Letters Please address letters to New Moon Rising or otherwise make it clear that your letter is available for publication. Please let us know how you would like it signed. Opinions of authors in New Moon Rising and especially in the Letters section certainly do not necessarily reflect those of New Moon Rising. Some Perspective Hurrah for Valerie G. [Heritage and Faith, NMR 5:3] for here in lay the truth: If that which you seek you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. Each and every one of us have it within ourselves to find those truths which give meaning to this incarnation, whether we be traditional, Wiccan, Magician, or monk. Also, in this lay the common ground. A number of the letters to the editor have dealt with combining into a more organized unity. Why? We are already of common heritage, that is members of the human race, homo sapiens. A good book which may enlighten some would be Men and the Goddess, by Tom Absher. A final point, while Lazaris has been one of my more favored authors, I suggest he reconsider his definition of success. As a friend of mine, who was raised in India and happens to be a Hindu has said, at times (in many places in this world) a warm place to sleep with your belly full is to be a success. My own travels around this world bear out that truth. G.H.
Spokane, WA While in essence I agree with this letter, that makes for dull commentary, so here I go: We can consider the emphasis on individualism in Paganism to be a reaction to the organized religions of our society; or we may consider it a reaction to organizations channeling our efforts toward goals we don't really support. In the former case, the question Why organize us? is prejudiced, since Paganism sets itself up as anti-organization. In the latter case, the same question is neutral—Paganism is not anti-organization, it is anti-exploitation, or pro-individual. The reason we organize should be that each participant is working toward something they want (for themselves or others—as long as they desire the goal). That is a legitimate reason for Pagans to organize—but since organizations tend to take on a life of their own which is not always in tune with the goals of the participants, we should always be asking (and answering) the question: why organize? I would also like to clarify: although Lazaris does seem to focus on material success, it is really any kind of success. All the things he says are applicable to any form of success you choose. (This becomes clearer the more of his commentary one sees.) I expect that our society's material success mania makes it is difficult to talk about any kind success except in the language of materialism. Otherwise one wastes half one's time redefining terms and such. More significantly, I suspect (thanks to other things I've heard, not Lazaris) that part of the reason Lazaris (and some others) may focus on material success is because so many of us are focused on it. Material success is important because it is the most basic aspect of a successful life, although in our society such success has mutated beyond the basic full belly. But if we are overly fixated on material success (and I would agree that most of us are), one way to get beyond that is to achieve our desires. It is easier to attend to our desire to unite with the Divine once we have already tired of our Mercedes than it is to try to grow past the desire. And the same skills that help us manifest the Mercedes can help us manifest our connection with the Divine. In other words, success is success, whether material or spiritual. The point is to learn how to do it right, and the best place to learn is with the most salient desires. Of course, doing it right includes such things as not harming others or the environment, etc.—in that sense, I do see an inherent anti-materialistic theme; but just as it is dangerously easy to be uncaring in the pursuit of our desires (whether material or otherwise), we can also use pervert that care into anger against ourselves or others and that works against spiritual goals. That's the way I see how materialism can be part of the path to spiritualism. It's there, and we have to deal with it somehow, and this is a happier (and therefore, I say better) way of doing it than the others I've seen. —S.R. Planetary Healing Meditation Help heal our planet. We are asking that as many people as possible spend a few moments each week concentrating on mentally sending healing white light to the earth. If you are willing to participate, please meditate with us every Sunday and/or Thursday evening at 11 p.m. Visualize the white light of Universal Love surrounding and filling the earth, healing it in every way, healing the air, the waters, the land, the plants, the animals, and the people. Sit and meditate on this for as long as your feel comfortable doing so. If enough of us contribute our energy to this cause, we can create miracles! D. G.
