Since Windfyre, or actually then the SPCSO, began our mission on June 5, 2002, we have had several versions of the Website come and go. It seems the styles and features have changed and grown based on whatever it was we were trying to do at the time, an element of funtionality, if you will. We are now introducing yet another look, which will hopefully follow us for quite some time. Introducing the Windfyre Website version 6.0, perhaps our most intensely crafted attempt yet. Beyond the cool new graphics and wonderful look/feel this version offers us, it should also be very functional and free from needless complications (like forms). In this article I will attempt to point out a few of the features you can check out here at the site.

Bearing in mind that though the page is now available, it is not fully completed. Over the next few days all the subpages will be re-written to match version 6.0, so please check those pages again to see their updated versions.

First, we have added this page, called Updates & News, with the intention of bringing updates on activities, events, festivals, and seminars; to provide a place for event reviews; to bring important announcements to the community; and to provide news of importance to Pagans. We have attempted a news page before, but were overwhelmed by the task of journalism. We will keep this page simple for now, and see what it grows into.

For those interested, the Shrine of the Blessed Union is no more. We will, however, be adding another shrine to the site once our friends at Artwells are finished with it. We have always treasured the Shrine, and hope that it will be a tradition that follows Windfyre for many years to come.

The actual homepage is static, in that it will not be updated. Instead, it will serve as an unchanging flag for the Windfyre Pagan Network for years to come.

Lastly, the Calendar is new. This should make it simple for guests to check out what it is we have going on. For Community Calendar events (ie events presented by other organizations), please use the calendar at the WindFyre Yahoo group, as the one here at the website is only for WPN activities.

We hope you enjoy the new face of Windfyre Pagan Network, and that we will be able to serve the community for many years to come. If you find any problems or have any concerns about the website, please email Aloki .

On November 1, 2003, the Common Grounds All Faiths Church presented the Witches' Ball in Council Bluffs, IA. Windfyre was there, and in fact, we had the pleasure of presenting the Samhain Ritual.

We began our work through Anabis, our Omaha Networking Agent and VP for Windfyre Incorporated, who had made connections with the group based on the fact we both were seeking a celebration on the same night. In order to avoid any possible competition, we agreed to work in association. This was to be our first celebration in Omaha, and we were glad to have the opportunity to work with "locals" in the process.

Around 50 Pagans came out through the cold, wet weather to join in our celebration of the Sabbat, and stayed to party on the dance floor to music presented by a Catholic DJ (he is very Pagan friendly, and perhaps a bit of a cross over himself). Overall, the night was a wonderful success, and everyone it seems really enjoyed themselves. It was nice to see a delegation from Sioux City show their support, and helped ease the tension of our working with a group of somewhat strangers.

Though the majority of our mission still focuses on the Siouxland area, this monumental step has allowed us to also focus some attention on the highly spread out Omaha community as well. It will be nice to see the communities coming together in the future for some awesome events and festivals (like Midsummer!). We currently have no further events planned in Omaha this year, but will soon try to begin our work there again.

All Hallows Eve as the a-typical situation is a joyous time of the year where pagan and non-pagan alike assume the identity of an ether being. Or where non-pagans try to emulate the old wise crone and do an amazingly terrible job. Here, at this moment there was a group of wiccans, gathering for their year end holiday, a plan was laid out weeks before as to what where and when things were to happen. Innocently enough these plans were followed through by the group, and through actions not of their own device, these plans were soon torn and strewn about. Some would blame Loki that these harmless actions somehow disrupted the whole flow at first, but it was soon discovered that the denizens of the local Universalist church had something to do with it.

I had arrived at the church, but a few minutes late, on my way from buying extra needed candles for our circle. Walking into the doors of the church we pay rent to, I noticed a slight change in plans immediately. The group was setting the circle upstairs in the main church, instead of the basement where it was assumed it would be. “The basement is being used for a kind of garage sale, and the tables are arranged to prevent anything else to be done.” After hearing this and taking it in stride I started to mould my plans to fit the current situation. And it started to work nicely until the real snag developed. There was an agreed area where the wiccan supplies were stored; Athame, pillars, candles, pentacle, chalice and other items. This area had been cleared out by the Universalist church and for the time being, appeared to be nowhere in sight. Now this became a problem, thank you Loki, I know now what you mean by “The best laid plans…”

Thinking fast, since one of the two hours we were trying to spend on the set up had already past, we (and I really mean We) pulled all our own supplies together, and many items from our own alters, and came to construct the alter, and complete the set up. Mind you, this was my first official circle for the group, and the priestess was more than flexible to help with the flow. And with palms sweating, I bowed my head and began to ground myself and all the while asking for the Woden in my being to take over… and remarkable things do happen when asked. As the casting continued, the priestess called forth the goddess, her charge sang out and swayed. Then, the room fell silent; to me it was an expectant silence. As one would get from hearing a convicted criminal speak in front of a group of reporters as to his motives. I started my invoking, reading verbatim the words on a page that shaked. The words became resonate, on paper, then in my voice. I had an intoned and calm voice, that after all, surprised me.

For the ritual drama, we decided to show the god and goddess, travelling to the underworld, taking with them our casted thoughts and banished them there. Returning, they brought with them the seeds of new hope, a divination from tarot. They dropped the Tarot into a cauldron at the center of the room and then began a dance around the table chanting “self, and selfless. Whole and apart. True and fearless, true to my art. I see near I see far, oh visions come to me.” Soon our hands reached out, pushing all the energy into the cauldron, then, one by one, each of us took our card out, a sign and sigil to guide us through to the next Samhain. My part was nearly fulfilled, and after the Great Rite, I new the only thing I have been looking for the past years was there, finally taking shape before me. I am truly blessed to be part of the group I found not more than five months ago, and I will never be ashamed to call myself Wiccan.

Rune~ In memory of my father, who passed away Sunday after, 11/2/03.