Non Fluffy Wicca

Judge to decide if priest should be at bar for declaring Jesus existed:


An Italian judge heard arguments from lawyers on Friday on whether a small-town parish priest should stand trial for asserting that Jesus Christ existed. The priest's accuser, an atheist, says the Roman Catholic Church has been deceiving people for 2,000 years with a fable that Christ existed and he accused the priest of violating two laws by furthering the assertion. Lawyers for the prelate, the Rev. Enrico Righi, and his accuser, Luigi Cascioli, made their arguments before Judge Gaetano Mautone in a brief, closed-door hearing in Viterbo, north of Rome. They said they expected Mautone to decide quickly whether to dismiss the case or order Righi to stand trial

Posted by mikki at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

And started a UEW coven. The Coven of Non Fluffy Wicca has been established as a teaching and working coven of the Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca. I'm hoping to have in person as well as online lessons, etc. Please feel free to peruse the website. Yes there are entrance requirements. No, I won't waive them. Yes, I mean it.

Posted by mikki at 07:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oh goody! Witchvox finally published my Trad Profile on CUEW. This is exciting :-)

CUEW - Church Of Universal Eclectic Wicca:


CUEW is the Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca, or UEW, an incorporated church with tax exemption in the United States. History: UEW is not a "familial tradition" and does not claim existence from ancient times. We do claim existence from previous incarnations beginning in about 1969. Core Beliefs: Intellectual responsibility is one of our highest goals, and we do not compromise on the educational requirements for our members. UEW does not teach how to turn your s ...

Posted by mikki at 10:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reprinted by Permission: MD Court Rules State May Not Deny Equal Protection to Gays:


Maryland Court Says State Cannot Bar Same-Sex Couples from
Marriage Protections...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2006

BALTIMORE - A Maryland circuit court ruled today that it is a
violation of the state constitution to deny same-sex couples the
numerous protections provided to married couples. The American
Civil Liberties...

Posted by mikki at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I had long desired an automatic tea maker, as it has become quite clear that I am incapable of sitting still long enough to properly steep a pot of tea for the desired time period. So I had done research trying to find such an item, thinking that it CERTAINLY must exist somewhere, only to have been thwarted by finding only crummy models that used tea bags, didn't have a timer to choose steeping times, or was otherwise useless.

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon Adagio's TriniTEA. It's a really cool looking product, that looks like a space age coffee maker, with one chamber for water, a pot for steeping, and a pot for pouring. I put in the water, added the marvelously yummy Enchanted Works Jasmine Pearl tea into the steeping chamber, set the timer for 3 minutes, and went away.

When I came back, there was a fabulous pot of Jasmine Pearls tea happily warming in the TriniTEA. It tastes WONDERFUL. The little Jasmine Pearls had unfurled beautifully in the steeping pot, all ready to make another pot for iced tea (since you can reuse the leaves once).

The only little problem I have with the unit is that the tea pot on the bottom dribbles when you pour. Perhaps they need to remake the pot to prevent that somehow. But besides that, this unit has made me quite happy now that I've had to give up diet Pepsi.

Posted by mikki at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A person on one of the mailing lists I'm on, posted a story about a Michigan man who is running for governor on a platform of impaling various and sundry criminal types. He calls himself a "satanic priest" and claims that the Christian God is his mortal enemy. He says he is running on behalf of the "Vamypres, Witches and Pagans" ticket.

The person who posted the article wanted to know what we should "do" about this man. Someone else posted that we should do nothing, and he would just fade away.

Guess what? I disagree. I've had quite enough of those who have decided to use our choice of religion as a marketing stunt, deliberately denigrating and making a joke out of what we hold sacred. I would guess that the majority of the American public believes that Wiccans are somehow associated with people like this "Michigan Impaler," since we already know that they believe we are satanists and anti-Christian.

I feel it is almost a sacred duty to stand up and say that these wackos do NOT speak for us, that we do NOT agree with them, and they should NOT associate nutjobs with us. There are ways to do this that do not make us look as screechy or whiney as those who use our religion in vain. Let me provide a short example.

When you see a story or article about a whackjob claiming silly religious exemption from things, or touting Wicca or Paganism for illegal or unsavory acts, write a letter to the editor of the publication where you saw it, or to the author. Tell them, respectfully and without rancor, that you, as a Wiccan, do not agree with the statements made, and that the abhorrent behavior is NOT a part of our religion. Don't call names, engage in personal attacks, or otherwise stray from the focus of your annoyance, which should be the misuse of our religion. Remember that the reason you are writing is to separate "us" from "them" in the eyes of the general public.

If only one reader sees this and then says to themselves "Not ALL Wiccans are like THAT one" we have served to educate at least that one individual. Who knows, that person's vote may tip a balance someday towards understanding rather than knee-jerk reactions when people hear the word "Wicca."

