Naturalistic Paganism
No-Nonsense Paganism: What ritual really does
Last year, the Sunday before the winter solstice, my Unitarian Universalist minister led our congregation in a solstice service. When Unitarians do religious services that aren’t sermon-centric, they tend to consist of a series of quotes and hymns, more or less tied together by theme–in this case the solstice. During one part of the service, our minister read from a script describing the meaning of the Wheel of the Year and the role of ritual. The service was recorded so I was able to transcribe it:
Read MoreNew Resources, SLOGG, Maintaining your Practice, and more! Recent Episodes of THE WONDER podcast, by Mark Green
What a treasure trove we have in these recent The Wonder podcasts! Atheopaganism is growing quickly, and some of the newest activities and resources are described in the January 9th podcast. Plus, plenty to help build and live your own Pagan practice (January 23), and your own Wheel of the Year (January 16). And if you want to learn more about the Sabbats of SLOGG (a demi-Sabbat) and Imbolc, there are podcast episodes on those too! – All that more, on the page here.
Happy Winter Thermstice/Imbolc!
Hidden life beneath the snow and ice can take many forms and is preparing to burst forth! What do you hold, which could empower your life? Is it nearly time to bring it forward? Read More
No-Nonsense Paganism: Finding the fire again
At this time of the year, it’s common for Pagans to honor the element of fire. So, I thought it would be fitting now to tell a story about fire.
There’s a famous Hasidic story, which I first heard related by the author Elie Wiesel:
When Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism, saw that the Jewish people were threatened by tragedy, he would go to a particular place in the forest where he lit a fire, recited a particular prayer, and asked for a miracle to save the Jews from the threat. Because of the Holy Fire and faithfulness of the prayer, the miracle was accomplished, averting the tragedy.
Read MoreNo-Nonsense Paganism: One pagan’s calendar
I’m frustrated. I just experienced another public Imbolc celebration which included an explanation of how, in Britain in the time of the Celts, February was springtime. Meanwhile, I’m looking at a forecast for the next two weeks and the temperature will be hovering just above freezing. This is typical for this time of the year where I live (at the bottom tip of Lake Michigan where Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan meet).
Why are we talking about spring in the literal middle of winter? Why are we talking about Celts and Romans did hundreds of years ago? And why are we ritually honoring the bodies of water like the Ganges and the Nile, when there’s a lake within walking distance and one of the Great Lakes not far off?
Read MoreBuy Godless Paganism (paperback)
Buy Godless Paganism (ebook)
Pagan Coming Out Day – May 2nd
Naturalistic Paganism 