Pagans Gathering

I returned last night from Florida Pagan Gathering. The tribe and I camped in and around cabin one and had an excellent time. 

I arrived late Thursday night and missed the day's workshops, but managed to take in a few over the weekend. I attended one on hypnosis and past lives with Donald Michael Kraig. He was great! I'd never seen him before and found him funny, very knowledgeable, and approachable. I finally met Jason Pitzl-Waters at his workshop on media trends. Super guy. I would have liked to hang out with him more, but there just isn't enough time for everything at FPG. The last workshop I caught was Honoring the Mighty Dead: Lessons from the Lucumi Tradition, which was excellent as well. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone.

I get very lazy at FPG. All I want to do is chill, read, drink mead, ride the tram, and stare at the lake, the birds, and the stars. I never attend the rituals and only go to a handful of workshops. My favorite activity is just sitting around my campsite with friends after dinner and talking late into the night.

Next on my list is Pantheacon. Or maybe Feast of Lights. So many festivals, so little time!

Blessed Samhain

I hope you're having a beautiful, blessed Samhain. I'm heading off shortly to start cooking for my coven's gathering tonight. We'll be doing a ritual I designed that focuses on memory and remembrance of ancestors.

In other news, we all know the media is interested in Witches at this time of year more than any other and there have been some nice articles about our observances. An article in Florida's Sun-Sentinel gives attention to a local Witches Ball.

It will be a night of dancing and merriment, but at the witching hour, the mood will turn solemn. At midnight, the bonfire will be lit for the Samhain Ritual Circle to commemorate those who have died.

Gone are the days when suspected witches were bound and tossed into a river to be declared innocent if they drowned. Today, MoonPath Circle has been incorporated as a church with the state of Florida...

And The New York Times approaches Paganism as just another religion.

In both guises, as an individual practitioner and a credentialed expert, Mr. York embodies the increasing mainstream acceptance of Pagan religion. From academia to the military, in the person of chaplains and professors, through successful litigation and online networking, Paganism has done much in the last generation to overcome its perception as either Satanism or silliness.

Have a wonderful Samhain!