Image credit: Sarah Kurlowich
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A new book titled, Constellated Ministry: A Guide for Those Serving Today’s Pagans is focused on providing Pagan leaders and those within the broader community with insight and guidance when it comes to ministerial practices. Written by Cherry Hill Seminary (CHS) Executive Director, Holli S. Emore, the book explores changing needs of the Pagan community and the culture surrounding it, and how spiritual leaders might meet those needs.
In a press release by the publisher, Equinox Publishing summarized the book as:
Pagan traditions are the fastest-growing religious group in America, or so it has often been said since British witchcraft arrived in the late 1950s. Numbers are tricky to come by, but we know that contemporary Pagans report themselves as living in every American state, and in countries around the world. Historian Ronald Hutton is fond of pointing out that witchcraft is the one new religion that England has produced and shared globally. This volume reviews the shifting landscape of current Pagan spirituality, the unique culture and needs which must be understood in order to engage with contemporary Pagans, and the implications for future leadership, including organizational models, training and educational needs. The author has interviewed Pagan leaders about their own experiences and looks at data from the Pagan Engagement and Spiritual Support survey of 2016 to answer questions such as What does “ministry” mean for Pagans? Who do Pagans turn to for spiritual support? Who ought to be providing that support? Do Pagans want leaders who are trained for ministry? What kind of training do they need, and how do they get it? If you are a Pagan who wishes to support others in these ways, you will find here a framework for your own work, including stories and examples. If you are an interfaith minister, a chaplain, or a spiritual leader who finds that Pagans are intersecting with your work, you will become acquainted with the culture of this old-but-new spirituality. If you are an educator, may you find Constellated Ministry useful in teaching seminarians and students of religious studies.
In a CHS press release, Emore is quoting as saying, “There are no easy answers here; we are attempting to chart a map for a constantly moving starscape. My hope is that not only Pagans will use Constellated Ministry, but that it becomes a tool for the thousands of chaplains at military bases, hospitals, hospices, and police departments who are genuinely committed to serving all who need them.”
Pagan community notables who have offered reviews of the new book include Vivianne Crowley, Ph.D. of Kings College, University of London, who referenced the work as “…a wise guide through the landscape of Pagan chaplaincy that will aid both those working or training as Pagan chaplains and those who may be called to serve Pagans in a non-denominational ministry.”
Author, priestess, and Parliament of the World’s Religion Trustee, Phyllis Curott characterized Emore’s book as “…a wise, inspiring and invaluable guide for all those called to the sacred task of tending to the spiritual needs of the modern Pagan community.”
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BOSTON – In the latest chapter of redressing past wrongs committed by the legal system where “witchcraft” accusations and convictions occurred, last week Massachusetts State Senator, Diana DiZoglio (D) introduced S.B. 1016 before the legislature’s Judiciary Committee. The proposed bill would add the name of Elizabeth Johnson Jr. to the list of dozens of people who were accused and convicted of practicing “witchcraft” in the state in 1692-1693.
While the state had reversed the “witchcraft” convictions of individuals in three separate actions that date back to 1711, 1957, and 2001, Johnson’s name somehow never made the list of those wrongly convicted.
Middle school teacher, Carrie LaPierre brought Johnson’s name to the attention of Rep. DiZoglio. LaPierre’s North Andover Middle School civics class students conducted the research and uncovered the history of Elizabeth Johnson Jr.’s conviction and the fact that she had never had her charged reversed.
Why Johnson was left off of previous resolutions remains unclear, Dizoglio speculated that “[Johnson] was neither a wife nor a mother, she was not considered worthy of having her name cleared.”
In her testimony before the Judiciary Committee Dizoglio stated, “Because Elizabeth was not hanged for her alleged crime, she was overlooked. Because she never had children, there is no group of descendants acting on her behalf.”
