2006
Does the origin determine validity?
Wednesday, 13Dec2006 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ studies
When things are messy, actions and answers aren't clear cut. That is when you need faith in yourself.
Read More...Fire
Here are some physical parts of a spell I improvised last night and used this morning. It's one of the better "booster" spells I've come up with in a while. It takes a bit of prep time and you need to greet the sun, but it works.
Read More...Flake off
Tuesday, 21Nov2006 Filed in: modern adult pagans⭐︎ rite & ritual
❝It always worries me when I can hear the capitals in what other people say, even if it is only what they are typing on a computer screen.❞— NeoWayland, "Here I come to save the Day"
Pagan films part 1 - updated
Wednesday, 01Nov2006 Filed in: entertainment
Correllian ripples
Saturday, 28Oct2006 Filed in: tellus⭐︎ modern adult pagans
The V ritual
Sunday, 22Oct2006 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ rite & ritual
Polyester, Protestant Pagans?
Saturday, 14Oct2006 Filed in: tellus
❝What you think you know is not what you need to know. Where you are is not where you need to be. Who you believe you are is not who you were meant to be.❞— NeoWayland, Systematically
Witchschool.com no longer affiliated with Correllian Nativist Church International
Wednesday, 04Oct2006 Filed in: tellus⭐︎ modern adult pagans
Mulling over the nature of Deity
Sunday, 01Oct2006 Filed in: studies⭐︎ entertainment
Assembly of NeoWayland
Sunday, 17Sep2006 Filed in: beliefs⭐︎ practicals
Blessings and ethics
Tuesday, 08Aug2006 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ manifest
“Here I come to save the Day”
Tuesday, 01Aug2006 Filed in: modern adult pagans⭐︎ tellus
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C65989237/E20060802051541
Why do some Pagans believe they are destined to save the world?
The posts on discipline and Indigo kids got me in the mood to go exploring the Pagan web again, just to see what is happening. It's getting harder and harder to do that anonymously, but I still have a few technopagan tricks up my sleeve.
Much of what I saw hasn't really changed in the last few years. There are still very few experienced Pagans who are willing to go online, at least publicly. There are definite trends towards political correctness and silencing dissent. And the most visible Pagans online aren't necessarily the ones that anyone should be listening to.
Although that doesn't just apply to Pagans. Imagine if Christians only listened to Jesse Jackson or Pat Robertson.
To me at least, the most disturbing thing is the growth of the "Pagans will save the World" theme. Save the world from what, I am not quite sure, but there are some out there who are only a few steps away from conquering in the Name of the Goddess for the Betterment of Humanity. Or at least trying.
It always worries me when I can hear the capitals in what other people say, even if it is only what they are typing on a computer screen.
I am not quite sure where this messiah complex comes from. I only know that it is there. I get frustrated when I deal with newbies. Online, my experience is "one upped" by some kid who read the "right" books and started "practicing" six whole months ago. It's times like that when I understand exactly what Oberon Ravenhart-Zell wants to do with his so-called Grey Council.
Intentionally or not, this "save the world" thing comes across as recycled Christianity. I'm not sure that is what they need, although they believe it's what they want.
*sighs*
And that is the rub, isn't? You can't tell them until they are ready to believe it. Even if I could, I am not sure I should stop them from tripping and falling. Although the gods know I am tempted. I understand now what the Blessed who were around me were saying when I "broke out," although I ignored them then.
I'm pretty sure that the World can take care of Herself, maybe with a little help from her Consort.
It's the rest of us I am not so sure about.
Much of what I saw hasn't really changed in the last few years. There are still very few experienced Pagans who are willing to go online, at least publicly. There are definite trends towards political correctness and silencing dissent. And the most visible Pagans online aren't necessarily the ones that anyone should be listening to.
Although that doesn't just apply to Pagans. Imagine if Christians only listened to Jesse Jackson or Pat Robertson.