Posted by mikki at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Quite interesting that a country would decide that perhaps it shouldn't meddle with the choices individuals make regarding their life partner(s). Although couched in terms of "protecting women and children" this at least provides a bit of hope that other countries might wise up and allow people to make choices for themselves without undue religious-based baggage.

Canadian study recommends legalizing polygamy:


[JURIST] A study commissioned by the Canadian Justice Department [official website] and obtained by Canadian Press has urged the Canadian federal government to legalize polygamy to help protect women and children in those relationships. Section 293 of the

Posted by mikki at 07:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's not necessarily Robertson's opening his mouth yet again to spout idiocies that is surprising. It was also quite interesting to watch what happened later. Israel, justifiably got quite annoyed at his spouting that God gave Ariel Sharon a stroke, yanked the rug out from under him where it hurt most - in Robertson's pocket.

The story didn't end there, of course - Robertson begged Israel for "forgiveness." This, of course, makes me wonder whether or not he would have apologized and begged for forgiveness had Israel not picked his pocket, so to speak.

Signs of Intelligence: Israel Pulls The Plug On Robertson:


Furious over Pat Robertson's recent "wrath of God" remark about
Sharon, an Israeli government spokesperson has declared that
Israel will no longer do business with Robertson. This decision
could cost Robertson $50 million.

It was recently reported that evangelical broadcaster Pat
Robertson called Israel Prime Minister Sharon's stroke
punishment from God for "dividing God's land".

It was also recently reported that Pat Robertson is head of a
coalition to build a...

Posted by mikki at 06:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pastor Is Arrested Over 'Child Witch' Cruelty Claims:


The pastor of a London-based African church has been arrested on suspicion of child cruelty after claims that he had been branding children as witches and ordering that they be sent back to Africa where he would pray for them to die.



Pastor Dieudonné Tukala, 40, was held after a raid on his South London home. Mr Tukala, who is married with two children, heads a Congolese church with a congregat

Posted by mikki at 06:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Morons in the News: Pat Robertson Opens Mouth:


Televangelist and failed soothsayer Pat Robertson claims that
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's recent stroke was
punishment from God...

You might remember Pat Robertson from predictions for 2005 like
"the American stock market is going to surge upward" and
outragous claims like gays, abortion and the ACLU brought about
the terrorist attacks in September of 2001, that abortion
and...

Posted by mikki at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

i-Newswire.com - Press Release And News Distribution - UFO cult predicts apocalypse in July 2006:


CLEVELAND, Ohio, January 2, 2006: The Church of the SubGenius has announced that the end of the world will take place on Wednesday, July 5, 2006. In preparation for the fulfillment of this doomsday prophecy, the Church is requesting that all of its members participate in a bizarre religious ceremony taking place in upstate New York, during the final weekend before the arrival of the apocalypse.

Since its inception in 1953, Church founder J.R. "Bob" Dobbs has predicted that a fleet of flying saucers will arrive at the beginning of July to destroy the worldwide Conspiracy against the Church of the SubGenius, while all ordained SubGenius ministers will be rescued by escape vessels piloted by the Alien Sex Goddesses, also known as the Xists.

The Church is inviting all of its members worldwide to gather together for the final hours in Sherman, New York from Thursday, June 29 to July 5, at a clothing-optional outdoor campground called Brushwood Folklore Center. The first gathering at this compound took place in 1996, and the event has increased in size and participants each following year. 1998 was designated the first true "X-Day," and each successive year has added one to the total.  This year's celebration in 2006 is X-Day 9, or X-Day IX.

Posted by mikki at 01:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oh the fun... let's find ourselves a trad we don't agree with, and bash them up one side and down the other. Let's get ourselves a Live Journal blog and kick the crap out of a trad we don't belong to. Yeah! What a wonderful way of passing the time.

Yo, people, have you ever thought about how that looks to the non-Wiccans out there? We look like a bunch of in fighting little children who are so jealous of the "others" that we can't focus on our OWN glass house rather than throw rocks at someone else's.

Today I saw a Live Journal blog having a great time at bashing Witchschool.com. One person even advocated shooting all of the Correllian Nativist Tradition. Well gee, how Wiccan of them. That's exactly what people who accuse Wicca of not being a "real religion" love to see as "proof" that we don't practice what we preach.

Every tradition that I have seen has something to "bash." It's pretty simple; you don't like a tradition - DON'T JOIN IT! Gee, how difficult is that?

