The Wild Hunt » Astrology

Unleash the Hounds! (Link Roundup)

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:03:07 +0000

There are lots of articles and essays of interest to modern Pagans out there, sometimes more than I can write about in-depth in any given week. So The Wild Hunt must unleash the hounds in order to round them all up.

Back in October I wrote about Christian talk-radio host Janet Mefferd’s “Gay Pagan Hysteria,” criticizing her for comments about “pagans” wanting to “wipe out Christianity.” It seems my criticisms actually caught the eye of Ms. Mefferd herself, as she dedicated some time in November to discuss modern Paganism and the “ideology” of “paganism” with Peter Jones, editor of “On Global Wizardry: Techniques of Pagan Spirituality and a Christian Response”. How can I tell that she was reading The Wild Hunt? Because she directly quotes a guest-post by T. Thorn Coyle in the program, to which Thorn replied that “working with Jason Pitzl-Waters always brings gifts of some sort or another!” Always nice to know that some Christians are expanding their horizons by reading this blog, feel free to drop by anytime Janet!
Anne Elizabeth Wynn at the Austin American Statesman concludes a year of visiting and experiencing various religious traditions with Unitarian Universalism and modern Paganism. Puzzled by the “confusing research” into the differences between Wicca and Paganism, Wynn enlists the help of local Pagans Jax and GG (aka The Pagan Princesses). On Paganism, GG says that it “is not focused on life after death or on salvation or fear of damnation. Accountability is now, with your friends and family.” You can find out more about Wynn’s spiritual journey, here.
The Deccan Herald looks at the traditional Mata ni Pachedi, a hand-painted cloth that honors the mother goddess. You can see some examples of Mata ni Pachedi, here and here.
At Religion Dispatches Louis A.Ruprecht follows up his recent essay on Saturnalia with one on the differences (and conflations) between Cronus (Saturn) and Chronus (Time). Quote: “The Roman poet Horace famously quipped that “Captive Greece had conquered her conqueror,” as a way to describe the newfound Roman fascination with Greek mythology in the last century before the Common Era. But the conqueror was still a conqueror, so the later Romans felt free to make Greek myths over in Latin dress.”
The SexIs blog looks at sacred intimacy, prostitution, and Tantra in the wake of the Phoenix Goddess Temple arrests (link can be somewhat NSFW, depending on where you work). Quote: “Were their ministrations quid pro quo sex for hire, or were these ‘sacred priestesses’ engaged in the re-creation of an ancient practice of ritualized sex for spiritual healing? Is the answer to that question somewhere in between? How does it matter to our overall understanding of the curative role of sex or the need to heal traumas, sexual or otherwise?” An interesting and thoughtful meditation on the various perspectives.
A prosecutor in Siberia’s call to ban the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism’s most holy texts, sparked an international outcry recently. Embarrassed by the official’s actions a Russian court rejected the proposed ban, and Russia’s Foreign Ministry went on damage control. Quote: “I repeat this is not about the book per se, but about the unsuccessful translation and the preface written by the author.” This is just the latest incident in the abuse of Russia’s laws against extremism, which local officials have been using to crack down on Russian Pagans and other minority faiths (like the Jehovah’s Witnesses) that the Russian Orthodox Church disapprove of. Expect to see more of this in years to come.
Does Ron Paul have a controversial Dominionist pastor problem? Not anymore!
SFist provides cosmic proof that Oakland mayor Jean Quan bungled the handling of Occupy Oakland.
Prayer warriors explicitly target the separation of Church and State.
Unsurprisingly, several high-profile young adult authors hated, hated, hated the terrible, no-good, film adaptation of Susan Cooper’s classic book “The Dark Is Rising.” Quote from “Wicked” author Gregory Maguire: “I am told that the movie based on “The Dark Is Rising” is pretty lousy; the novelist, Susan Cooper, begged me not to see it, and out of long-standing friendship I have obeyed her.” The book, however, remains excellent, do seek it out.

That’s it for now! Happy 2012 everyone! Feel free to discuss any of these links in the comments, some of these I may expand into longer posts as needed.

Astronomy, Astrology, and Why I’m Not a Gemini

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:00:45 +0000

There’s been something of an upheaval among the stars recently when a Minneapolis Star Tribune article quoted astronomer Parke Kunkle, a board member of the Minnesota Planetarium Society, who said astrologers had it all wrong. That everything was off by a month, and that there was even a brand-new (yet ancient) sign added to the mix. The initial story went seriously viral, being reported by everyone from Gawker to NPR.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLJanokEP8E

There’s just one problem, the astronomer wasn’t up on how modern Western astrology is actually done, causing an almost immediate backlash and rebuttal.

“But before astrology fans scrape the ink from their arms because they think they’re now a Virgo instead of a Libra, they should consider this: If they adhered to the tropical zodiac - which, if they’re a Westerner, they probably did – absolutely nothing has changed for them. That’s worth rephrasing: If you considered yourself a Cancer under the tropical zodiac last week, you’re still a Cancer under the same zodiac this week. That’s because the tropical zodiac – which is fixed to seasons, and which Western astrology adheres to – differs from the sidereal zodiac – which is fixed to constellations and is followed more in the East, and is the type of zodiac to which the Star Tribune article ultimately refers.”

