PAGANS SEEK ACCEPTANCE, HELP COMMUNITY.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- Nancy White volunteers for community fundraisers, runs a successful home-based business and is a pretty typical Santa Clarita mom.

She's also a witch.

As a member of the Santa Clarita Valley Pagan Network, she and a few dozen others worship in their own way, as diverse as the other religions represented in the SCV Interfaith Council, to which the network belongs.

``Being a pagan is almost like saying you're a Christian, because it encompasses a lot of different groups,'' she said. ``All witches are pagans, but not all pagans are witches. Ours is an Earth-based spirituality.''

The word pagan means ``country dweller,'' and faiths that fall into the pagan category are closely related to the Earth, sun, moon and stars, including witches, wiccans, astrologers, heathens, reconstructionists, occultists, numerologists and those who follow American Indian philosophies and practices.

``We started out as a Yahoo! online group in 2001,'' White said. ``Most are solitaries who practice individually. We gather privately as a group for eight celebrations throughout the year, but we do have a public coffee night the third Sunday of each month at 7 p.m. at Borders.

``If people are interested in finding out more, or want to join us, they are welcome to come. If we feel comfortable after meeting them, they are invited to join.''

Members are reluctant to talk about their beliefs because they say they have experienced discrimination from employers, neighbors and school administrators, most who don't know about or understand their beliefs.

``We were talking and laughing in our discussion group one night when someone came and threw a Bible down in front of us. It was very disrespectful. What most people don't realize is that we're not Goth, many of us are in our mid-40s, own homes, have children in the school system and work alongside of them every day. They think we're running around barefoot and burning babies, but that couldn't be further from the truth.''

White was raised a Presbyterian, and later, urged by her son, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

``They were a wonderful group, but not for me. I felt uncomfortable. I believe Jesus Christ is a great person to follow, but it still felt wrong. I knew God was loving and accepting and kind, not judgmental. I found that pagan beliefs fit me better.''

The Rev. Lynn Jay, pastor of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and spokeswoman for the Interfaith Council, said there was some controversy when the pagan group initially wanted to join, but it was quickly overcome.

The Interfaith Council, which includes 15 congregations, including those of Lutheran, Jewish, Mormon, Methodist, Episcopal, Universalist, Religious Science and Islamic faiths, exists to provide a common ground for discussion and a unified voice to respond.

``We attempt to talk above or beyond partisan or specific religious view and come together on issues of importance to all of us,'' Jay said.

She said members of the Pagan Network are enthusiastic and volunteer at events. The group responds to hate crimes and holds food drives, disaster relief and community celebrations.

``Their faith seems to provide a return to basics without a hierarchical structure, which is frustrating to those of us in traditional religion,'' Jay said. ``Nonetheless, they participate wholeheartedly in our group and it's very interesting to hear them discuss their beliefs.''

A woman named Michele, who lives in the Antelope Valley and asked that her last name not be used for fear of reprisal, said that she participates in a coven that isn't much different from a group of women meeting over coffee to discuss their children, jobs, husbands and life in general.

``We talk about everything that every woman or mother is concerned about,'' she said. ``When it comes to a purpose, we are able to focus all our thoughts or intents toward that, where solitaries don't have that additional power to support them in their magic.''

Pagans celebrate fire festivals and holidays much like other religions. White said there are eight major celebrations that follow the astrological calendar, beginning with Yule, held Dec. 21, the longest night of the year when the rebirth of the sun is celebrated; Imbolc, which honors a Celtic goddess, is held in February; Ostara (from where the word ``Easter'' derives) celebrates a Germanic goddess and the spring equinox; Beltane is the layman's Mayday, when crops are planted and the end of winter is celebrated; Litha is observed June 21, the longest day in the year; and Lughnasa commemorates the first harvest with a grain festival where athletic competitions often are held. Mahbon is held the first weekend of October and is a pagan Thanksgiving of sorts. The year concludes with Sohlen, a derivation of the Christian All Saints Day, when ancestors are honored.

``We spend a lot of time studying the Avalonian belief system, focusing on the gods and goddesses that existed during King Arthur's time,'' Michele said. ``It's a deeper search into self-knowledge. We bring about the same kind of things that the Crusaders had: loyalty, wisdom, chivalry, honesty. Every issue they believed in, we stand for.''

Covens, networks and solitaries do work together on some things -- raising money to help victims of domestic violence, abused children and various other women's issues, as well as campaigns to fight HIV/AIDS.

``We help those in need,'' Michele said. ``That's our whole purpose of being here.''

Pagans also work to balance inequities in the social system, such as establishing the youth group Spiral Scouts to provide a positive scouting experience for children not welcome in traditional groups because of their beliefs. They also are active in campaigns to allow the pentacle to be displayed on veterans' grave markers as one of the government-sanctioned religious symbols.

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Nancy White has endured discrimination from those who don't understand her beliefs as a member of the Santa Clarita Valley Pagan Network.

(2) Nancy White, a member of the Santa Clarita Valley Pagan Network, lights candles at her altar.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

Box:

PAGAN HOLIDAYS