Letters
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Where No Pagan has Gone Before
The Universal Federation of Pagans is a new organization likely to be of interest to our readers. The trustees include many famous names in Paganism. Here is their Preamble:
We who are Pagan come from many times and places to stand here together, united in will, hope and wisdom at the crossroads of humanity. We are one gentle, compassionate people whose ways are as ancient and diverse as Nature; joined in an essential creed and bonded by the shared tears, sighs, laughter and rites of many thousand years. We gather now to forge this Universal Federation so that we may honor our ancestors in the practice of the Old Ways, to nurture ourselves and our children in weaving the New Ways, and to revere and steward ourselves, our homes, our world and the sacredness that indwells all of Nature.
We humans are promising. Not a tenth of a million years old, already our deeds have brought us to this cusp where the actions of a few may choose the course for all our futures. Ours is a time of profound change, and the paths we choose today shall be remembered as they affect every life that is and every life that will follow. Ours is a time for heroes of the heart and the call to honor is strong.
And yet, we humans are young. We have so often confused wisdom with folly and excelled in both. So today, when our need is strong, our knowing is unsure and our hearts hold more bitterness than balm. As curious, troubled children, we have hurt ourselves, our Great Mother, and Her other children — yet not always from malice. In our delighted curiosity, we have gained great knowledge about our universe and ourselves; in our haste we have neglected to temper our intellect with thoughtfulness. In our hunger, we have tricked our Great Mother into giving up her riches; in our avarice we have over-sucked her bounty. In our rapture, we have trekked back and forth across Her lovely blue vastness; in our thoughtlessness we have fouled Her life-giving waters, abused Her rich soil, and poisoned even the air we breathe. In our eagerness to interweave with the All, we have callously murdered whole species, disrespected the web of life, and abused the trust of stewardship. In our joy of new things, we have come to disregard the Old Ways of mindful ecstasy in favor of empty sensation. We who are Pagan both honor this unbounded spirit of humanity and gently insist that humans temper passion with compassion and begin an immediate process to repair the damage to our planet, its life forms. And our hearts.
We Pagans speak with a newfound strength of voice. Ours is a depth and a knowing grown from a long and sorrowful silence, scorched by outrage and loss, sharpened by years of pain. We have been oppressed by the fierce and greedy among us who, in hatred and desperate fear, have conquered with weapons of war what they could not comprehend with heart and mind. They came to erode our ancient ways, to dishonor our wisdom and defile our sacred places, to enslave and pillage our peoples and to selfishly rape our world. In love, honor and resolve, we who are Pagan shall tolerate no more the fierce and the greedy nor their dissolution of our ways or their devastation of our world.
For all this and for celebration of all that is, we who are Pagan have come from many times and places to stand here together, in unity, diversity and divinity at the crossroads of humanity.
So mote it be.
If you agree with this and are interested in joining (as an individual or Circle), or you want more information, send a s.a.s.e. to:
Universal Federation of Pagans
PO Box 674884
Marietta, GA 30067
Earthworkers
The Earth has certain needs. There are things that need to be done for the good of all life on this Planet. At the same time Man finds himself with nothing to do. There is no focus in life for most people, besides the petty concerns of ordinary life and that is generally a meaningless pursuit which does not satisfy our real need to become.
A small fraction of Mankind is looking for some way to be of real service to The Earth, Mankind and All Life on Earth. We are just some of those people who are searching for a meaningful Way of Life which alone can satisfy our Higher Aspirations.
How can we begin when we are spread too thin to be really effective, immersed in the mainstream culture which is not at all ready to come to terms with the situation? We can do little things, but the pay off in satisfaction is not there because our efforts don't bring about results we can see. This is disheartening, and many lose hope because all the positive energy we put out is swallowed up by the negative energies around us which drains us slowly but surely. What can be done about this?
We have gotten our understanding of what life is all about from tainted sources like the mass media and the public indoctrination system. We have been processed by a dysfunctional society and could be said to be the survivors.
For whatever reason, something in us has resisted being molded. We have retained our dignity and have refused to buy into the illusions that have been offered to us as compensation for an empty life devoid of all meaning and satisfaction.
We know who we are, and that we are reaching out to each other across great expanses because we are all still searching for more out of life. We know we have to link up, and to do that we each have to do the reaching out for our self. No one is going to pave the way for us. We know that, because we have often had to make our own way by our own means.
We all know that there is something important for us to do in this lifetime. We know that life has meaning. Things matter. There are things to do. There is real work for us to do on this Earth and we know we must find it.
We are The Earthworkers who seek to unite in order that we might concentrate our efforts and do something of real significance. We know that if life is to become for us as it should be, then we are going to have to do it for our self. And it is for our self, because it is our self which will grow as a result of this Work, which is not being fed by ordinary life, it is our self which will find its own healing in the service of The Earth. It is the quintessence of our self that cries out for a life of meaning and Truth. It is that which is authentic in us that reaches out to become a part of the solution, to become an Earthworker.
TimoThy
Glen Ellen, CA
Mudane Magical Names
In response to choosing a Medicine Name by WindSpirit RisingStar, I am writing to point out that not choosing a name is also a valid choice for some of us. Consider: The name one learned when one was first learning language is the word for oneself in one's mother tongue. As such, it may be a vehicle of power with primal depth and scope.
C.C.
Hazelton, B.C.
Pagans Behind Bars
need love too
Merry meet in the name of the Goddess and the God.
My name is Aspen and I am a Wiccan doing a rather large sentence in a Canadian prison.
I have been here for two years now and have managed to accomplish some good here and at the same time advance the Craft inside the prison walls.
From non-existence, two years ago we now have a study group of fifteen, a coven The Stone Circle with seven dedicated Wiccans of the Odyssean path, as well all dedicated Wiccans are allowed complete altars in their cells (minus swords and athames; can't win them all). On November 07/92 we held what we believe to be the first recognized Gathering within the walls of a federal prison. You can see we are managing some very positive things here.
For two years the one common thread I have found among incarcerated Wiccans is the lack of communications with the outside world. My gift to my brothers and sisters who are incarcerated or shut-in, is the Wiccan Pen Friend Club (W.P.F.C)
I believe the greatest gift I can give to my brothers and sisters who are shut-in is the chance to find roots and wings. It is my hope that the W.P.F.C. will help accomplish this.
If you are interested in finding out more about the WPFC and how you can help, contact them at:
Wiccan Pen Friend Club
Doug Lagossy
PO Box 22
Kingston, ON, K7L-4V7
CANADA
As of Sept. 12th, 1992 The StarChild Society was Incorporated. Meaning it is now acknowledged and has been accepted as a religious society by The Iowa Dept. of Correct. The City of Clarinda, County of Page, in the State of Iowa. Any prisoner wishing to file under the Societies articles only need to let Scot know and hopefully he'll pass on the message, or I'll have him print if he will the Societies articles of incorporation. I recently filed with the dreaded I.R.S. and should be receiving A certificate granting us a non-profit status, and recognition of the Federal Government. Any individual wishing to know more about The StarChild Society need only write to:
Lord Charles Allan Moore
The StarChild Society
P.O. Box 1338/805845
Clarinda, Iowa 51632
If you are an incarcerated person please if you write, don't write to me directly, this place will reject your letter and give me a major report.
Keep the peace, and brightest blessings | 
