It was ex-Dominican and current American Episcopal priest Matthew Fox who coined the term “Original Blessing” for the idea that we are are not born in sin but in blessing. He is of the opinion that there are two Christianities in the world, and he has chosen the kinder, more inclusive one. There is this strange idea that the world is bad, the material is wrong and that denying that is being escapist. If we are not lost souls seeking... Read more
In Heathenry, our cosmology is comprised of nine worlds. Unfortunately, descriptions of the nine worlds don’t appear all together, but rather stretched out over a variety of sources in the lore (such as: Alvissmal 20, Volupsa 2, Vafþrúðnismál 43, Gylfaginning 34). By lore sources alone we are given two different lists of the nine worlds. This makes it difficult to try to piece together or visualize how these worlds interact with one another. Adding to this problem are little nuances... Read more
I dreamed a really wonderful dream last night. I went to a Hindu store that had a public shrine. I dropped a couple of dollars in the plate and dropped pinches of incense on the smoldering coals. It felt so wonderful and natural that I should happen on a public shrine like that. Later, in a completely unrelated dream segment, I dreamed a friend of mine was an Elvis-esque rock star. (Now thanks to reading Christopher Knowles’ new book I’m... Read more
For many Pagans Oct 31st is one of the holiest days of the year but it’s also a secular holiday devoted to candy and spooky fun. I need to make the 13 songs for Samhain list fit the holiday, but I love all the corny old Halloween songs! So here I go! Getting it out of my system all at once! Crank up the sound and boogie away! Oh, and normally there’s no order to this, but my favorite actually... Read more
Music and religion go hand in hand. Maybe it’s on a dance floor, moving to syncopated drums around a campfire or locked in your room transported by the sounds flowing from your headphones. At some point, you’ve probably had a religious experience that was fueled by music. No genre has exemplified the ecstatic power of music as rock ‘n’ roll. From Chuck Berry to The Beatles to The Ramones to The Cure to Green Day, rock music feeds our soul.... Read more
I’m tired and it isn’t even 10 AM yet. It’s been a long week. Without any other considerations I’d probably spend the weekend in bed with a book. Instead I’ll be going to an initiation ritual with folks from church. Some of the people in my coven will be getting their first degree and it’s a big deal for them. I want to be there to celebrate with them, to help out with the set up and clean up. As... Read more
I have been involved with prison ministry for several years now. For many years prior to that, I’d resisted doing this type of work. It was the hard work and shining example of Heathen gythia (priest) Jane Ruck that inspired me and eventually encouraged me to move past my initial resistance. Jane’s work on behalf of incarcerated Heathens has been ground breaking and in light of the current battle between Patrick McCollum and the CA prison system, I sought Jane... Read more
I’m a Southern girl, born and bred. I’ve had family serve during almost every military conflict from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam. I grew up on Gone With The Wind, trips to Fort Sumter and watching the laser show dance across the faces of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson at Stone Mountain. Despite this, I have no love for Southern romanticism regarding the Civil War. In fact, although I am a history buff, I tend to not dwell on... Read more
PBS has a new series called “God In America” that features Stephen Prothero, author of our current Patheos Book Club selection “God Is Not One.” I didn’t really know what to expect and what I found was interesting and uninspiring. I’m a religion geek and I find all things religious rather fascinating, yet I’m also a Pagan who finds the expressions of Christianity somewhat tedious. Watching each well-told story of the evolution of Christianity in the United States is interesting.... Read more
I live in my own little world, where no one makes candles that smell like pie and having a bad case of the flu is the only excuse for watching the Lifetime channel. Thank goodness the wider world intrudes through the interwebs to remind me of important stuff. Today’s topical post is thanks to the far more eloquent post on the subject at The Wild Hunt. Today is Columbus Day and National Coming Out Day and I support the latter... Read more
PANTHEON
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In