Drawing Down the Moon (92 page)

Web site:
www.paganfed.org

Address: The Pagan Federation (Scotland and Ireland), P.O. Box 14251, Anstruther KY10 3YA, Scotland, U.K. E-mail: [email protected].

Web sites:
www.scottishpf.org
;
www.pfireland.net

Pagan Federation/Fédération Païenne Canada (PFPC).
A national association of Pagans in Canada founded in 1994 and federally incorporated in 1998. “Our purpose is to promote and protect the reputation of Pagans and Paganism in Canada. We do this through public education so our fellow Canadians know what we do and DON'T do, networking among Pagans in Canada so we get to know each other and help each other, a quarterly newsletter to members, a large and informative Web site, and an online discussion group for members.” PFPC has in the past been contracted with the Federal Government (Corrections Canada) to provide Pagan chaplaincy in federal prisons in Ontario, and continues to do hospital visitation and mail or e-mail communication with federal prisons in other parts of the country. PFPC belongs to the Ontario Multifaith Council, a government-funded body that works on ensuring religious service for all faiths for people in Ontario hospitals, prisons, and long–term care facilities. Membership in the PFPC is open to people who are eighteen or older and adhere generally to these principles: 1. You feel love for and kinship with Nature. 2. You follow the ethic: If it harms none, do as you will. 3. You accept that if gender is attributed to the Divine, it can be masculine, feminine, or both. (These principles are held to be minimal and are not meant to restrict or invalidate anybody's spiritual beliefs.) Address: PEPC, P.O. Box 876, Station “B,” Ottawa, ON, K1P 5P9, Canada. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.pfpc.ca

The Pagan Federation International.
This is the international division of the organization listed above. The Pagan Federation International has branches all across the world, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Scandinavia, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Turkey, South America, and the United States. PF is a membership organization and fees depend on the country. Membership includes a subscription to
Pagan Dawn.
Address: Pagan Federation International, Postbus 473, 3700 AL ZEIST, The Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.paganfederation.org

Pagan Federation of South Africa (PFSA).
At winter solstice 1996, the Pagan Federation of South Africa was born, making it the first formal Pagan organization in South Africa. It is a non-profit organization facilitating networking between all Pagans, providing contacts, Rites of Passage, public functions, festivals, and workshops across the full spectrum of Pagan activities. The organization strives to make Paganism accessible to everyone who genuinely seeks a nature-based spiritual path and subscribes to the principles of tolerance, both within the membership and without. It accordingly asserts its rights under the Constitution of South Africa in terms of protection against discrimination, freedom of association, freedom of movement, freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief, and opinion. The PFSA has given rise to a variety of groups ideally suited to serve the Pagan community: The Temple of Athena, Hecate's Loom Training Coven, and Weaver's Web. Address: PFSA, Dairy Cottage, Riversands Farm, William Nicol Drive, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa. E-mail: President—[email protected], National Secretary—[email protected].

Web sites:
www.pfsa.org.za
;
http://pagan-home.net

PagaNet, Inc.
Founded in 1995, PNI is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve as an information, education, and networking resource for practitioners of alternative spirituality. Its slogan, “Non mihi, non tibi, sed nobis,” which means “Not for me, not for you, but for us,” embodies the goals behind the organization as a whole. Over the years, PNI has produced many events and resources, including the Pagan-specific newsprint publication PagaNet News, which has recently transitioned into more of an interfaith resource for practitioners of a wider variety of alternative faiths. The organization has also served as an information source for local police and cult crime investigators, and has frequently spoken at conferences and universities. PNI is governed by a board of directors and currently offers
If . . . Journal,
a very simple prison outreach program, a community library, occasional support for budding laypersons in the military, a women's retreat each fall, an annual medievalthemed fund-raiser weekend event, and an annual candlelight vigil for religious tolerance. Address: PagaNet, Inc., P.O. Box 61007, Virginia Beach, VA 23466. Phone: 757-539-4523. Fax: 757-539-6929. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.paganet.org