To me at least, the most disturbing thing is the growth of the "Pagans will save the World" theme. Save the world from what, I am not quite sure, but there are some out there who are only a few steps away from conquering in the Name of the Goddess for the Betterment of Humanity. Or at least trying.
It always worries me when I can hear the capitals in what other people say, even if it is only what they are typing on a computer screen.
I am not quite sure where this messiah complex comes from. I only know that it is there. I get frustrated when I deal with newbies. Online, my experience is "one upped" by some kid who read the "right" books and started "practicing" six whole months ago. It's times like that when I understand exactly what Oberon Ravenhart-Zell wants to do with his so-called Grey Council.
Intentionally or not, this "save the world" thing comes across as recycled Christianity. I'm not sure that is what they need, although they believe it's what they want.
*sighs*
And that is the rub, isn't? You can't tell them until they are ready to believe it. Even if I could, I am not sure I should stop them from tripping and falling. Although the gods know I am tempted. I understand now what the Blessed who were around me were saying when I "broke out," although I ignored them then.
I'm pretty sure that the World can take care of Herself, maybe with a little help from her Consort.
It's the rest of us I am not so sure about.
Pagan Films Part II
- Projecting the Horror
- Projecting the Horror
Friday, 28Jul2006 Filed in: entertainment⭐︎ sex
Male or female?
Saturday, 22Jul2006 Filed in: studies
The Focusing Flame
Saturday, 22Jul2006 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ rite & ritual
Harvestpoint differs from Lughnasadh, but that is a good place to begin your studies. Read More...
Discipline, the Modern Pagan, and power from victimhood
Friday, 21Jul2006 Filed in: modern adult pagans
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C65989237/E20060722013450
What makes the so many modern pagans fluffy? And why don't they seem to want more?
There is an old saying that the difficult truths are the only ones that must be told.
I've tried several times in the last couple of weeks to write this post. It keeps coming out wrong. So I am going to sit here and hammer this one out once and for all so I can concentrate on other things that I want to say. It's probably going to be shorter than I wanted, but there are only so many times I can rewrite the thing.
Before I get too deep, I want to say that I absolutely despise classifying people, their abilities, and their accomplishments based on membership in some group. I am an individualist. As far as I am concerned, we are human. To understand the poisonous mindset, it's necessary to put that viewpoint aside for a bit and wade into meaningless yet influential group distinctions.
I read Shelby Steele's excellent White Guilt. While not a pagan book, it gave me excellent insight into American life over the last few decades, and helped focus some of my own realizations. Most of it doesn't apply in a pagan context, with one very important exception.
The rise of the popular forms of modern paganism are tied into the rise of the feminist movement that followed the success of the 1960s civil rights movement. Feminism (and paganism through feminism) borrowed some of the best and worst ideas of the civil rights movement for it's own purposes.
One idea was power through victimhood because of past crimes committed against one group by members of another.
Before you tell me that doesn't apply, go find someone talking about "Never again the Burning Times!"
For "power through victimhood" to be successful, it's not enough to have an "oppressed victim," there also has to be a public acknowledgment of guilt by the powerful and a lingering guilt. "PTV" gains it's moral authority only through guilt, otherwise it runs smack dab into the morals and ethics of the majority.
To simplify, American blacks had a legitimate grievance. That isn't necessarily so for American feminists, and it probably isn't so for American pagans. It is the difference between oppression and repression.
Paganism was a good way for repressed women to explore the Sacred Feminine and experience the Divine instead of having it handed to them through a patriarchal framework. Since many pagans celebrate the Female Aspects of Divinity, of course we took joy as the ladies took center stage and found themselves.
But all things have destruction wrapped in creation. The power wasn't in the victimhood. It never was. Overcoming victimhood could be the first gate to power. Some took power from the victimhood itself, never realizing that their "strength" depended entirely on the guilty pity of others. Without that guilt and pity, the "moral authority" collapsed.