The state legislature was petitioned in 1711 by family members of some of those who were executed, and some who survived being accused of “witchcraft” crimes to reverse the convictions and exonerate all those charged. 22 of those accused, convicted, or executed had their charges reversed and a small sum of compensation was awarded to survivors and surviving family members of those executed. Another seven who had been convicted did not receive a reversal because neither they nor any of their family members had signed the original petition.
Then in 1957, due to the activism of descendants, Ann Pudeator’s name was entered into the record of exoneration. This left only Bridget Bishop, Susannah Martin, Alice Parker, Margaret Scott, Wilmot Redd, and Elizabeth Johnson Jr. as being left off of the resolution. Gov. Jane Swift in 2001 added all of them to the resolution except for Elizabeth Johnson, Jr.
Johnson’s name being finally exonerated will complete the list of those who were falsely accused, executed, and tormented by accusations of “witchcraft.”
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An artist’s conception of a solar-system montage of the eight planets, a comet, and an asteroid. courtesy – NASA
TWH – From now until August 19 stargazers have an opportunity to get the best view of Saturn and then Jupiter as they each take up a position of opposition to the earth. In North America, Saturn can be viewed in the east-southeast sky about an hour or so after sunset.
According to Rick Fienberg of the American Astronomical Society in a comment to NPR, “The brightest ‘star’ you’ll see not far above the horizon is Jupiter, and Saturn is the fainter yellowish object about two fists seen at arm’s length to its upper right.”
While both Saturn and Jupiter are visible to the naked eye, the use of a telescope or binoculars can offer a view of Saturn’s rings and with a little luck, possibly even Saturn’s moon Titan.
In addition to opportunities for the best viewing of the summer of Jupiter and Saturn, the month of August also offers a good view of Venus in the west for the rest of the year. On the 19th, the conjunction of Mars and Mercury will be viewable most easily from the Southern hemisphere, but in the northern hemisphere, it will require binoculars or a telescope for a good view.
EarthSky offers a complete list of what will be viewable in the night sky for the next couple of months.
A handy site for calculating where to look in the night sky or to identify which planets are visible from your location is Stellarium which offers both website and mobile app versions.
In other news:
In a press release, Harmony Tribe announced it still has tickets available for its Sacred Harvest Festival 2021 with a theme of “Reviving and Thriving: Year of the Phoenix.” The festival runs from August 16-22 and features headliners, author, and folklorist H. Byron Ballard, cultural anthropologist Murphy Pizza, Ph.D., elder Aeona Silversong, author Kelden Mercury, and musical guest Brian Henke.
Last week, just days after TWH reported on the U.N. Human Rights Council announcement of its resolution condemning the harmful practices associated with accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, the U.N. reported that the number of cases of people with albinism being murdered has increased as a result of the pandemic negatively impacting the economy worldwide and driving more families into poverty. The misinformed and false belief that the body parts of those with albinism bring luck and wealth when used in spells and charms. Too often the victims of these crimes are children. Education efforts in African countries and other developing nations have had some positive impact but outgoing U.N. expert, Ikponwosa Ero said, “While we have come very far in the fight against these heinous acts, the road ahead remains long and arduous.”
A new survey, the first Hekatean Community Demographic Survey, seeks to “gather information about the wider Hekatean Community, how this reflects modern and reconstructionist views, and the future worship of the Goddess Hekate.” According to the editor of the project, all information collected in responses to the survey will remain anonymous but will be used in a breakdown of results in a future book project. The survey can be accessed via Google Forms and “is open to anyone who considers themselves a devotee of the Goddess Hekate” regardless of level or length of practice.
Positively Noteworthy Last week, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Okeanos Explorer operating a submersible more than a mile beneath the surface of the Atlantic captured real-life versions of SpongeBob SquarePants and his friend Patrick, the starfish on the ocean floor during a live-streamed exploration. While in reality sponges and starfish have a relationship that more reflects predator and prey rather than best friends, the resemblance to the Nickelodeon cartoon series characters is uncanny.