The Pagan Pride Project.
The purpose of the Pagan Pride Project is the advancement of Paganism as a religion and the elimination of prejudice and discrimination. “Even today, there are Pagans in the United States and around the world who practice in secret out of fear of being ridiculed or even persecuted for their beliefs. Many non-Pagans do not understand the practices involved in Paganism, or that it is even an existing religious movement.” Pagan Pride seeks to foster pride in Pagan identity through education, activism, charity, and community. The organizers believe that by taking the initiative in educating the public and by holding public and charitable events, Pagans will come to be accepted by the greater community. The Pagan Pride Project started with seventeen events in the United States and Canada and has grown to over one hundred events in the United States, Canada, Europe, and South America. The project held 112 events in 2005, attended by 40,495 people—10,000 at the New York City event alone. Collectively, the events raised more than 23,000 pounds of food and nearly $13,000 for local charities and disaster relief. Each year Pagan Pride gives more than a hundred interviews to the media discussing the Pagan religious faith. The local events and their Web sites also provide many written resources introducing Paganism to the world. The events distribute written literature, and they include open workshops on various Pagan topics and public rituals. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.paganpride.org

The Pagan Roundtable.
A topical public discussion group that has been meeting since 1996 at the Mount Clemens Public Library in Mount Clemens, Michigan. It meets the first Tuesday of every month; topics vary and are selected by the membership every month. The library is located at 150 Cass Avenue, Mt. Clemens, MI. E-mail Arwen Starda at [email protected]; put “Pagan Roundtable” in the subject line.

Pagan Sanctum Recovery.
Inspired by the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, the fellowship of Pagan Sanctum Recovery embraces Pagan beliefs, vocabulary, and ideologies in a program of dual recovery. PSR is a recovery alternative for today's growing membership of Goddess religions and other pre-Christian faiths, including Wicca, Witchcraft, Ásatrú, Odinism, Shamanism, Pantheism, Druidism, Native American paths, and many others. As in most twelve-step programs, there are no dues or fees. Each PSR group supports itself through its own contributions. “If you walk a Pagan path and have a substance abuse problem and/or have been diagnosed with a psychiatric or mood disorder, PSR provides a supportive group environment where you can freely discuss your faith without ‘watching your pronouns,' or otherwise let something slip to a group that may or may not accept you unconditionally. If you're not certain you have an addiction problem, PSR can help you decide. Through meditation, magic and ritual, we discover our individual paths to recovery, and guide others to theirs.” Buddhists and Hindus—and all others who wish to explore this alternative spirituality—are welcome. PSR helps all who come in need, and offers secular support to others in recovery, regardless of religion, spirituality, twelve-step program affiliation, or politics. PSR is not meant to replace other twelve-step programs, but to serve as a spiritual supplement for those needing to share their recovery-through-faith with others from similar backgrounds. Address: Pagan Sanctum Recovery, P.O. Box 657, Tulsa, OK 74101. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.pagansanctumrecovery.org

Pagan Unity Campaign (PUC).
Founded in 2000 by Storm Bear Williams, Pagan Unity Campaign is a political activism co-op that encourages Pagans to get involved with the political process by contacting their elected officials through e-mails, faxes, telephone calls, and postal mailings throughout each year during various PUC campaigns. PUC's annual Summer Solstice “I AM A PAGAN” postcard mailing campaign is a loud and proud religious diversity awareness message from Pagan Americans to government offficials in Washington. PUC also runs an ongoing voter registration and voter education campaign called “SO VOTE IT BE.” PUC's staff of volunteers now includes regional directors and state chairs representing all fifty states. The current PUC president is Ginger Strivelli. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.paganunitycampaign.org

Panthean Temple.
The Panthean Temple (formerly known as the Pagan Community Church) is Connecticut's first open Pagan and Wiccan church, “In Celebration of the Old Religions since 1995.” A growing community in the Naugatuck Valley and New Haven, Connecticut, the church is legally incorporated and its current home is the First Unitarian Universalist Society in New Haven. The church holds sabbat rituals, has a study group, drum circles, and workshops and hosts guest speakers—all open to the public—as well as a large Beltane festival (see page 576). Other rituals are open to members only. Members may apply to become students and attend classes. There is both an Outer Court and Inner Court, and ordination is available through acceptance and participation within the Inner Court. The temple is open to Pagans of all traditions who follow the ethics of harm none. The Panthean tradition has its roots in Odyssean, which is the tradition of the Wiccan Church of Canada. Address: Panthean Temple, 608 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.pagancommunitychurch.org