This wasn't just in paganism of course. Much of Western culture and society was undergoing the same growing pangs. So to preserve the "power through victimhood" of certain groups, permanent victim groups were enshrined. Blacks first. Then other minority groups. Then women (of course). And finally alternative religions. With a pecking order firmly established, it became the Progressive Thing to make sure that the victim groups and the pecking order were universally established. If some members of the victim groups weren't quite good enough, that was okay, they had been through enough. Allowances would be made.
That in turn introduced our second and third tier problems. Members of the victim groups weren't expect to be "as good" as the majority. Excuses were made for their failures. They were never held personally responsible.
Imagine that. By virtue of victimhood and belonging to a recognized victim group, someone could be excused from being an adult and taking responsibility for themselves.
I want to stress that the victimhood was never universal. Many people soon learned to move beyond victimhood and into individual excellence.
But for those who didn't, they never realized it was a trap. Some of them still don't.
Fast forward a few decades.
Now some areas have schools that cherish victimhood of certain groups before the kids are old enough to understand if they are even victims at all. Being a social victim means that others will look out for you and that you are not fully human.
Nor can you be fully trusted. Even if your victimhood grants you "moral authority" and exceptions from the rules.
Other kids see that being a victim is the easy path. Even if you don't know the answers, they will be provided to you in a timely manner. And if you can't be bothered to learn them this time around, that is okay. You've had a hard victimhood.
The end result are people who not only don't know the answers, but expect those answers to be provided on demand. And they want a second chance to take any tests, only this time with crib sheets.
It's not their fault that this is how they were taught.
It's their fault if they do not change once their path demands more.
Master the discipline or be mastered by the victimhood.
Bright & Dark Blessings, everyone.
I've tried several times in the last couple of weeks to write this post. It keeps coming out wrong. So I am going to sit here and hammer this one out once and for all so I can concentrate on other things that I want to say. It's probably going to be shorter than I wanted, but there are only so many times I can rewrite the thing.
Before I get too deep, I want to say that I absolutely despise classifying people, their abilities, and their accomplishments based on membership in some group. I am an individualist. As far as I am concerned, we are human. To understand the poisonous mindset, it's necessary to put that viewpoint aside for a bit and wade into meaningless yet influential group distinctions.
I read Shelby Steele's excellent White Guilt. While not a pagan book, it gave me excellent insight into American life over the last few decades, and helped focus some of my own realizations. Most of it doesn't apply in a pagan context, with one very important exception.
The rise of the popular forms of modern paganism are tied into the rise of the feminist movement that followed the success of the 1960s civil rights movement. Feminism (and paganism through feminism) borrowed some of the best and worst ideas of the civil rights movement for it's own purposes.
One idea was power through victimhood because of past crimes committed against one group by members of another.
Before you tell me that doesn't apply, go find someone talking about "Never again the Burning Times!"
For "power through victimhood" to be successful, it's not enough to have an "oppressed victim," there also has to be a public acknowledgment of guilt by the powerful and a lingering guilt. "PTV" gains it's moral authority only through guilt, otherwise it runs smack dab into the morals and ethics of the majority.
To simplify, American blacks had a legitimate grievance. That isn't necessarily so for American feminists, and it probably isn't so for American pagans. It is the difference between oppression and repression.
Paganism was a good way for repressed women to explore the Sacred Feminine and experience the Divine instead of having it handed to them through a patriarchal framework. Since many pagans celebrate the Female Aspects of Divinity, of course we took joy as the ladies took center stage and found themselves.
But all things have destruction wrapped in creation. The power wasn't in the victimhood. It never was. Overcoming victimhood could be the first gate to power. Some took power from the victimhood itself, never realizing that their "strength" depended entirely on the guilty pity of others. Without that guilt and pity, the "moral authority" collapsed.
