Category: BW Announcements


BW PSA: A Word About SOPA and PIPA

Filed under: BW Public Service Announcement — Leave a comment
January 18, 2012

I’m sure that some of you guys have heard of this bill called SOPA and PIPA and how it’s going to censor the internet. That by itself should perk some ears but let me go a little deeper.

Y’see, SOPA stands for: Stop Online Piracy Act, a bill (H.R. 3261) that was introduced by Congressman Lamar S. Smith (R-TX) back in October. The bill, at face value, is supposed to prevent piracy and theft via blacklisting. Now, fighting knock-offs and pirates sound really good right? I mean, no more downloading movies and music. Recording lab- I mean artists can be sure to make every proper dime on their music. Hollywood is safe from people ripping them off and everyone gets a free halo in the mail. Otherwise, prepare to get slammed. Anyone who pirates or participates in any other form of copyright infringement could have the whole site shut down. Yep. A court order could be made to make sure online advertising people don’t do business with the infringing website, search engines such as Google to pretend the site never existed and barring it from showing up in search returns ever, even have internet service providers to block access to such sites. Now if you, dear reader, get caught, you could get hit with up to five years in prison for ten infringements (Ten songs, ten movies, etc.) within six months. The only sites that are immune are those who voluntarily scope through their site and alienate any links, poster or comments on there. If you want to know how such internet censorship works out, ask China.

Then you have PIPA (S. 968), which stands for: PROTECT IP Act, which stands for: Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011, which stands for “someone is trying to break the internets through teh butthurts with sheer wtf and lack of lolz.” In seriousness, it is a bill that is kind of the sister of SOPA and a reincarnation of another bill smacked down in congress back in 2010 called COICA (Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act). This bill was introduced by Patrick Leahy (D-VT) back in May and it is supposed to fight distribution of illegal (read: bootleg or downloaded) copies, counterfeit goods and anti-digital rights management. This bill is supposed to “enhance enforcement against rogue websites operated and registered overseas” and gives servers right to block it. The site could still be reached by its IP address (think of it like a social security card for websites and computers) but not its domain name. Search engines would have to disable access or remove it altogether to the site associated with the domain name in the court order. Or just no hypertext link to the site. Poof, it’s gone.

This vid raises great points on PIPA

To further illustrate:

Black Witch is a site that I made to make sure that Black Pagans would get awesome content to read, listen to and enjoy. Why The Arts! alone would get this site shut down because oh noes! I can’t always get direct blessings from the artists I feature (this is legal under the copyright act of fair use – or should be but SOPA and PIPA don’t feel the same way I do) but even the fact that I do credit – the feature is about them – would make SOPA and PIPA tell WordPress to tell me, “Hey, Black Witch. Cut that out!” or face penalties, even taken off the net. Now this is me but what about my readers? What if one of you guys caught me on a mistake and linked me to a correcting piece, which happened to be copyrighted? Dude, then I’m responsible for you because WordPress is responsible for me and no one wants to be erased from the internets. Then again, WordPress could become hyper vigilant and just take my blog down should they see me post a music video from youtube or feel a twinge of anxiety from the fact I said that Playing Card Divination for Beginners is gouging the price for a book that was originally $10 so, regardless of whether or not I have the okays from the publisher or author, I may digitize it for my readers to use. (That’s piracy, folks). With these laws, you know that instead of fixing the problem with fine-tuned precision, it’s going to be the story of Henny Penny magnified. Even if I play by the rules, not every blogger will and still WordPress could be taken off the internet as if it never existed, taking my site (and Mike Shinoda’s site and Nastassia Davis’ site and the Wondaland wordpress site and countless other sites) with it. Ouch. And this also goes for your email because now that I, Mike Shinoda, Wondaland and others are all apparently digital evil doers out to harm through copyright violations some other guy did – judged by the company you keep, folks – if you so much as link to our content, your provider has to fish it out and rip it out or suffer the same fate as WordPress did.

If it seems a lil’ pointless to the average person still, here’s a really good demonstration using our favorite android, Janelle Monae.

