Hey all, just maneged to log onto blogstream on my phoneso this is just a post to test if it works or not.... Hope every one is doing well and having a great day. Love, Orian

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vglkYiqktUg

In September 2007 South African Pagans elected five self-defined Witches to act as representatives, under the auspices of the South African Pagan Council (SAPC) chaired by Luke Martin, in order to fulfill what has become known as the 'Melville Mandate'.



Said representatives have secured the legal services of Lawyers for Human Rights in order to have the Witchcraft Suppression Act of 1957 revoked. We are fairly confident given the protections afforded to religious minorities in our country's constitution that we will succeed in having said act revoked in due course.



The 'Melville Mandate' also seeks to reclaim the terms 'Witch' and 'Witchcraft' within a modern Pagan context and representatives have been tasked with fulfilling the goal of reclamation through various educational and other processes, including the possible establishment of a formal Commission of Enquiry to investigate ongoing violence against innocent

persons accused of practicing malefic witchcraft.



The Witchcraft Suppression Act of 1957



The Witchcraft Suppression Act (Act 3 of 1957 as amended by Act 50 of 1970) determines that any person who professes to use any supernatural power, or witchcraft, or professes knowledge of witchcraft or the use of charms, or for gain exercises any supernatural power or witchcraft shall be guilty of a criminal offence.



South African Pagans who self-define as Witches argue that Act 3 prohibits South African citizens from practicing their religion. These citizens of the Republic of South Africa have been and are being denied their constitutional rights to religious freedom, expression, equality, liberty, dignity, security and their right to choose and practice their occupation within South Africa.



The 'Melville Mandate' seeks to initiate urgent legislative reform to the Witchcraft Suppression Act in order to prevent any further or future unfair discrimination and prejudice against citizens of a free and democratic country founded on the recognition of human dignity, equality for all - irrespective of religion or belief, and the advancement of human rights and freedoms for all South African citizens equally.



Reclamation of the terms 'Witch' and 'Witchcraft'



Historically the words 'Witch' and 'Witchcraft' have been used in South Africa to describe evil or criminal practices associated with ritual killings, human mutilations and misfortune in general. The 1995 Report of the Ralushai Commission of Inquiry into Witchcraft Violence and Ritual Murder in the Northern Province, defined the term 'witch' to mean a person who,



"…through sheer malice, either consciously or subconsciously, employs magical means to inflict all manner of evil on their fellow human beings. They destroy property, bring disease or misfortune and cause death, often entirely without provocation to satisfy their inherent craving for evil doing."



Testifying before a Truth and Reconciliation Commission Amnesty Hearing in July 1999 Professor Ralushai confirmed his Commission’s definition of 'a witch' when he was asked by attorney Patrick Ndou to define what a Witch was. Ralushai stated,



"A witch is supposed to be a person who is endowed with powers of causing illness or ill luck or death to the person that he wants to destroy."



The recently proposed Mpumalanga Witchcraft Suppression Bill attempted to define Witchcraft as:



"…the secret use of muti, zombies, spells, spirits, magic powders, water, mixtures, etc, by any person with the purpose of causing harm, damage, sickness to others or their property."



These definitions of 'witchcraft' stereotype witchcraft as harmful by portraying Witches as a danger to the communities within which they live and work. These harmful stereotypical definitions merely serve to justify irrational public fear of witchcraft as a harmful practice that is associated with criminal activity.



Maintaining and reinforcing a definition of 'witchcraft' predisposed to eliciting violence against alleged or accused witches does not promote religious tolerance, but serves to incite further malice and violence against suspected witches, and fosters further discrimination against Witchcraft.



The characterization of a person or group of persons (witches) as 'evil' and so deserving of criminal classification by default makes a mockery of the values of human dignity, equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms on which the Republic of South Africa is founded.



