Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

PANTHEON

Home
Pagan
Autism, Fundraising, Willy Wonka and Folk Music

Autism, Fundraising, Willy Wonka and Folk Music

Last updated on: October 23, 2010 at 3:15 pm by Star Foster

Autism, Fundraising, Willy Wonka and Folk Music 2010-10-23T15:15:36-04:00 Star Foster

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Wired’s Autism Test

Wired has an Autism test on their website. I found it when a friend took it and posted the results on Facebook. I decided to give it a whirl and was surprised by the results and intrigued by the questions. While the quiz isn’t a medical opinion or diagnosis tool, it does offer interesting insight into the reality of people with Autism and Asperger’s. Take a few minutes to take the quiz. I think you’ll find it interesting. I did. My score was 29. What’s yours?

Circle Sanctuary’s Fundraising Drive

I recently got a letter from Circle Sanctuary that I really got a kick out of. The letter itself was like many fund-raising letters (which tickled my funny bone) but it really caught my attention and got me thinking. As a member of a tradition in Georgia and a student of a local coven, you might assume I’d not think of an organization in Wisconsin as something that affects me. Circle Sanctuary does affect me and is important to me. The Pagan green cemetery, the Lady Liberty League, CIRCLE Magazine, and, most importantly of all, Pagan Spirit Gathering are things I believe in, benefit from and want to support. If you’re a solitary then Circle Sanctuary is a great place to find community when you need it.

If you can, take a moment to pledge a small monthly contribution to Circle Sanctuary. As our recent article by Shauna Aura Precourt (who I met through Circle Sanctuary at Pagan Spirit Gathering) reminds us, we need to support what we value. Maybe what you value are the great events, programs and activism that come from Circle Sanctuary, maybe the great news coverage of The Wild Hunt or maybe a local organization that gives life to the Pagan community. If something feeds your spirit, consider giving it a little financial support. Even $5 a month can go a long way.

Willy Wonka and the Shamanic Journey

Willy Wonka is not a nice man. He takes a group of children, upends their sense of reality, takes them on a terrifyingly amazing journey where they are picked off one by one. In the end, he reveals this was just to test the honesty of a single boy. What a jerk!

When you listen to the things Wonka says, and look at the story from a mythic point of view, he becomes the guide of a shamanic journey. Imagine the children are a composite of a single child. Greed, gluttony, narcissism, obsession, and rudeness are all eliminated and only the good virtues survive the ordeal. It’s really quite a fantastical shamanic journey through “heaven and hell”. Try watching “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” with mythic eyes. It’s fun!

Looking for Leanansidhe and Monika McGee

Back in late ’99 I fell in love with a lot of great Pagan music on MP3.com. The site has gone to seed, but my love for Emerald Rose, Gaia Consort, Green Crown, Brobdinagian Bards, Wendy Rule and other Pagan artists never died. However, one really great artist from those days has up and disappeared and I’m hoping readers can shed a light on the mystery.

Monika McGee and Leanansidhe recorded an amazing song called “Wise Woman”, which won the songwriting competition in the Auckland Folk Festival for McGee in 1999. I love the song and think of it every Samhain. I tried to find the song or info on the artist and turned up nothing. Any Australia Pagans know the artist? What happened? Is there anywhere you can buy cds or legally download the music?

I found this file hosted online by a questionable site but is safe to listen to. I link to it here in hopes it might jog someones memory.

Pagan Spirit Gathering

Previous Post

October 23, 2010

Interview with Janet Munin, author of “Queen of the Great Below: An Anthology in Honor of Ereshkigal.”

Next Post

October 24, 2010 God Is Not One. No really... God Is NOT One!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category alexandrian asatru astrology ATW Audio books btw ceremonial magick chaos classics community conversion cosmology dianic discordian druid dvd eclectic equinox ethics family feri festivals film Fully Inclusive Events gardnerian gender issues glbt heathen hellenismos history humor initiation interfaith magick meditation Military movies music mysticism myth networking news Open Thread Pagan Pagan 101 Paganism passings polytheism Polytheistic Religion polytheology praxis Reading List religio romana review ritual sabbats santeria service solstice symbols tools values wicca witchcraft

Select a Month July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What prophet, along with Zechariah, encouraged the rebuilding of the Temple?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Obadiah Elijah Malachi Haggai