Most of my posts are on Paganism in one form or another: posts about the Gods, spiritual practice, our seasonal celebrations, and our way of understanding life and the world. I\u2019ve tried to write more about magic and witchcraft this year, not just because I finally claimed the title of \u201cwitch\u201d<\/a> but because these are traditions and tools we all need in these difficult times.<\/p>\n I review books I think are helpful to Pagans, or that cover topics of interest to us. And sometimes \u2013 as with my movie-related posts, I write about something just because I like to write about it.<\/p>\n I\u2019m trying to limit my political posts, but sometimes I need address an issue from a Pagan perspective, or I\u2019m struggling to deal with a political situation and I know other people are struggling too.<\/p>\n But unlike those years when I was writing 150 posts a year, I\u2019m not pushing myself to hit a fixed schedule. If I have something to say I\u2019m going to say it. If I don\u2019t, then there won\u2019t be a blog post that day.<\/p>\n Either way, I\u2019m still here.<\/p>\n And whether I write 156 posts (as I did in 2018) or 68 (as I did this year) there are always some that don\u2019t get the response I expect. They have important concepts in them, and if you missed them the first time, I hope you\u2019ll read them now.<\/p>\n Writers want to be read, but what I want most is for what I write to be read by the people who are interested and invested in Paganism, polytheism, witchcraft, and all the other spiritual, religious, and magical topics I write about. If you\u2019re reading this post, that\u2019s probably you. The best way to make sure you don\u2019t miss anything is to sign up for my personal weekly newsletter.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t the Patheos newsletter. This is my personal e-mail newsletter that goes out most Friday mornings (but not this coming Friday morning \u2013 I\u2019m on vacation and the next newsletter will be on January 3rd<\/sup>). Sign up on my teaching site at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/undertheancientoaks.com\/newsletter\/<\/a><\/p>\n The newsletter has links to the current week\u2019s blog posts. It also covers things that don\u2019t fit into the blog format, mostly in my usual range: Paganism, polytheism, and witchcraft. Current events and politics. Interesting stuff from other people. What I\u2019m working on that you\u2019ll see in the near to medium future \u2013 be the first to find out about new classes, appearances, and such.<\/p>\n Enter your e-mail in the big green block and do the not-a-robot thing. You\u2019ll get a confirmation e-mail \u2013 respond to it and you\u2019re set. You have to respond to the confirmation e-mail \u2013 my mailing service wants to make sure you really want the newsletters and someone isn\u2019t signing you up for something you don\u2019t want.<\/p>\n Dealing With Doubt: A Modern Pagan Approach<\/a> (August 2024, #56 in readership)<\/strong><\/p>\n A Catholic priest wrote about doubt from a Catholic viewpoint, oversimplifying a complex situation by saying \u201chave faith!\u201d<\/p>\n Pagans can have religious and spiritual doubt too. But if we are wise, we will approach our doubts differently, beginning by acknowledging that religious questions are inherently uncertain, and that believing the \u201cright\u201d things is not what\u2019s most important.<\/p>\n Hold loosely but practice deeply. Remain open to new evidence, new experiences, new ways of thinking. If what you find \u2013 or what finds you \u2013 convinces you that your ideas aren\u2019t correct, or that there\u2019s something better, then change your mind \u2013 change your life.<\/p>\n But while you\u2019re following that path, explore it as deeply as you can. Go all in with whatever it is: worship the Gods, do divination, work magic \u2013 whatever beliefs and practices call to you. See where they take you. If it works for you, keep going. If it doesn\u2019t, try something else.<\/p>\n How to Make a Monster<\/a> (March 2024, #58 in readership)<\/strong><\/p>\n A meme I see occasionally says:<\/p>\n Knowledge is knowing Frankenstein isn\u2019t the monster.<\/p>\n Wisdom is knowing Frankenstein is the monster.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is a dangerous oversimplification.<\/p>\n This post starts with the history of Frankenstein<\/em>, and with my experiences with both the novel and the movie adaptations. Then it explores the question of \u201chow do you make a monster?\u201d and comes to a conclusion:<\/p>\n There are two monsters in this story, and two ways of becoming a monster.<\/p>\n Treat people monstrously and they will become monsters.<\/p>\n Treat people monstrously and you will become a monster yourself.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A UU Pagan Looks at Death and Beyond<\/a> (October 2024, #60 in readership)<\/strong><\/p>\n My sermons usually aren\u2019t well read. They\u2019re much longer than typical blog posts, and while they\u2019re unapologetically Pagan, they\u2019re tailored towards a Unitarian Universalist audience. But this sermon \/ blog post went up just before Samhain and it reminds us all that the time to think about death and what comes after is not when we\u2019re about to die, or when we\u2019re at the funeral of a loved one. The time to think about death is on a beautiful Sunday morning when we feel like we\u2019re going to live forever, even though we know we won\u2019t.<\/p>\n To be human is to be aware that we are alive, and to also be aware that someday we will die. How do we deal with this great and terrible knowledge?<\/p>\n Reading Tarot \u2013 How I Interact With Clients<\/a> (September 2024, #62 in readership)<\/strong><\/p>\n Given the current popularity of Tarot, I\u2019m genuinely disappointed that this post wasn\u2019t more widely read. It\u2019s one thing to be able to read the cards. But even if you\u2019re the world\u2019s best reader, you still have to figure out how to communicate what you see to the querent. That\u2019s an entirely different process and skill set.<\/p>\n And the need for these skills is just as strong when the querent is yourself.<\/p>\n I\u2019m planning to re-open for readings next year, once the new Call of Cernunnos<\/a> class is finished in February. I\u2019ll announce it in the newsletter when I do.<\/p>\n![\"photo](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/243\/2024\/12\/JFB-12.18.24-01-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSign up for my personal newsletter<\/h2>\n
The four best posts of 2024 that you didn\u2019t read<\/h2>\n
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