Alrightie, if my twitter and my site and search terms to my site are any indication, I got a lot of fandroids for readers. I even featured one, AngelBopByeYa, since I thought her tumblr was spiffy – but wait! Did AngelBopByeYa ask Janelle Monae if she could have all those JM pictures decorated on her Tumblr? And what about The Audition, Janelle Monae’s EP from waaaaaay back in the early 2000’s? Y’know, the one that can’t be found in stores so either you download (and become a pirate, matey) or just happily go without or wait to spring on Janelle Monae herself and ask for her blessing to have her music in your Mp3 player. And what about those pictures from the last three (four?) times she posed in Vogue? Aw, man, I’m sure no fandroid was asking Vogue to use copies. If AngelBopByeYa so much as even performs “BopByeYa” through singing it or playing it and posting it to youtube, she could get hit with up to five years in non-Cybertronic Purgatory if anyone from Janelle Monae’s crew think that’s not cool and AngelBopByeYa is stealing content. Now, we’re sure Janelle Monae would find this lovely, she loves when her fandroids are doing their thing – Atlantic Records, however, feels otherwise and as her distributor, would be ultra pissed at AngelBopByeYa. Either she better stop posting that Janelle Monae content now (and lose Monae potential new fans and supporters who haven’t heard her music while at the same time locking out fans who may not always have the money to support) or get that tumblr – or Tumblr itself – taken off the air. Now, technically all this would be considered okay under the Fair Use act given that AngelBopByeYa is commenting, criticizing, and reviewing on her tumblr and giving credit. But, SOPA and PIPA is written so loosely that you might as well chuck that out of the window because if Atlantic Records think she’s stealing nonetheless, it’s gone.

Oh, geez. This sucks rocks. It would be totally crappy if a site like FYeahJanelleMonae would get linked here or if I post, like, a picture of Janelle Monae being awesome…like this pic right here where she’s running from a sixteenth note:

image

Or show a youtube with her song in it, like Salvador Dali’s Disney short film Destino.

Because according to SOPA and PIPA, I just committed a crime on several counts. Sorry, WordPress. My bad it wasn’t a more looked-over crime such as what student loan lenders are doing, and what former president Bush did to Iraq. I guess that’s the pirate’s life for me.

And to make people feel better, here’s a funky PSA on net neutrality: The Internet You Need

Now go out there and tell your Congressman about the internet you need.

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Ethics I’ve Learned

Filed under: BW Public Service Announcement, Divination, Pagan Life, Spells & Potions — Leave a comment
January 13, 2012

Ethics are very important in divination and witchery. Every new Pagan is going to have their run ins with ethics but they are necessary. Every Pagan is different and all Pagans are going to think differently as well as could perceive the same situation differently. As for ethics and divination, I have a strict set of rules to go by. Always have ever since I started at 17. These rules are to keep everyone involved safe and are only broken under the most severe situations.

Never make people pay ~ I don’t charge at all for divination. As a diviner, my job is to give you advice on what to do next, that’s it. I’m not drawing up haunting ghouls and ghosts to do my bidding, it’s purely me and what I can gather from the universe. I often tell people I don’t charge because they’re going to find out in about three months what their future is going to be anyways. I know some of my divination friends differ in opinion because they believe a service is given but for me personally, I never would pay for a reading and never have, why would I enforce something different? Plus, not everyone has the money to dole out but could use the help all the same. Besides, what would I do with the money? Nothing noble most likely, just squander it on food and lolita, not donate it somewhere or be useful with it. I am a very fortunate person and I am extremely aware of this. I feel that what I have is a gift to share and help people with, not take money from. I also feel that money can corrupt even the best of diviners because it’s very easy to get greedy and to take advantage of people in need. I will take snacks (I love me some red bean mochi and if you can spot me some good okonomiyaki joints in Maryland/DC, you can have any reading you want, as many as you like!) in exchange for readings if the person offered but no money whatsoever. Besides, I already have a job. I work at my university’s library so it’s not like I’m suffering. I feel best when I’m being selfless and helping someone because they need it, not because I want something in exchange. The only time I ever broke that was for the Divination Days held by my school’s Pagan Student Union and it was to raise money for our group, not a dime went into my pocket. We didn’t charge more than $3 (I controlled the prices) and I made sure all the diviners knew that their primary goal besides raising money is to help people. While I am perfectly fine with fleecing the rich kids, I don’t want anyone undeserving getting mixed up in it. Besides, I’ve gotten so much back in good fortune from helping people and I rather have that than money any day. In addition, nothing reeks “Potential phony” like a $15 price tag for a quick palm reading.

