Naturalistic Paganism
Eclipse Afterglow (aftershadow?) [Stardust, Contemplating]
Breathless. Words seem so pointless – those who saw it know what I mean, and I know that it can’t be expressed in words, photos or video. The eclipse was stunning – a sudden and ineffable realization of the deep connection to the rest of our Universe that is always present but so rarely felt like this. At least I know that many others feel as verbally powerless and as speechless as I do. Read More
Naturalistic Animism: Seeing the Trees for the Ents
The Tree or the Spirit of the Tree?
Those who believe in personal gods sometimes have difficulty understanding non-theistic nature worship. I have heard it said that we cannot possibly be worshiping natural phenomena, like the sun or trees; we must be worshiping a divine force “within” or “behind” the natural phenomena, something like Greek dryads or J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional Ents, the personification of the spirits of the trees.
From a theistic perspective this makes sense. After all, Orthodox Christians do not worship their icons, and Pagan polytheists do not worship the statues that represent their gods. So some theists have difficulty understanding the non-theistic worship of physical nature. They assume that worship requires a conscious person on the other end that appreciates the worship. And if you start with that assumption, then it seems absurd to worship unconscious nature.
On the other hand, many Naturalistic Pagans are uncomfortable with the word “worship.” But for me, worship is a natural human response to the wonder which nature evokes. It is a spontaneous expression of awe, gratitude, joy, praise…and sometimes a little fear and trembling. Read More
Video Review of Godless Paganism
A great review of Godless Paganism: Voices of Non-Theistic Pagans by Katey Flowers. Check it out – both the praise and the criticisms are interesting to hear!
The Great Eclipse is Upon Us! Here is a Ritual for it. [Stardust, Contemplating]
As you read this, millions of people are driving, packing, or otherwise getting ready to experience totality. Just hours from now (Monday afternoon), a child will experience our Universe in a way that sets her or him on a path of wonder and joy to become a great scientist, a reality based president, or who knows what else. Will you be there? Will you bring a child to the path of totality? Read More
Spirituality Without Politics Is Powerless
“No one ever told us we had to study our lives,make of our lives a study, as if learning natural historyor music, that we should beginwith the simple exercises firstand slowly go on tryingthe hard ones, practicing till strengthand accuracy became one with the daringto leap into transcendence …– And in fact we can’t live like that: we take oneverything at once before we’ve even begunto read or mark time, we’re forced to beginin the midst of the hardest movement,the one already sounding as we are born.”— Adrienne Rich, “Transcendental Etude”
In light of the hate and violence seen this past weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia, I feel it’s important to raise again an issue which is frequently debated both in Pagan and Religious Naturalist circles: the relationship between religion and politics or between spirituality and activism. Read More
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Pagan Coming Out Day – May 2nd
Naturalistic Paganism 