South African Witches regard harmful stereotypical definitions of Witchcraft as injurious to the dignity of self-defined Witches and the use of the terms 'witch' and 'witchcraft' to describe criminal activities as harmful discrimination against self-defined Witches. The use of the English term 'witchcraft' with which to describe harmful magical practices brings into disrepute anyone who may self-identify as a Witch, irrespective of whether or not said self-defined Witch is a European Pagan or a practitioner of Traditional African magic.



The 'Melville Mandate' seeks to reclaim the terms 'Witch' and 'Witchcraft' within a modern Pagan religious context and determines that the right to define the words ‘Witch’ and ‘Witchcraft’ rests with self-defined Witches themselves and no one else.



The following definition is a good standard definition of Witchcraft as understood and as practiced by South African Witches.



“Witchcraft is an ancient religio-magical technique and modern Pagan spirituality that employs the use of divination, sympathetic magic and Pagan ritual practices.” - SAPRA



As self-defined Witches we stand as testimony to the existence of both Witches and Witchcraft, but we wish to reiterate that we are neither evil nor criminals. As Witches, as practitioners of Witchcraft, we claim the right to self-definition and self-determination of our own spirituality and its practices. As equal citizens of South Africa we claim our right to freedom of belief and religion.

By: Damon Leff

January
January, the first month of the current Gregorian calendar and the second month of Winter's rule, derives its name from the
ancient Roman god, Janus. The traditional birthstone amulet of January is the garnet; and the carnation and the snowdrop are the month's traditional flowers. January is shared by the astrological signs of Capricorn, the Goat and Aquarius the Water Bearer, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Antu, Felicitas, Inanna, Irene, Janus, Pax, and Venus.
More information on the Wiccan month of January

February
February, the second month of the current Gregorian calendar and the third month of Winter's rule, derives its name from Februa, the name of a Roman purification festival held on the fifteenth day of February in ancient times. The traditional birthstone amulet of February is the amethyst; and the primrose and the violet are the month's traditional flowers.
February is shared by the astrological signs of Aquarius the Water-Bearer and Pisces the Two Fishes, and is sacred to the following pagan deities: Aradia, Brigid, Juno Februa, and the Wiccan Goddess in Her aspect as the Maiden. During the month of February, the Great Solar Wheel of the year is turned to Candlemas, one of the four Great Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world.
More information on the Wiccan month of February

March
March, the third month of the current Gregorian calendar and the first month of Spring, derives its name from the ancient Roman war-god Mars, who also presided over the fertility of the land. The traditional birthstone of March are the aquamarine and the bloodstone; and the daffodil and the jonquil are the month's traditional flowers.
March is shared by the astrological signs of Pisces the Two Fishes and Aries the Ram, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Eostre, the Green Goddess, the Lord of the Greenwood, Mars, and Ostara. During the month of March, the Great Solar Wheel of the Year is turned to the Vernal Equinox, on of the four Lesser Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world.
More information on the Wiccan month of March

April
April, the fourth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the second month of Spring's rule, derives its name from Aprillis, the Latin name for the ancient Roman love goddess Aphrodite. Other reference sources give aperite, the Latin word meaning "to open," as the origination of the month's name.
The traditional birthstone amulet of April is the diamond, and the daisy and the sweet pea are the month's traditional flowers.
April is shared by the astrological signs of Aries the Ram and Taurus the Bull, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities:
Aphrodite, Artemis, Astarte, Erzulie, Terra, Venus, and Ying-Hua.
More information on the Wiccan month of April

May
May, the fifth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the third month of Spring's rule, derives its name from the Roman Springtime goddess Maia, whose divine powers encouraged the growth of crops.
The traditional birthstone amulets of May are the emerald and the agate; and the hawthorne and lily are the month's traditional flowers.
May is shared by the astrological signs of Taurus the Bull and Gemini the Twins, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Artemis, Diana, Faunus, Flora, Pan, and all gods and goddesses who preside over fertility.
During the month of May, the Great Solar Wheel of the Year is turned to Beltane, one of the four Grand Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world.
More information on the Wiccan month of May

