Naturalistic Paganism
Happy Spring Equitherm!
Celebrations
Life! What amazing forms life takes! Scientists published this new look at our extended family tree just in time for our Beltane celebrations of life, and Mark Green pointed out how similar it looks to a maypole. Perfect for Beltane!
Some of the ways many of us are celebrating were published a few weeks ago, and at least for my family, celebrations have already started with our CUUPS Beltane ritual last night. It was especially fitting to see the celebrant hold the ritual wearing a shirt with a Mexican Day of the Dead skull, reminding us of the symmetry of life and death, of Beltane and Samhain – as Glenys does here. And did you see the Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival? Wow – 12,000 people celebrating Beltane! I’d love to make it to that some year. For some of us, the celebrations will be later this week – the actual midpoint between the Equinox and the Solstice is May 5th. However you are celebrating, may your be celebration be blessed.
Longing and Contradiction in (Re?)Creating Modern Paganism by Emile Wayne
The emergence of modern Paganism in the post-industrial West in the 20th and 21st centuries presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for those engaged in critical reflection on the nature of this movement, on its defining qualities, and on the specific character of Pagan spirituality. The difficulties and opportunities I will describe are very much those I have personally come to identify, as part of my own struggle to articulate what it is I am a part of , and what I hope to produce. Read More
Limited Time Offer: Godless Paganism Free (with $5 S&H)
NOTICE: The defective copies are all sold out. But you can still purchase the book for a reduced price using by clicking here or using the links on the right side of this page.
Due to a printer error, I have 100 extra copies of Godless Paganism: Voices of Non-Theistic Pagans. These copies contain a printing error on the cover and a formatting error in the table of contents, but are otherwise the same as the final version. (See photos below).
While supplies last, I am offering to send anyone a copy for the cost of shipping and handling only. If you write on a blog or other online platform, we also ask that you write a review the book as consideration for the copy.
Godless Paganism: Voices of Non-Theistic Pagans
Cost: Free (while supplies last)
S&H: $5.00 (US)
$18 USD (Canada)
$25 USD (Europe and Australia)
The copy on the right has a slight variation in color at the top and bottom of the cover.
This formatting error occurs multiple times in the table of contents.
[Rotting Silver] “Haiku Collection: Beetles” by B. T. Newberg
A struggling beetle
Emerging from the toilet
Slides into the piss
A beetle scurries
On the floor; an eye flashes
A shoe thunders down
A hounded beetle
Dashes madly for the wall
Almost, almost, al
A horn beetle rears
Its proud majestic weapon:
It’s crushed just the same
A righted beetle
Fleeing benefactor, falls
Again on its back
In a foul nook
Hides a dung beetle breathing
Single, soundless, safe
Image Credit: Mathews Sunny Kunnelpurayidom
Rotting Silver is a column devoted to this Earth in all its tarnished radiance: poetry, prose, and parables of ugliness alloyed with joy.
This piece was first published at The Witch’s Voice.
The Author
B. T. Newberg: Since the year 2000, B. T. has been practicing meditation and ritual from a naturalistic perspective. He currently volunteers as Education Director for the Spiritual Naturalist Society, where he created and now teaches an online course in naturalistic spirituality (including Naturalistic Paganism!). His writings can also be found at Patheos and Pagan Square, as well as right here at HP.
Professionally, he teaches English as a Second Language, and hopes to begin a PhD program in the psychology of religion soon. After living in Minnesota, England, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, he currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife and cat.
After founding HumanisticPaganism.com in 2011 and serving as managing editor till 2013, he now serves as advising editor, and feels blessed to be a part of this community.
Hear Diverse Voices Reading a Pagan Community Statement on the Environment
Happy Earth Day! Thanks to HP contributor, Bart Everson, you can now listen to a compilation of voices of various ethnicities, nationalities, ages, and genders reading “A Pagan Community Statement on the Environment.” There is also a Spanish language version spoken by different people which was created by Vaelia Bjalfi. It is a very different experience hearing the Statement, as compared to reading it. It brings home a slice of the diversity that the Statement represents. The Statement has been translated into 16 languages and has been signed by people and groups from over 80 countries around the world.
Hearing these many voices can be moving. If this calls to you, perhaps take your mobile device to the woods or by a stream, and place it out of your sight while you sit comfortably. Listen to the words, enmeshed in our web of life.
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Pagan Coming Out Day – May 2nd
Naturalistic Paganism 