Making Light: Interfaith is Not a Dirty Word

February 12, 2013 By 14 Comments
Zeus & Hera Cake

"Do what you wanna Do what you will Just don't mess up Your neighbor's thrill" --Frank Zappa Once again, we're having some excellent conversation about the way we relate to people of the Abrahamic faiths, as well as about the place of those who have elements of Abrahamic ritual or belief among the diversity of Pagan faiths. Jason Mankey had some excellent points in response to Sam Webster's post, and I'd like to riff off of some of what Jason says. (Jason, I must admit I only skimmed the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Columns, Editor's Picks, Interfaith, Making Light Tagged With: , , , , , 14 Comments

Druid Thoughts: Introvert, Extrovert, Druid

February 11, 2013 By 1 Comment
The Introvert B3, by h.koppdelaney

Over at my regular blog, I’ve been contemplating the place of the Druid as someone who undertakes to have a foot in both camps, wherever there are two things that seem in opposition to each other. My initial theme was of nature and civilization, but the issues of introvert and extrovert working certainly come into play here too. (Read here if you want to see where I’ve already been with this.) There is a service aspect to Druidry – as a ritual celebrant, teacher, or bard, a fair amount … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Columns, Community, Druid Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Gateway Goddess: Looking at Lent through Pagan Eyes

February 8, 2013 By 3 Comments
Unplugging from media can be a sacrificial act. Photo by Samuel M. Livingston.

Lent is coming up. And for once, I find myself thinking seriously about the meaning of this season, and its relationship to my own life. I was raised Protestant (Disciples of Christ, mostly) and we didn't do Lent. We also didn't do Advent, which I would have enjoyed, given the prevalence of candy calendars in its celebration. But Lent? Lent was giving up candy, or cartoons, or something else fun. I could do without that season of doing without. But this year, I am in a relationship with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Columns, Gateway Goddess, Holidays, Interfaith, Ritual and Practice Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Naturalistic Traditions: Exploring the Historical Roots of Naturalistic Paganism

February 7, 2013 By 7 Comments
Cypress Roots by Aheatwole

Were there Naturalistic Pagans in the ancient world? This is the central question of a new series of essays exploring the historical roots of naturalistic ways among Pagans. Many may assume that Naturalistic Pagans, who tend to be agnostics or atheists, are an exclusively modern phenomenon.  This series questions that assumption, probing various historical Pagan traditions for something resembling naturalism. The significance of this project goes beyond naturalism.  Indeed, it calls … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Columns, Editor's Picks, History, Naturalistic Traditions, Theology, Ethics, Philosophy Tagged With: , , , , , , 7 Comments

Making Light: A Dionysia Yet to Be Named

February 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Wine

Holidays lasting three days or longer are not uncommon in the Athenian calendar, and it sometimes seems to me like it's the rule rather than the exception. I've never done a statistical analysis of it, so I couldn't say for a certainty, but there are a heck of a lot of these multi-day celebrations. The whole calendar is a daunting thing, and it seems like there's a holiday or observance every other week. There's no way anyone could celebrate everything and also have a life or a job, so you've … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Columns, Holidays, Literature, Media, Film, Music, Making Light, Ritual and Practice Tagged With: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment