Wonder and responsibility speak to me as we enter fall. As Naturalistic Pagans, our focus is on this real world – giving us both the awe of the world we live in and the commitment to build a better world…
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A Deeper Look into Atheopagan Moon Observances
Not long ago, I posted about a wonderful idea that arose during the weekly Saturday Atheopagan Zoom mixer: to corollate the 13 Moon cycles of the year with the 13 Atheopagan Principles. This enables us to have “themes” for each Moon cycle of the year, and to more deeply contemplate each of the Principles as … Continue reading A Deeper Look into Atheopagan Moon Observances
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GUEST POST: An Atheist’s Spirituality, by Gwendolyn
(Please note that this article will use terms like “true” and “untrue” surrounding religion and various religious beliefs. I typically try to avoid words like those, but doing so is not an honest description of my experience, and I want to be perfectly honest here.) I’m an atheist, a materialist, a determinist, a naturalist. I … Continue reading GUEST POST: An Atheist’s Spirituality, by Gwendolyn
Read moreOn Hearing Gaia’s Call
I’m beyond excited to report I got an article published in The Wild Hunt. Hearing Gaia’s Call This is, in fact, the long-delayed fruition of an essay which branched off from “Awakening to Gaia” some five years ago and developed a life of its own. Maybe someday I’ll get around to part three, “Singing Gaia’s […]
Read moreFall Equinox 2020: Balance
My lovely spouse Leora and I generated the list pictured here as part of our Fall Equinox ritual. The list begins: Furnace check-up appointment Window plastic Boots It might not seem particularly witchy, but making it made me feel so profoundly connected to my spirituality. Like it has for many folks, the current COVID-19 pandemic… Continue reading Fall Equinox 2020: Balance
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Happy Fall Equinox!
Happy Fall Equinox, or Mabon! Of course, our spherical planet also gives us the beautiful symmetry of the Spring Equinox (& Ostara) being celebrated now by our Southern Hemisphere friends. The equinoctial moment, this year, is on September 22nd, at 5:31 pm…
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Animism for the Religious Naturalist
Animists see a world that is full of other-than-human persons, including salmon persons, tree persons, and even rock persons. It is difficult for many Westerners to understand the concept of other-than-human persons, especially when talking about (seemingly) “inanimate objects” like rocks. But for the animist, there is no such thing as inanimate matter, because it is all a part of the complex self-regulating living system called Gaia. Animism is not about the projection of consciousness or agency onto non-human things, but about respect and reciprocity within a more-than-human community that transcends the subject-object dichotomy.
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In Memorium: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
I was stunned and appalled to learn last night of the death of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg was a giant of the law, and a shero of women’s rights. For a much more in-depth profile of her than I can research or write, visit her obituary here. Now, we must … Continue reading In Memorium: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
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The Atheopagan Calendar of Moons: an Optional Set of New Observances
In the Atheopagan Saturday Zoom Mixer conversation this week, the group came up with a fantastic idea: to correlate the 13 Atheopagan Principles with the 13 cycles of the Moon each year, and observe each Moon as a time to contemplate and celebrate that particular Principle. This is optional, of course. You don’t have to … Continue reading The Atheopagan Calendar of Moons: an Optional Set of New Observances
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The Fall Equinox Approaches!
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Fall Equinox is celebrated in three weeks (it is September 22nd this year) as Mabon, also called Harvest Home. (Those in the Southern Hemisphere celebrate the Spring Equinox, Ostara, at this time.) While every year…
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