Teaneck, NJ WPPA Readers' Choice Awards 1993 The Wiccan/Pagan Press Alliance announces balloting for the 1993 Gold Silver and Bronze Awards. Category 1: Readers' Choice—tell us your favorite Pagan publication and why. Category 2: Pentacle Awards—tell us your favorite: cover; editor/editrix; newsletter/journal artist; feature article; newsletter/journal writer; book author. Ballot must contain the return address of the voter. A P.O. Box is fine and you may use your magickal name. You may cast only one vote per category. All votes must be cast by October 31st, 1993. All letters, awards ballots and community information should be addressed to: WPPA
PO Box 1392, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Stuff Someone Sent Us The 5th annual Elderflower Womenspirit Festival will occur on August 19-22 in Medocino, CA. Write to PO Box 31627, San Francisco, CA 94131 for information. The Coven of the Goddess' 18th annual Merry Meet is scheduled for September 9-12 at Ashville, NC. Write COG at PO Box 1226, Berkeley, CA 94701 for information. Help PEN Be Mightier Than the Sword The Pagan Educational Network (PEN) needs your help! We are a new, grassroots organization dedicated to educating our local communities about Paganism. The focus of our efforts is proactive education and community-building activities. Structure is decentralized, with local groves retaining autonomy. As a first step towards getting our enterprise going, we are compiling a brochure describing Paganism in its many forms. Please help us out by writing what you feel are some elements of Pagan traditions in general, as well as of your own particular path (such as Wicca, Druidism, shamanism, etc.). Some possible points to cover are: your definition of Paganism, the name of your own tradition, some elements of what you believe and practice, any books you would recommend and any special points you would like us to avoid (such as sweeping generalizations). Please be as brief or as detailed as you like—we are trying to compile as comprehensive a list as possible. Please send your opinions, suggestions, and requests for information to: Cairril Adaire / PEN
PO Box 1364, Bloomington, IN 47402-1364. If requesting a response, please include a stamp. Thanks and Blessed Be! Occult Public Education Network Opening Doors for Religious Tolerance Are you tired of Magick, Paganism, and other alternative faiths being portrayed incorrectly by the media? Would you like to help change the public image of New Age religions? Then, O.P.E.N. may be one place to start! OPEN is a fledgling organization which hopes to network with committed individuals in the US and Canada. These people will become the media guardians for their region, being responsible for collecting, responding to, and sharing TV, Newspaper and Radio reports regarding important religious freedom issues. They will also maintain a confidential expert contact list to help reporters get accurate information from reliable sources when such opportunities arise. Be forewarned that this organization will take some of your personal time and money to work adequately. If you participate, your phone bill, newspaper/magazine purchases, and copying of material to other members may add $20 or more to monthly bills. The rewards, however, will be seeing improved communication with a wide range of media genres, which can lead to enhancing public opinion of non-Christian traditions. If you would like more information on OPEN, please send inquiry letter and s.a.s.e. to: Trish Telesco Llewellyn Publications
PO Box 64383
St. Paul, MN 55164-0383 or Lady Cassandra
PO Box 5064
Laurel, MD 20726-5064 Thanks from the Broom Closet There are many Pagans and Witches, occultists and Magickians in this world who absolutely cannot, for various reasons, come out of the broom closet and make known their beliefs and lifestyles. This is really sad, but it's a reality that many of us live with. But those of us who can be open can really make a big difference (and those who can't be open can make a dent, too). We can be the ones to set the example and love our neighbor who just happens to be a fire-breathing Fundie. Those of you who can speak out for us—tell the truth. Let them know we don't sacrifice pets and babies, we don't put curses on their crops and put plagues in their homes and we sure don't have sex with the devil in wild midnight orgies. And when the truth is spoken, be sure to follow it up with action—cleaning up the environment, feeding the hungry, donating blood or whatever it is you want to do for the good of the community. Like a seed that is planted, words and actions will grow, multiply, and become something beautiful. Then in turn, those of us still in our respective broom closets will find it easier and safer to peek out and walk in the light. So keep up the good work out there, folks. You are paving the way for the rest of us. It's an awesome responsibility, and to you we are truly grateful. It's not easy and it seems to get more difficult at times, but I think it will work. At least, the idea of all of us accepting each other has the potential to work. Someday I would like to see this potential in its full reality all over the world. So mote it be! Nightwind | 
