Wyrd Words: Pagan Life Lessons – Adaptability

Last updated on: March 5, 2015 at 11:14 pm By Alyxander Folmer

Our community can be very opinionated. Everybody who has ever bothered to peruse the Pagan Blogosphere (or seen more than two Pagans try to have a conversation) knows that our community is constantly arguing with itself. In matters of religion, it's easy to become stuck in a specific line of thinking. When someone calls into question an idea which we hold dear, it's normal to feel defensive. That's perfectly natural (and completely understandable), but it's important to know how to choose our battles. The knee-jerk reaction that causes us to shut down and play defense can also keep us from taking in important new information. Read more

Socially Responsible Magic: Why We Need to Have the Hard Conversations

Last updated on: March 3, 2015 at 11:38 pm By Taylor Ellwood

Over the last year or so, the Pagan community has engaged in hard conversations dealing with issues including consent culture, sex positivity, and racism. These are important conversations, but they are also hard; in part because of what they make each person realize about themselves and in part because we look at our community--and where we fit into it differently--as a result of them. But, while these conversations are hard, they are also necessary. Read more

The Busy Witch: Snow and Stillness

Last updated on: March 2, 2015 at 11:48 pm By Jen McConnel

When the earth warms up again, I have no doubt that I’ll once more resume my frantic pace, but for right now, I have discovered the powerful magic of stillness, and I will sit in this space as long as I am able. Read more

The Zen Pagan: What Does It Mean For the Gods to Exist?

Last updated on: February 27, 2015 at 2:55 pm By Tom Swiss

To answer the question "Do the deities exist?", we need to answer two questions, just two trivial little matters: 1) What is a god? 2) What does it mean to exist? Read more

Alone In Her Presence: An Open Heart and a Naked Soul

Last updated on: February 24, 2015 at 4:51 pm By Erick DuPree

I have come to know the Goddess as the vessel of our most intimate self. Whether in worship, public ritual, or alone in her presence what the Goddess has provided me is a vessel. Sometimes this is a liminal vessel whereby we are standing on the edge of magic, and other times it is simply holy emptiness. Shallow or deep this vessel is the fertile mantle I build my Spiritual practice upon. It is where I touch suffering, and release it. It is where I set my intentions for the world, and invite transmutation of personal karma Read more

The Witches Next Door: When Worlds Collide – Coming Back From Pantheacon

Last updated on: March 24, 2015 at 12:31 pm By The Witches Next Door

Have you ever come back from a vacation or a spiritual retreat and had the world just sort of slap you in the face? Reality can be harsh. We refer to this process as "re-entry". It's that adjustment period when we need to remember that there won't be someone else preparing our meals or making our beds or reminding us where to be for our next amazing discussion. We're returning from a terrific Pagan conference full of ideas and inspiration and we're acutely aware that we have day jobs and obligations that are significantly less exciting but oh so very necessary. So on the ride home from PantheaCon we asked each other why we attend these events and what do we ultimately get out of going to them? Read more

Seeking the Grail: Why Begin the Quest?

Last updated on: February 23, 2015 at 4:08 pm By Shauna Aura Knight

An introduction to Seeking the Grail, a column about spiritual seeking, personal transformation, leadership, and mysticism. What is the Quest for the Grail? How does the journey shape your heart? What calls your soul on this path? Read more

Wyrd Words: Pagan Life Lessons – Strength

Last updated on: February 19, 2015 at 7:05 pm By Alyxander Folmer

Today we will be continuing with part 3 of our newest series: “Pagan Life Lessons”. The Lore teaches us that the value of "strength" is not simply a matter of shrugging off our problems. I believe that same virtue can help us become better people by teaching us what to DO with our most difficult experiences. Read more