It seems this kind of story isn’t anything new, and the whole thing is enough to get superstar astrologers like Rob Brezsny a bit ticked off.

“I understand that scientists like him would prefer not to lower themselves to the task of actually doing research about how astrology works. But if they’re going to question its foundations, they should at least learn it well enough to know what they’re talking about.”

Brezsny was echoed by several other prominent astrologers, many of whom are quite tired of reassuring thousands of people that they don’t have to change their astrological tattoo.

“So, hear ye, hear ye! Vedic astrologers use the the sidereal zodiac, and most Western astrologers use the tropical zodiac. They have different purposes, and different philosophies. Both zodiacs work. Most Western astrologers are familiar with their sidereal chart — it tells a different story, and can reveal deeper tendencies you may have noticed but not named. I’m a Pisces in tropical astrology but an Aquarius in sidereal astrology. If you’re curious, cast your sidereal chart and see where the planets show up.

As for Ophiuchus. This is an old hoax. Historically, Ophiuchus has never been listed as a constellation in the sidereal zodiac. It is a constellation out there, but it’s off the ecliptic (that is, it’s not along the path of the Sun through the sky). I’ve read that Ptolemy mentions it in his literature as an off-zodiac constellation, meaning that the Sun never travels through it. In any event, there are some two dozen constellations that touch the ecliptic; but the sidereal zodiac uses just 12 of them.”

Soon, the article that sparked this tempest was updated to note the “pushback from those in the astrological world.” Just the latest salvo in the ongoing astronomy/astrology battle. So before you buy that Ophiuchus key-chain, you might want to do a little background reading first. Further, if you were an awesome Cancer, you are not a Gemini, nothing has changed.

Welcome 2009, or, We Need Four Billion Religions

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Instead of reading more 2009 predictions from a collection of local psychics, let’s turn instead to the SF Gate’s interview with astrologer Rob Brezsny. The “free will” astrologer takes some time to punch holes in the predictions of your neighborhood doom-sayers.

“I believe that some astrologers, not all, are like a lot of New Age prophets and right-wing fundamentalist prophets in that they gravitate toward the visions of the future that stimulate fear, because at this cultural moment fear is more entertaining than the more uplifting news, and it gives them power. It gives them power to scare somebody. I try to have a very tolerant nature towards all people, but I have to admit that it really grates on me when astrologers just fixate on the ugliest possible interpretation of any astrological aspect.”

Then again, he also says the real prophets of our culture are creating a darker world.

“The more dangerous prophets are the storytellers of our culture – the journalists, the filmmakers, the writers of fiction and many musicians who are constantly besieging us with dark visions. I think about Muriel Rukeyser, the poet, who said that the universe is not made of molecules – it’s made out of stories, and if the storytellers of our culture are constantly telling us that the only true thing is an ugly thing, then yes, I do think that’s a problem.”

Being someone who alternately styles himself a journalist and an artist, I take issue with the idea that “dark stories” are creating an “ugly” future. Art isn’t just joyous inspiration, it is also catharsis and reflection. Imagine how darker things would truly be without the “dark visions” providing a safe outlet for all that “ugliness”. So while I admire Brezsny’s commitment to positive thinking, he seems to be stuck in a sort of “pronoic” tunnel vision of his own making on this particular issue.

But let’s not end the first post of 2009 on a critical note, here is a final quote from Brezsny that should warm a few Pagan hearts.

“I subscribe to Krishnamurti’s principle… he said that “we need four billion religions.” Now that number is up to 6.5 billion – a religious tradition for everyone on the planet, 6.5 billion paths to God.”

For more on Brezsny and Free Will Astrology, check out his web site. I’m also fond of his piece “A Prayer For You”. I hope you had a great New Years, and aren’t suffering too much from last night’s celebrations.

Here Comes the Future

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:19:00 +0000

As we move forward into 2009 many of us are looking warily into an uncertain economic future. It seems logical then that those who promise advance knowledge – diviners, psychics, astrologers, and prognosticators – would be enjoying something of a boom time. That’s the premise of a recent CNN spotlight (HT: Klintron) on how some astrologers and psychics are doing well in this pessimistic economic climate*.

Embedded video from CNN Video

“Astrologer Randy Goldberg says he’s gone from seeing two to three clients a day to as many as nine. No longer is love the top query. ‘They’re curious about what’s going to happen to the market, what the economic future of the U.S. is looking like in the next couple of years…they want to know about the job market.’”

But is the common wisdom that psychics (and others who peer into the future) do well during hard times really accurate? After all, despite the New Age community’s recent Oprah-fication, initial signs have been mixed. Trade shows have been canceled, and niche publications are often hanging on by a thread. As for the psychics themselves, they seem split on the economic future. Bay Area psychics seem to think that the “economy will turn around much sooner than economists now predict”, while psychics from Colorado Springs seem a bit more pessimistic.

