2010: Facing Forward

Happy New Year! This is a time when many people throughout the world consider that which will be and that which has been. So let's begin by looking forward and saying hello to 2010 before looking back and saying goodbye to 2009.

Here are some dates to mark on your new calendars (If you have not yet gotten your new calendar, go to your nearest metaphysical shop and get one right away before they're out of stock):

• Group/Seeker Meet & Greet, Saturday January 16 from 6:30 to 9pm at Sacred Paths Center. This is a great opportunity to connect individuals seeking groups and groups seeking new members.
• Sacred Paths Center First Anniversary Celebration, February 13, 2010 This will be a day of festivities including a Bread & Brew Contest
• Group/Seeker Meet & Greet, Tuesday April 13, 2010 from 6:30 to 9pm at Sacred Paths Center. These only take place every 3 months, so don't wait!
• Heart of the Beast May Day Parade, Sunday May 2, 2010 If we are all a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day, then everyone at this celebration is a little Pagan.
• Eye of Horus Psychic Sunday, May 30 2010 A day full of readers, which is a great thing.
• Witch Hat Tower is open to the public, Friday June 4, 2010, 5 – 8 pm For Emma Bull Fans, this would be a great day for a War for the Oaks tour of the Twin Cities (Who wants to organize it?)
• Earth House Midsummer Gather, June 20-27, 2010 A camping event at Eagle Cave Campground. Come experience the warmth of this close knit community.
• GLBT Pride, June 26-27, 2010 In the U.S. we have the second largest Pagan population, the third largest GLBT population, and a lot of overlap between the two.
• Sacred Fire Circle in Paradise, July 15-18th, 2010 This is a profound opportunity for intense personal working. You've just gotta experience it to understand, and it's a life changing experience.
• Sacred Harvest Fest, August 7-15th, 2010 Camp with 300 of your closest friends at the largest Pagan festival in Minnesota. One of the most family friendly festivals in the U.S.
• Eye of Horus Psychic Sunday, October 3, 2010 You want to go. You know you want to go.
• WiCoM Psychic Faire, Saturday November 6 Readers, vendors, ritual, and a potluck, oh my
• Meals On Broomsticks, December 25, 2010 Serve meals to the needy, and have a heck of a good time doing it.

2009: Looking Back

After looking ahead, it's natural to take a moment to look back. What were the most significant Pagan events of 2009? Here's an attempt to answer that question. These are not ranked in any particular order.

The opening of the Sacred Paths Center. Our own community center! Many Pagan communities dream of having a community center, and we've got one. Paganistan is full of win!

The death of Loui Pieper. Loui founded Evenstar Books (the direct predecessor of the Sacred Paths Center). She was a legendary tarot reader. Beloved wife, mother, and teacher. Whether you know it or not, if you are a part of Paganistan, than there is a degree to which your experience here has been touched by Loui, and therefore her absence touches you as well.

The community coming together for Ken Ra. Ken Ra is also a great teacher who has had an amazing impact on Paganistan. Ken has had health problems which resulted in large debt. This spring a fundraiser was held for Ken at the Sacred Paths Center. The amount raised was less than the amount of the debt, but it was still highly significant because it was the first time that this community came together in mass to support one of its own in such a way. This marked a moment of maturation within our spiritual community, and it also helped a man who truly deserves our help. (donations are still being accepted at http://kenandliz.wordpress.com/)

WiCoM and MCoW reuniting for a ritual. About 20 years ago there was a legendary and somewhat controversial "hiving off" from the Minnesota Church of Wicca which resulted in the creation of the Wiccan Church of Minnesota. This year they both happened to be meeting at the Sacred Paths Center at the same time, and decided to put aside past differences and reunite for a ritual. This moment stands as a perfect example of the exceptional unity this community has experienced this year.

The creation of the Paganistan Weekly newsletter. Even people who are extremely involved in the community often comment that they had no idea that there was so much going on. Pretty much everyone who puts on an event has had people show up because they read about the event in Paganistan Weekly.

And most topical of all: The creation of MNPagan.com