Good Reading on the Web this Week

I found a few really cool articles on the web this week that you might enjoy reading. Be warned though: there's alot of text (and I haven't even rebutted yet!). Be sure to read all the comments as well!

Dr. Brendan Myers: Is the pagan movement a community?

Gus DiZerga: The Perils of Pagan Clergy
First Argument
Second Argument
Third Argument

And lastly, my own essay was published on Witchvox:
Raven vs. The Big Bang

Topics raised last class

Spirited discussion! Excellent class! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.

Here are a couple of links related to what we talked about:

Ley Lines:
Wikipedia
National Association for Scientific and Cultural Appreciation
Nasca Lines on Google Sightseeing

This is the article I mentioned that refutes many of the claims made in Goddess Remembered. His axe-grinding writing style does nothing to add to his credibility, but he does make some interesting points.

And finally, this website lists many of the chalk figures that appear in the hills in England.

Documentaries on Paganism

I've been researching documentaries on Paganism and I found a couple of interesting videos. YouTube has a couple of shows that National Geographic put together, which are short but interesting:

National Geographic: Wicca
National Geographic: Naked Witchcraft

Then I found a British show that followed the live of five women who study with a wiccan priestess for a month. It has more to do with spellcraft than the philosophy of witchcraft, but it's interesting all the same.

The Real Witch Project: Part 1
The Real Witch Project: Part 2
The Real Witch Project: Part 3
The Real Witch Project: Part 4

Enjoy!

Update!
This YouTube link has nothing to do with paganism, but it's a fascinating debate between Islamic preacher Ahmed Deedat and Pentecostal preacher Jimmy Swaggart. They are debating whether the Bible is the holy word of God (Swaggart says yes, Deedat says no). It's really worth listening to, even if only for the pleasure of hearing two great orators go at it.

Recycling materials

I've been hearing that some of you are having a difficult time coming up with practical things to make from recycled material.

If you're looking for some inspiration, check out the Green ideas at Instructables.com:

http://www.instructables.com/green

Also, here's a fun and simple way to start your growing project by using egg shells to grow your seeds. The best part is that once the seedling outgrows the shell, you can bury the whole thing, shell and all, in the new pot!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Eggshell_Seed_Starters/

Classroom shenanigans and projects

Vanessa, Melanie, and Andrew! We missed you last class.

Despite my recovering from the flu, I was able to teach the class on Magical Symbols, Colors, and Altars and Shrines. We got to the end of the first trimester, so this means that the exam will be in two weeks! So if you've missed out on the classes, make sure you get in early next class to take some time to copy some of the notes we made in these classes. You'll need them to be able to pass the test.

Next week, the class will be divided into three parts:
1) Bring in your reading packs and we will discuss some of the sections you highlighted.
2) We will be watching a movie called The Goddess Remembered and discussing it.
3) I will give you time in class to prepare your Element Embodiment performance.

Also, in order to give you some context for all the material we've been covering, we've decided to perform our own ritual in class on April 8th 2009. It will be a ritualized spell of healing where we will be making protection stones.

Therefore, before April 8th, you need to find a small stone you wish to charge with healing energy. In selecting this stone, try to do some research on the lore behind the various stone types to make your choice more relevant.

Very exciting!