"Going six feet under is just so passé, " writes Heather Whipps.  In a series of articles for LiveScience Magazine, she explores many of the new and surprising trends in choosing our "final resting place." 

Beyond the Grave: Death Gets More Interesting
http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/071203-offbeat-burials.html 

Boomers Seek 'Green' Death
http://www.livescience.com/environment/071130-green-deaths.html 

Top 10 Weird Ways We Deal with the Dead
http://www.livescience.com/history/top10-after-death-1.html

 For a related article on virtual bereavement, read Grief Goes Online by Joe Hart from the March/April 2006 issue of Utne Reader. 
(http://www.utne.com/2007-03-01/GriefGoesOnline.aspx)

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The British traditional celebration of “Boxing Day” dates back to the Middle Ages, and consisted of the practice of giving out gifts to employees, the poor, or to people in a lower social class. The Oxford English Dictionary attributes it to the Christmas box; the verb box meaning: "To give a Christmas-box (colloq.); whence boxing-day."  By the Victorian Era, it was a day for boxing up old clothes and toys and donating them to servants or the needy. While this holiday may seem a little silly and antiquated, the Victorian idea of “boxing” those things which you no longer need and giving them to those less fortunate is a good thing. I believe the spirit of Boxing Day needs to be retained (or re-introduced, as the case may be.)  This not only helps prevent overflow from unnecessary clutter, but it also helps those who have not been so fortunate.

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"On Solstice night, the winter comes
Stalking through the antlered trees,
Riding on the frozen wind.
With hoof and horn, this longest night
Brings round once more
The ancient, endless joust:
Light and Dark contest for power,

And Light, this night, shall triumph."

-by Deirdre Pulgram Arthen, "This Longest Night" 1993
Source: http://www.earthspirit.com/twnls.html
Recorded on: "This Winter's Night," Mothertongue, 1998

(earthspirit@earthspirit.com, EarthSpirit Community, P.O. Box 723-N, Williamsburg, MA 01096)

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The following is courtesy of our own Rt. Rev.  Brandon McCormack.  A little Pagan folklore and Hostory with a touch of humor…

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About a year ago, many of us began work toward forming a "Peace Cell" within the Church dedicated to social activism and outreach on a grass-roots level.  This is part of a Global network of similar Peace Cells called the Alliance for a New Humanity, spearheaded by Deepak Chopra.  For links to the Peace Cell website, please visit our "Links" Section. 

The following "Thank You Letter" is from Deepak.

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(Olean, N.Y.) AP – Police are investigating vandalism aimed at a symbol of the Wiccan religion set up next to a Nativity scene in front of Olean city hall.

Officials in the city 60 miles south of Buffalo say someone in a pickup truck backed over the Wiccan pentacle around 10:15 p.m. Monday, then sped off.

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Passing this along from the good folks at Circle Sanctuary and Gaia Works Inc.:

"As the holiday season begins to take it's tole, let's not forget our Pagan Troops who are serving in theaters in often dangerous places. Circle Santuary , Gaia Works, Inc., and others are collecting Penticals and other sacred symbol pendents, pocket peices and rings. , for our
troops in war zones.

"If you would like to make a donation to this cause you can send your contributions to Circle Santuary in WI or Gaia Works, Inc., 204 S. Audubon Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46219.

"Your donated items will be blessed and shipped on its way. Please have items to us by Dec 10th, to make sure we have plenty of time to get them where they are going in time for Yule..

Thank you for your consideration to this request."

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