Thanks to Vandreyer for sending this one my way -- apparently an Atlanta bus driver has been suspended from his job for making passengers pray before he let them exit the bus. MARTA bus driver Leroy Matthews, who has been with the agency for six years, stopped the bus and asked passengers to join hands and pray with him. He's been suspended for five days, and MARTA officials told him not to proselytize to passengers anymore.

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A reader writes in with a good question. He asks, "Can you tell me if it is necessary to draw a circle everytime one uses a wand to cast a spell? I'm a little confused."

Much like many other questions in modern Paganism, this is one where the answer really depends on who you ask. For me personally, I always cast a circle prior to formal rituals, but often do spellwork on the fly without the use of a circle -- and this is partly because I keep my entire home designated as sacred space, so I don't feel the need to cast a brand new circle each time I do a spell. Obviously, your mileage may vary on this. Certainly, in some traditions, the circle is required each and every time. Others don't bother with it at all.

It's important to remember that traditionally, the use of a circle is to delineate sacred space. If that's not something you require before spellwork, then it's not necessary to cast a circle. If, on the other hand, you think you might need to keep some icky stuff away from you during your working, then a circle is definitely a good idea. If you're not sure how to cast a circle, here's one method: Casting a Circle. Although this ritual is written for a group, it can easily be adapted for solitaries.

Readers, I'm curious -- does everyone cast a circle every time? Do you ever do magical workings where a circle isn't required at all?

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Although the winter holidays won't arrive for a few more weeks, I think it's a good time to post a quick cautionary reminder. Many of us in the Pagan and Wiccan communities try to do good things for other people, but sadly, there can be folks out there who will take advantage of that goodwill. If you're approached by someone who claims to be from a charitable organization, please be sure to do your homework before handing over any money. Remember that groups which are incorporated as a 5013C have to follow certain rules and regulations, so if something seems a bit "off" to you about a particular group or individual, ask questions.

While someone may bill their group as a Pagan "assistance organization" or whatever, that doesn't automatically make them on the up-and-up. Do some research prior to making any committments, and you can save yourself a lot of heartache -- and financial setbacks -- in the long run.

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I've been asked to share this message from the good folks at Circle Sanctuary, so I'm going to repost it in its entirety. Although I'll be addressing the Fort Hood tragedy in another blog post, I feel that this information is worth its own entry:

Circle Sanctuary Provides Counseling help for Pagans Stressed by the Fort Hood Tragedy

A team of Pagan spiritual counselors has been formed by Circle Sanctuary to provide free telephone counseling support this month for Pagans, Wiccans, Druids, Heathens, Pantheists, and other Nature religion practitioners distressed by the shootings at Fort Hood in Texas this past Thursday.

Fort Hood is the largest US military installation in the nation. On Thursday afternoon, November 5, an Army psychiatrist stationed at Fort Hood went on a shooting rampage, killing 13 and wounding 30 at the base. This tragedy has shaken and stressed those at Fort Hood and in neighboring areas as well as across the country and at US military installations around the world.

More than 150 Pagans of many paths live in and around Fort Hood. Many are part of the Fort Hood Open Circle, which is sponsored by the Sacred Well Congregation. Some are connected with other groups, and some are solitary practitioners.

Circle Sanctuary formed this Pagan counseling support team as part of its services to Wiccans, Druids, Heathens, and other Pagans in the US Military. This special response team consists of sixteen Pagan leaders from across the nation who are among those doing various forms of Pagan ministry through Circle Sanctuary. The team is collaborating with other Pagan leaders in the Fort Hood area in providing help. Circle Sanctuary is offering free Pagan oriented counseling by telephone to supplement grief counseling resources at Fort Hood.

Circle Sanctuary's Fort Hood Tragedy response counseling services are for Pagans in and around Fort Hood as well as for Pagans at other US military installations and elsewhere who have been adversely impacted by the Fort Hood shootings. The counseling work being offered is specific to distress resulting from the Fort Hood shootings and will be offered throughout the month on November.

NEED HELP? CONTACT: counselingsupport@circlesanctuary.org

Please include your name, email address, phone number(s) and best days & times to call, and a brief description of how the Fort Hood shootings have stressed you. Information you share will be kept confidential by those assisting you.

TELL OTHERS: please post this notice to blogs, websites, e-lists, elsewhere to help get the word out to those in need of this support.

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