Image by lefteye81 from Pixabay Looking deep into who we are as a Coven, we believe having a devout devotion is paramount in our faith. One of the major aspects that has seemingly been forgotten, is Paganism has roots older than neolithic times. We do not know what faith or spirituality was called by the faithful aside from hints. Pagan is simply a label that was eventually thrust upon people who are not of an Abrahamic faith. We have forgotten and lost most of the knowledge of who we were, what our faiths were called, and how to practice them. I think we are all aware that it is not so simpl ..read more

Yes, they are… just different Image by Krzysztof Karwan from Pixabay You may be thinking, the Crusades were nearly a thousand years ago, there’s no possible way those things could still be going on in this day and age. Sorry to burst your bubble, but yes sadly to this day Pagans and Witches are still dealing with hate crimes, persecution, and “crusades” here in the United States and around the world at large. People are still being killed or harmed for their beliefs. People are still being told they aren’t allowed to represent their beliefs publicly. To better understand what I mean by this, i ..read more

Image by Gioele Fazzeri from Pixabay In Paganism there is no such thing as the “Pagan Police” to enforce what or who is or is not Pagan. However, there are some benchmarks to help you identify if someone is genuine, misinformed, or just otherwise larping. Which Witch is Which There is a common confusion in the greater societal mindset. This confusion is that Witch and Pagan are interchangeable. Not all Pagans are Witches, and not all Witches are Pagans. A Witch can come from any or no religious or spiritual background. Simply being a Witch does not indicate or make one a Pagan. Just like one ..read more

Witchcraft: a white-faced witch meeting a black-faced witch with a great beast. Woodcut, 1720. I wanted to discuss the “Witch Caricature”. A caricature I had come back to time and again as an offensive stereotype caricature that many people seemingly have no issue at all with although it deeply troubled many others including myself. The “Witch Caricature”, and its components such as the “Witch Hat”. I concluded that there are culturally demeaning elements that are directly linked to all forms of stereotypical and discriminatory caricatures. Including that of the “Witch Caricature”. Culturally ..read more

Printer Friendly Version Image by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay. In our Sanctuary, we are often asked why our observances are usually on different days or have different names. This often leads to the discussion of The Wheel of the Year and why it is broken. What is The Wheel of the Year? The Wheel of the Year is a calendar created in the 1970s in a well-meaning attempt to better synchronize the greater Pagan and Witchcraft communities. Aidan Kelly authored the calendar and Oberon (Tim) Zell published it in Green Egg Magazine in 1974. Since it was published, it has become a de facto standard t ..read more

Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay. (Author’s note at bottom) As in most things in life, there are varied and diverse views on Paganism. Not everyone is inclined in their nature to entertain all the opinions and stances in the greater sphere of the Pagan community. Some of us, have sincere concerns on if we have lost our way from what was taught by our ancestors. I often wonder if we have fallen too far from our roots, and if the rapid growth of the greater Pagan community is simply a bubble that will burst. For a large sector of the community, there is a lack of observational sincerity an ..read more

Image by Pexels from Pixabay As Halloween approaches, I would like to talk about the relationship between Paganism and Witchcraft, and some of the confusion and misconceptions. I would also like to discuss Samhain, and how this all fits together. One of the big things to understand, is not all Pagans are Witches, and not all Witches are Pagan. Much of this generalized confusion comes from the clergy of Abrahamic faiths teaching that Paganism is Wicca, Wicca is Witchcraft, so Paganism is Witchcraft (And other similar anti-paganic teachings). When in reality, Wicca is simply one of many denomina ..read more

Disclaimer: Not all individuals who are of a Native Slavic Faith view themselves as Pagans. It is varied between individuals of this faith if they consider it a Path of Paganism or a stand alone belief system outside of Paganism. In our headquarter city of Grand Rapids, MI there is a strong and thriving Polish community. We even celebrate Pulaski Days where the Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski is celebrated, along with Polish heritage in general. With all the celebration there is also a noticeable absence of some of their cultural traditions, such as their traditional faith. So I am go ..read more

Yes, they are… just different Image by Krzysztof Karwan from Pixabay You may be thinking, the Crusades were nearly a thousand years ago, there’s no possible way those things could still be going on in this day and age. Sorry to burst your bubble, but yes sadly to this day Pagans and Witches are still dealing with hate crimes, persecution, and “crusades” here in the United States and around the world at large. People are still being killed or harmed for their beliefs. People are still being told they aren’t allowed to represent their beliefs publicly. To better understand what I mean by this, i ..read more

Image by Gioele Fazzeri from Pixabay In Paganism there is no such thing as the “Pagan Police” to enforce what or who is or is not Pagan. However, there are some benchmarks to help you identify if someone is genuine, misinformed, or just otherwise larping. Which Witch is Which There is a common confusion in the greater societal mindset. This confusion is that Witch and Pagan are interchangeable. Not all Pagans are Witches, and not all Witches are Pagans. A Witch can come from any or no religious or spiritual background. Simply being a Witch does not indicate or make one a Pagan. Just like one ..read more