CZPhoenix's Open Salon Blog

Prison Wicca

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:08:02 -0400

Prison Wicca

The practice of the Wiccan Religion in prisons today

by: Sean M, Curtis, Wiccan and in prison in North Carolina

Being Wiccan in prison today is a lot easier than it used to be. Today, Wiccans can openly practice their religion as opposed to just twenty years ago when it was hared to do so. Even so, modern Wiccans still have to deal with the prejudices of inmates and staff members alike Many inmates believe that if they openly admit that they are Wiccan, they will be singled out by staff or inmates.

There have been instances where inmates have been beaten by staff members or other inmates because they are Wiccan. There are times when to openly call yourself a Wiccan is to invite trouble. Thankfully, we have come a long way in being accepted in prison. Even so, it is still hard to practice our religion due to the restrictions places on us by the administrative staff at the prisons.

The practice of Wiccan is limited by the amount of outside support that we get. The biggest problem we have is that we have no one to be our voice. It is next to impossible to effect change from withing. I have tried numerous times over the years to get things changed, but have been unable due to the fact that I have no access to people that will listen. We need help from the Wiccan community to hep us effect a positive change. Another problems is the lack of volunteers to come into the prisons to help with the study groups and Sabbats. (We don't get to celebrate Esbats.) If one person volunteered to come in for two hours a week to teach things like meditation, divination, scrying, Tarot, how to work spells, and to teach basic Wiccan practices we would be able to actually get things done. I am not saying that inmates can't do those things, but having an outside source of information is better.

As of this writing, in the state of North Carolina, the Wiccan religion is the most under supported religious group in prison. Most prisons do not even have the facilities available to have circles held for Sabbats. Some don't even have a Wiccan function for the inmates. The funds that have been set aside for religious groups ans been limited each year and only seems to get smaller each year The Wiccans are finding it harder to get the things we need to practice our religion. Incense and candles are now deemed unnecessary for our rituals and we can no longer order them. We are only allowed to order things that are “approved” by the prison staff, who are non-Wiccan. We are not allowed to include Cakes and Ale as part of our rituals to any Sabbat because it “is a threat to the stability of the institution”. We are not allowed to have oils for any reason because “they are not part of the Wiccan religion and are not permitted by policy”.

Why is it that even though all religious groups are supposed to be treated the same, only the Wiccans do not have a voice on the North Carolina Department of Corrections board of religions? Every other religion has a vo0ice to speak for them, but not us. Why? Who is willing to step up and be our voice? Who has the courage to stand up and fight for the rights of all Wiccans in prison Goddess knows we need you.

Have You Forgotten?

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:02:08 -0500

Have you forgotten the taste of sweet

mountain water,

The cool bite of a crisp, clean

morning,

And the song of the birds in each

little tree?

Have you forgotten the sight of the

silver moon rise,

The hushed wings of the owl on

an evening hunt,

And the song of the night bird in

evening flight?

Have you forgotten the smell of a

foggy morning,

The feel of a gentle rain as it

falls on your face,

And the comfort of a wooly blanket on a

chill eve?

Oh, where you now, my precious child?

Oh, where have you gone, long years passing?

Have You Forgotten?

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:02:18 -0500

Have you forgotten the taste of sweet

mountain water,

The cool bite of a crisp, clean

morning,

And the song of the birds in each

little tree?

Have you forgotten the sight of the

silver moon rise,

The hushed wings of the owl on

an evening hunt,

And the song of the night bird in

evening flight?

Have you forgotten the smell of a

foggy morning,

The feel of a gentle rain as it

falls on your face,

And the comfort of a wooly blanket on a

chill eve?

Oh, where you now, my precious child?

Oh, where have you gone, long years passing?

Farewell, America

Wed, 3 Nov 2010 15:11:21 -0400

A once proud nation, brought to it's knees by religious zealots, hangs it's head in shame. The founding principles have been shattered, scorned and discarded, like yesterday's garbage. Hope, the bright star of the future, all but extinguished by profit mongering, greed encouraging people. And this is the price we pay for the sound of our silence, for our willingness to refrain from disturbing the ever so precious status quo. This spreading blood is the blood of the poor, the ones seeking that extinguished star, Hope. Farewell, America. You have met your end, not on the horns of an outside enemy, but on the blades of those who seek to suppress all who are different. Farewell, America, my dying rose.

I Am For Peace

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 14:09:30 -0400

I am for peace.

Not the peace that is an extension of war by political means. Real peace. The peace the comes when people everywhere say no to war.

I am for peace.

I am for the kind of peace that can happen when patriots everywhere lay down the weapons and work together to rebuild a world with different values.

I am for peace.

One world, it's all we have, and we have to share it, not just with others alive today, but with our great-great grandchildren and their children.

I am for peace.

No life altering, body mutiliating woulds from explosives, no missing limbs, or broken minds from seeing things no human should ever have to see.

I am for peace.