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A group participates in the opening ritual adoration of Rah during the second annual Pagan Pride Day, "A Bridge to Understanding," at Monroe Park in Ogden. Alexius Gallegos closes his eyes as he makes a sign during the opening ritual. The local pagan groups got together and enjoyed workshops, craft vendors, candle?making, pagan roundtable discussion, pagan parenting and a butterfly release. The aim of the Pagan Pride Project is to see the advancement of religion and elimination of prejudice and discrimination based on religious beliefs. Admission to the event was an item of nonperishable food for the food drive.

Local groups gather to celebrate Pagan Pride Day

Standard-Examiner staff

OGDEN -- Local pagan groups invite the public to join them in their second annual Pagan Pride Day celebration, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Saturday, Aug. 15, in Monroe Park, 3000 S. Monroe Blvd. in Ogden.

The free event is designed to educate the public as well as bring different pagan groups together.

"We want people to understand us and to know us and to be our friend," said Heather Couturier, of Ogden, a coordinator for the event.

Event media supervisor Karen DePolito said the event offers a chance to bridge understanding between pagans and nonpagans and between members of different pagan sects with differing beliefs.

"The more we know about each other, the better off we are -- the less likely we are to have conflict," DePolito said.

Courturier said organizers are hoping for a bigger crowd this year. "We were just amazed at last year's turnout," she said.

Last year 175 people registered as attendees. Organizers said they know more people attended than that but did not register.

Organizers also hope the activity spurs community service. Those who attend are asked to bring nonperishable food or other items to be donated to Your Community Connection in Ogden.

"We want to let people know that we are normal, everyday people," said Couturier. "We have jobs. We are stuck in this economic crisis like everyone else. We don't want to hurt anyone. We don't want to force things on anyone. We want to reach out to the community and we don't want to have to hide."

Courturier said pagans often are misunderstood and misrepresented in movies and other media. She believes the event will give area pagans the chance to communicate what they really believe.

"We are going to be recognizing how we appreciate being able to come out and do these things in public," she said. "In Africa, if they think you are a witch, they will kill you."

Even in Utah, she said, she gets asked if she believes in sacrificing animals and even children. These ideas couldn't be further from the truth, she said.

The event will feature informational displays and vendors who will sell food items as well as items associated with pagan faiths.

The festivities begin with an opening ritual at 11 a.m. It will be a tribute to Ra, an Egyptian god.

"We decided as an opening ceremony, it would be great because Ra is a god of the sun and we get our life from the sun," Courturier said.

Those wanting to learn more about paganism will benefit from a workshop titled "The Ancient Art" at 11:30 a.m.

Couturier said paganism includes many sects that have many varied beliefs.

"As far as spirituality goes, we understand that everyone relates to the Divine in their own unique way," Courturier said. "We honor that and respect that."

At 12:30 p.m. is a roundtable discussion.

"What we want to do is have an open forum so people can ask us direct questions and we'll give them an honest answer. I still meet people who believe that we're movie witches," she said.

"Even my own mother was really concerned when she found out I was pagan. As she learned more about it, she is okay with it."

The main ritual, titled "A Bridge to Understanding," is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

"We want people to learn from us, not from Hollywood," Courturier said. "I've read this ritual and it is wonderful."

At 3:30 p.m. will be workshops about herbalism, public ritual and pagan parenting.

At 5 p.m. is a Diviner's Rights institute for alternative therapy and alchemy. For more information on this subject, visit http://www.divinersrights.com.

A closing ritual will be held at 6:30 p.m.

"We have kids running this," Courturier said. "It's going to be lots of fun."

For more information, visit http://www.ogdenpaganpride.org.

Directions for travel to the park are posted on the Web site.