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.

In memory:
Stewart Ferrar passed to the Sumerland last month. His death came as sad news for me, and I'm sure for many other Wiccans. Almost anyone who practices Wicca today knows of Janet and Stewart Ferrar, and has likely read their best-selling book on Wicca, 'A Witches Bible Complete', as well as some of their other wonderful books. May Stewart find peace and renewal in the Sumerland.

Changing the face of God:
"God at 2000", a two-day conference, was held in February at Oregon State University. African archbishop Desmond Tutu was present, along with best selling author Marcus Borg, Islamic scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, psychologist and nun Joan Chittister, and Harvard theologian/author Diana Eck.
     Part of their discussions centered on the need in today's society, with so many diverse religions, to reevaluate the face of God. In the process, it seems they were also discussing the face of the Goddess.
     Diana Eck talked about Hindu imagery, with its multitude of faces for a single God, both masculine and feminine. Benedictine nun Joan Chittister said, “People are hungry for spiritual nourishment, which can be seen as a metaphor for a more feminine view of the very masculine, paternalistic God handed down by centuries of Western religious tradition.” She added, "It's never 'God our Mother' in the Bible.”
     Though no Wiccan clergy were included among the scholars on the panel, I feel we should give them one wave of the wand for at least being open to the concept of a feminine aspect to deity, even if they fell short of describing it by using the word Goddess.

Wiccan Documents Displayed in Schools: 
Pennsylvania schools in the Altoona School District are displaying documents pertaining to Wiccan beliefs in their libraries, along with the Ten commandments and materials related to gay rights history, Atheism, the Bahii faith, and Judaism. The decision was made in accordance with an agreement reached by school districts that if they displayed the Ten Commandments they must also allow the display of documents that espouse other diverse beliefs.
     District spokesman Tom Bradley said few have criticized the decision. District policy says that as long as documents show no disrespect for ethnic groups, individuals, or religions, and are of historical or religious origin, they meet the criteria for inclusion in the glass display cases provided in the schools, which will be periodically changed.
     I think this school district deserves 2 waves of the wand, don't you? For more details on this story visit the following web site and look under their archives: http://www.gfn.com/news/news.cfm?story_id=5036&topic_name=todays_community_news

Teacher Disciplined for Loaning Wiccan Book:
According to a story by Howard Dukes in the South Bend Tribune, a teacher in Niles loaned a student of Ring Lardner Middle School a book on Wiccan practices. The book, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, by Scott Cunningham, was evidently loaned with instructions to keep the fact a secret. The eighth grade student's father, Brian Wozniak, went to school administrators to complain, which resulted in disciplinary action for the teacher, though school officials haven't specified what that entailed.
     Wozniak has no problem with the teacher's involvement with Wicca, by all accounts. He is quoted as saying, “If this is her own private practice, fine, but don't give something like this to a child in school.”
     I agree with Mr. Wozniak wholeheartedly. Teachers have no business handing out religious materials of any type to students without their parent's permission. I most certainly don't want teachers encouraging my child, without my knowledge, to practice Buddism, Christianity, Judaism, or any other religion. I teach classes on Wicca, and never allow underage students to join the classes without first obtaining parental permission. Parents must retain the right to monitor the religious instruction of their children.
     I know there will be those who disagree with me, but I'm awarding a wave of the wand to school officials on this one, and a toad to the teacher, who needs to have a little more respect for the parents of the students with whom she is being entrusted.

Pagan Internet Conference:
I've been informed that on March 16th, 2000, a number of Pagan writers and webmasters around the world will be joining the first organized Pagan Internet Conference at: http://www.wicca.f2s.com/pic/ Here are some of the speakers and topics up for discussion:
     What's really in the Malleus Maleficarum. Separating fact from fiction – Jorinx
     Spirituality in Everyday Life – Raven Wind
     Working and Living with the Fae – Jessica
     Nature of the Goddess – Kassianna
     The Goose Story: The lack of Community within Pagan Religions – Strix d'Emerys
     Being a solitary in current Modern Society – Lily
     So if you're looking for an interesting way to spend a few hours, you might want to join in and give your opinions. Don't forget to let me know how it goes.

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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