The Pagan Heart
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Editor's Note:
Merry Yule and Happy Solstice everyone! Welcome to the first edition of our 'Pagan Families' newsletter. This is a community-driven publication revolved around the online Pagan community. The monthly newsletter will include submitted articles and columns, a calendar of upcoming observances, activity and ritual ideas, links to hot topics, announcements and more! This month we are taking a look at the winter Holidays with the joy and trouble it can bring, exploring the myths, sharing rituals and some of our favorite Solstice recipes. Next month we are going to talk about 'Who we are' as a group and as a publication. So sit back, enjoy your read and zap us an e-mail with your comments and feedback. A special thank you to the staff writers. They have worked many long hours, with only the the thought of helping to connect a diverse community as their pay. With love & light,
Invitation: Who are we? As a community we are very varied in our spiritual paths and lifestyles. We would love to hear from you and about your background. Why not send us an article for inclusion in a future issue?
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Winter Solstice: A Brief History of Tradition
A single snowflake falls from the darkening skies, then another. Soon, the fields are covered with a blanket of glistening silver. Days are growing shorter the nights are growing longer, cold begins to settle into your bones. Before you a lone stag crosses the untrodden sea of white while a quiet fall of snow cloaks your shoulders. As you head towards home darkness nips at your heels until you see the warm inviting glow of home just over the ridge; the Winter Solstice is upon you...
Whispers in the Dark:Are you in, out, somewhere in-between?
Let me start by saying that from about the age of two until four-ish, I pretended I was a dog named, "Sparky." By age 10, I was building altars in the backyard and questioning why we couldn't worship the Greek Gods instead. By the end of high school I'd read most of the New Age section in the bookstore and was actively working at having an out-of-body experience.
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Myth, Magic, and Madness
The bombardment is well under way - everywhere I turn I see visions of Santa Claus, hear the tinny jingle of shop carols and run into people wishing me a Merry Christmas. December - a time for familes and joy and defeating the forward marching enslaught of fat jolly beared men.
Crossroads of the Pagans
Tolerance is an odd word. From a religious perspective, it refers to the ability, or practice, of recognising and respecting the belief systems of others. Another odd word would be acceptance. It goes further than tolerance and involves the favourable reception of another's doctrine. This doesn't mean taking said doctrine to heart, but rather accepting the validity of that doctrine as being equal to one's own.
Speaking Up! Holiday Greetings
Many publications and organizations do their best to send out a multi-cultural season's greetings this time of year. Strangers on the street wish us the happy holiday's slogan of their choice. Most times, a Happy Solstice or a Merry Yule isn't a part of that equation. These are words full of positive spirit, yet so overlooked and controversial. How many of us have stepped up to the task and tried to change this habit of having our holidays excluded or overlooked?
In the News
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December 2004 Issue