Praising the Unsung Heroes of Paganism

Last updated on: May 24, 2011 at 9:20 am By Star Foster

What keeps Paganism thriving is not authors. It’s not bloggers, or journalists. It’s not those giving workshops or appearing in television specials or writing academic papers. It’s teachers and community organizers. People who don’t publish, or receive much recognition from the larger community. These are the people who organize your Pagan Pride days, who show up to meet and greets rain or shine. These are people who patiently teach meditation 101 and basic protocol over and over, year in and... Read more

Tilting At Wikimills

Last updated on: May 23, 2011 at 8:56 am By Cara Schulz

Originally appeared at PNC-Minnesota. I’ve been engaging in something that may be an exercise in futility, working to improve (read: keep from being deleted) an article on Paganistan on Wikipedia. The article has been tagged for deletion for not being note worthy enough. Not enough sources they consider ‘reliable’ have written about Paganistan, which is short hand for saying the mainstream press hasn’t written much about us and the other sources listed aren’t reliable for one reason or another. From... Read more

Wyrd Designs – Musings on Odin’s Ravens and Wolves

Last updated on: May 22, 2011 at 6:47 am By wyrddesigns

Among the many descriptions of Odin, we see that he is described as having a pair of ravens, and a pair of wolves. Thanks to some nature specials I watched recently when I couldn’t sleep, I discovered that ravens tend to mate for life. While pre-adult ravens may live and work together in groups with other ravens, when they hit adult status about 4 years into their 40 year or so life-span they then become extremely territorial. The only time... Read more

Top Ten Things This Pagan Is Doing Come The Rapture

Last updated on: May 21, 2011 at 8:37 am By Star Foster

Since Lettermen seems to be allergic to funny lately, I’ve decided to write my own Top Ten List today. After all, it’s predicted the Rapture will happen at 6 pm tonight. PST, I think. 10. Staying Off The Roads Tonight Let’s face it: the majority of folks in the US are Christian, and should the Rapture come this evening a bunch of cars, trains, planes and other heavy machinery suddenly without a driver. Nothing says creepy like a semi-driver suddenly... Read more

Grumpy Star and The Lovers’ Tarot Deck

Last updated on: May 20, 2011 at 11:10 am By Star Foster

When the Universe wants you to learn a lesson, it will ask nicely at first, and then it pulls out the cosmic baseball bat to knock the lesson into you. Since Beltaine I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone regarding all that “mushy, touchy-feely love stuff” and I’m not happy about it. I find myself shaking my fist at Bette Midler, Tina Turner, and those sappy Supremes more often of late. Love, in all it’s forms, is demanding my... Read more

Is Paganism an Expostmodern Tradition?

Last updated on: May 19, 2011 at 9:23 am By Star Foster

I love me some Drew Jacob, and you should totally check out his new column on Patheos, but his blog post today leaves me puzzled. He’s talking about expostmodern religion and what it takes to survive as a spiritual community today. Sermons or other routine scheduled meetings will not be effective. Less people will want to commit to a physical meeting on a regular basis. Religious activities will need to be available through other media. Religions that make their services... Read more

Wyrd Designs – Possible Pagan Roots for the Name of England

Last updated on: May 18, 2011 at 10:21 am By wyrddesigns

The modern day country of England, appears to derive its name indirectly from the Vanic deity, Freyr who was widely worshiped among the Scandinavian, Germanic and Anglo-Saxon peoples. (more…) Read more

The Gifts of Unity

Last updated on: May 17, 2011 at 11:24 am By Star Foster

Occasionally, I wander into a spiritual funk, and it was more often when I was a solitary. Running across this video a few days ago I found an expression for that funk. It was a lack of unity and community. I’ve been thinking about this video for some time now and rolling it’s themes around in my heart and mind. This past Sunday I was worn-down, run-down and spiritually low. Yet I decided to go sit in on the meditation... Read more

Did Oathbreaking Lead to the Dark Ages?

Last updated on: May 16, 2011 at 12:00 pm By Star Foster

I’m busier than a house-elf at Yule today, so here’s a blast from the past. Enjoy! History is written by the victors. This we all know well, yet there is a portion of our history that I don’t hear Pagans talk about a lot. The fall of the Roman Empire is generally seen as a failure of Paganism and Pagan culture. The “fact” of Paganism collapsing under it’s own decadence has been repeated so often that it would be surprising... Read more

Music for Meditation?

Last updated on: May 15, 2011 at 9:34 am By Star Foster

I’m taking a refresher meditation class today and I’m also a big fan of Llewellyn’s music. It’s good stuff for certain types of meditation, or shamanic journeying. I used Madonna’s Ray of Light album when I was a teenager, which means it automatically triggers a meditative state for me now. Sometimes classical pieces can help if I’m working through particular problems, particularly if the idea behind the meditation isn’t to relax but to stoke the fires of creativity. Do you... Read more