Celebrating Pagan Spirituality at the 15th annual Kansas City Pagan Pride Day

MERRIAM, Kan. - Aug. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- The 15th annual Kansas City Pagan Pride Day 2013 will be held on September 15, 2013 at the Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Dr, Merriam, KS from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. This event is free and people of all ages and spiritual backgrounds are welcome.  This event will include live music, a charity raffle, a food drive, a wildlife demonstration by Operation WildLife, children’s activities and play area, Heathen and Wiccan rituals, information booths, vendors and other activities celebrating the Autumn Equinox, a time of thanksgiving in many Pagan traditions.  

The International Pagan Pride Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of prejudice and religious discrimination through education, activism, charity and community. Pagan Pride celebrations are held annually around the world within two weeks of the Autumn Equinox.  The Pagan Pride Day Project is pleased to announce that in 2013 we have over 100 events anticipated during the Harvest festivals between August and November across the globe with events in the USA, Canada, Europe, and across Latin America.

For decades Pagans have been misunderstood, and even feared.  In reality most Pagans enjoy a religion emphasizing respect for nature, humanity, and oneself.  Modern Paganism, or Neo-Paganism, is a growing religious movement based on combinations of ancient polytheism, modern eco-spirituality, and reverence for the Divine as both masculine and feminine.

This year’s events will include live music from Summer Osborne and Celtic Moon, and belly dancing by Imani and friends.  A children’s area called the Dragon’s Nest will provide activities all day based on various aspects of Paganism that will be introduced in fun ways to promote diversity and acceptance.  Over a dozen vendor booths will be on-hand to display and offer for sale various Pagan crafts.

A Heathen Faining and Wiccan Mabon ritual will be celebrated during the day.  A Faining (Old English for “celebrate”) is a Heathen religious ritual to “celebrate” and honour Heathen entities such as our God/desses, Ancestors, the spirits of place and home (called Vaettir).  A Wiccan Autumnal Equinox ritual will also be performed honoring the Mabon, the little known god of the season.

KC Pagan Pride Day hosts a fund raising activity each year as part of the day’s activities that has raised thousands of dollars for various worthy local non-profit organizations.   Proceeds from this year's charity auction will be given to Operation WildLife (OWL) and Harvesters.   OWL provides rehabilitation services for injured and orphaned wild animals, and wildlife education for the citizens of northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri.   Operation WildLife Environmental Teaching Service (O.W.L.E.T.S.) will be hosting  a special wildlife show during the event.    Another important component of the event is a food drive that enables us to demonstrate compassion to our communities where it is needed.  All food collected this year will be donated to Harvesters to assist them in their mission to feed hungry people in our community today and work to end hunger tomorrow.

This event is sponsored by Kansas City Pagan Pride Day, Inc. and contributions from local businesses and friends to include Aquarius Books, Líithi Lushede Coven, Fat Maxx’s Vortex, Lunae Institute of Metaphysical and Religious Studies, Gaea Goddess Gathering Festival, and Bill Baker aka Turó Silver Falcon.

For more information about the event or about Pagan religions, contact Sam Shryock at info@kcpaganpride.com or visit http://www.kcpaganpride.com