Introduction from the author: When Calafia asked me to serve as Public Information Officer for the local council, I thought it would be fun to write a column as a way of sharing news and information I gather throughout the year. What's Brewing is the result. It is my hope to provide you with a brief overview of what is currently brewing in the Wiccan community, and when possible, point you toward sites where you can obtain further information. I'll be awarding from one to five wands to those mentioned in my column who are Wiccan-friendly. The others will be the recipients of anywhere from one to five toads. We plan to update the column on a regular basis, so please visit us again soon.

Pan Pagan Festival: 
If you live in Illinois, or plan to be there in August, here's an event that might interest you. The Midwest Pagan Council, a group of covens with similar traditions, is sponsoring their 24th annual Pan Pagan Festival, which will be held August 9-13, at a private campground in Indiana. They invite you to come and share knowledge, celebrate life, and attune with the Lady and Lord through communion with nature and one another. To get more information, including registration requirements, fees, lodging, merchant requirements, programs, feasts, and rituals, visit their web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepage/eaglestar or email MOB@witchnet.org.

Blair Witch Controversy: 
Rumors have been flying throughout the Wiccan and Pagan community, due to an article in USA Today, that Burkittsville, MD, has adopted a law fining practitioners of Witchcraft. According to volunteer planning and zoning commissioner, Dan Meyer, nothing could be further from the truth. Sources who've spoken with Mr. Meyer directly say that he believes the allegation stems from an interview he had with a USA Today reporter, in which he discussed the town's efforts to update some of their outdated ordinances. Evidently, one of the ordinances proposed is against fortune telling within the town limits, based on a model for ordinances that the town is using from a neighboring county jurisdiction. No ordinance or regulation against the practice of Witchcraft, or any other religious practices, has been adopted by the town, nor are such laws, including fines, under consideration.
     The low budget movie, Blair Witch Project, which made a fortune for its producers, has brought the little town of Burkittsville nothing but grief, according to the residents. Souvenir seeking visitors have vandalized the town's historical cemetery and the graves of their ancestors. Carloads of teens speed up and down the town's main street at all hours of the night. Street signs are being torn down and stolen. And gullible but bothersome tourists are continually seeking directions to nonexistent sites, such as Coffin Rock.
     Those of us who are part of the Wiccan and Pagan community know only too well what it feels like to victimized through ignorance of the truth by outsiders. Let's put a stop to these unsubstantiated rumors that are once again victimizing the people of Burkittsville. Besides, it only serves to further publicize The Blair Witch Project, a movie that, besides being way overrated, in my opinion, once again propagates the malevolent stereotype of witches and Witchcraft.
     Oh, and let's not forget to award a few wart-inducing toads to the opportunists who have been selling supposed cemetery dirt from Burkittsville. Talk about buyer beware! To learn more about the historical facts, versus the fiction, surrounding Burkittsville, take a peek at this site. www.burkittsville.org

Harry Potter vs Wicca: 
The San Diego Union-Tribune ran an article in July in their Religion and Ethics section on The Christian Booksellers Association Convention, which was held in New Orleans this year. The article talks about the fact that not a copy of J.K. Rowling's popular Harry Potter books was available. When asked why, many Christian booksellers were quoted as saying that the series was "anti-bible", "opens the door to spiritual bondage," and "draws children into the occult and away from Christianity". My goodness, haven't any of these people ever read fairy tales before? What rubbish!
     But that was not the worst of it. Toward the end of the article there is a quote from the popular evangelical magazine, Christianity Today, that actually defends the Harry Potter series, calling the series "a book of virtues." However, it then goes on to say that the books have "almost no resemblance to the I-am-God mumbo jumbo of Wiccan circles." I-am-God? Please! Such disparaging remarks about the religions of others is something that is not acceptable in this day and age. Therefore I feel compelled to do a little mumbo-jumbo, hocus-pocus, not that I think I'm God, mind you, and conjure up a couple of nasty toads to zap off to the editors of Christianity Today.

Inquisition Exhibit: 
The San Diego Museum of Man at Balboa Park is running an exhibit, July 2nd through November 30th, called Inquisition: Torture and Intolerance, which displays the terrifying instruments of death, torture and public humiliation used during the Middle Ages. The exhibit is supported by Amnesty International and the Mexican Academy of Human Rights, among other organizations.
     Though this might not sound like a fun way to spend a summer day, I believe that exhibits such as these help to remind us that intolerance can lead to cruel and inhuman behavior. Here's a web site with more information: www.sandiegoinsider.com/entertainment/other/inquisition01.html

Lady Diana
Lady Diana, HPS of Misty Vale Coven, is the current Public Information Officer for Calafia, local chapter of CoG. She teaches an ongoing series of Wiccan classes at Starcrafts in San Diego. You can contact her at mistyvale@home.com or visit the Misty Vale website at http://members.home.com/mpadilla

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