1) AzureGreen growing up green
By Christopher Blackwell

AzureGreen is a well known internet and mail-order company in Middlefield, MA, that as of 2002 employed 22 people and contributed some $ 1.8 million to the Massachusetts economy. It has operated in this small town since 1991. AzureGreen

It is best know to the Pagan community as the major supplier of religious books, music, magical tools, statues, bumper stickers and supplies. It is owned and operated by Pagans.

Like any successful business there comes a time to build a larger place to allow for future growth. Its plans for its new warehouse are as different from any ordinary warehouse as one can imagine. Called Beltane Hill, this new building reflects the alternative outlook of the business. http://www.beltanehill.com/index.htm

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2) Working for Odinist Prisoners
By Christopher Blackwell

In Michigan there is a court case on the right of a Odinist prisoner and his right to have Odinist ceremonies in the Michigan prison system. Even as this is going on a Odinist is gearing up to prepare for helping the prisoners inside as a visiting religious volunteer for the Michigan Department of Corrections. I am interviewing Todd

Keyser, who may become the first Odinist religious volunteer in MDOC history .

Christopher: How long have you been an Odinist?

Todd: I've been an Odinist for close to 8 years now. I discovered the faith through my fiancee, who is Irish and follows her own ancestral faith. That got me to study the faith of my own ancestors. I am a Professed member of the Odinic Rite ( www.odinic-rite.org) and guardian of Ancestral Heritage Hearth based in Michigan. I also am active in a couple other Odinist groups in Michigan.

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3) Interview with Gary Penzler, creator of Gary Penzler's Virtual Hof
By Christopher Blackwell

I ran across this Heathen site on the internet and asked its founder for an interview. Here is what we talked about.

Christopher: What is it that attracts you to Asatru? What might others find attractive about it?

Gary: Well, that's a tough question to answer. I mean, I was always a fan of that Thor comic book (though I've learned since then that they get most of the information wrong), but I was also pretty much an avowed agnostic--I felt that there might be something like a god out there, but if there were, it would be so far beyond our understanding that there's no way any religion could be right. But somehow, I did believe that maybe magic could be real. Perhaps it was, then, just the wishful thinking of a sci-fi/fantasy fan, but I was really interested in it, and found myself looking into it.

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4) Interview with Heathen News founder, Jordsvin
By Christopher Blackwell,

One of the problems of running a newsletter is getting sources. In looking for news of the Heathen folk, I was directed to a website Heathen News. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeathenNews/

I found it to be a good site that I return to, so I decided to interview its founder, Jordsvin.

Christopher: What would you like our readers to know about you?

Jordsvin: Born 1959 in Northeast Tennessee, USA. Degrees in Spanish, French and Library Science; work at the local university and community college. Partnered gay male (since 1988). History, gardening, raising chickens, and science fiction are among my interests. As a eathen, my "specialties" are Seidhr/Spae, theology, counseling, and spiritual direction.

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5) A Short History of the Awen Quest
By Christopher Blackwell

In 2004 Ellen Evert Hopman (Saille), Co-Chief Order of the Whiteoak (Ord na Darach Gile), began the project to come up with a possible symbol for use on VA headstones for Druid vets. A variety of possible symbols were considered, including variations such as oak leaves , oak leaf clusters, oak leaves and acorns, and a torque and two versions of the Awen symbol, one with just three lines and one with three lines and three dots. Craig Melia, the current Co-Chief of Whiteoak, did the graphics.

The symbols were sent out to all the major Druid Orders in the U.S. for a vote. After many months, the verdict came back for the simple three-line Awen symbol. Once that was decided each of the heads of the Orders sent letters of support for the symbol to petition of the VA for acceptance.

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6) Pagans Oppose Military Intervention in Iran October 12, 2007
For immediate release

Contact: Ellen Evert Hopman saille333@mindspring.com 413 323 4494 East Coast

M. Macha NightMare herself@machanightmare.com 415 454-4411 West Coast

We are an ad hoc group of Americans who practice diverse Earth-based religions. We affirm the wisdom of peace, tolerance, and justice.

These principles are consistent with the values and beliefs of our Pagan religions. We seek to exist in goodwill and fellowship with all peoples, cultures, and nations. In so doing, we express our love for the Earth and acknowledge our interconnectedness with all living things.

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7) Druidic Peace Statement
October 12, 2007 10:16:34 AM MDT

http://www.whiteoakdruids.org:80/news/item.cfm?NewsItemID=11

The Druids of old were known as peacemakers and were once so respected that when they stepped onto the battlefield all hostilities immediately ceased.

It is in the spirit of reverence for these ancient ways that The Order of the Whiteoak (Ord na Darach Gile, www.whiteoakdruids.org) wishes to affirm its support of peace and justice in the world.

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8) Samhain, Personal Anniversaries, and Memories of Madrid in 1983
By Christopher Blackwell

Samhain takes on a personal meaning for me for a couple reasons. Not only was it the time of the first issue of ACTION, but it was also the anniversary of my first Wiccan ceremony in a small sandstone cave near the little town of Madrid, NM.

Madrid was a colorful place in 1983. It was a former coal-mining town, then a ghost town for 20 odd years and then a place where hippies and artist squatted among a town of some 350 people, property owners and renters, when I ended up there to sell during the summer season.

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