Laugh Loud and Often

I was out for a walk when a friend called to meet him in wacky Berkeley for a cup of coffee. I agreed as it had been a few months since I visited that side of the bay. A couple of advice when taking public transportation in the Bay Area: avoid eye contact, no one is looking to make friends; also, fellow passengers aren't looking to debate the virtues of Bush's social security reform plan or why John Bolton won't make a good United Nations ambassador.

During coffee at one of the bohemian cafes, we spotted a poster: Pagan Festival. We found our activity for the rest of the afternoon. We had fun walking around, and decided to go to the The Flame Within Trance Dance after party. These pagans really know how to party! I'm paying for the near all-night fun, and should probably go back to bed for the rest of the day.

With this event, we bring together brothers and sisters of ALL indigenous, Earth-based, and nature centered polytheistic beliefs in pride and celebration, as well as those who support arts, music, ceremony, theater and dance within the Interfaith Pagan Community. In doing so, we unite in our message to the world that we must live together in love and tolerance, as opposed to fear and misunderstanding, as voices in the great choir of Spirit.

Some facts I learned at the festival:

• The Wiccan, Pagan and Witchcraft year runs from Oct 31st through Oct 30th.
• The eight pagan holidays are marked by the seasons including Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice.
• Modern holidays is based on pagan holidays (see about.com): Easter, Christmas, Groundhog Day and Halloween.
• Wicca is a belief system and way of life based upon the reconstruction of pre-Christian traditions originating in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
• Wicca and Witchcraft is not a cult.
• Satan, or the Devil, has absolutely no place in Wicca or Witchcraft. The worship of Satan is the practice of profaning Christian symbolism and is thus a Christian heresy, rather than a Pagan religion. The Goddess and God of the Witches are in no way connected to Satanic practices.

There was much disappointment from the crowd when it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI had to cancel his appearance (something about preparing for Holy Communion and Mass the next day); Pope John Paul II would not have missed this festival, as one of his goals was to increase the interfaith dialogue. Regardless I had a fun time, and learned much about pagans and wiccans, and misconceptions surrounding them. However, brooms are still for sweeping dusts and cobwebs.