Wiccans, Druids, Isians, Witches and all manner of Pagan practitioners from across the state will convene at Alabama's only Pagan National Pride Event Sunday, Sept. 14, in the Davis Arboretum.
The pagan community is hosting classes on mind awakening, divination and artisanal vendors free to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m..
"Some people are still in the broom closet because of negative connotations here in the Bible Belt, but we have a fairly large pagan community here in Auburn," said Rodney "The Wizzard" Hall. "This is for the community to get to know us and to get rid of a lot of the negative stereotypes and misconceptions."
Hall crafts magical wands and staffs in a workshop in Auburn and takes his name from a character from Terry Pratchett's comic fantasy book series "Discworld."
A raffle benefiting the East Alabama Food Bank will feature a wand carved by Hall from Applewood as the main prize.
Contestants need only bring a non-perishable food item, like canned goods, to enter in the raffle.
One of the biggest misconceptions about paganism is that people believe it's a form of Satanism, Hall said.
While Satanism is an offshoot of Christianity, if only in reverse, paganism embraces mystical, astrological and supernatural elements through multiple deities.
"Paganism means deities other than the "Big G" god," Hall said.
This is Auburn's third annual Pagan National Pride event, but the community has grown tremendously since then and Sunday should be the largest turnout yet, Hall said.
"This is the place to find out that you are not alone," Hall said. "Not only do we have a very open and welcoming pagan community but this is a great place to make friends and get new information. You're not alone and pagan pride day is a place to prove that."
For further information visit the event's website.
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