This wasn't just in paganism of course. Much of Western culture and society was undergoing the same growing pangs. So to preserve the "power through victimhood" of certain groups, permanent victim groups were enshrined. Blacks first. Then other minority groups. Then women (of course). And finally alternative religions. With a pecking order firmly established, it became the Progressive Thing to make sure that the victim groups and the pecking order were universally established. If some members of the victim groups weren't quite good enough, that was okay, they had been through enough. Allowances would be made.
That in turn introduced our second and third tier problems. Members of the victim groups weren't expect to be "as good" as the majority. Excuses were made for their failures. They were never held personally responsible.
Imagine that. By virtue of victimhood and belonging to a recognized victim group, someone could be excused from being an adult and taking responsibility for themselves.
I want to stress that the victimhood was never universal. Many people soon learned to move beyond victimhood and into individual excellence.
But for those who didn't, they never realized it was a trap. Some of them still don't.
Fast forward a few decades.
Now some areas have schools that cherish victimhood of certain groups before the kids are old enough to understand if they are even victims at all. Being a social victim means that others will look out for you and that you are not fully human.
Nor can you be fully trusted. Even if your victimhood grants you "moral authority" and exceptions from the rules.
Other kids see that being a victim is the easy path. Even if you don't know the answers, they will be provided to you in a timely manner. And if you can't be bothered to learn them this time around, that is okay. You've had a hard victimhood.
The end result are people who not only don't know the answers, but expect those answers to be provided on demand. And they want a second chance to take any tests, only this time with crib sheets.
It's not their fault that this is how they were taught.
It's their fault if they do not change once their path demands more.
Master the discipline or be mastered by the victimhood.
Bright & Dark Blessings, everyone.
Eclecticism, Discipline, & Mastery
Tuesday, 04Jul2006 Filed in: modern adult pagans⭐︎ practicals
“At the end of the day, some things can't be faked.”— Leverage, “The Corkscrew Job”
Scrying with the Dark Moon
Tuesday, 27Jun2006 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ rite & ritual
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C1325529963/E20060627034440
One of my (suitably edited) Dark Moon rites
The Dark Moon is one of my favorite times for reflection.
I'm not particularly gifted in augury, but some methods work to find a meditation focus or settling exercise.
When I can, usually two or three times a year, I like to do a more formal ritual.
I know that the tools aren't strictly necessary, but I find it reassuring to use them when I can.
I start at twilight, when the sun has slipped below the horizon and there is a deep violet at the edge of the horizon. That is when I start cleaning the ritual space. Can't use a circle in this one.
By the time full dark has set in, I am ready. I have a small candle on a small stand at about eye level at about chest height.
My scrying bowl is black with a slightly reflective interior. It sits beside me at first. I put the dry ingredients in a mortar, moon blessed sea salt, cinnamon, a few other things. I grind it into a very small powder. Not much. When the dry has been thoroughly crushed, I put the mortar and pestle down and take up the scyring bowl. Very carefully I hold it up to the stars, letting their light fill it. Then I close my eyes and pour the light into my face.
Very carefully I take a small amount of oil on my finger and draw a quick sign in the bottom of the bowl. I sprinkle the dry ingredients over the sign. Then I breathe on the sign.
Then I light the candle.
Holding the bowl in my lap, I very slowly add water. I crouch over it and look through the candle reflection in the water.
Of course, this description is incomplete. But you can see where it is going.
I'm not particularly gifted in augury, but some methods work to find a meditation focus or settling exercise.
When I can, usually two or three times a year, I like to do a more formal ritual.
I know that the tools aren't strictly necessary, but I find it reassuring to use them when I can.
I start at twilight, when the sun has slipped below the horizon and there is a deep violet at the edge of the horizon. That is when I start cleaning the ritual space. Can't use a circle in this one.
By the time full dark has set in, I am ready. I have a small candle on a small stand at about eye level at about chest height.
