I posted an article on the Neo-Pagan Religious Festival called Transformus on WNC Citizens Blog yesterday, including a photo of last year's temple burn, and videos a participant posted to you tube.
The festival is based on the Burning Man that takes place every year in the Nevada desert.
Asheville is really living up to their new motto (Any Way You Like It) designed to bring in the tourists, and this Neo-Pagan Festival seems to fit the bill.
I wonder how many of the Pagans who cast spells to protest their Magnolia in front of City Hall went to this festival? They are currently camped out on Stewart Coleman's property in front of Asheville's City Hall.
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8 comments :
"I wonder how many of the Pagans who cast spells to protest their Magnolia in front of City Hall went to this festival? "
0-2, tops. They are not much really the same crowd. 'Burners' can be any or no religious/spiritual affilition.
Transformus is not a Neo-Pagan event, nor is Burning Man. Spirituality is involved, but it's more about art, expression, decommodification, self-reliance, and community. It's about coming together with like-minded people to celebrate life and the above-mentioned. Burners are the most nonjudgmental people you could ever hope to meet, and also the most inspiring. They exist throughout the world and you'd be surprised how many Transformus attendees are neighbors of yours.
I have followed several online comments from the Magnolia crowd who were torn between burning this year and staying to protect the tree.
They were also bummed out that they couldn't take their children this year. They could take their children to the tree, though.
But, you have to admit...the activity is a religious event, and that a true Christian can not participate in them unless they are deceived.
Anon #2:
Burning Man AND Transformus are spiritual events and are, in my opinion, evil.
Here are some sources to read:
Wikipedia
Burning Man
Transformus
Transformus Wikipedia Article
Satan's birthday Party
Worthy News
Weird America (video showing the deviant behavior at Burning Man, and the anti-Capitalist Agenda of the group)
I have over a hundred links like these, but you should get the idea.
I think what is most revealing is the objections your membership raises to being profiled and identified. Such intolerance of anything other than approval.
The 3-4 Wiccans who organized the ritual around the tree are not Burners. Heck, they are not particularly representative of the rest of the "Neo-Pagans" in the area, for that matter.
No one is saying the Burns are not spiritual. On many levels, they are for many people. It is a personal thing. No one religion (or religion at all) is promoted by these events. Spirituality is non-denominationl.
Burning Man, Transformus, and all regional burns are spiritual, yes, but not neo-pagan or any other religion. Why does that make them evil?
One of the reasons people go to burns is because there's no judgment. Everyone is open-minded. So of course there will be objections to being profiled and identified, especially when it's out of ignorance. It goes against the burner ethic. The word "burner" encompasses all types of people and every label imaginable.
I am a Burning Man veteran and I attended Transformus this year, so I don't need to visit the websites or watch any videos, I'm fully aware of what goes on. What's it matter to you? No one's hurting anyone, people are there and participating because they want to be, and if someone is not comfortable with anything, anything at all, they simply say "no" and everyone respects that person's decision. Many people who go to burns do not participate in what you deem "devious" behavior, it's simply a matter of personal choice. What goes on does not affect you or hurt you in any way, these are private events. Stop wasting time and energy worrying about and discussing something you have no control over, something you'll never understand because you're too close-minded to see what these events are really all about, and all the good that comes out of them.
If "Transformus" and "Burning Man" were really about radical self-reliance and inclusion, then you would accept these postings as just another voice.
I have found that those who claim to have the market cornered on tolerance are the most intolerant of criticism and notice. It is the most delicious form of irony there is.
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