“The recession will bottom out on Oct. 22, 2009. During February 2010, nearly all of us will believe we are coming out of the recession.”

I wonder if the real answer to the question of psychics and astrologers doing well during recessions is one of style instead of substance. That the prognosticators willing to offer reassurance and comfort will be sought out, while doom-saying Cassandras (or hard-nosed realists) will see some hard times (aside from those who wish confirmation of their own portents of decline). In this these individuals won’t be too different from the entertainment industry, which will no doubt offer a steady diet of uplift, flashy action-heroes, and comedy as times get tougher (few will want to wallow in existential dread when their wallets are empty). It doesn’t take a mind-reader to know that people want escape and hope when times have backed them into a corner.

* The Horoscopic Astrology Blog takes issue with CNN’s conflation of psychics with astrologers, noting that most astrologers don’t claim to be psychic. You might also want to check out his “Top 10 Types of Astrologers To Avoid”.

(Pagan) News of Note

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:23:00 +0000

My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.

Both The Times and The Independent review the new book “Stonehenge” by Rosemary Hill, which explores the social history and differing perceptions of this famous ancient monument.

“A great strength of Hill’s method is that she is by no means inclined just to laugh at what seem ludicrous beliefs. She carefully unpicks them, showing what made them attractive in their cultures, and how scholarly their adherents often were, apart from their brief descent into Stonehenge madness.”

You can read an excerpt of the work, here. Hill’s “Stonehenge” looks like a worthy new tome exploring this ever-popular monument (including modern Pagan interactions with Stonehenge). Release date in the UK is June 10th, and in America on November 15th.

Looking for Pagan music but aren’t a fan of folk music, neo-medieval stylings, or darkwave? Then you might want to check out the latest offering from Jazz musician Jordi Rossy. His trio’s new album is entitled “Wicca”, and according to All About Jazz, it’s “mesmerizing”.

“Wicca is a largely ruminative album, Rossy somewhere on the piano spectrum between George Winston and his sometimes employer Mehldau … Whether the piano is in the lead, organ droning behind, or organ leads, in churchy mode, with piano chords underneath, that sound is consistent and, at its best, mesmerizing. A comfort zone is established and observed, only breached noticeably on the title track, the CD’s longest, adding trumpet and tenor sax and combining disparate elements of tempo and form into an intricate yet harmonious texture.”

You can order the album from this web site.

Your Christian scare-mongering link of the week: beware of horoscopes (and palmistry, and Ouija boards).

“Just like the Ouija board, the horoscope can also be dangerous—a dangerous first step into the world of the occult. One woman, Barbara Gardner, writing in Today’s Christian Woman, explained how reading horoscopes sucked her into a dangerous pattern that led to astral projection—also known as “out of body experience”—palm reading, and fortune-telling. She ultimately attributed the breakup of two of her marriages to her obsession with occult activity.”

Back! Back Rob Brezsny! Back into the pits of Hell with you and your ilk! Also, beware of “slutty” mermaids selling you coffee!

Are Pagans considered a part of the “religious left”? Pew Forum Senior Fellow in Religion and American Politics John Green seems to hint that we could be, if we wanted to.

“Attention has largely been focused on various kinds of Christians who hold these views, but it is important to remember that these groups extend to non-Christians as well, including believers in the Jewish community and people who are “spiritual but not religious.” There are progressive voices appearing in nearly every religious tradition.”

Of course if Christians like Jim Wallis, who is regularly misrepresented as a liberal, get their way the “big tent” of the “religious left” wouldn’t openly include the Pagans and other non-monotheistic outsiders that could embarrass him or moderate Democrats trying to win over “values voters”.

Press profiling Pagans round-up! The Sault Star talks to author and Pagan Elizabeth Creith about her involvement in “flash fiction” and other artistic projects, Pennsylvania publication Voices talks to Art Shipkowski, a member of Ár nDraíocht Féin, at a Penn. State Pagan gathering, and The Shreveport Times talks to a Pagan husband and wife who run a local tattoo parlor called the Twisted Cauldron.

“The Clementses say opening Twisted Cauldron “is a 10-year dream.” Knowing the previous tenants, Modern Primitives, B.J. said, the opportunity popped up and he jumped on it. “There isn’t really a shop like this in the area, and privacy is a big issue,” B.J. Clements said. “A lot of our success has to do with how we treat our customers,” B.J. Clements said, adding one of the tenets of their Wiccan faith is “May you never hunger, May you never thirst.” “I do commerce with all sorts of religions and denominations; it generally isn’t an issue,” he said of being Wiccan.”

Did you get profiled recently in your local paper? Why not drop me a line! You too could be mentioned in my semi-regular round-up of Pagan press profiles.

In a final note, should you buy a Pan Flute? The answer may surprise you.

That is all I have for now, have a great day!