My scrying bowl is black with a slightly reflective interior. It sits beside me at first. I put the dry ingredients in a mortar, moon blessed sea salt, cinnamon, a few other things. I grind it into a very small powder. Not much. When the dry has been thoroughly crushed, I put the mortar and pestle down and take up the scyring bowl. Very carefully I hold it up to the stars, letting their light fill it. Then I close my eyes and pour the light into my face.
Very carefully I take a small amount of oil on my finger and draw a quick sign in the bottom of the bowl. I sprinkle the dry ingredients over the sign. Then I breathe on the sign.
Then I light the candle.
Holding the bowl in my lap, I very slowly add water. I crouch over it and look through the candle reflection in the water.
Of course, this description is incomplete. But you can see where it is going.
Getting my internet fix
Thursday, 08Jun2006 Filed in: site news
These blog entries have been reformatted and entered into the current directories. Redirect pages have been placed in the old locations.
Read More...In the still of the night
Thursday, 25May2006 Filed in: modern adult pagans⭐︎ tellus
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C65989237/E20060525233957
My journey to and from a funeral reminds me of the world outside artificial light
I did some driving in rural Arizona and New Mexico this last week.
One of the big differences between urban areas and rural areas is the amount of light at night. Depending on the size of the town or city, even as little as thirty miles is enough to reveal a whole other world.
Headlights are visible for miles if the road is in view. The shadows wrap around you so you feel like you could just reach out the window and gently stroke it. The desert night air has it's own scents and promises. The plants rustle in your side vision which seems a notch or two sharper. The land hints at it's shape rather than revealing.
And then the stars. Oh gods, the stars.
In a city, you see a few twinkles of the stronger stars, but that is nothing compared to what you see when you get away from the city lights. Suddenly the words "Milky Way" make sense. When I have been away from all the stars, my first instinct on a clear night is to strip down and bathe in all that silver starlight.
It's not just lights. In the desert and away from the roads and cars, you swear you can hear every single sound for miles around. Maybe it's just psychological. You're away from the normal stimulus so you pay extra close attention to the ones you do sense.
There are times I am very much in hermit mode and there are reasons for that. I can't tell you the name of the American Idol contestants. I have no idea what the Top 40 is these days. I have no interest in having Dr. Phil solve my problems on national television. More importantly, I've no real desire to think about these subjects. But they wrap themselves around you, insidiously. It's all that most people talk about.
It's the same with religion, at least for the people who want to get noticed. Folks are so busy making noise for their gold stars that they don't pay attention to the "stillness of the soul." The Blessed recognize that as the place where your inner journey begins, the gateway to your higher selves.
So away from the churches every block, the people mouthing the noise they think the Divine wants to hear, the flood of television and radio evangelism, and away from all those bits that we humans like to wrap ourselves in, that is the where the inner soul can wake and the outer soul can sleep.
I need to go camping again soon I think.
One of the big differences between urban areas and rural areas is the amount of light at night. Depending on the size of the town or city, even as little as thirty miles is enough to reveal a whole other world.
Headlights are visible for miles if the road is in view. The shadows wrap around you so you feel like you could just reach out the window and gently stroke it. The desert night air has it's own scents and promises. The plants rustle in your side vision which seems a notch or two sharper. The land hints at it's shape rather than revealing.
And then the stars. Oh gods, the stars.
In a city, you see a few twinkles of the stronger stars, but that is nothing compared to what you see when you get away from the city lights. Suddenly the words "Milky Way" make sense. When I have been away from all the stars, my first instinct on a clear night is to strip down and bathe in all that silver starlight.
It's not just lights. In the desert and away from the roads and cars, you swear you can hear every single sound for miles around. Maybe it's just psychological. You're away from the normal stimulus so you pay extra close attention to the ones you do sense.
