While checking out a Pagan soldier and vet forums, I came upon note of a new book, Faith and Magick in the Armed Forces: A Handbook for Pagans in the Military, by Stefani Barner (Llewellyn, May)

As a Vietnam vet, back in the days of four choices of religion in Marine boot camp - Catholic, Protestant, Jew, or troublemaker- I continue to be fascinated about what it is like to be a Pagan in today's military. I e-mailed Stefani to find out about her book and experience as a military wife. She graciously okayed the interview.

..........More

Organizing Pagans is like trying to herd cats.

The paperwork has been in place for two years, but the VA says it can’t process the request until there’s a need for the symbol – i.e. a dead Druid soldier or veteran.

So when a Druid widow or widower applies, will the VA grant the Awen as a symbol of belief? We still don't know. What more might the Druids do to insure success?

There must be proof on file that Druids want the Awen. Proof like copies of letters from Druid service personnel and vets stating that they have the Awen as their emblem of belief and want the VA to add it to the list of emblems used on memorial markers. There also needs to be a copy of a letter to each Druid veteran's next of kin that they want the Awen on their VA-supplied headstone.

..........More

Last time our readers heard from Eric, he was sending articles from the war front. Now he’s working on creating a Pagan sanctuary in Arizona.

Christopher: What started you thinking about creating this sanctuary? Why would one be of use to Pagans?

Eric: To start from the beginning: Desert Moon Grove was started Feb. 2004 in Balad, Iraq when I saw the need for a Pagan group, as there was no spiritual support for Pagan Troops on the base. I knew the policies on DFGL (Distinguished Faith Group Leader) process and had started working on that. I had also packed five footlockers of candles, incense, my altar, and my library to start us off.

..........More

In our society when we think of missionaries, we usually imagine some pious person going out into the wilderness to bring religion and civilization to the poor savages, often including not only modern religion, but education and medical care.

Certainly the many people that donate to missionary causes believe that they are a good thing. After all isn't bringing the wonders of civilization good for these poor backward people?

There is an arrogance about it because civilized people assume that they know what is best for tribal people. They would never considering asking them if they want or need it. It is often the civilized people who are ignorant as to what is good for others.

..........More

My copy editor suggested that my last editorial on missionary work was somewhat left of center. Left of center? [Grin] I think this might be her gentle way of saying it was rather radical.

Maybe, but I look at it this way. From nature's standpoint, diversity is the way of survival. Creating an entire world of a single civilization leaves nothing to rebuild from if that civilization collapses.

Homogenizing humans into a single culture is not a desirable thing in my way of thinking. The more different levels of lifestyles, from hunter-gatherer to complex civilizations with technology, gives us humans a number of different ways to survive and if one, or several ways fail, the rest continues.

..........More