Hawk’s Cry

Pagans and Wiccans United at Minnesota State Capitol

Pagans and Wiccans like to see themselves and be portrayed as simply people who follow their individual paths and lives. They tend to dislike anything that makes them appear organized. Unfortunately, this has caused the people and the religion much more hardship than necessary.

People can follow individual paths while remaining united and organized on common issues. Our collective refusal to work together has hurt our veterans. After ten years of fighting against the refusal of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, our warriors are still not allowed to have the pentacle on their headstones and memorials. By not being united, the VA has been able to easily keep the application “pending” indefinitely.

Hopefully, this is ending now. On Saturday, February 24, about 150 Wiccans and Pagans from all over Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota braved a snowstorm and held a public ritual to assist our veterans with gaining their right to show their faith on their headstones. It was cold, wet and snowy, but we showed that we cared about our fallen warriors and that we cared enough to brave the elements and the public eye to show this and give them energy.

This powerful event was covered on WCCO AM 830 radio, Minnesota Public Radio and by the Star Tribune newspaper.

The ritual was sponsored by the Upper-Midwest Pagan Alliance (UMPA), a newly-formed group that unites many of our diverse people and groups for common issues, such as this one. The ritual had different groups give each of the calls. They were:

• East – CUUPS Twin Cities
• South – Circle of the Phoenix
• West – Shades of Gray
• North – Coven of the Standing Stones
• Spirit – Harmony Tribe
• Lord – Temple of Divine Light
• Lady – Glenn Tradition

The ritual was a first step for Wiccans and Pagans in the upper-midwest to help our fallen warriors get their religious rights respected. The fight is not won yet, though. We need to continue to band together to help them by joining UMPA (affiliate membership is free) and by submitting your comments to the VA about their proposed rule changes that will further discriminate against Wiccans and Pagans. Details about this, along with how you can help, are found on the UMPA website.

It is critical that Wiccans, Pagans and other alternative religion adherents work together and see themselves as part of a larger extended religious family that goes beyond themselves and their coven or church.

Here are some pictures of the event. The ritual working was to consecrate a pentacle with ribbons that we each charged with positive energy to help our warriors. I am in the first photo here, holding the blessed pentacle. I am the one on the right with the dark cloak and fur hat.

The ritual also featured a color guard and finished with the formation of a giant human pentacle. Here is the color guard drawing the circle:

Here is a picture of the giant Human Pentacle:

Note that all pictures of the ritual were taken by the Upper-Midwest Pagan Alliance and are from their website.

UMPA is going to be a long-term group that will work toward positive political and social change for Wiccans and Pagans. I hope you will consider joining the movement to help Pagans and Wiccans get their rights respected because if the discrimination is against you, you will want their help.

Attending an event like this one has been personally very fulfilling to me. Driving 280 miles from Aberdeen, spending a night (and then another) in blustery Minneapolis/St. Paul and driving back helped give me perspective on things. It reminded me of the pilgrimage made in the movie DreamKeeper, where a grandfather and his son drove from South Dakota to New Mexico to attend a powwow. It was an event that helped the two form a bond. I think long journeys to events like this help to bond families and groups together. It was more powerful for both me and my wife because of the journey involved. The journey back was very adventurous too, due to the storm. We learned how to entertain 3 small children and drive on semi-plowed roads in the countryside and gave us a new appreciation for the work that Department of Transportation employees do in such weather.

We also attended a surprise birthday party for one of the leaders of the ritual. The time we spent there helped us learn more about other people in the larger community and bond with them.

I highly recommend people make long journeys to such things when they can. It serves to bring people together (especially if they travel together in a convoy). It also helps to build character and give you time to really reflect on what is important to you. It gives you time away from your regular mundane life to ponder those things that nag you in the subconscious and talk deeply with your car-mate. And it gives you a real sense of accomplishment when you arrive and see yourself as part of something big.

Now, the time for real work has begun to help our Wiccan soldiers. Make sure to visit the Upper-Midwest Pagan Alliance website and help your fellow worshippers.