There are times I am very much in hermit mode and there are reasons for that. I can't tell you the name of the American Idol contestants. I have no idea what the Top 40 is these days. I have no interest in having Dr. Phil solve my problems on national television. More importantly, I've no real desire to think about these subjects. But they wrap themselves around you, insidiously. It's all that most people talk about.
It's the same with religion, at least for the people who want to get noticed. Folks are so busy making noise for their gold stars that they don't pay attention to the "stillness of the soul." The Blessed recognize that as the place where your inner journey begins, the gateway to your higher selves.
So away from the churches every block, the people mouthing the noise they think the Divine wants to hear, the flood of television and radio evangelism, and away from all those bits that we humans like to wrap ourselves in, that is the where the inner soul can wake and the outer soul can sleep.
I need to go camping again soon I think.
Hair of the bear
Thursday, 11May2006 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ rite & ritual
Evangelism
Tuesday, 25Apr2006 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ modern adult pagans
“You're not doing what I wanted you to do!”
Thursday, 06Apr2006 Filed in: beliefs⭐︎ entertainment
Horizons
Thursday, 30Mar2006 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ celebrations & passages
“ZAPHOD BEEBLEBROX IV: I mean what exactly are you doing with your life?Read More...
ZAPHOD BEEBLEBROX: I'm being attacked by a Vogon Fleet.
ZB IV: Doesn't surprise me in the least.”—The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy radio series, Fit the Ninth
This week's thinkum
Thursday, 23Mar2006 Filed in: quotes & thinkums⭐︎ philosophy
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C1982366546/E20060324050200
Do you live your faith or does your faith live you?
I've been thinking about that a lot this week.
I've been thinking about that a lot this week.
Solar festival
Monday, 20Mar2006 Filed in: tellus⭐︎ celebrations & passages
Thursday will be Friday, and still the world turns
Friday, 17Feb2006 Filed in: site news
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C429302356/E20060217050734
Running late again
Just a quick note to let you know that the Thursday entry got pushed back to Friday.
And if you think this week is bad, don't talk to me about next week. I'm going to be lucky to get one on this blog.
And if you think this week is bad, don't talk to me about next week. I'm going to be lucky to get one on this blog.
Reflections
Sunday, 05Feb2006 Filed in: site news
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C429302356/E20060203234434
I'm really beginning to understand why it is so hard to find good Pagan blogs.
I'll spare you the bit about perspectives from a candle flame and catch you up on what has been happening.
I'm really beginning to understand why it is so hard to find good Pagan blogs.
I mean, Pagan news is covered mostly by Wren's Nest and a few others. And I am personally against the cutesy "these are the eight Pagan holidays" introductory basic web sites. Or the ones that give you steps to "cast your VERY OWN SPELL!!!!"
Which, fortunately, do seem to be dying out.
Since Thursday morning, I have tried to write on four separate topics. One of them was so trite I am ashamed of it, the other three, well, I didn't really feel like sharing. So I am going to do some thinking about what I want this blog to say and how I want to say it. One thing I can tell you, three times a week is just too much. I end up pounding my head against the wall trying to come up with something new on Fridays.
My head can take it, but the wall is beginning to get dented. And the paint and plaster takes extra shampoo to wash out.
Anyway, I am going to switch to Tuesdays and Thursdays for this blog. This thing is supposed to be something I enjoy and not something I have to do. Well, I have to do it but by the gods I am going to have fun with it.
I'm really beginning to understand why it is so hard to find good Pagan blogs.
I mean, Pagan news is covered mostly by Wren's Nest and a few others. And I am personally against the cutesy "these are the eight Pagan holidays" introductory basic web sites. Or the ones that give you steps to "cast your VERY OWN SPELL!!!!"
Which, fortunately, do seem to be dying out.
Since Thursday morning, I have tried to write on four separate topics. One of them was so trite I am ashamed of it, the other three, well, I didn't really feel like sharing. So I am going to do some thinking about what I want this blog to say and how I want to say it. One thing I can tell you, three times a week is just too much. I end up pounding my head against the wall trying to come up with something new on Fridays.
