The fourth in a 4-part series, originally published at The Woven Song. V. The Inspiration of Ancestors (Air) “Every breath is a sacrament, an affirmation of our connection with all other living things, a renewal of our link with our…
What’s This Atheopaganism About, Exactly?
So, we’re doing this Atheopaganism thing. What’s its purpose? What are its goals? I think we talk around the edges of this question a lot, with discussions of Sacred values and Principles that clearly point their way to a vision. But it would be better to articulate that vision straight-out, so people are clear about … Continue reading What’s This Atheopaganism About, Exactly?
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Giving Voice: Public Speaking as a Core Ritual Skill
Speaking before an audience is terrifying for many people. In fact, surveys indicate that many fear public speaking more than death itself. However, for ritualists, speaking confidently before a group of listeners is a core skill that enables clear communication, evocation of emotion, and establishment of leadership credibility which provokes a sense of safety and … Continue reading Giving Voice: Public Speaking as a Core Ritual Skill
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“The Dead Can Dance: Ancestors as the Foundation of Place and Time” by Mathieu Thiem
The third in a 4-part series, originally published at The Woven Song. IV. Ancestors as the Foundation of Place and Time (Earth) “The crucible of making human beings is death – every culture worth a damn knows that.” – Stephen…
Sacred place-making, Part 2
Stay away from anything that obscures the place it is in. There are no unsacred places; There are only sacred places And desecrated places. ―Wendell Berry, “How to Be a Poet” The re-enchantment of the world is a core theme of practice for many Pagans. But the term re-enchantment presupposes that the world has become… Continue reading Sacred place-making, Part 2 →
“The Dead Can Dance: The Mythic Ecology of Ancestry” by Mathieu Thiem
The second in a 4-part series, originally published at The Woven Song. III. The Mythic Ecology of Ancestry (Water) “There was a time, the myths tell us, when the link between animals, humans and the land was fluid, magical. The…
Sacred Place-making, Part 1
Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries. ―Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh I believe in the grounding, nourishing power of the earth beneath my feet, wherever I may be. My fast and dirty way of grounding… Continue reading Sacred Place-making, Part 1 →
“The Dead Can Dance: The Totemism of Evolution” by Mathieu Thiem
The first in a 4-part series, originally published at The Woven Song. I. Falling Towards the Ancestors (Sacred Space) “When the leaves fall, the bones are laid bare. Old scars are revealed.” – Émile Wayne Hauntings of autumn are carried…
What Makes a Ritual “Successful”?
John Halstead over at Humanistic Paganism has published a rather sharply-worded piece about “10 Signs You’re Half-Assing Your Ritual”. It’s well worth a read, and in general, he’s right: there is a lot of ho-hum ritual out there and many, if not most of us can do a better job of preparing and enacting our … Continue reading What Makes a Ritual “Successful”?
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10 Signs You’re Half-Assing Your Pagan Ritual
I have been fortunate to have attended some great Pagan rituals. But, gods know, I have suffered through a lot more rituals that were just terrible. A lot of you probably know what I’m talking about. I know fellow-Patheos blogger,…