Moonrise Radio Show

A New Endeavor for me is the Moonrise With Shadow Mihaiu internet radio show. I want to tell you all about it, and hopefully you will tune in from time to time!

Moonrise With Shadow Mihaiu is conceived as a show which will reach out into the mainstream community, and will be a promotional vehicle for the Moonrise documentary, as well as all the guests on Moonrise, pagan and Wiccan authors, artists and more.

You can get updated information on Moonrise With Shadow Mihaiu at www.moonriseradio.com, although at this writing, there are no archives (as there has been only one show so far). Go to the website, check it out and register for free access to archived shows, news about the show, broadcast times and stations, polls, special offers and more.

Be warned: if you expect the Moonrise With Shadow Mihaiu radio show to be a "pagan" show, you may be disappointed. Moonrise With Shadow Mihaiu is aimed at a broader audience and uses language that we in the pagan community generally don't use: "occult" and the like. It is, however, a show with a difference - a broadly based show with a Wiccan host! It is fun, thought provoking and I want you to tune in!

Christopher Penczak

Wiccan writer Christopher Penczak blew through Los Angeles on April 15 and 16, promoting his new book Sons of the Goddess. I caught up with Chris at his West Hollywood hotel on April 16, and then followed him on to Willow's Crystal Cauldron in Pomona that evening, where he spoke to a group of about 40 people, signed books, and discussed his outlook as a Wiccan.

Chris Penczak is one of those rare writers who has a gift to synthesize widely various ideas, and to present them clearly and lucidly. The Moonrise documentary is very concerned about profiling the "elders" and "foudners" of paganism and Chris, at 33 years old, is clearly not one of the founders. However, ability to communicate has made him a very popular and influential writer. His book The Inner Temple of Witchcraft is really just about my favorite "Wicca 101" type book, with a different approach that gently introduces a student to the actual historical underpinnings of Wicca and paganism, as well as how to build real skills. One of the differnces about it (and about Chris's approach in general) is that it focuses on why things are, not simply that they are - and this, in my opnion, is a fundamental failing of many otherwise good tomes.

Chris is thoughtful and articulate, and his participation in Moonrise certainly adds to the meaning of the work.

Starhawk Interview!

On April 13, 2005, I had the deep pleasure of interviewing Starhawk as she was passing through L.A.

Author of The Spiral Dance and seven other books, Starhawk is noted as a feminist and activist, working hard to bring publicity to the fore on envirnomental issues and human rights issues. She truly puts her ethics and principles into practice, and is a shining example for the Wiccan and Pagan community - in fact the larger society as well - on how to stand up for what one believes in.

Check out Starhawk's activities at www.stargawk.org

One of the issues we discussed was the envronment for activism in the last few years. Starhawk is of the opinion that our society is becoming more repressive and authorities are permitting less and less open dissent.

I am in agreement with that sentiment. Government repression - including censorship, restricted liberties, surveillance, and similar oppressive measures - is something that I believe we all need to fight at every turn. I will discuss this more in the future, but for now, I leave it to you to think about.

However, mostly I interviewed Starhawk about what means the most to her in life, about her religion, her spirituality, and where she has come from, is, and going to. Be sure you see the Moonrise movie when it comes out!