Spring Break
Healing under a dark moon
Druids, Wiccas, Pagans unite to heal New Orleans
Linzy Gardner
Issue date: 9/8/05 Section: Life!
Many local organizations have used their talents to coordinate efforts to help the hurricane victims of New Orleans, but few of those efforts have involved walking silently through the woods in black attire.
That is exactly how one group of people began their relief work last Saturday night. Area Wiccas, Pagans and Druids gathered under the dark moon (a moon that reflects no light and therefore appears absent) for a lunar circle. The group, made up of students, professors and local citizens, convene on nights of both dark and full moons.
Because the participants have faced stereotyping in the past, they asked that their names not be used. They were, however, willing to explain their practices.
Druids, Wiccans and Pagans practice a religion based on pre-Christian rituals and beliefs.
Marty Laubach, Assistant Professor of Sociology of Religion at Marshall, said the religions are derived from many sources, some stemming from modern influences.
"The counterculture of the 1960's, American culture of the 1960's, the feminism movement, the gay rights movement, the ecology movement, the ethos of spiritual seeking during that time period and a lot of Americans tracing religious roots all led to the explosion of Neo-Paganism in different places," said Laubach.
Wiccans hold the earth and nature sacred, and believe in multiple gods and goddesses. Most followers choose to study one or two of these deities, rather than the entire group.
Saturday night's group first met in a gift shop amid herbs and oils, statues of various Wiccan gods and goddesses and a steaming fountain. A belly dancer walked around the room in full costume and a man played a drum while sitting on the floor. The smell of incense burned in the air.
Once everyone arrived, instructions were given to sit on the floor so people could introduce themselves before they went to practice magic together.
The group, comprised of six women and four men, took turns talking about their backgrounds in magic, their favorite deities and what had brought them to the meeting. Most of the individuals had practiced alone before, but were seeking a community of other Wicca, Pagan or Druid followers.
That is exactly how one group of people began their relief work last Saturday night. Area Wiccas, Pagans and Druids gathered under the dark moon (a moon that reflects no light and therefore appears absent) for a lunar circle. The group, made up of students, professors and local citizens, convene on nights of both dark and full moons.
Because the participants have faced stereotyping in the past, they asked that their names not be used. They were, however, willing to explain their practices.
Druids, Wiccans and Pagans practice a religion based on pre-Christian rituals and beliefs.
Marty Laubach, Assistant Professor of Sociology of Religion at Marshall, said the religions are derived from many sources, some stemming from modern influences.
"The counterculture of the 1960's, American culture of the 1960's, the feminism movement, the gay rights movement, the ecology movement, the ethos of spiritual seeking during that time period and a lot of Americans tracing religious roots all led to the explosion of Neo-Paganism in different places," said Laubach.
Wiccans hold the earth and nature sacred, and believe in multiple gods and goddesses. Most followers choose to study one or two of these deities, rather than the entire group.
Saturday night's group first met in a gift shop amid herbs and oils, statues of various Wiccan gods and goddesses and a steaming fountain. A belly dancer walked around the room in full costume and a man played a drum while sitting on the floor. The smell of incense burned in the air.
Once everyone arrived, instructions were given to sit on the floor so people could introduce themselves before they went to practice magic together.
The group, comprised of six women and four men, took turns talking about their backgrounds in magic, their favorite deities and what had brought them to the meeting. Most of the individuals had practiced alone before, but were seeking a community of other Wicca, Pagan or Druid followers.