BOONVILLE, Mo. (RNS) — As Americans across the country watched the moon eclipse the sun, pagans gathered here to appreciate the rare phenomenon with their own rituals.
The diamond ring shines through clouds as the totality of the solar eclipse ends in Liberty, Mo., on August, 21, 2017. RNS photo by Kit Doyle
Ian Regan, a pagan of Columbia, Mo., watches the totality event during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. Low clouds covered the sun during the first 90 seconds of totality, with the clouds breaking briefly just before totality ended. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
Willow Wideman, a pagan/druid of St. Louis, displays a mandala stone during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. Several of the around 150 participants constructed altars and led chants for the weekend-long event. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
Tauna Bollinger, a neo-pagan of Glen Carbon, Ill., holds out her arms during a chanting session as totality commenced overhead during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
Bill “Ubuntu” Fraser, an eclectic free spirit of St. Charles County, Mo., watches the sun with his dog, Odie, during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
An altar arranged by Willow Wideman, a Pagan/Druid of St. Louis, Mo., stands on display at a campsite during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on August 21, 2017. Several of the around 150 participants constructed altars and led chants for the weekend-long event. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
From left, Michael Edward, a pagan from Kansas City, Mo.; Josh Colvin, a member of the coven Circle of Many Branches in Kansas City, Mo.; and Liz Rohret of Boone, Iowa, watch the sun during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. Adherents of a variety of pagan and Wiccan traditions made the pilgrimage to the event. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
Tamara and Ian Regan of Columbia, Mo., renew their wedding vows in a pagan handfasting ceremony during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
Michael Salisbury of Columbia, Mo., watches the sun with his wife, Krista Salisbury, and 1-year-old child, Ebie, during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
Willow Wideman, a pagan/druid of St. Louis, stands next to her altar during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. Several of the around 150 participants constructed altars and led chants for the weekend-long event. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
Tamara Regan, a pagan of Columbia, Mo., watches the totality event of the solar eclipse during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
Ian and Tamara Regan, pagans of Columbia, Mo., watch the totality event during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. Low clouds covered the sun during the first 90 seconds of totality, with the clouds breaking briefly just before totality ended. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
Katie Naylor of Columbia, Mo., washes her 2-year-old son Wyatt’s face during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. The event prided itself on being family-friendly and included several families with children. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
Ambiaka Maupin, an enchantment witch from Columbia, Mo., watches the sun during the Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration at Oak Spirit Sanctuary in Boonville, Mo., on Aug. 21, 2017. The festival was one of the largest gatherings of pagans and Wiccans in the Midwest in 2017. RNS photo by KC McGinnis
BOONVILLE, Mo. (RNS) — As Americans across the country watched the moon eclipse the sun, pagans gathered here to appreciate the rare phenomenon with their own rituals. The Oak Spirit Sanctuary Solar Eclipse Celebration took place on Monday (Aug. 21) in this town in central Missouri. Low clouds covered the first 90 seconds of the totality but broke just before it ended, revealing a full view of the corona.
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