John Beckett - Page 2 of 154 - Musings of a Druid, Pagan, and Unitarian Universalist.

Exclusivist Religion Brings Death – Christian Missionary Killed Invading Isolated People

November 25, 2018 By John Beckett

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

Are There Downsides to Living in a Magical Universe?

November 22, 2018 By John Beckett

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A reader complained that my post on the benefits of living in a magical universe was too one-sided and that I ignored the downsides. That’s a fair criticism, so I’d like to explore it in more depth. Are there downsides to living in a magical universe? Read more

13 Questions For Pagan Leaders

November 20, 2018 By John Beckett

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You can’t control other people’s expectations for your leadership. But you can control how you lead. Here are 13 questions to help you become an effective Pagan leader. Read more

What Fictional Witches Can Teach Us About Pursuing What We Really Want

November 18, 2018 By John Beckett

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There are more than a few people who feel like they’re Sabrina at the edge of the forest clearing. There’s something that calls to them, but they’re afraid to say yes. They’re afraid to sign the book. Read more

Navigating the Mental Health Industry When You also have Mystical Experiences

November 15, 2018 By John Beckett

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This is the story of what happened when a bipolar Pagan described their spiritual experiences to a Christian mental health professional. It’s followed by commentary and advice from two licensed counselors, one Pagan and the other UU. Read more

Celebrating Wolfenoot as a Pagan

November 13, 2018 By John Beckett

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Wolfenoot is a new holiday on November 23 that celebrates wolves, dogs, and people who are kind to dogs. It’s not a Pagan thing, but it’s sure to be popular with many Pagans and other folks who love Nature. Read more

What the Devil is Going On?

November 11, 2018 By John Beckett

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Movies of the 1960s told people “the devil’s in your kids and we need traditional institutions to get him out.” Today’s TV shows tell us the devil is running these institutions and we must face him on our own, with the help of our family and friends. Read more

This Is Progress, Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It

November 8, 2018 By John Beckett

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As a progressive Texan, this election brought me the emotional devastation of being so close and yet so far. I’m going back to my religious work now, but I’m going to stay engaged with mainstream politics, because this country and its people are too important to abandon them to Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Read more

Pagans, Dominionists, the Fair Folk, and the Spiritual Battle for America

November 6, 2018 By John Beckett

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As a religion, Christian fundamentalism is demonstrably false. That doesn’t mean all spiritual acts by fundamentalists and dominionists are impotent. That’s wishful thinking on our part. Their magic to claim the land for themselves and to bring about the end of the world has a real impact, and it always has. Read more

House Cleansings Gone Wrong and How to Avoid Them

November 4, 2018 By John Beckett

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Sometimes we’re so intent on cleansing a place we wipe the good away with the bad. We forget we’re not the only ones who live there. Or we’re so eager to show everybody in this world and the next just how big and strong our magic is that we don’t notice who gets hurt in the process. Read more