Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Wiccan 'solstice connection' story.

Has anyone seen this story yet? http://tinyurl.com/yhfk77o "Call to action: police question "solstice connection" in stabbing by Wiccan"

Apparently a woman in New Mexico, Angela Sanford, went hiking with Joel Leyba. A witness saw a woman being attacked on a hiking trail, and by the time police got there, the attacker was dead. "Sanford claims that the man, Joel Leyba, attempted to sexually assault her." Shouldn't we be applauding this woman for surviving a dangerous
attack on her person? Didn't the story say there was a witness?

Let me clarify, I have family in the State police, a dear friend of mine was a LEO for many years. I understand the things they have to deal with. I understand they have to investigate everything. What I don't appreciate is the assumption, that because the VICTIM was Wiccan, that some how the defense involving the religious tool of a misunderstood religion means that there MUST be "something fishy going on".

Let me clear a few things up. First, the "Wiccan Dagger" is called an Athame. It's usually blunted, so it doesn't accidentally cut something before use. You see, it's purpose is to direct energy, like a wand. The most substantial thing an Athame is going to cut, would be air. My first Athame was a pewter letter opener, given to me by my mother for Yule. It would have bent before cutting anything!

Second, the solstices are the first days of Winter and Summer. The most recent Holy Day was Ostara, the first day of Spring or the Vernal Equinox. Not a solstice.

Lastly, the insinuation that the observance of the first day of spring some how involves human sacrifice, thinly veiled as an attempted sexual assault is absolutely disgusting to me.

The Supreme court has said that police have one obligation, and it isn't to protect people. It's a post event response. No matter how hard these fine men and women work, they can't be everywhere at once. There are just too many civilians and not enough police. Department budgets keep getting cut and these departments aren't getting the funding they need for the people they need.

I am so sorry for Ms. Sanford. I'm sorry that she was assaulted. I'm sorry that she has to carry the knowledge that she has taken another life, for the rest of hers. And I'm also sorry she had to sully a sacred religious tool in defense of herself and possibly her life.

I'm also sorry that the police involved in this case don't get the training they need in the cases of minority religions. I've been called on numerous occasions to act as an expert on Wicca, Pagan religions and even Diasporic faiths. (Including ABC TV, the Connecticut Post, the Stamford Advocate, The Baltimore Sun, the Washington Post, the Associated Press and more). I understand that LEOs can't carry a Witch in the car, that even if they could, they don't know who knows what their talking about. I suggest, "Cop's Guide to Occult Investigations: Understanding Satanism, Santeria, Wicca, and Other Alternative Religions" By Tony Kail. I honestly feel that each department should have a copy or two of this book.

Stay Tuned for any updates to this story. Coming soon, "What DOES happen during a "solstice" ritual?




I'm calling the people involved with this story and asking for a clarification of facts so as not to harm the reputation of Wiccans and Witches nationwide.

Contact Chief Schultz at the following:
rschultz@cabq.gov
400 Roma NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
phone: (505) 768-2200
fax: (505) 768-2331

Contact KOAT at the following:
P.O. Box 25982
Albuquerque, N.M., 87125
(505) 884-6324
or use their contact form.
http://www.koat.com/contact/index.html

1 comment:

erin Dragonsong said...

Thank you, Amy! A very clear explanation of the problems around the assumption of a Wiccan element.

It does seem there's a rash of these things lately. Now that Wicca is finally coming out of the broom closet, everyone seems to want to sensationalise it. This kind of backlash can really set us back, if the real Wiccan perspective is not heard.

I think you did a great job of that.

With Blessings,

erin Dragonsong
Wicca-Spirituality.com

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