Not all that long ago, outright, young earth creationists (YEC) outnumbered those of us who rejected supernatural views of our history by five to one here in American. Today I thankful that, for the first time in American history, the…
5 Ways Paganism Needs to Grow Up
It’s time for Paganism as a whole to grow up. If we don’t, as a community, mature beyond the first stage of spiritual development, then we will continue to only attract people who are in the first stage of spiritual development, and we will only keep them for as long as they are in that first stage. When they make the transition to the second stage, they will leave Paganism.
10 Picture Books for Naturalistic Pagan Families
Listed below in alphabetical order by title are ten of my favorite Naturalistic Pagan-friendly picture books. In addition to all of the well-known benefits of reading aloud with the children in your life, the stories and artwork in these books foster wonder, creativity, deep reverence for nature, appreciation of ecological and cultural diversity, and commitment… Continue reading 10 Picture Books for Naturalistic Pagan Families →
“The Dead Can Dance: The Inspiration of Ancestors” by Mathieu Thiem
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?
Read more
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
Read more
“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 →