Pagans are an eclectic and strange group. It takes a leap of faith, and sometimes a loss of sanity, to believe in ghosts, fairies, and the gods and goddesses of our ancestors. I’ve known some Pagans that possessed some of the most deep and divine connections to the universe that I have ever seen, and I’ve seen others trying to scry in the toilet bowl. The mighty blogosphere also runs the gamut from necessary and knowledgeable to well, crap. Don’t worry I’m not going to make a list of crap, it would be too long and I let you flush that out on your own time. There are however some gems that you may have missed lately, and I hope you take the time to give them a second, or maybe even a first look.

Necessary Fights and Refreshing Flights

Twenty years ago I was hard pressed to even find another Pagan woman of color at an event or in a bookstore. Today I am continually impressed and amazed at Crystal Blanton and the other women writing on of Daughters of Eve. They tackle the difficult and important issues that need to be challenged. For if we do not speak out against injustice we will never overcome it socially, emotionally or politically. Clio Ajana’s piece on Ferguson, MO is a must read for people of any color. Blanton’s recent post about Renewal and Rebirth; My Path to Justice describes her journey, and the journey of most minority women, very eloquently.

Freaks

I’m going from fights to freaks, stay with me everyone. At the center of both of these topics is otherness, something all Pagans know a lot about. People fear difference and the unknown. That is what the multi-billion dollar entertainment industry is built on. People received a very “interesting” picture of what Voodoo practitioners, Wiccan covens, and freaks are via the sensationalized lens of the popular television show American Horror Story Coven. The Media Witch, Peg Aloi and I did a series of videos and more recently a podcast commenting on these things. If you missed the madness it’s highly entertaining, I urge you to check it out.

Margins and Spirals

There is no way to talk about Pagans, otherness and difference without giving a hearty shoutout to Nornoriel Lokason and one of the newest blogs to join Patheos – Ride the Spiral: Pagan Living on the Margins. The blog has already addressed some of the important issues dealing with disability, poverty, and discrimination in the Pagan community. Keep up the great work!

These bloggers make me proud and grateful to be among them. Phrases like “Pagan community ” and “doing the work” have unfortunately become meaningless buzzwords to most and everytime I hear another self-obsessed wacko mention them, I vomit a bit in my mouth. These people however, Crystal, Peg, Nornoriel and others make me glad to call myself a Pagan. Thank you, and if you are thankful too for all the great work these people do please share this!