Witches for Kerry

First it was America's strip clubs, then Fidel Castro, a Sandinista thug, and now yet another group is apparently joining John Kerry's ... uh, un-illustrious string of supporters: pagans. Self-professed witch Traci Laird spoke to U.S. News and World Report before the GOP convention about her and her fellow witches' protest plans. "Because of the high energy from both sides, it is a potent place for magic. There will be a private ritual ... which will, hopefully, tap the energy of the convention for a spell to remove Bush from D.C.," said Laird. The group's Web site describes itself this way:

The Pagan Cluster is a loose affiliation of individuals and affinity groups who bring an earth-based spirituality to actions for global justice and peace. In our actions we incorporate art, music, drums, ritual, myth, humor and magic: the art of changing consciousness at will. We make most of our strategic decisions by divination, read Tarot cards obsessively and go into trance frequently. Nevertheless, we practice direct democracy and organize in an anti-authoritarian manner. As a cluster, we are committed to nonviolence, but we participate in actions with those who practice a diversity of tactics. Many of us have our spiritual roots in the Reclaiming tradition of feminist Witchcraft www.reclaiming.org , but we welcome participation from Pagans of any tradition, or for that matter, from anyone willing to put up with Pagans.

Also posted on the site was a schedule of training sessions, one of which was to be held in a church called St. Mark's - child care provided, of course. Instructions for what to bring to the protest included "appropriate colors, capes ... a sun hat" and sunscreen. Oddly, no one was asked to bring a broom.