Druid Thoughts: The Art of Consent

February 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Danaë by Gustav Klimt

Being able to give and withhold consent is an essential expression of self. In all aspects of life, being able to say yes or no, for our own reasons, is critically important for emotional well-being. If we cannot choose freely and for our own reasons, then our scope for manifesting spiritual values in daily life is sorely impaired. Worse yet, we leave ourselves open to misuse. It’s very easy to lose this essential art and not even notice it has gone. To know when to give or withhold calls for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Columns, Druid Thoughts, Love, Sex & Relationships Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

All That Sure Is Change…

February 23, 2012 By 1 Comment
Maison-Dieu_tarot_charles6

Changes There is a saying I used to hear growing up in a coven and around the pagan community as I grew up. That saying was " All that sure is change...". It was a saying that was used to imply that the Wheel of the Year moves on and so does the cycle of our lives. It was a saying that was offered to people to provide comfort; to ease them into (sometimes drastic) changes they had recently undergone. Words have a lot of power and meaning, especially to those who follow the path of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Theology, Ethics, Philosophy Tagged With: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Overview of the PantheaCon Gender Debate

February 22, 2012 By 87 Comments
412px-1909_Tyee_-_Debate_and_Oratory_illustration

The discussion over the "Genetic women only" ritual by Z Budapest at PantheaCon is in full swing across the blogosphere, discussion groups, and in face to face conversations. Although I hesitate jumping into what is clearly an emotional and highly charged discussion, I’m hopeful that these observations may help move the discussion in a more productive direction. There are several different positions people are articulating that range from very narrow in focus to much more global in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, News, Politics, Theology, Ethics, Philosophy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 87 Comments

Role of a Pagan Leader

February 22, 2012 By 6 Comments
Paganavebury

As I am nearing the end of my third degree studies, I've been putting a lot of thought into what it means to be a High Priest. What the roles and responsibilities that come with assuming this mantle are. The result? A series of questions for leaders to constantly ask themselves. Who do we serve? How can we best serve? Are we making an unique contribution? Are we improving all the time? The first question has an easy answer, we serve our Gods by serving the community. Whether it is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: , , , 6 Comments

Druid Thoughts: In Search of a Feminist Goddess

February 22, 2012 By 31 Comments
The Golden Bough by Jeroen van Valkenburg

I should begin by explaining that I am not a Wiccan, but have had close contact with Wiccans and the wider pagan community for more than a decade. Wiccans and those who draw heavily on them for inspiration, still represent the majority of pagans. In my experience, many folk who identify as ‘eclectic’ or ‘on their own path’ turn out to be working with largely Wiccan derived concepts. Of these, by far the most prevalent are ideas about female divinity. Turning away from God the Father … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Columns, Druid Thoughts, Editor's Picks, Theology, Ethics, Philosophy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 31 Comments