I was recently re-reading the autobiography of one of my spiritual inspirations, John Trevor, the founder of the Labour Church, titled My Quest for God. I came… Read more ““Fellow Workers With God” by John Trevor”
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The Summer Solstice is just two weeks away!
“As I stand here on this celebration of Litha, the sacred wheel of the year continues to turn. As my ancestors did in times before and my descendants may do in times to come, I honour the old ways. This is the time of the Summer Solstice……:
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Why I Don’t Write Ritual Scripts
I’m asked pretty frequently for sample Atheopagan group (as opposed to solitary) ritual scripts, and I never deliver them. Here’s why. I don’t write ritual scripts. I have hardly ever been to a group ritual where leaders/facilitators “read their lines” (or had obviously memorized them) that didn’t feel like a waste of my time, and … Continue reading Why I Don’t Write Ritual Scripts
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The Sun Broom—A Ritual Tool
The Sun broom is both a Midsummer ritual and a tool you can use ritually around the year. You will need: A piece of tree branch for a handle. Don’t hurt a tree; go for a hike and find something that has already fallen to the ground. Thin ribbon or strong twine for binding grasses … Continue reading The Sun Broom—A Ritual Tool
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An Atheopagan Table of Correspondences
In many of the Pagan books circulating out there, a large chunk of the pages are devoted to “tables of correspondences”. These tables identify particular herbs, gems and minerals, incense scents, foods, and other materials with particular emotions, life experiences, times of year, and so forth. Well, I didn’t want Atheopagans to be left out … Continue reading An Atheopagan Table of Correspondences
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Why I Don’t Do Rituals In My Garden Anymore, by Megan Manson
In You may have already read the reports about John “Bearheart” Bennett, a British druid who was stabbed and beaten by his neighbours for making too much noise during a full moon ritual. Bournemouth Crown Court heard that next door neighbours Mark and…
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Choosing to Believe in the Star Goddess
A few months ago, I wrote about outgrowing atheism, an admission which frankly made me uneasy. I’ve intentionally avoided the word “belief” in recent years, preferring to center my spiritual identity around practice. After all, as Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh says, “My actions are my only true belongings.” Furthermore I’m a naturalist and an evidentialist… Continue reading Choosing to Believe in the Star Goddess →
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Ritual “Special Effects”
Sometimes in a ritual, a little special-effects magic can help to create that sense that “magic is happening”. Here are some effects I’ve collected from a conversation in the Atheopagan Facebook group. Burning Isopropyl alcohol. Use the full 90%+ stuff, not the 40% methanol “rubbing alcohol”. This is highly flammable and can make for a marvelous … Continue reading Ritual “Special Effects”
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Genes Are Like Sentences, Genomes Are Like Books, by Brock Haussamen
Simplified though the comparison is, it’s startling what genetics and written language have in common considering that the second is a recent human invention and the first represents the formation of life almost four billion years ago.
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Does Truth Matter?
Eppur si muove. —Galileo Galilei Recently. a friend posted to the Atheopaganism Facebook group, describing a conversation she was having elsewhere in which accusations of “classism” and “colonialism” were being leveled at those who express what is almost certainly the truth: that gods and magic do not exist, except as ideas. And you know? … Continue reading Does Truth Matter?
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