Polyhymnia Coven.
The coven is named for the Muse of Sacred Poetry and was founded in 1993. “A traditional Gardnerian coven, we focus on training our members as Wiccan clergy. Studies with Polyhymnia lead to initiation in the Gardnerian Tradition. We are non-sexist, non-racist, and non-homophobic, and expect our students to be also.” Students wishing to investigate becoming part of Polyhymnia should send a letter or e-mail to Polyhymnia Coven, Box 726, Jackson Heights, NY 11370. E-mail: [email protected].

Proteus Coven.
A liberal Gardnerian coven located in northern New Jersey, near New York City. “We emphasize reverence for and service to Mother Earth, along with rigorous training and exuberant personal creativity. Entry into one of our pre-initiatory study groups requires certain specific ethical commitments.” Proteus's Web site offers a collection of materials useful for mature Pagan seekers anywhere, and also contains contact information for seven covens descended from Proteus.

Web site:
www.draknet.com/proteus

Radical Faeries.
A “mainly” queer men's spiritual happening/movement. Harry Hay (d. 2002), John Burnside, Morris Knight, and others brought together several hundred like-minded queer men in New Mexico in 1979. This decentralized movement is mainly defined by its lack of authoritarian structure and its orientation toward a pro-humanist, pro-environment, pro-sex vision of the world that contrasts sharply with mainstream Western religious traditions. While not Pagan per se, the Radical Faeries count a large percentage of self-identified Pagans among their members. Gender blending is a hallmark of the Radical Faerie movement. “We're decentralized, and nobody's in charge—so every faerie who you ask will give a slightly different definition of ‘Radical Faerie.' Generally, we tend to be Gay men who look for a spiritual dimension to our sexuality; many of us are healers of one kind or another. Our shared values include feminism, respect for the Earth, and individual responsibility rather than hierarchy. Many of us are Pagan.” Several Radical Faerie groups have come together to form intentional communities/land projects. These include Short Mountain (TN), Ida (TN), Faerie Camp Destiny (VT), Camp Kawashaway (MN), Blue Heron Farm (NY), Zuni Mountain (NM), and Nomenus (OR). There is also a Radical Faerie sanctuary in eastern France called Folleterre. Many of the Radical Faerie communities have regular celebratory gatherings on the land throughout the year. The flagship publication of the movement is
RFD Magazine
(see page 501). While some Radical Faerie gatherings are spaces reserved primarily for queer men, others may include a mix of straight men, lesbians, straight women, and even children. More than forty groups are listed on the Web.

Web site:
www.radfae.org

Reclaiming.
An international community of women and men working to unify spirit and political action—magical activism. “Our vision is rooted in the religion and magic of the Goddess—the Immanent Life Force. We see our work as teaching and making magic—the art of empowering ourselves and each other.” Reclaiming offers classes, public rituals, and/or Witch camps (weeklong intensives) in dozens of cities and regions in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Contacts are found in the magazine and Web site. Address: Reclaiming, P.O. Box 14404, San Francisco, CA 94114. Events line: 415-255-7623. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.reclaiming.org

Re-formed Congregation of the Goddess-International (RCG-I).
A non-profit religious organization incorporated in many states whose purpose is to foster positive spiritual growth among all women. “RCG-I is an international Goddess religion providing the recognition and benefits of organized religion to its members.” RCG-I sponsors the Women's Thealogical Institute (see page 574), and, at the time of this listing (2006), had more than two thousand members. There are several RCG-I circles in Texas, several in Indiana, and circles in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Carolina, and New Mexico, as well as ordained priestesses in a number of other states. RCG-I also puts on two annual festivals: Hallows Gathering in October (see page 588), and A Gathering of Priestesses in May (see page 577). Address: RCG-I, P.O. Box 6677, Madison, WI 53716. Phone: 608-226-9998. E-mail: [email protected].