Keep it confidential ~ That’s right, I don’t say a word about another person’s reading because it’s no one’s business but their own. To be loose lipped can bite me in the derriere in ways I don’t think I need to explain. Often time I am sought out in confidante by people who are embarrassed or frustrated by their problems, concerned that they are breaking from their religious beliefs or worried that someone else may find out what’s going on. I understand keeping a secret if a secret has to be kept. I don’t break that unless the person exudes suicidal tendencies or may harm themselves in another way. Then I gotta start talking, usually to someone who cares deeply for them or refer them to a trusted professional. I know when people are feeling suicidal or want to indulge in self-injury, they don’t want to tell someone who they think is going to snitch but guess what, I have to. There’s no special oath a diviner takes before dealing with other people’s problems but we do have a conscience to contend with. I would much rather keep Jiminy Cricket quiet rather than grieving me all day about how I should have said something when there was a chance. I too have wanted to kill myself (and I’m not afraid to say that I still gripe with that a little now, I have issues just like everyone else*) and I know about self-injury from personal experience* so it’s not like the person is talking to some apathetic psychologist who knows only what the textbook tells them. However, I have to bring it to light that the person I’m reading for is in dire need of attention.

I’ve had the awesome luck to read for one of my favorite bands evar! My goodness gracious, I was doing natal charts (astrology) for two of the members. They happened to be the most popular members so of course people wanted to know what I found on them. I never said anything once that would discuss their personal lives or cause them harm from a crazy fan. Granted, I found out stuff about my favorites that, to be honest, I could have gone my whole life and about three more others not knowing about. *shudders* Talk about the saying about meeting your heroes. I wrote nearly twenty pages for each member (something else I’m not doing again unless I am working super close with the person, the fact checking and the checking-fact-checking was tedious!) so there was some pretty sensitive information but they were for those band members eyes only. I still feel wacktacular that I gave them such a rushed copy and never had the chance to share the refreshed and worked-through copy of their natal charts. I never got their responses back (it was a quick meet) and it still gives me chills sometimes wondering what they are.

Don’t read everyone ~ Every diviner, whether they make you pay or not, has the right to refuse a reading. I know I’ve done it before. It’s an added perk in not making people pay because it’s easier to refuse readings, yay for me! Just like I have the right to refuse readings, people have the automatic right in not being read. I can read hands/palms, faces, handwriting and auras but just because I can doesn’t mean that I should. It’s simply wrong. I wouldn’t want someone doing that to me, I’m not going to do it to someone else. While I can easily sneak a glance at someone’s hand to figure out some of their more basic life story, I don’t with everyone. I don’t do it to my parents, I don’t do it to those I look up to or appreciate. I see it like this, if my parents wanted me to know about a part of their life so much, they would tell me. I’m not going to pry about and wind up getting my feelings hurt because I decided to be snoopy. It may not be time for me to know or some things are simply better not knowing.

