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.

British Witch School: 
For those of you who might be thinking of spending some time in the British Isles, the Isle of Avalon Foundation, located close to the legendary Glastonbury Tor in the west of England, offers a part time course in Witchcraft. The curriculum includes modern Wiccan practices and old Pagan traditions related to Goddess worship and nature. The classes are available only on weekends, and run for about one year. According to Avalon's coordinator, Collette Barnard, the course is very popular, attracting a wide variety of people as students.
     The Isle of Avalon Foundation has been in existence since 1961, and became a charitable foundation in 1995.

Godsmack, Wicca, and the Navy: 
According to an article by Mark Cowan in Focus on the family, a Navy recruiting ad has come under fire for using music by heavy-metal music group, Godsmack. Critics of the ad say that the group's music spews lyrics of obscenity, violence, hatred, anger, and demon possession. What bothered me though, is that they also say the group's members are Wiccan, and that their music promotes Witchcraft.
     Navy personnel and families complain that Godsmack does not represent their lifestyle. I believe most Wiccans would make the same complaint. Whether Godsmack's members consider themselves Wiccan or not, I don't know, but if they considered themselves Christian, I doubt we'd be hearing about it in this context.
     To read more, visit http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0015498.html

Dragonfest 2001: 
Dragonfest is a large, neopagan festival held in the mountains of Colorado each August. They held their first festival in 1985, and are an incorporated membership based organization. The festival draws anywhere from 600-700 attendees from all over the U.S. and Canada.
     The festival is held at a camping facility about 8,000 feet above sea level, with primitive conditions (outhouses, fire rings, water pump, picnic tables). There are no hookups for RVs. Nights are often cool, with temperatures dipping into the low 30's at times. Daytime temperatures can reach into the 80's. There is a clothing optional area for camping and swimming. Main gathering areas, such as the community center where rituals and most workshops take place require clothing so that all can attend without discomfort.
     Registration for this year's festival begins in April. If you're interested, visit www.dragonfest.com.

Salem Witch Trials: 
Five waves of the wand go to Discovery.com for their excellent information on the Salem Witch Trials. Visit the following URL and check it out:http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/.

Test of Faith: 
And another five waves of the wand go to the San Diego Union Tribune for the Test of Faith quiz they published in the Religion and Ethics page of March 30th issue. They included a question on Wicca, along with questions about many other religions such as Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, etc.
     Here is the question. See if you know the answer. If not, you had best enroll in some classes.

What do Wiccans celebrate during Beltaine?

1. Life-affirming creation; Beltaine is an ancient fertility festival.
2. Beltaine is the Wiccan new year.
3. The winner of Hogwart's annual Quidditch match.
4. Paganism.

Raven's Loft Events: 
Author, Raven Grimassi, will be holding a special two hour class, Wiccan Magick, at Raven's Loft in Escondido on May 16th at 7pm. The cost is a nominal $10 per student. He suggests that you read his book, Wiccan Magick, before taking the class. There is limited space, so register to join the class soon.
     Also, author Judith Hand will be in the store on May 18th for a special book signing of her novel, Voice of the Goddess. She will also be giving a FREE lecture, so don't forget to add this to your Wiccan calendar.

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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