was formed for the purposes of enabling networking among Southeastern Pagans; providing outreach to the broader Pagan Community; providing educational materials on Paganism for Southeastern Pagan congregations and the general public; promoting Pagan and Christian dialogue; encouraging the development of theological and liturgical materials based on earth and nature centered religious and spiritual perspectives; encouraging greater use of music, dance, visual arts, poetry, story, and creative ritual in Pagan worship and celebration; providing support for identified Pagan religious professionals and ministerial students; and fostering healing relationships with our Mother the Earth and all her children. Their Homepage is at:
http://www.tylwythteg.com/sepa.html e-mail: sepa@tylwythteg.com
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
Lady Cerridwen ab Gawr, High Priestess/Coven of the Crystal Dragon/Elder of the Welsh Tradition of Witchcraft. Lady Cerridwen is the mother of three children (and one husband). She has authored (with her husband) several metaphysical books including "Welsh Witchcraft and theancient Word", "Thirteen Treasures of the Craft", and the "Welsh Triads" By the year 2,001 she and her husband hope to have a total of 30 books on the market.
Lady Cerridwen is a Legal Assistant with a major Law firm in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been involved in the Law Profession for 17 years. She enjoys hobbies like Astrology and palmistry, and is presently looking for people interested in helping with a book on Southeastern US Sacred Sites. If you have information to share, see her this weekend;
Rhuddlwm Gawr, Elder of Y Tylwyth Teg, expert on the Welsh Tradition of Witchcraft, Founder of the Association of Cymry
Wiccae. Rhuddlwm is also an author of over twenty books with such diverse titles as "the Quest", "The Way" and "The Word" and "Celtic Crystal Magick I & II". Rhuddlwm is also a Celtic and Reiki healer, Witch high priest and elder, Mediator, and spiritual counselor. He is schooled in ancient Welsh magickal practices and modern behavior sciences, and has studied with native American medicine people as well as a Welsh "shaman". He has a Ph.D. in Psychology, a
D.D. in Theology, and a BLA in Environmental Design and Ecology. Rhuddlwm has been a lecturer at numerous conferences and gatherings and has been published in several Pagan journals. Lord Rhuddlwm will teach a basic class in TAROT and Hands On Healing; Lady
Eilonwy, Elder of Y Tylwyth Teg is a Reiki master teacher and a Elder and High Priestess of the Welsh order of Y Tylwyth Teg as well as initiated into the Gardnerian tradition. She holds a
D.D. from Bangor Institute and has studied with Master Teachers in aromatherapy and energetic essences. A lifelong student of natural healing and psychology, Lady Eilonwy is a mystic, a healer and a teacher. Lady Eilonwy will be offering workshops on Reiki 1&2, Vibrational Essences and Pure Essential Oils. She will also be available for individual Reiki Attunements throughout the weekend;
Lord Athos and Lady Caru, High Priest/esses of Y Tylwyth Teg, are third degree elders from our Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Coven and will teach a Workshop on various energy workings. Check back from time to time so that if there is a change, you will stay informed.
And Super Surprises!!!
GATHERING WORKSHOP SAMPLING
Dozens of classes on everything from Astral Projection, Atlantis, Tarot, Reiki, Bardic Tradition, Natural
Magick, Welsh Ritual. Difference between Wicca and Traditional Witchcraft, Aura Reading, Mystery Teachings, to Psychic Healing, Celtic/Native American Shamanism and Sacred Sex; The Celtic Gods and Goddesses - Celtic Mysteries - Women's Mysteries - Men's Mysteries Celtic Tantra - The Mystery Sites of Ancient England and Wales - Sacred and Magickal Spaces - Ritual and Magickal Ethics - Welsh Tradition of Witchcraft - Gardnerian Witchcraft - Shamanistic Wicca - Celtic Magickal System - Everyday Spell Working - Colors and the Craft - Herbalism - Ritual Construction - Crystal Working - Basic Pagan Ritual.
We are looking for good workshop facilitators - get in touch with us!
GROUP RITUAL
The Group Ritual, and various other functions throughout the Gathering, are being performed by members of Y Tylwyth
Teg, Association of Cymry Wicca, and other Southeastern pagan participants.
SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT
We hope to have several individuals who will be presenting an eclectic blend of modern and traditional Celtic music. Athere will be a Bonfire Friday night to drum and dance around, special children's activities throughout the event, and much, much more!
POTLUCK DINNER
There will also be a traditional potluck dinner on Saturday, followed by a Ritual, bardic circle and drumming,
DONATIONS
Individual Membership in the Spring 2000 Gathering of the Tribes is $30.00 until April 1, 2001; $45.00 until June 1, and $55, thereafter, for adults. (See Registration Form for children, couple or group rates) Children 14 and under are admitted free. Checks or Money Orders are accepted in payment until June 1. Cash or money orders only at gate. Click HERE to go to Registration.