My head can take it, but the wall is beginning to get dented. And the paint and plaster takes extra shampoo to wash out.
Anyway, I am going to switch to Tuesdays and Thursdays for this blog. This thing is supposed to be something I enjoy and not something I have to do. Well, I have to do it but by the gods I am going to have fun with it.
The price
Friday, 27Jan2006 Filed in: studies⭐︎ rite & ritual
Wheel
My response to a question about being skyclad. Taken from Wicca: General Chat from the Timerift Forums
Read More...No Monday entry
Tuesday, 17Jan2006 Filed in: site news
“In which you are introduced to the life and accomplishments of Alexander the Great, his empire, his horse Bucephalus, the empires that came after him, and the idea of Greatness. Is greatness a question of accomplishment, of impact, or are people great because the rest of us decide they're great?”
Read More...Reincarnation Neo style
Friday, 13Jan2006 Filed in: beliefs
h4 class="blurb">Drama kings and queens and their effect on worship Read More...
On Being Not
Friday, 06Jan2006 Filed in: practicals⭐︎ modern adult pagans
The "war on Christmas" got me thinking
Wednesday, 04Jan2006 Filed in: beliefs
Paganism is not political
Monday, 02Jan2006 Filed in: modern adult pagans
This is a page from the third version of Technopagan Yearnings. There are some formatting differences. Originally published at www.neowayland.com/C65989237/E20060103044338
Faith is a personal choice. So are politics. One does not define the other.
I'm getting very annoyed with this idea of "political pagans."
If you are lucky enough not to have had this inflicted on you yet, the idea is that all real pagans are naturally progressive and green. And if you are not progressive and green, then you can't possibly be a real pagan.
I was an environmentalist before the global warming movement hijacked environmentalism. Today you can barely mention environmentalism without bowing down before the global warming altar. Everything environmental must give way to the global warming agenda. When is the last time you saw a news story about water pollution or air pollution? But I have lost track of how many stories I have seen about global warming in the last year.
And of course, if you really care about Mother Gaia and Her children (and you can hear the capitalization in their voices) you are against poverty, injustice, and war. Unless the "enemy" is a wealthy Republican, then all bets are off.
What the blazes does ANY of this have to do with Paganism?
If you are a reconstructionist, I'm willing to bet that there are gods in your personal pantheon who were not only responsible for commerce, but probably invented coinage.
And dice games. Don't forget the dice games. VERY important foundation for commerce.
Now I happen to be very political. But my politics don't come because of my faith or my Patrons. Likewise, my faith isn't defined by my politics.
There are people I identify as part-time pagans and fluffy pagans, but not because of their politics. That is because of how they treat their faith.
If you are lucky enough not to have had this inflicted on you yet, the idea is that all real pagans are naturally progressive and green. And if you are not progressive and green, then you can't possibly be a real pagan.
I was an environmentalist before the global warming movement hijacked environmentalism. Today you can barely mention environmentalism without bowing down before the global warming altar. Everything environmental must give way to the global warming agenda. When is the last time you saw a news story about water pollution or air pollution? But I have lost track of how many stories I have seen about global warming in the last year.
And of course, if you really care about Mother Gaia and Her children (and you can hear the capitalization in their voices) you are against poverty, injustice, and war. Unless the "enemy" is a wealthy Republican, then all bets are off.
What the blazes does ANY of this have to do with Paganism?
If you are a reconstructionist, I'm willing to bet that there are gods in your personal pantheon who were not only responsible for commerce, but probably invented coinage.
And dice games. Don't forget the dice games. VERY important foundation for commerce.
Now I happen to be very political. But my politics don't come because of my faith or my Patrons. Likewise, my faith isn't defined by my politics.
There are people I identify as part-time pagans and fluffy pagans, but not because of their politics. That is because of how they treat their faith.
