Wiccans, Wizards, and Druids to Have Conference in Hoopeston

This Weekend Hoopeston will be the center of the Magickal world. Wiccan, Pagans, Druids and Wizards from all over the United States and Canada are attending a conference hosted by Witch School. The conference is dedicated to Leadership in the 21st century, and will deal with such issues as discrimination, media relations, and sustainable communities. Also the effect of Harry Potter, Mad, Mad, House and other Pagan depictions by Hollywood will be among subjects. Some of the leaders of oldest faiths on the planet will meet to discuss future difficulties and problems.

(PRWEB) May 13, 2004 -- This Weekend Hoopeston will be the center of the Magickal world. Wiccan, Pagans, Druids and Wizards from all over the United States and Canada are attending a conference hosted by Witch School. The conference is dedicated to Leadership in the 21st century, and will deal with such issues as discrimination, media relations, and sustainable communities. Also the effect of Harry Potter, Mad, Mad, House and other Pagan depictions by Hollywood will be among subjects. Some of the leaders of oldest faiths on the planet will meet to discuss future difficulties and problems.

Some of the scheduled Speakers include Abby Willowroot, Oberon Zell, Isaac Bonewits, and Don Lewis (Bios follow). Also a one day college program on Saturday will be lead by Sherry Hubbard in which Pagans in college discuss their difficulties and needs. With over 200 people expected, it will be a lively and fascinating time.

The conference will also be attracting a global audience through a simultaneous Internet Chat Conference. This will have members of the community from South Africa, Europe, Australia,and South America joining the discussion in Hoopeston as well. Modern technology will help the world's oldest technology 'magic' be openly discussed world wide.

If Hoopeston rings a bell, it was the community last year that protested the coming of Witch School and later accepted the school to their community. It was a controversial issue in July with protests and petitions gaining international attention. Later in the year, many of the people in town helped Witch School to reconsider and the school opened last September and this will be the first major event since Halloween/Samhain.

For More Information you can call 217-283-4360

or Check out http://www.witchschool.com/campus/plc2004.asp

Or attend at Hoopeston Books, 112 w. Main Street, Hoopeston, Il 60942

Oberon Zell-Ravenheart (1942- ) is an Elder in the worldwide Magickal Community. In 1962, he co-founded the Church of All Worlds, a Pagan church with a futuristic vision. Through his publication of Green Egg magazine, Oberon was instrumental in the founding of the modern Pagan movement, which he so named. In 1970, he had a profound Vision of the Living Earth which he published as an early version of The Gaia Thesis." Oberon is an initiate in several magickal Traditions, and has been involved in many interfaith projects. He is a thealogian and ritualist, creating and conducting rites of passage, seasonal celebrations, Mystery initiations, Earth-healings, and other large rituals. Oberon has traveled throughout the world, celebrated Solar eclipses at ancient stone circles, raised Unicorns, and swam with Mermaids. He also sculpts altar statues of gods and goddesses. Living in NorCalifia, Oberon is lifemate to Morning Glory, and senior member of the Ravenheart Family.

Abby Willowroot (1945-) is an Archetypist, Metalsmith, Goddess Artist, Writer, Priestess and Mother; and has been a practicing Pagan since the mid-1960s. Founder of the Goddess 2000 Project, Spiral Goddess Grove, and Willowroot Real Magic Wands, she is dedicated to putting Goddess and Magickal imagery and consciousness into contemporary culture. Since 1965 Abby has been a professional Pagan and Goddess folk artist. Self-taught, she learned to follow her own Muse at an early age. Abby lives and works in Northern California. Her art and writing have appeared in books, museum shows, WomanSpirit, SageWoman and Llewellyn publications. Nine pieces of Ms. Willowroots jewelry are in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution.

Rev. Donald Lewis-Highcorrell is First Priest and Paramount High Priest of the Correllian Tradition, and at Mabon of Year 0 Aquarius was acclaimed Chancellor of the Tradition as well. Don is also a Danville Native.

Don has edited several magazines over the years, including The Round Table magazine (Est. '94) and the Wheel Of Hekate magazine ('87 - '89) and was art editor of Psychic Chicago Magazine ('90-92).

Don is well known both as an artist and as an author. Dons writing or artwork has appeared in numerous Pagan 'zines, including Circle Network News, Green Egg, Panegyria, Harvest, Covenant of the Goddess Newsletter, Gerina Dunwich's Golden Isis Magazine, and Silver RavenWolf's PWPA Newsletter. Don also illustrated the popular pamphlet "The Other People" available from Pathfinder Press.

Bonewits, P. E. I. (Isaac) (1949--?) One of the brightest and most colorful figures of the Neopagan movement, Philip Emmons Isaac Bonewits is best known for his leadership in modern Druidism. He is a priest, magician, scholar, author, bard and activist, and has dedicated himself to reviving Druidism as a Third Wave" religion aimed at protecting Mother Nature and all Her children.

Bonewits had intended to major in psychology but through Berkeleys individual group-study program fashioned his own course of study. In 1970 he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in magic [and thaumaturgy, the first person ever to do so at a Westem educational institution. He also was the last to do so in the United States[?. College administrators were so embarrassed over the publicity about the degree that magic, witchcraft and sorcery were banned from the individual group-study program.

The fame of his degree led to a book contract. In 1971 Real Magic was published, offering Bonewits views on magic, ritual and psychic abilities. Isaac is also founding ArchDruid of Ár nDraíocht Féin.