 As for those I appreciate [caution: fangirling ahead], it goes back to the “meeting your heroes” saying, you never know what you’re going to get and you really don’t know if you’re going to like what you find. In the entertainment industry, often there is a stage persona that is shown to the crowd and the presses, keeping the real person a secret. They go by other names, gimmicks and/or amiable personalities. We think we know everything about our idols and their lives but there are still some things that they (rightfully) keep under wraps for the sake of privacy. Everyone needs their privacy. For example, I love Janelle Monae. I could talk about her for hours on end; she’s such an awesome person in my eyes. I appreciate her style and she really means a lot to me as a Black girl growing up very different from the crowds. I would be devastated completely if anything were to happen to her. Though I find her to be an adorable little ball of energy, cute and with vibrant imagination, I love The ArchAndroid and bought The Chase Suite twice (a digital and physical copy), I’m not going to scan her hand in her photo ops. Firstly, that’s creepy. Secondly, I rather let her tell me her story rather than me find out for myself. How can I say that I care (in the way that a fan cares about a performer) about her well-being by being sneaky? I am confident she’ll speak for herself on whatever topic she has to. She’s a performer and I’m just a fan, nothing more. Plus, what if I find something I may not like that could bust my perception of her wide open? Ignorance can be bliss and I’m stickin to it.

Simply put, I don’t read others unless they would like me to, regardless of person. Unless it’s dream interpretation. That’s so fun and usually people want to understand the dreams they have so rarely does anyone mind me giving some input. It’s so fun to me! I used to have a dream thread back at Fortminor.com but that’s gone now (and I’m still grieving over it, 50+ pages gone, dang).

Can’t save everyone ~ This is the one that gets diviners with big hearts such as myself. Some people simply can’t be saved. No matter how many reading you give or how much advice you offer, some folks are too far gone. Not everyone takes advice when given and some people have terrible misfortune. All a diviner can do is to do the best that they can do and not guilt themselves when things still go wrong. I know I have moments where I still wonder if I did the right thing or made the right choice in helping someone but I can’t dwell in the past and I can’t save everyone. Not everyone wants to be saved and there are times where you have to save yourself. They’re very scary times but they do happen. All a diviner can do really is just guide best they can. At the end of the day, the person I’m reading for has to figure out what to do with their life, not me.

Don’t rope a person into doing witchcraft ~ You won’t believe how often I hear people who have met shady diviners and had to do some form of magick to make the bad thing go away. If it is against your beliefs to do magick, it’s against your beliefs to do magick. Be firm in your ideals. If the person says that you have to do it, know that you don’t. More often than not, a person is not jinxed* but with a case of bad luck (or a negative perception on life). Often these people are roped into doing dangerous things that doesn’t make sense like laying in a bath of lye for a month or foolish things like buying a $400 pair of leather shoes from Nordstrom (why Nordstrom, I dunno but that’s usually what I hear) to spit at or whatever have you. I never would tell a person to do witchcraft to solve their problems, often times that’s not what’s needed. If they needed magickal assistance, I would explain everything piece by piece so they fully understand everything and it’s usually small. Like smudging (cleansing) a house with sage if they think they really need it or anointing a dollar with bayberry oil for money (and a copy of the employment section with a red sharpie. Where d’you think the money’s coming from?). If a person is happening on bad times, I usually tell that person to solve the problem the way their religion sees fit. If that means they are to pray to their god for an answer, that’s what they’re supposed to do. I’m not going to drag someone waaaaaay out of their comfort zone and possibly get them hurt or mistakenly kill them. 

It’s up to the Pagan to decide what their ethics are, just know that it is important to have them and they’ll carve themselves out sooner or later. Books and teachings can only go so far, it’s up to the Pagan to live, learn and make mistakes. What’s the point of being Pagan if you’re living inside the velvet ropes of life anyway? Make mistakes but don’t be reckless, though. And don’t be afraid to learn from the mistakes of others.

That’s the BW column for this week! Next week is The Arts! Who’s being featured:

– Racist Political Ads
– Disoccupy
– Sh*t Girls Say (for Black girls)

And the week after that is Ask Black Witch! Get it goin’ and send in your questions!

And don’t forget to read my interview from Black Pagan

Also, please help this little kitty from the Charm City Animal Shelter named Little Mouserat. He was born with no eyelids and needs surgery. Without surgery, his fur will constantly rub against his corneas until his eyed are damaged to the point that they need removed (vet says 2-3 years). His eyes gets very dry from not being able to blink, too! Any donation will help, this poor kitty has already been through enough. Click here to donate and learn more. Thank you!