MEMBERSHIP FORM
Everyone requesting admittance must fill out a membership form and sign a waiver. A valid picture ID must be presented at the gate. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All minors must have a membership form and waiver, signed by the parent or guardian.
WORK REQUIREMENTS
Everyone is requested to do a 2-hour workshift at some point during the event. This is the way we keep our costs down. Each member is asked to sign up for one 2-hour work shift for: registration, information, set up, clean up, lake watch, etc. Sign up sheets for the different work shift slots will be available at registration. Sign up early to get your favored time slot and area.
VENDORS/MERCHANTS
As usual Vendor Merchant space is free, but we will accept a donation if offered.
CAMPSITES - IMPORTANT:
Camping at a primitive campsite is included in the donation. Campers and RVs must park on full-hook up sites. They cannot pull these down in the primitive area. They have 62 full hook-up sites and 22 primitive sites w/ fire rings with room for over fifty to 100 tents. Cost for RV Hookup sites are extra. E-mail Etowah River Campground to reserve a hookup at
etowahrivercamp@alltel.net. There is running, hot and cold water, a bath house and rest rooms. But bring your solar shower just in case!
RULES, REGULATIONS AND OTHER STUFF:
The Gathering will open at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 14, 2001 and close 4 p.m. Sunday, June 17, 2001. Alcoholic beverages are allowed at this private campground, but public drunkenness is not! Everyone is responsible for his or her own food, tents, trash collection, pets, children, attitudes and actions.
There will be a Skyclad area.
Arrival and Setup will begin at 9:00 am on Thursday, June 14th, 2001. Reservations should be made in advance. No illegal drugs, firearms, familiars or bad attitudes. Vendors welcome, see contact info below for specifics.
Call Etowah River Campgrounds for their policy on Pets.
This event is sponsored for the benefit and enjoyment of all like-minded people. All friends are welcome. Please join us for fun, sharing, learning and friendship.
For information please contact:
Lady Cerridwen at Y Tylwyth Teg, P.O. Box 674884, Marietta, GA 30006-0006 or Phone: 770-516-8500 or e-mail -
cerridwen@tylwythteg.com
Complete information on Special Guests, Classes, Lectures, Workshops and other events upon request. For registration contact Lady Cerridwen at (770) 516-8500 or make check to Camelot Press and mail to
GOTT, P.O. Box 674884, Marietta, Georgia 30006-0006 along with all names attending, mailing address, phone #, e-mail and arrival time, Release of liability required at check in. All local, state and Federal laws must be obeyed.
NOTE: There will be no refunds unless a request for refund is mailed by May 15, 2001.
"I WANT TO ATTEND, BUT DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY, WHAT CAN I DO?"
Print your name in the top left-hand corner of a copy of the registration form. Give it to your pagan friends. For every sixth paid registration showing your name at the top received by May 1, 2001, you will receive one complimentary admission (worth $30-$45).
On-Going Classes and Workshops
Y Tylwyth Teg covens hold classes on a regular basis in the Atlanta, Georgia, metro area, and in other areas of the United States. For information about classes possibly being held near you, call or write us.
REGISTRATION
To register, go to http://www.tylwythteg.com/gathreg3.html
3rd Pagan Internet Conference
Reported by Umbria, PIC Admin
(Editors Note: I have been invited to be a guest speaker at the following.
It will also include a question and answer session live through IRC. See
their web site for more information.)
Hello friends,
On June 8, 2001 (Friday night), we will meet again for the 3rd Pagan Internet Conference. And YOU are most welcome to join us!
The Pagan Internet Conference is a non-profit event held twice a year in CYBERSPACE featuring some of the most outstanding pagan writers,
HP/HPS, and website/organization founders as speakers.
Some of the past speakers were: Z Budapest, Abby Willowroot, Boudica, Karri
Allrich, Lisa Mc Sherry, Marci Kulik, Sirona Knight, Timothy Roderick, Eileen Holland, LaSara W.
FireFox, and more...
If this sounds interesting to you, please go to http://talk.to/pagans and SIGN UP NOW. Yes, FREE! Additional information will be sent to you upon signing up.
Please spread the word and let everyone you know about it!!!
If you have any questions at all, please ask!
For more information, just visit: http://talk.to/pagans
Thank you.
Blessings and Love,
Umbria of PIC Admin
Pagan Internet Conference
June 08, 2001
http://talk.to/pagans
First National Pagan Summit
Reported by Brenna Fey D'Amaurot
If you didn't see the press release floating around in early March, the first ever, national Pagan Summit was held over the weekend of 2-4 March 2001 in Bloomington, Indiana. The goal of the Summit was to allow people who lead nationally-focused Pagan organizations to meet face-to-face and discuss issues facing the national Pagan movement. It was also dedicated to exploring ways we can work together to overcome challenges.
