Ten years of work and finally legal pressure - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Witching Hour In America

Submitted by Charlayne Elizabeth Denney, Apr 25, 2007 17:59

The news that the Veterans Affairs has finally approved the pentacle. It is displayed point up with the circle complete around the points The points signifying air, fire, water, earth and the top point is spirit and the circle represents the connectedness of everything , all the elements are found in everything.

Wicca is about 50 years old now (a bit more, maybe) and it has, as quoted, changed a lot over those years. Coming from a quiet religion, to more of a mainstream religion that counts all ages from newborn babies who are given a "wiccaning", or dedication to the Goddess' and the Gods to the beloved Elders who have stood to teach lessons to those younger and who have given good counsel to us.

This is a religion of personal responsiblity, there is no confessional or priest to give absolution; the law Wiccans operate under is "An it harm none, do what you will". Wiccans look at the harm they might do to themselves or others and the responsibilty that the action will come and they have to make the decision to do or not do the action. For those in the military, they work under the personal responsibility of their oath to serve the United States. They have the responsibility for their actions and they are willing to die for those committments.

Those that already have died did so with the knowledge that their service would not be acknowledged by the very government they served, yet they went anyway and served. It was left to their widows and widowers and their kids to fight for the right to have their remains lay under sacred ground adorned with the symbol of their faith rather than a tombstone that did not acknowledge their beliefs.

This fete, getting the Veterans Administration to acknowledge Wicca as a religion, was waged by many good people who put in many, many hours, none of them paid but volunteered in order to do what was right by the veterans who fought, and still fight, under the dogtags of Wicca. These people either paid for lawyers out of their own pockets or raised money for the fees and paperwork. Wiccan churches (yes, there are such things) such as the Aquarian Tabernacle, priests and priestesses such as Selena Fox, Pete Pathfinder Davis, Angie Buchannan and so many others, wrote letters, and put out the word across the nation to get people to write their congressman, their state officials, and the President detailing the discrimination. Yes, many probably lit candles while they wrote, asking for the energies in the letter to come through to the recipient. Not any different than the votive candle in the church brings the prayers to God or the incense rises with prayers.

Freedom of religion means ALL religions. And whether or not others think that a religion is not "real" or that those who practice that religion are "serious" or not, that freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution. And now that is true for Wiccans, who can either call themselves "Wiccans" or "witches", either term is correct.

Beltane, the celebration of fertility in all things, seems a bit brighter this year; Wiccans can dance the dance of happiness that the fertility is the ability to honor our warriors and their sacrifices.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Well- Praise the Goddess and pass the incense! It's about time Wicca became thought of as a serious- non-violent religion.... [MORE]	Wind Dancer	May 2, 2008 09:54
It is so deeply disturbing and thoroughly dispiriting when I hear and see hatred in religion, as I do every... [MORE]	Jennifer	Aug 20, 2007 00:09
Do other religions other than Pagans light candles and do chants? Think about it. Are magic spells much different than... [MORE]	Kara	May 16, 2007 11:28
After over two centuries of male dominated religon, the kinder, gentler distaff part of religon is now coming into the... [MORE]	Ashley	Apr 27, 2007 22:48
Ashley, I think you'd find the number of christians, muslims, hindus, and jews practicing medicine and bioscience is and has... [MORE]	alteredbeat	Apr 28, 2007 18:49
Just to set the previous poster's mind at rest, those of us who don't worship an angry, jealous, vengeful god... [MORE]	Harbor	Apr 26, 2007 12:40
You say you have gods. How do you follow all of them. I'm glad I have one and He is... [MORE]	Phillip Gaskins	May 4, 2007 17:29
This comment is directed towards Mr. Gaskins. Our country was founded on the idea of religious freedom - there is... [MORE]	Shawnee	Apr 26, 2007 10:19
Bottom line is--where are they spending eternity. Yes I honor them for their sacrifice but a pentagram is not the... [MORE]	Phillip Gaskins	May 4, 2007 18:06
Believing is a simple minded approach to explaining without proof. It takes all forms and has unlimited options. As such... [MORE]	Dale Netherton	Apr 26, 2007 08:49
Being a veteran I am foregoing being buried in a military cemetary as I thought I might be. Being from... [MORE]	Phillip Gaskins	Apr 25, 2007 23:23
--"Thou shalt have no other Gods before Me. Anything we put above God is our idol We're not supposed to... [MORE]	l Mallia	Apr 30, 2007 10:14
I, nor does God force my His beliefs on anyone. As here, I may comment or make a statement as... [MORE]	Phillip Gaskins	Apr 30, 2007 23:02
How can I as a Pagan be a follower of someone/something I don't believe in? Why would I go or... [MORE]	Gryphonelder	May 1, 2007 21:47
I agree we both have our free will and so the bottom line is where will I spend eternity, where... [MORE]	Phillip Gaskins	May 3, 2007 23:50
I'm glad you have your walk, but like I say it isn't mine and I don't wonder where my spirit... [MORE]	Gryphonelder	May 4, 2007 07:00
If your satisfied with your god more power to you and does that mean you believe we came from monkeys... [MORE]	Phillip Gaskins	May 4, 2007 16:43
Yes, I do think life has evolved and is still in many was evolving, even if folks are doing far... [MORE]	Gryphonelder	May 5, 2007 14:01
Sorry I was so long getting back to you. "crass commercialism" If I felt that way about it I'd join the... [MORE]	Phillip Gaskins	May 9, 2007 17:04
i think my biggest frustration with the va taking so long in recognizing this symbol in it's cache of "accepted"symbols... [MORE]	trinitymoonchild	Apr 25, 2007 22:41
The news that the Veterans Affairs has finally approved the pentacle. It is displayed point up with the circle complete...	Charlayne Elizabeth Denney	Apr 25, 2007 17:59
Some tend to forget the battle for freedom of religion for which our country was founded. Why was the fight... [MORE]	Kara Highley	Apr 25, 2007 12:40
The VA was only following the President's lead, though the fight to get the Pentacles approved for Pagan soldiers' headstones... [MORE]	Cerridwyn Morganne	Apr 25, 2007 05:22
The various branches of the Armed Forces recognized Wiccan as a religious preference well over ten years ago and the... [MORE]	John Kraft	Apr 25, 2007 15:45

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