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Black Witch Vcast @ 8PM EST on Ustream

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December 27, 2011

Out of complete total randomness I am going to have a Ustream vchat today at 8 PM EST. Be there! It will be recorded for those who may miss it so if you don’t get it – don’t worry!

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Black Witch Ustream vcast tonight at 8 PM EST

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December 3, 2011

Yep, I’m having a Ustream vcast tonight at 8 PM EST! Please do come! Ask questions, interact, things like that! I’ll be covering a variety of topics and answering questions! Be there!

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Black Witch on The Sunshine Show tonight 7-10 PM CST

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November 23, 2011

I’ve been asked to speak on The Sunshine Show via blogtalk radio tonight 7-10 PM CST. I’ll be talking about Black Paganism, this blog, and taking calls from listeners. Listen here and if you want to call in: 760-683-2663, press 1

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BW PSA: “Remember, Remember, The Fifth of November…”

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November 5, 2011

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot…

Oh I love that poem. It stems back to Guy Fawkes, a British man that was part of a plot to blow up the Parliament in protest of King James I and to put a Catholic monarch back on the throne during a time when religion was very deeply intertwined with politics. Also, it is from a very favorite movie of mine which also harkens back to Guy Fawkes, V for Vendetta. I suggest you see it if you haven’t, it’s really wonderful.

Now, I try to keep it a bit on a low when parading as Black Witch but I’m a pretty political person. Always have been ever since I was a child because I believe in what is right and what is wrong (although my morals can be lax in some areas but that’s another discussion for another time). It is right to stand for what you believe in so long it benefits humanity. You’re also right to stand for what you believe in even if it harms humanity, just don’t be surprised when getting what comes to you or yours.

In case you haven’t heard, there have been a series of global protests which stem from the Occupy Wall St protest, its short name being “Occupy”. Today would be a lovely day for this event:

Bank Transfer Day

banktransferday.org

Don’t know where to switch or even how? That’s okay, I know the feeling too. Here’s the difference between a bank and a credit union from How Stuff Works and a very concise guide from Wisconsin’s Department of Finance. After educating yourself on the difference and choosing which one you want, here is an article listing 9 really good tips to keep in mind when switching and if you don’t know any credit unions in your area, here is the CUlookup. Wanna stick with a bank still? Go with a community bank. This site Move Your Money Project will give you all the facts and even a search for both credit unions and community banks! Remember, do your research! I’ve been with a credit union since 2008, I was with Wachovia prior and I’m super happy that I switched.

Besides, I’m sure many of you have heard of the new fees imposed by banks for you to merely access your money or is upset about the bailouts they have gotten, only for you to be sold out by your own Congress. We could blame Obama but that’s partly misdirected anger, go for Bush, Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, etc etc etc.

Or…you could contact the CEO’s directly. They live in homes, just like us. They use phones, just like us. They check emails, just like us. They’re people, just like us – and they should hear what we have to say.

And you can – I recommend you Occupy the Boardroom, tell them how you feel about the fees and the crappy job market and drowning in debt. But do you still feel useless? As if the act is only cathartic and it would never get to the CEOs at all? I feel you. And so does a particular group.

The Cab!n Cr3w, a group of anons, have been putting up d0x’s of corrupt CEOs. Listed are home numbers, home addresses, work addresses, alternate home addresses, legal documents, etc etc etc etc. You could write the CEO a letter, shoot him a personal email, call him up, show up even. Go for it, it’s not a crime to speak. Just remember not to threaten or thoroughly berate. Be honest, not have your letter be from start-to-finish cursing.

There are other forms of “armchair” protests if you don’t want to go to your local occupation (I can understand why, they have had a few cultural, racial and gender issues there and not every Black person is built to put up with it) or can’t. This video below shows you how!

Another is to support the bill H. Res. 365: This bill wants to cancel the student loan debt. It the blurb for it reads:

“Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should cut the United States’ true debt burden by reducing home mortgage balances, forgiving student loans, and bringing down overall personal debt.”

