Letters We encourage readers to send us comments! We may assume that they are available for publishing and forwarding to relevant parties unless you state otherwise. If you do not want your name or city printed, please let us know how you would like your letter signed. Opinions of authors in New Moon Rising and especially in the Letters section do not necessarily reflect those of New Moon Rising. From the Shamanic Fellowship A Sacramento, California church, established for the practice of non-native shamanism, has recently been granted nonprofit, tax-exempt status by the federal and state governments. The Shamanic Fellowship was founded in March 1993 to provide a place for non-native people to learn and practice their own form of shamanism. Following the basic principles and beliefs of shamanism, the members develop their own traditions and forms without copying or imitating the traditions of other native tribes or clans. To copy or imitate another's traditions would dishonor them, akin to stealing or mocking their spirituality. One of the goals of the Shamanic Fellowship is to demonstrate to non-native people that they can learn from their native brothers and sisters and use what they learn to co-create their own spirituality. Native American prophecies describe a time when the white children will come to the red elders and ask to be taught. Using what they have learned, they will be able to take their place on the medicine wheel, allowing all people to walk together in a balanced way. As long as non-native people try to mimic or imitate the native ways, they cannot take their own place on the medicine wheel; they cannot stand side by side with their native brethren. And as long as non-natives mimic and imitate them, the Native American outcry that white people are stealing their spirituality and desecrating their sacred ways has validity. The Shamanic Fellowship acknowledges the need for non-native people to find their own spirituality and sacred ways in order to fulfill the prophecy. The Shamanic Fellowship offers monthly and seasonal ceremonies and classes at various locations in the Sacramento and Sierra foothills areas. The church is currently seeking a centralized, permanent location. For more information, call (916) 363-2556. An Opportunity to Help the Incarcerated My name is Dean Maher. I am the Catholic/Ecumenical Chaplain at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington. There is a growing interest, in our prison population, in the teachings and practice of Wicca. We are currently attempting to compile Wiccan materials and information. I am writing to every Wiccan center, circle, organization and publisher that I can identify, to help us in this endeavor. Unfortunately, our informational resources are extremely limited. We would especially appreciate any articles, magazines, books, video and audio tapes, small statues and incense you might feel moved to donate. (Catalogs and foreign language material would also be helpful). State funds are not available for specific denominational purposes. So any donations you could make to the development of a Wiccan library would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and efforts. Dean Maher, Catholic Chaplain
Department of Corrections
Washington State Penitentiary
P.O. Box 520
Walla Walla, WA 99362 Pagan Cemetery No, I'm not dead yet! But I am thinking ahead, at 55 you start to do that. I know what I want. Cremation. Ashes to be scattered. Maybe a small memorial plaque. Trees, flowers, friends nearby. A pagan cemetery! But there aren't any that I know of. But there could be one. With views of the Cascade Mountains, tall fir and cedar trees, wild flowers, hawks and bald eagles flying overhead, and the changing seasons of Gaia. The Aquarian Tabernacle Church has an opportunity to buy such a piece of land. Land that roads of can't be built on because of easements and other restrictions. Land that could accommodate a few thousand urns of ashes, or an almost limitless number of urns whose ashes are returned to nurture Mother Earth. Would you pay $250 now to secure that final resting-place? I know I would, especially knowing that the land would be held in perpetuity by a pagan church incorporated in the State of Washington and fully recognized by the state and the IRS as a church. If 130 of us are willing to put our money where our mouth is, this will become a reality. Send your support to:
ATC Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 409, Index, WA 98256. Make the check payable to the ATC Cemetery Escrow Fund. This is a separate bank account at SeaFirst Bank, Sultan, WA branch, which can only be used to either purchase the property or to return the funds to the individuals if the purchase can not be finalized by December 30, 1995. It's the bargain of a lifetime, if you'll forgive the irony of that statement. We will keep on reminding you that each of us someday will die, and a little advance planning is smart. Besides, aside from the fact that there aren't any Pagan cemeteries yet that we know of, where else could you purchase a burial plot for $250? In today's economy just in the Seattle area plots are going from $600 to $2000 per plot, and can run as high as $5200 for entombment (we are also working on a natural mausoleum site, a cavern in an immense granite cliff face nearby, the symbolic womb of Mother Earth.) Don't delay—act NOW. Do you want your relatives to plant you or your ashes in some cemetery consecrated by some other religion, or in some manicured, un-natural setting? An investment in ATC's SummerLand Cemetery is an investment in eternity, or in reincarnation, which ever happens first. More later! Call Pete Davis at (206) 793-1945 if you have questions or want more information. Gary F. Smith, HP
Temple of the Three Lights | 
