Australian Pagans in Tasmania plan for a midwinter festival (yes, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere). A prominent Pagan critiques her spiritual brethren's misuse of science. And a Shinto-Pagan writer considers the nationalistic associations of her religion. It's Watery Wednesday, our weekly segment on news about the Pagan community around the world! All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

It's getting pretty warm here in the Northern Hemisphere but that isn't reality for everyone! In the Southern Hemisphere, the midpoint of winter is just around the corner. And Australian Pagans are getting ready to celebrate in earnest!

A lot of people know that the Egyptian deities are often depicted with heads shaped like those of non-human animals. But even professional Egyptologists aren't sure what animal the god Set's head is supposed to be. Known as the "sha," some wonder if it is even meant to represent a natural animal. At the blog In the Desert of Seth, G.B. Marian discusses the beast's sacred nature.

Pagans have long perceived a connection between magic and creativity. At Gods & Radicals, Gersande talks about using creativity to further link environmentalism, geography, and magic.

We often like to think of fundamentalist Christians as being anti-science. But can Pagans be just as contrarian? Writing for her blog A Sense of Natural Wonder, Lupa Greenwolf calls on fellow Pagans to abandon some of the most common anti-science memes in the community.

The native Japanese religion of Shinto has made increasing and surprising inroads to the West since the end of World War II. The United States is the only current country to feature Shinto shrines outside of Japan, including the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America. But to some, Shinto is uniquely Japanese and isn't something that can be truly appreciated by Westerners. Self-professed Shinto-Pagan Megan Manson takes a look at these arguments.