One aspect of deities seems to be thought-forms. That is not to say that deities are merely thought-forms, but that part of the way we interact with them seems to be through our internal image of what they are like. The more people carry an internal image of that deity around in their heads, the easier it is to visualise them. Read more
Pagan Tea Time sweeps the Internet! Plus, Cherry Hill Seminary is looking for a new chair of Theology and Religious History. Read more
It is vitally important, if we want to build Pagan intellectual culture, that we know one another in a way more profound than mere words on a screen. During the month of February, consider speaking with a fellow writer or commenter face to face. Read more
I once attended a ritual where the temple (a basement room) had a polystyrene ceiling, and there was a cauldron of burning methylated spirit, which we danced round. I was very scared when I thought about it afterwards - but I didn't leave the ritual. If you are in an altered state, it is very difficult to make rational judgements. It is not a matter of being gullible or stupid - it is how group dynamics work. Read more
The winter solstice is the point in the year when the day is at its shortest. The sun rises at its furthest south, and rises in roughly the same place for three days, hence the name “solstice”, meaning “Sun stands still”. The Anglo-Saxons called the festival Yule; the Old Norse word was jól. Read more
In order to assure greater accuracy in 21st century journalism, 49 scholars and authors petition the AP and Chicago Stylebooks to capitalize “Pagan” and “Paganism” when speaking of the modern faiths and their adherents. Read more
Out of all my experiences in Pagan groups, the one that has moved me the most deeply has been the practice of initiation. I am grateful beyond words for the initiatory communities who have so carefully nurtured my spiritual growth and allowed me to feel how deeply I am loved. Read more
I am pleased to announce the publication of my theology of touch, Eros and Touch from a Pagan Perspective: Divided for Love's Sake, from Routledge! I hope it will be of interest to anyone studying contemporary Paganism, LGBT issues, and/or body theology. Read more
A rite of passage is a ritual designed to make sacred a particular life event or transition from one stage of life to another. We might also call these rituals 'sacraments'. Most Pagans presume that everything is already sacred, because deities are immanent in the world. Therefore, rituals of consecration are about creating extra sacredness, or reconnecting us with the deities, the community, or the natural world. Read more
_Occupy Spirituality_ makes me feel old. But I know that there will be a future when my children are no longer small, and with my own needs and desires firmly in mind, I will again try to create communities of alternative values beyond my household and the circle of influence created by my job. For now, it’s been good to remember how brightly that inner activist fire can burn. Read more
Dowsing for Divinity
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In