A letter from a Druidic/Celtic Pagan Priestess
My name is Acacia Nokomis. I have recently read your article titles “Wal-Mart goes Wicca” on an interfaith tolerance group that I belong to on the internet.
I was deeply disturbed by your assumption that Wiccans, Pagans, and other non-Christians would do something to harm another human being. Perhaps you are not familiar with our Rede: “So be it in Love that Harms None”.
I am a Druidic/Celtic Pagan and a Priestess of a small but active coven. We do a lot of things for the benefit of our community. We have adopted a number of families to sponser for the holidays - many of which are not even Pagan, but Christian, such as yourself. Do you think the children of these families care that we wear pentacles rather than crosses when we hand them their Christmas gifts and blankets?
What does it matter if we celebrate the Pagan Yule rather than Christmas? What do you care if we believe differently? Are there PAGANS going door to door in your neighborhood with the purpose of demanding that you convert to their faith or else you will burn in someone else’s idea of Hell? Because that is not the case in MY community, Ms. McLeod.
As for Wal-Mart and other stores carrying our books and merchandise, it’s about time. It has been hard for decades to get our hands on the information we need to pass onto our own children. We have lived in secret long enough. We have feared the Christian status-quo long enough. We are NOT here to force ourselves on anyone, only to exist as we are without interference.
And by the way, from what I was given to understand (please keep in mind I only vaguely remember this and encourage you to check for yourself as i don’t remember my source of information, either), Target refused the Salvation Army bell ringers because there was something about a situation in which a bell ringer was attacked by a random passer-by and Target feared a lawsuit? Something to that effect from what I heard………. If I remember my source or happen across the story again, I’ll pass it along to you.
For most of my adult life, I would pass hundreds of stores in which you could find bibles and Christain merchandise. If I can finally go to Wal-Mart and find a guide to basic home security spells and ingredients for incense to purify and calm my home, then the world is finally coming up equal.
Christians are not the only people who have faith in a higher power, Ms. McLeod. We may worship differently, but we still believe. Please remember this.
Blessed Be!
(this is a Pagan way of wishing you well, by the way)
Acacia Rhiannon Nokomis
