Wiccans, pagans to meet for Samhain celebration

Beginning at 7 p.m. tonight, Willkie Auditorium will host a Samhain celebration. The event, coordinated by Willkie Community Instructor Kim Shrack, will educate students about Wicca and paganism during the religions’ most important holiday. \nPronounced “sow-in,” Shrack said that Samhain celebrated the time that the “veil” between this world and the next is the thinnest, making it easier to communicate with spirits and ghosts.\nAlthough she is not pagan, Shrack said that she feels that paganism and Wicca have bad reputations. \n“This is my attempt to clear it up,” she said.\nWicca is a religion recognized by the U.S. government, and is based on traditions originating from medieval Europe.\nAt the program, there will be food rituals led by local Wiccan priestess Beckie Wagner.\n“We will be serving a mini version of barmbrack, traditional bread served on Samhain,” Shrack said. “The bread contains charms that give you good fortune.” \nTraditional harvest foods, such as caramel apples and apple cider, will also be served, she said.\n“Apples are very important to paganism because when you cut them open, the seeds create the shape of the pentagram,” Shrack said. \nIn addition to ritual demonstrations, there will also be other practitioners of pagan religions who will discuss their experiences and rune readings, she said.\n“Rune reading is tossing stones that have inscriptions on them,” Shrack said. “The reader will then read the pattern to tell you something about your future.”\nPronounced “sow-in,” Shrack said that Samhain celebrated the time that the “veil” between this world and the next is the thinnest, making it easier to communicate with spirits and ghosts.\nAlthough she is not pagan, Shrack said that she feels that paganism and Wicca have bad reputations. \n“This is my attempt to clear it up,” she said.\nWicca is a religion recognized by the U.S. government, and is based on traditions originating from medieval Europe.\nAt the program, there will be food rituals led by local Wiccan priestess Beckie Wagner.\n“We will be serving a mini version of barmbrack, traditional bread served on Samhain,” Shrack said. “The bread contains charms that give you good fortune.” \nTraditional harvest foods, such as caramel apples and apple cider, will also be served, she said.\n“Apples are very important to paganism because when you cut them open, the seeds create the shape of the pentagram,” Shrack said. \nIn addition to ritual demonstrations, there will also be other practitioners of pagan religions who will discuss their experiences and rune readings, she said.\n“Rune reading is tossing stones that have inscriptions on them,” Shrack said. “The reader will then read the pattern to tell you something about your future.”