Here's a look at some news of interest to the Pagan community at large:

As with just about any Pagan holiday, the summer solstice seems to be an invitation for the media to take note that Pagans exist. This year, Pagans in Russia got some attention as did a few in Texas. And of course, we cannot forget Stonehenge

As a Neo-Hellenic Polytheist, I am always fascinated with news coming out of Greece and a fellow member of the Hellenic Pagan Yahoo group posted a great article about connecting with Poseidon in Athens and another one that got me even more excited about shows performed at the open air amphitheater at Epidaurus. I was excited because I've been there, though I didn't get to see a show. I am not sure there were shows back then. But I'm ready to head back to Greece at the first opportunity.

I'm not sure how I feel about this article about sex offenders. The offenders interviewed just happen to be Pagan, but that's not what the article is about. I've always thought our sex offender laws needed a bit of an overhaul and maybe they do, but that is one heck of a loaded topic. Kudos to the journalist who tackled it, but I'm not sure he got to the point. How should sex offenders be dealt with? And more to the point of Witchmoot, how should the Pagan community address this issue?

    In the past decade there has been a new insurgence of Pagan Activists. As other world religions become more accepted, the Faiths of Abraham, with an estimated 3.6 billion followers, has slowly been losing their monopoly of religious rights. It is once again safe for Pagans to poke their heads out of their holes and to crawl out from under their rocks to openly practice their "unconventional" faiths. Not only have Pagans gained ground in equal opportunity, but many are fighting to recover their ancient sites, temples, and areas of wonder.

    The Council of British Druid Orders, known as The Council for short, is an organization founded in 1989 that attempts to unify Druid sects in an effort to maintain their religious rites and teach Druidism to the 21st century. The Council is currently composed of over thirty different groups and orders including the ADF and The Henge of Keltria, Irish Druidism Associations that represent a good chunk of Pagans in America. The Council itself is a half a dozen men and women that vary in tasks and positions, including the now famous King Arthur Pendragon (or once famous, considering John Rothwell believes he is the reincarnation of the classical British King).

    Mr. Pendragon, who holds the title of Battlechieftain under The Council, caught his fifteen minutes of fame earlier this month with his ten month long sit-in near Stonehenge. Pendragon was representing the Druid Community in an attempt to grant better access to the five-thousand year old monument. Pendragon, and many other activists, have grown angry with the lack of care for the stone circle as a temple (there have been many proposals passed throughout the years for the care of Stonehenge that have not been honored) and the increased dismantle of the area as Britain cashes in on it's number one attraction.

    Archaeologists report that the area might have been used for worship as far back as 8000 BC, and although the builders of Stonehenge still remain a mystery to date, it is a known fact that the ancient Druids had adopted the large stones for ceremony and worship centuries ago. The Ancient Order of Druids are known for the first recorded Pagan Ceremony at Stonehenge in 1905. However, in more recent years the use of Stonehenge has become more and more controlled as it's popularity as a tourist attraction has grown. Now a fence separates visitors from coming in contact with the ancient stones.

    King Arthur claims he's not leaving until he is removed or his demands are met. The Wiltshire Council, which is in charge of the care of Stonehenge, failed to act on a legal order to remove Pendragon on the 3rd of May. Does this spell new Pagan Rights for the Druid Orders?

    Related Links: BBC News: Pagan vows to stay at Stonehenge, The Guardian: Stonehenge pagan ordered to end 10-month protest, Pagan Connection: King Arthur Pendragon protests at Stonehenge

In an article from the UK Guardian I learned that stonehenge has suffered an act of vandalism. Two men who took off in a car before they could be approached broke off a piece of the heel stone- with a hammer and a screwdriver (!) - a souveneir, I suppose. I can see the temptation to do this. I mean, I've been an archaeologist. Tell me I'm wrong to covet some of the cool stuff that gets dug up! Especially from sites scheduled for demolition (which most of our sites were). When I was in Greece I was tempted to take home bits of ruins. I mean, there were crumbled bits of marble everywhere. I wouldn't have had to break anything. But no. I left it there. Where it belongs.

Now I can't speculate too much because I don't know these guys. But could they have been driven by the desire to own something sacred the way Catholics want bits of saints?
But to desecrate a sacred site for the sake of having something to take home with you shows just how much you don't respect it. It's a very narcissistic act. I mean, wouldn't a handful of dirt, a pressed flower or pebble off the holy ground have served as well?

Of course, this bit of history could show up on ebay. It wouldn't surprise me. It would be a little sad though.