Merry Meet:

This was posted in another group I am part of and I thought I would share it on here.  I hope it goes well...

Rain Faerie♥

I'm sure many of you have heard about the religious discrimination perpetuated by the US Veterans Administration. They are refusing to approve the pentacle as a religious symbol that can appear on US Military headstones and memorials.

What I doubt you have heard about is the formation of a new multi-state Pagan alliance, the Upper Midwest Pagan Alliance. It is a group that includes all traditions and wants representatives of all Pagan/Wiccan groups in the upper midwest as members. The goal is to unite us on common ground to help the rights of all Pagans and Wiccans.

The first project of the UMPA is a mass ritual to put positive energy toward the goal of Pagan veterans having the same rights as all other religions to display their symbol of faith on their headstones. This will be a massive ritual involving hundreds of people. It will be held on the MN State Capitol Mall grounds in St. Paul, MN on Sat. Feb 24 at 12:00. The press is invited to this event (as we want as much press as possible from all of the upper-midwestern states). Following the ritual at 1:00, we will take an arial photograph (or at least a photograph taken from the top of a big fire truck ladder) of a human pentacle. We will all assemble into a pentacle formation and this picture will be used in publicity including (if finances afford it) billboards.

Whether you want to be in the photograph or not, I highly recommend as many people as possible from SD attend. My wife and I will be trekking from Aberdeen to the event and we invite anyone who wishes to caravan with us to join.

This is a great way to meet other Pagans and Wiccans, from SD and elsewhere. It also is a great way to show that SD does actually have Pagans (and counter views to the contrary held in MN).

For those coming from parts of SD that don't bring them through Aberdeen or MN Hwy 7, I recommend you all talk to each other on these lists so you can coordinate caravans. The drive is much shorter when you are not alone.

The website of the UMPA is: http://www.umpagana lliance.com/ This website tells a lot more about the organization and the project, how to help support the effort, and what this is all about. If weather is bad, check the website for backup dates, locations.

Blessed be.
:Morninghawk

'Allo all, I will take a moment and give you a brief look at who I am.  I am nothing more than what the world around me makes me.  Therefore at my current time in life the world had found me a little hole called Wayne, NE in which it so kindly gave me reign of a video store and theatre.  I am 22 and will be married in September.  I have three rascally (commonly referred to as children) cats.  That then is me.  Time doesn't permit me much unless I get up really early to play on the computer...which is now my only TRUE friend...as all my friends I speak (write) to are on it.

May todays road be the one you seek,

Rain Faerie