Yes, there are things in the Correllian Nativist Tradition that I don't agree with. And yes, I am a member of that tradition, among others. However, those things I have disagreed with, I have noted to the heads of the tradition who are actually in a position to change things. I have done so with what I consider to be reasoned arguments and respect. In some cases, the things were changed. In others, they were not. I have no right to join someone else's tradition and expect it to change to fit MY desires. My choices are 1) find a tradition that incorporates ALL of my beliefs and desires (pretty damn difficult if you ask me, although CUEW is closest and I'm already there :-)) 2) live with the disagreements if there are other good reasons to stay (i.e. most of the stuff makes sense, and the people are really great) or 3) get off my own sorry butt and do the insane amount of work necessary to start my own tradition and make it exactly what I want until someone comes along expecting me to change it to fit THEIR desires and beliefs :-).

There are ways to bring up disagreements with anyone's tradition or the way that they are doing things. Those ways do not necessarily include relatively anonymous bashing in forums that the leadership of the tradition likely will never see. But then, I suppose that much depends on your motivations for the critiques. Do you want to draw attention to yourself and how much "better" you are than THEY are, or do you want to effect change? If the former, by all means, get yourself a blog and rant on. If the latter, try a reasoned argument presented to the leadership of the trad in question.

Feh!

Posted by mikki at 01:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What a horrible thing, to be told that your loved one is alive, so you drag your kids to the church so you can welcome him home, and you wait. Three hours later you are told "oops, we were wrong, they're all dead but one." The despair would be far worse than to simply be told they were dead at the outset. The false elation for nothing, and the roller coaster ride of emotions was something cruel and completely unwarranted.

So now the blaming begins. I have already heard the idea that the miners knew the danger, and willingly went into it knowing they could be killed. While I'm certain that they knew the danger, I'm not quite so certain about the "willingly" part.

The median income level in West Virginia for a family of 4 in 2005 is 47,550, which is actually down almost 2,000.00 from 2004. (Source is census information ). The mean wage for all occupations was $30,433.00 in the 4th quarter of 2004 according to the West Virginia Bureau of Employment Programs. "Extraction Workers" made a mean of 40,226. Mining Machine Operators made a mean of 39,956. CNN is reporting an average of 50,000.00 for workers, up to 150,000.00 for supervisors.

What does this mean? Well, essentially, from the way I'm reading the charts, if you are male and in good physical shape, you can make at least 25% more money working in the mines. You don't need a high school diploma, a college degree, or any other type of formal education, although the mines provide specialized training. Is it a choice? Are there any other jobs available that will provide close to that salary? And if you're the "breadwinner" who has to provide for a family, what other real choices do you have?

As a related question, why are women who choose to become "exotic dancers" who are making good money, said to be "exploited" whereas these men who are working in the coal mines not "exploited?" I am quite confused over that one.

Whether exploited or not, whether someone or some entity is at fault or not, whether they were properly protected or not, these men have died a tragic death, and I pray that they and their families find rest and peace.

Posted by mikki at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It has been rather interesting to watch how certain groups seem to be attempting to gain "special" rights above and beyond those provided to other groups in similar circumstances, and then complain they are being discriminated against if they don't succeed. Example after example has been paraded before the media spotlight. While I'm certain that most Christians simply don't care whether or not tax money is used to teach school children to perform Silent Night, the danger I see is that certain groups use these issues to inflame moderates, and cause nationwide propaganda that is used to fill the coffers of groups who wish special rights based on what God they happen to worship.

If equal rights and equal opportunities were the principles upon which their arguments were based, it would be one thing. However, even though the fighting is couched in those terms, in most cases we find that these groups are demanding MORE than any other similar religion has, yet give no coherent reason for why they should have this special treatment in the face of a constitution under which, even interpreting it the way they demand we do, without "legislating from the bench," states in plain language that religions be treated equally.

Just one example of this phenomenon occurs in the following story, in which a worker, supported by various Christian groups, attempted to force his employer to scrap its quite reasonable policy of no religion in work based work sponsored groups, because it "discriminates against Christians." This is a pure example of wishing special treatment above and beyond that of any other religious group in the organization. I am quite pleased that the 7th Circuit saw it for what it was.

Court upholds GM program accused of religious bias | News | Advocate.com:


A General Motors Corp. program that allows Hispanics, blacks, or gays—but not Christians—to organize in employee groups is not committing religious discrimination, a federal court ruled. GM's Affinity Group diversity program does not discriminate against Christians because it treats all religions equally, the seventh circuit U.S. court of appeals in Chicago ruled Thursday.

The court upheld a decision by a federal judge in Indianapolis, where the original lawsuit was filed by John Moranski, a born-again Christian who works at GM's Allison Transmission plant in Indianapolis. Moranski applied in December 2002 to start an interdenominational Christian employees group as part of the diversity program, according to court documents.

Posted by mikki at 07:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)