Success is not the sign of divine favor and hardship is not the sign of curses and demons – except when it is. Know who and what you’re dealing with. Be polite and keep your word. Be careful what company you keep. And when a problem has a spiritual cause, find the right spiritual solution. Read more
“Other people have it so much worse.” “Cheer up.” “It’s not that bad.” “You have so much to live for.” These clichés and memes are unhelpful and abusive and they need to disappear from our conversations. Read more
Live music in a ritual is great. But sometimes you don’t have good musicians in your group, or you really want to use a piece of recorded music to set up or enhance something in your ritual. I’ve been using recorded music in rituals for years. Here’s what I’ve learned. Read more
Many traditional activities for the Winter Solstice are designed for large groups, but many Pagans are solitary practitioners, either by choice or by necessity. Here are eight things you can do to celebrate the Solstice as a solitary. Read more
No fallen elders can break the ties between us and the Gods we serve. No racists, homophobes, or transphobes can come between those of us who gather in our common groves. No manipulative mages can rob us of the magic that is our birthright. Read more
I sometimes talk about how my experiences are so strong I no longer believe, I know. I stand by those statements. But I would be lying if I said I never have doubts. And I’m not the only experienced Pagan who would say the same thing. Read more
I love magical fiction, but there is one near-universal theme in it that I absolutely despise – the idea that magic is hereditary. Magic is about creating change in accordance with will, which is the birthright of all people, not just a few. Read more
Our mainstream society forces us to make bargains that are unfair and often exploitative. Do what you have to do to get by, but never forget who you are and what’s really important to you. Never sell them your soul. Read more
For those of us who practice an oracular religion the messages we receive from our Gods are of tremendous importance. Some of them come through ourselves, but others come through other people. How much authority should we give messages that come through other humans? Read more
The Christian missionary killed on North Sentinel Island claimed to love its people. But he loved them in the way an abusive parent claims to love their children: “just do what I say and everything will be alright.” But the Sentinelese are not children. And neither are the religious minorities who live next door to Evangelical Christians around this country. Read more
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