June
June, the sixth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the first month of Summer, derives its name from the ancient Roman goddess Juno.
The traditional birthstone amulets of June are alexandrite, moonstone, and pearl; and the rose is the month's traditional flower.
June is shared by the astrological signs of Gemini the Twins and Cancer the Crab, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Juno, and all gods and goddesses who preside over love, passion, and beauty.
During the month of June, the Great Solar Wheel of the Year is turned to the Summer Solstice, one of the four Lesser Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world.
More information on the Wiccan month of June

July
July, the seventh month of the current Gregorian calendar and the second month of Summer's rule, derives its name from Julius (Julius Caesar).
The traditional birthstone amulet of July is the ruby; and the larkspur and the water lily are the month's traditional flowers.
July is shared by the astrological signs of Cancer the Crab and Leo the Lion, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Apt (or Apet), Athena, Sothis, Spider Woman, and Rosea.
More information on the Wiccan month of July

August
August, the eighth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the third month of Summer's rule, derives its name from Augustus (Augustus Caesar).
The traditional birthstone amulets of August are the peridot and the sardonyx; and the gladiolus and the poppy are the month's traditional flowers.
August is shared by the astrological signs of Leo the Lion and Virgo the Virgin, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Ceres, the Corn Mother, Demeter, John Barleycorn, Lugh, and all goddesses who preside over agriculture.
During the month of August, the Great Solar Wheel of the Year is turned to Lammas, one of the four Grand Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world.
More information on the Wiccan month of August

September
September, the ninth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the first month of Autumn, derives its name from septem, the Latin word meaning "seven", as September was the seventh month of the
old Roman calendar.
The traditional birthstone of amulet of September is the blue sapphire; and the aster and the morning glory are the month's traditional flowers.
September is shared by the astrological signs of Virgo the Virgin and Libra the Scales (or Balance), and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Persephone, Thor, and the Wiccan Goddess in
Her aspect of the Mother.
During the month of September, the Great Solar Wheel of the Year is turned to the Autumnal Equinox, one of the four Lesser Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world.
More information on the Wiccan month of September

October
October, the tenth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the second month of Autumn's rule, derives its name from octo, the Latin word meaning "eight," as October was the eighth month of the old Roman calendar.
The traditional birthstone amulets of October are opal, rose sapphire, and tourmaline; and the calendula is the month's traditional flower.
October is shared by the astrological signs of Libra the Scales (or Balance) and Scorpio the Scorpion, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Cernunnos, Hecate, the Morrigan, Osiris, and the Wiccan Goddess in Her dark aspect as the Crone.
During the month of October, the Great Solar Wheel of the Year is turned to Halloween (Samhain Eve), one of the four Grand Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world.
More information on the Wiccan month of October

November
November, the eleventh month of the current Gregorian calendar and the third month of Autumn's rule, derives its name from novem, the Latin word meaning "nine," as November was the ninth month of the old Roman Calendar.
The traditional birthstone amulet of November is the topaz; and the chrysanthemum is the month's traditional flower.
November is shared by the astrological signs of Scorpio the Scorpion and Sagittarius the Centaru-Archer, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Astarte, Calleach, Hathor, Kali, Maman, and Sekhmet.
More information on the Wiccan month of November

December
December, the twelfth and final month of the current Gregorian calendar and the first month Winter, derives its name from decem, the Latin word meaning "ten," as December was the tenth month of the old Roman calendar.
The traditional birthstone amulets of December are the blue zircon and turquoise; and holly, mistletoe, and poinsettia are the month's traditional flowers.
December is shared by the astrological signs of Sagittarius the Centaur-Archer and Capricorn the Goat, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Attis, Dionysus, Frey, Freya (or Freyja), Kriss Kringle (the Pagan god of Yule), Lucina, Woden, and the Wiccan Horned God (consort of the Wiccan Goddess).
During the month of December, the Great Solar Wheel of the Year is turned to the Winter Solstice, one of the four Lesser Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world.