Around The Pagan Web

Yet another quick look at the best recent writing in the Pagan blogosphere. We start off with MacRaven who writes about the convergence of Heathen ritual, the heart of a cow and the “manamana” song!

“Asatrurar are generally pretty serious in sumbel – oh, sure, there’s the good natured jab, and more than a few jokes, but overall the timbre of most sumbels maintains a rather high level of decorum. But not this time: the first toast was a simple “Manamana!”, followed by a round of “Hail!” and it degenerated from there: movie titles, lines from Shakespeare, commercial tag lines, proverbs, even a reference to the Odin blot of the night before – nothing was sacred!”

Sunfell talks about the effect of negative prayer by certain sects of Christianity and what we (and other more moderate shades of Christian) should do about it.

“For those of us who study and understand (as much as it can be understood) the metaphysical operations of this universe, prayers like that one above speak a great deal as to why the ‘good guys’- the moderate Christians, and the more secular people- are so moribund. If many people are earnestly saying this prayer, asking people to be ‘delivered to Satan’ to be ‘saved’ later, it means that their own hateful faith, which in its own way is Satanic- is delivering the rest of us to their thrall. If we become aware of this constant barrage of hateful devotion, we can counteract it. Perhaps we can in turn pray that the mercy and intelligence of the Creator find its way into their benighted skulls and that they be delivered from their darkness and hate and find their way out of the shadow of the Cross that they hide under. Or something like that.”

Noddy at Numenous Thoughts tells us why she calls herself a Pagan.

“Claiming to be Pagan is a social act. By stating one is Pagan one claims a kinship, however remote and tenuous it may be, with others who also call themselves Pagan. Unlike being born a Smith, one chooses to be a Pagan. The act of acknowledging oneself as Pagan comes with lots of baggage, just as being born into the Smith family. Not all Pagans are ?nice?, or ?clever?, or ?friendly?. There will be Pagans whom one will fervently wish would remove themselves to the other side of the world. There will be Pagans who produce the ?that?s not Pagan? reaction, without being able to pinpoint exactly why the person or their behavior isn?t Pagan. And there will always be the Pagans who make one cringe and deny one is Pagan just so one doesn?t have to share a label with them. The burden of claiming to be Pagan is in many ways harder than claiming to be a Smith because it is by choice one assumes the label of ?Pagan?.”

Rants and Chants gives us a moving tribute to Harry Hay founder of the Radical Faeries.

“the Radical Faeries is an odd kind of movement. it praises individual exploration and expression of self and a personally crafted spiritual experience while simultaneously valuing community. there is no dogma or doctrine, no single way to be a Rad Fae, and yet Faeries find in each other strong common understanding, unconditional love. if there is any unifying truth that binds us together it is that we live in and revel in contradiction. the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence – a Radical Faerie coven – are a prime example. often bearded men, they wear too much glittery makeup, dress as Nuns and pass out condoms and safer sex information. how beautiful is that?”

Finally, The Hermit lets us know that Oslo is looking for a few good Vikings!

“Help wanted: Vikings. Must be friendly, tourist-oriented and interested in ancient Norse traditions. Crazed, bloodthirsty pillagers need not apply.”

That seems as good a place as any to end this edition.

Tags: Neopaganism