The Scottish parliament will be hearing an address from pagans on Tuesday for the first time in its nation's history.
Referring to it as a "historic" day for witches, shamans, and druids, Reverend Linda Haggerstone will deliver a four-minute address to members of parliament, according to the Daily Mail. This comes as paganism makes a push towards more mainstream recognition.
Haggerstone, 65, who in the past had stated that her life had been shaped by her grandmother "putting out saucers of milk for the fairies," is a data analyst for the Scottish government. In 2021, she led the pagan prayer at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. Before that, she traveled the world and trained to become a Buddhist nun, per the outlet.
The Scottish Pagan Federation (SPF) wants to see paganism taught in schools, as well as other belief systems.
Steffy Von Scott, presiding officer of the SPF, told the outlet: "Fifty years ago you could still lose your job or livelihood, have your children taken away by social services or have a brick thrown through your window, just for being pagan."
Referring to it as a "historic" day for witches, shamans, and druids, Reverend Linda Haggerstone will deliver a four-minute address to members of parliament, according to the Daily Mail. This comes as paganism makes a push towards more mainstream recognition.
Haggerstone, 65, who in the past had stated that her life had been shaped by her grandmother "putting out saucers of milk for the fairies," is a data analyst for the Scottish government. In 2021, she led the pagan prayer at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. Before that, she traveled the world and trained to become a Buddhist nun, per the outlet.
The Scottish Pagan Federation (SPF) wants to see paganism taught in schools, as well as other belief systems.
Steffy Von Scott, presiding officer of the SPF, told the outlet: "Fifty years ago you could still lose your job or livelihood, have your children taken away by social services or have a brick thrown through your window, just for being pagan."
"Today we have more approved celebrants than ever and more legal pagan weddings taking place in Scotland than those carried out by the Mormon or Jewish faith communities," said Von Scott.
Haggerstone's plan to deliver Time for Reflection in the chamber is considered to be a major step toward the group's recognition.
