Naturalistic Paganism
Our Lady of the Elements, by Bart Everson, from The Gaian Way
Eclipse over Antarctica (Image by NASA)
The earth is a living, conscious being. In company with cultures of many different times and places, we name these things as sacred: air, fire, water, and earth.
— Starhawk, The Fifth Sacred Thing
My life is a work in process, a cascade of patterns in flux. My habits and routines and rituals are not what I was taught as a child. I’ve had to find my own answers to the big questions: Who am I? What does it all mean? I’m still working on it.
You can join us online for The Cosmic Signal May 8th! [Starstuff, Contemplating]
Here’s an online video event about how a major site in our cosmic history has been saved!
One of the most powerful discoveries given to us by science has been learning the astounding and glorious history of how we got here. A key part of that discovery was the finding of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation (CMB, see picture below), literally the glow of the Big Bang or Great Radiance itself! The actual structure which gave us our earliest baby picture of ourselves was under threat from developers (for building a condo unit – seriously?), but with our efforts and the efforts of many others last year, was saved! Join us this coming Thursday, 7 pm EDT to celebrate! You have to register ahead of time to attend – register here.
Happy Spring Equitherm (Beltane)!
Celebrations
Attraction! Our world reawakens, and we see beauty around us! In addition to each of us finding beauty in our world as part of our connection to our Universe, our wider body of humankind is still expecting to find new beauty in the night sky – with the light from a star undergoing a Nova explosion! But hold on, wasn’t that supposed to happen last year? Yes, but it hasn’t happened yet. It could be coming up, and now the warmer temperatures (in the Northern Hemisphere) will make viewing easier! It’ll be at it’s full brightness for less than 1 day, so I can’t post about it when it happens – it will probably be over before you see the post. Here are all the details for finding it when it explodes, including a ritual for when it explodes! Also, just after Beltane, many of us enjoy Star Wars Day, May 4th ( May the fourth….. be with you!).
Some of the ways many of us are celebrating Beltane were published ~ a week ago, and now we also have many online & in person celebrations and rituals to attend, as we like (see list of links in that post published last week). Plus, hat tip to Mark Green for posting this useful article about ways to celebrate Beltane with kids, without the need to focus on human sexuality (not that there’s anything wrong with that, Jerry). Beltane also reminds us of the symmetry of life and death, – as Glenys does here. For some of us, the celebrations will be later this week or next- the actual midpoint between the Equinox and the Solstice is May 5th, and this year, with Beltane falling on a weekday, this coming weekend has plenty of events planned. And of course, for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, Happy Samhain! However you are celebrating, may your be celebration be blessed.
This is an updated version of our annual Spring Equitherm post.
Make your own Maypole for the May Cross-Quarter (Vernal Equitherm or Beltane) – it’s less than two weeks away! + a dozen online celebrations
The Vernal Equitherm (Beltane) is coming! Before Beltane sweeps over our whole Northern Hemisphere (with Samhain in the Southern Hemisphere), do you have a Maypole for your group? It’s especially fun with a bunch of kids, and they learn to celebrate our Earth too! Easy instructions below, as well as other ways to celebrate and many online rituals to join!
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The Powerful Rewards of Simply Showing Up, plus The February Holiday, High Spring, and more! Recent Episodes of THE WONDER podcast, by Mark Green
Sometimes I haven’t felt fully excited to go to a social/Pagan event. I’ve told myself to just go. Almost invariably, I have a great time, and think “how could I have considered missing this! Showing up – it’s great! Plus, great recollections of the Suntree retreat, and plans for **firewalking**!! Plus High Spring, & the February holiday! All those, and more, are on the page here.
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Pagan Coming Out Day – May 2nd
Naturalistic Paganism 