Grandmother Spider's SpiritWeb

The widow of a Wiccan soldier killed last year in Afghanistan is gaining support in her quest to have a pentacle placed on his grave:

The space where the memorial marker of Sgt. Patrick D. Stewart, a decorated American soldier who was killed last year in Afghanistan, should stand is empty because his Wiccan faith is not one of 30 approved for such designation by the federal government.

Stewart, a 34-year-old native of Fernley, Nev., was killed Sept. 25 by a rocket-propelled grenade. His body was cremated and he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

His widow, Roberta, held her own Memorial Day service this past May 31 to protest the government's policy. She has refused a temporary marker at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery until she gets a permanent recognition of her late husband's faith. ...

Now, several secular and religious organizations -- including Americans United for Separation of Church and State -- and a well-known constitutional scholar say Stewart's widow should be allowed to have the Wiccan pentacle placed on his marker.

In a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson and Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs William Tuerk, Americans United said Wiccans have been trying to get the pentacle, a five-pointed star in a circle, on the list of approved religious symbols to no avail. The group says this is a direct violation of the First Amendment and has asked the VA to respond within 30 days to avoid litigation.

Keep in mind that Wicca is a recognized religion in the US military services, but Wiccans are not allowed to mark their graves with a pentacle because they don't have a "headquarters." No guru, no method, no teacher--no grave marker.

Interestingly, that "well-known constitutional scholar" cited by Beliefnet is an evangelical Christian.

I was doing some research and a thought raced through my head. I would like everyone who is willing - to respond to the question of "How many wiccans believe in ghosts or traditional hauntings?" I invite any comments or questions. If you have a different or alternative theory in your belief, I would love to hear it.

The Llewellyn Journal RSS news feed for articles by famous and new writers on Wicca.

Howdy folks! I have been Wiccan for the last 8 years and regretfully confess I haven't practiced the belief for approx. 3 of them. Now I come to the table in need of assistence and (gulp) help. My fiance' has a brother who for as long as he can remember has been "haunted" by visions and dreams influenced by a being that (from my understanding) calls itself "Archaos" (Ark-a-o-is).

I have been Wiccan since I was in 4th grade and I currently an 18 yr old college freshman. If anyone needs any spells, rites, or any advice for that matter: I would love to be of service. :D

Merry Meet to All;

Sometimes I am my own worst enemy, beating myself up and wondering at times if I am truly Wiccan. My life is busy and at times I have no privacy or time to perform any rituals, I don't have a room I can lock myself away and have "Me Time" many of the young people today also have studies and work.