Neopaganism in Minnesota

Minnesota's Twin Cities region is home to a large community of Wiccans, Witches, Druids, Heathens, and a number of Pagan organizations. Some neopagans in the USA refer to the area as Paganistan, a term coined by linguist, poet, and humorist Steven Posch in 1989, which he then used in the title of his spoken word album Radio Paganistan : Folktales of the Urban Witches.

History

In 1961, Llewellyn Worldwide, an independent publisher of books for the New Age, Pagan, and Occult audience was moved to Saint Paul by the new owner Carl L. Weschcke. At the time they were simply an astrological publisher.

In 1963 Carleton College in nearby Northfield, Minnesota, established a rule that all students had to attend religious services of some kind. The RDNA (Reformed Druids of North America) formed in response and they continued to meet even after the Rule was rescinded.

In 1971, Llewellyn hosted the "First American Aquarian Festival of Astrology and the Occult Sciences" which went on to be known as Gnosticon. Llewellyn's publications and Gnosticon drew more attention to Witchcraft, contemporary Paganism, and their connection to the Twin Cities. This led to the creation of the American Council of Witches in late 1973 and the Council Convened at the Great American Witchmeet in 1974.