Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.

The Daily Egyptian

Menu
Tara Nelsen, leader of Southern Illinois Pagan Alliance (SIPA) makes preparations before starting a smudging ritual on Wednesday April 14, 2021, inside the Labyrinth near Gaia House Interfaith Center, in Carbondale Ill. “We have been doing this since 1998 and I will continue doing it,” Nelsen said.

Southern Illinois Pagan Alliance welcomes all

By Jamilah Lewis, Staff Reporter
April 30, 2021
Auto technician and volunteer fire fighter George Cook, of Evansville, throws kindle onto the Spirit Fire on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, during the Southern Illinois Pagan Alliances Samhain celebration at Crab Orchard Campground. Cook has been a member of the alliance for eight years and identifies as an eclectic Pagan. I love that Paganism is an earth-based religion that brings all sorts of people together, Cook said. Its just like when Christians came over here, Native Americans were classified as Pagans because they didnt believe in the Christian God, but they worshipped Mother Earth and Father Sky. They took care of their land and the land provided for them. Thats the path I follow. During the ceremony, participants used the Spirit Fire to banish internal aspects of their life they wished to let go of, Cook said. (Morgan Timms | @Morgan_Timms)

Witches aren’t wicked, practitioners weigh in on the peaceful roots of paganism

By Elizabeth Biernacki, Staff Reporter
November 6, 2019
Rae Gogan-Thomas from West Frankfort twirls her ribbon around during the annual SIPA Beltane Ritual at Giant City State Park April 28, 2019. The kids had their own Maypole to celebrate the season of growth.

Southern Illinois Pagan Alliance celebrates annual spring ritual

By Elizabeth Biernacki, Staff Reporter
April 29, 2019
Emmalie Hall-Skank, a junior from Streamwood studying interior design, lights a candle at the ancestral altar Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, during the Southern Illinois Pagan Alliances Samhain celebration at Crab Orchard Campground. (Morgan Timms | @Morgan_Timms)

Southern Illinois Pagan Alliance to hold first public ritual of 2018

By Amelia Blakely , Campus Editor
February 1, 2018
Georgia De-La-Garza, of Cherokee, raises her hands into the sky Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, just after the solar eclipse at Dancing Willow Farm in Makanda. “To me it means transformation,” De-La-Garza said. “Both of my children moved out so I am transforming into a single person again.” De-La-Garza said she has been mentally preparing for the eclipse for over a year. “I think everyone had their own personal experience and I will continue to seek myself inward,” De-La-Garza added. “I hope everyone takes these moments that are given to us, hold them close and do a sort of reflection.” (Athena Chrysanthou | @Chrysant1Athena)

Gallery: Southern Illinois Pagans celebrate eclipse

By Athena Chrysanthou
August 22, 2017
Max Stewart, 6, of Crystal Lake, stares into the sun with a mask over his glasses Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, before the solar eclipse at Dancing Willow Farm in Makanda. (Athena Chrysanthou | @Chrysant1Athena)

‘I do not have words’: Southern Illinois pagans experience eclipse

By Francois Gatimu
August 21, 2017
Emmalie Hall-Skank, a senior from Streamwood studying interior design, gazes up from inside a bamboo forest Sunday, March 5, 2017, during an afternoon hike with members of the Southern Illinois Pagan Alliance at the Marberry Arboretum off Pleasant Hill Road in Carbondale. The group hike was organized by Tara Nelson, founder of SIPA and a 2002 SIU graduate. Because [Paganism] is a nature-based spiritual practice, for us, this is church, said Nelsen. Being able to watch this change of the seasons and recognize that this so much a part of human existence, like seriously, this is church. For us, being out in nature is more sacred than any building ever could be. Although this was SIPAs first group hike of 2017, Nelson said she plans to facilitate more group activities in the coming months.

Photo of the Day: ‘For us this is church’

By Morgan Timms
March 5, 2017
Auto technician and volunteer fire fighter George Cook, of Evansville, throws kindle onto the Spirit Fire on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, during the Southern Illinois Pagan Alliances Samhain celebration at Crab Orchard Campground. Cook has been a member of the alliance for eight years and identifies as an eclectic Pagan. I love that Paganism is an earth-based religion that brings all sorts of people together, Cook said. Its just like when Christians came over here, Native Americans were classified as Pagans because they didnt believe in the Christian God, but they worshipped Mother Earth and Father Sky. They took care of their land and the land provided for them. Thats the path I follow. During the ceremony, participants used the Spirit Fire to banish internal aspects of their life they wished to let go of, Cook said. (Morgan Timms | @Morgan_Timms)

Pagans of southern Illinois celebrate the new year, remember lost loved ones

By Marnie Leonard
October 30, 2016
Load More Stories
Activate Search
Serving the Southern Illinois University community since 1916.