Cairril Adaire, the founder and National Coordinator of the Pagan Educational Network (PEN), a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about Paganism and building community, organized this momentus event. She said "Many of us have experienced what I termed 'the soft underbelly' of the Pagan movement: 'witch wars,' irresponsible communication, and personal attacks. Sometimes it feels overwhelming and we wonder, 'Why have I dedicated my life to this movement?' What the Summit showed us was that this, too, is the movement -- respect, dialogue, cooperation, and warmth. And together, we can do anything!"
With almost a hundred major Pagan players in attendance, the time spent addressing the "State of the Pagan union" was fruitful, with many current problems addressed and many other projects created for future undertaking. The result was an exuberant two and a half days of sharing, networking, planning, questioning, and debating!
This Summit was a small first step towards greater cooperation within the Pagan movement. There are already plans in the works to organize local and regional summits, as well as conferences and workshops on leadership development, consensus process training, and conflict resolution skills.
For more information on the events at the Summit, the projects that will hopefully start happening in the Pagan community as a result of the Summit, and other tidbits, please visit the Summit site
http://www.bloomington.in.us/~pen/summit.html. The site will continue to be updated with information and photos as they become available.
UNITY AND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
Reported by Candie Arnold
Society of Independent Pagans
XII. Amendments to the Constitution
Comment: The first ten Amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the Bill of Rights.
A. Amendment 1
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Comment: The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of association and assembly. It also protects the rights of citizens to worship as they please and the right not to be forced to support someone else's religion. The First Amendment also provides for the right to demand a change in government policies.
Excerpted from "Constitution of the United States," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
An amazing document… And I must admit that although it affects my life every day, I hadn’t read it since I got out of high school in 1971. I can still recite the Preamble from memory, though. Maybe we’d all have been better off if we could recite the Constitution from memory! The above statement is the First Amendment to the Constitution, ratified December 15th, 1791 along with nine other amendments that together are called "The Bill of Rights".
It’s important to me to note that the very first change to the Constitution was to protect the freedom to worship as we choose. In no word or thought does the Constitution limit Americans to one particular religion, and it very specifically states that a State religion may not be established.
"Many of us are quite concerned about the current President’s motives behind creating the council for faith-based initiatives and the impact it could have on those who practice other than what may be viewed as an "acceptable" religion. Any perceived prejudice on the part of the administration could deepen the chasm that already exists between the many religions resident in the United States, and further strides to foster understanding and tolerance between them could be made all the more difficult."
Excerpted from A CALL to ALL Concerned about Religious Freedom:
Helen Roper ("Fem")
President, BBPU, Inc.
Facilitators for this Call-to-Action Grassroots Gathering
http://www.bbmmdc.org
Instead of dividing into factions to bicker over the differences, I propose that we unite to celebrate our sameness- our belief in deity (however we picture it), our work to better ourselves and our society, our care for each other and the universe around us. We each walk different paths, but it does not mean that they are at cross-purposes! They blend and diverge in many places, and in many ways. I cherish everyone's decision to worship in a way that makes you feel right and whole, and I hope that you will at least understand that I have a right to make a different choice, to walk a different path.
Last September there was a last minute effort at a ribbon campaign for Pagan Pride... It would be nice to organize something a little earlier this year- and broaden the scope... There's been a lot of flak about the "actual" number of Pagans/
Wiccans/ Witches in the US... We aren't all counted, and the estimates are from one end of the scale to the other. How about this, as a statement to our government and the world:
Declare September "RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE" month...
Make and wear a purple (protection) ribbon to indicate that you support this- and if you choose to do so, a charm that signifies your own path (cross for Christian, pentacle for Pagan, star of David, etc...) Get involved in the bbmmdc gathering, if you can, and any of the letter and postcard campaigns that are pending. GET INVOLVED! Make a statement. Let's not be afraid anymore.
"Come on, people now,
Smile on your brother-
Everybody get together,
Try to love one another right now!"
from a song of the sixties, by The Youngbloods
This December marks the 210th year since the ratification of the Bill of Rights. I would like to see this December 15th celebrated as a Day of Religious Tolerance in the United States. I further propose a purple ribbon for this day, to be worn with a symbol of your faith. Crosses, Angels, Doves, Stars of David, Pentagrams- whatever symbol you cherish, to celebrate the diversity that has made this country strong and prosperous, and the purple ribbon underneath to celebrate the Unity of faith. Such a simple thing! And an easy question to answer when asked about it- "I believe in the Constitution!"
Blessed Be,
Candie Arnold
Society of Independent Pagans