Now, you can read the whole bill here and even get links to contact your congressperson about it because right now, I think the bill is being forced to die in congressional committee. (Watch this old school Schoolhouse Rock vid if you would like to know the basic life cycle of a bill). Now, this is great for those who want to participate in the Occupy protests or think that the only way to solve a problem in America is to contact a Congressman about it. Either way, here you go! And if they ask how on earth are they going to eat the debt, tell them to make the rich foot the bill this time.

Track the bill and more:
Open Congress (Allows you to contact your representative, read the official text, and more)
GovTrack (Maintains a closer look in where the bill is now, cosponsors and the committees it has been suggested to)

Yes, there has been some response from the White House to modify (federal) student loans but it is not enough. Check out this debt clock for financial aid, we’re speeding towards another bubble and the economy is probably going to continue to drag if we keep along the track that we’re going. It is not easy today so say “Go out and get a job, problem solved”. Not really, most jobs out and about today do not pay enough – and that implies if there is a job to give in the first place. Plus, when paying back student loans, you’re paying waaaay more than what you’re borrowing thanks to interest. Check out Occupy Student Debt for some examples. Things are changing and they have to change for the better or continue to deal with the same old bull.

Now, if you do want to participate in the protest, the best site to go to for all-around information is Occupy Together. If you wanna simply keep to helping out minorities (we seriously need a new word), look at Occupy The Hood.

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Black Witch Vcast Tonite on Ustream @ 9 PM EST

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October 31, 2011

I derped hardcore here. I didn’t advertise very well (read: barely at all) but there is the second annual Black Witch Ustream vcast at 9 PM EST.

Here’s where it’s going to be – be there. :3

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Whoops!

Filed under: BW Public Service Announcement — 4 Comments
September 23, 2011

Over the last few weeks, Black Witch hasn’t been running as swiftly as it usually does. Columns mistakenly get posted before they’re due and even the BW facebook fan page gets late postings. I can totally explain.

Welp, what happens is me rushing. Y’see, a blog may seem easy to maintain – you write and you post, the readers read and all is spiffy – but it really isn’t. Not when you’re the only person maintaining it. There’s making sure there’s no errors, working to port some columns over to Afro-Punk, keeping up with the stats, checking for new comments, responding to new comments, checking the email, planning the columns, schedule the columns and making sure WordPress doesn’t go crazy with re-formatting or Afro-Punk. Note I didn’t say, “Write the column” yet. This can seem like a full time job and the reality is Black Witch has a full time job (library assistant) and other full time commitments that fight for my time and there’s only so many hours, minutes and seconds in a day. That and I’m in the midst of moving to a new place and the internet being down where I am right now.

What this means is that I’ll work on a column waaaaaaay before it’s due and I might click “Update”, forgetting that I didn’t schedule the post, it goes up immediately. I note my error instantaneously, schedule it so it’s taken down till the proper time and I’m sure some readers get confused when they get an email saying Black Witch updated and are met with “I’m sorry, this post doesn’t exist”. Yeah, frustrating. So that’s why there’s been such amounts of derp over the past few weeks. It may be like this for a little while longer but I wanted to explain what been going on in case anyone has been wondering.

Derp.

Feel free to continue below to read the latest installment in Black Diamonds and Pearls: “That’s Cute, But…”, written by Kristen S.

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A Quick BW Update

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September 4, 2011

How y’all enjoyin’ the Black Diamonds and Pearls series so far? There will be plenty of new writers for this month’s feature. I wanted to inject a little bit of a Black Witch mention that I was cataloged at The Pagan Blog Directory so readers over there can find me over here! This feature will be put up in my Press & Other Works page for future reference!

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New Black Witch Interview: Daughters of Eve

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August 25, 2011

Just a mini update before I send off to NYC for the Afro-Punk Festival, check out the interview I had with Patheos.com’s Black Pagans group Daughters of Eve. It’s really cool!

Check it out! It will be added to the “Press and Other Works” page as well.

And remember, September is a series month so there will be no Pagan-related Black Witch posts. The series explores Black girls in lolita fashion and is titled “Black Diamonds and Pearls”. Normal Black Witch postings resume in October. See you at the Festival!

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