Columns | Naturalistic Paganism

The most important part of my celebration of Riverain is my annual rain hike: When a nice heavy storm comes along, I suit up and go for a hike in a wilderness area. There is something moving and lovely about walking in the rain, cozy inside my layers of winter gear, with a beautiful trail all to myself, as I’m the only one crazy enough to go walking when it’s pouring. The sky rains down the sweet water, and I watch it flow down to the creeks, rivers and aquifers that sustain my life through the dry months.

[Starstuff, Contemplating] “Celebrating hidden life – Imbolc” by Heather and Jon Cleland-Host

Posted on January 24, 2015 by NaturalisticPaganism

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Imbolc is a time for reflection and anticipation. In addition to anticipating the end of winter, the emergence of plants germinating through the winter, and the birth of animals in the spring, it is doubly meaningful for those mapping the human lifetime, as it matches gestation, or the time before birth.

[A Pedagogy of Gaia] “Communities of mind are necessary but not sufficient” by Bart Everson

Posted on January 22, 2015 by NaturalisticPaganism

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The growth of contemporary Paganism has been fueled by communities of mind, via books and websites, to the point that most American practitioners are solitary. This is unfortunate but perhaps inevitable. As a small religious movement, many will find themselves unable to connect with others on a regular basis for the simple practical reason that we lack numbers. Even so, we are all a part of larger communities, and we have much to offer.

The Idea Behind PostPaganry, Part 1: Introduction, by Glen Gordon

Posted on January 19, 2015 by NaturalisticPaganism

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Postpaganry is the moment when you are the most alive and aware of the world around you. Postpaganry is when that moment sweeps you away in to spontaneous ceremony and celebration of life within and all around you. Postpaganry is the place where you feel the most at home, where you connect to the natural living-world in deep and intimate ways. A Postpagan is someone who looks for the sacred everywhere they go. A Postpagan takes breath as sacrament. A Postpagan can be anybody at any time.