-
Deep Paganism
Thinking a lot today about deep Paganism: what it means to live in the world a fundamentally different way, in connection and relationship with and celebration of Life and reality. In wisdom, and generosity and kindness, in joy and pleasure, and in responsibility and respect. At that level, Paganism isn’t even conducting rituals. It certainly isn’t collecting ritual tools or rocks or books or echo-chambering to “belong” in the Pagan community. And it doesn’t involve gods of any scale. This is so much larger than that. I think that, steeped in the Overculture as I am, I can only see this Way in moments. A-HA kinds of moments, chorus-of-angels moments…
-
The Unavoidable Bargain
In my culture, we try to pretend we don’t have to make the deal. But we do. With the passage of years, we pass from our youth. And if we are wise, we make a sound bargain for what comes in return. But in my culture, most don’t. First, they try to refuse the inevitable. They cling to youth and the appearance of youth into their 30s, 40s, 50s, with dress, with makeup, with squats and sit-ups, with various useless patent cures designed to make them continue to seem young. But the reality is, we have no choice. Unless you are going to die young, you are going to trade…
-
Some Ritual Etiquette
Once upon a time, long, long ago, people would gather in groups for social interaction. They had parties, attended performances and sporting events, and some of them, the Pagan ones, held group rituals. Perhaps soon, they will begin doing such things again. In the hope of that happy day, here are some of the many considerations when inviting people to join you for a gathering and ritual. In the invitation, let people know what to expect, especially if there are non-Pagans in your invitation list. You can’t “ambush” people into participating in a ritual–they have to want to be there. So for example, if you’re having a Sabbath feast for…
-
Bring Me That Horizon
In 2015, it was our home of 18 years being sold out from under us, and having to move, but having no money. In 2016, it was unemployment, deep depression and financial desperation. In 2017, it was the Tubbs wildfire, which evacuated us for 9 days, came within a half-block of burning our home, burned 20% of the city where I live, killed some unfortunates, and tanked our region’s economy. In 2018, it was the smoke of the Camp Fire that turned the sky black and the air unbreathable for days. More death. Paradise, California, erased from the Earth. In 2019, it was the Kincade Fire, which nearly eradicated the…
-
Please Join Us for Zoom Events!
The Atheopagan community holds a variety of events on Zoom for fellowship, conversation, and even planning and conducting online rituals. Here are some of the events coming up: Saturday Zoom Mixer: Weekly on Saturdays at 10:15 AM Pacific Time. We discuss pertinent topics, plan rituals for the Sabbaths, and otherwise have a good time. Zoom link Sunday Zoom Mixer: Most weeks, Sunday afternoons Pacific Time. Announcements posted in the Atheopaganism Facebook group about an hour before starting. Monthly Book Club: various Sundays. See The Atheopagan Society News and Events page for the next scheduled meeting and the book being read. Atheopagan Sex Salon: June 5 at 3:30 PM PDT. Monthly,…
-
In the Silken Air
At this time of year, I like to spend as much time without clothing as possible. The soft Spring air is delightful, caressing my body, and it just feels liberating and alive to be naked. Now, this isn’t for everyone, and I’m not saying it should be. You have to come to terms with the state of your body, which is a real challenge for some of us (not that their bodies aren’t fine as they are, but body-image issues are a real thing). I am a middle-aged man with a typical middle-aged man’s body, somewhat the worse for the COVID-19 (lbs.)’ weight gain over the past year. To be…
-
Yuri’s Triumph
It is 60 years ago today that the era of humanity in space began with the remarkable, courageous orbit of Yuri Gagarin around our beloved planet. OFF WE GO! he said as his rocket, Vostok 1, began the long, roaring climb out of Earth’s gravity well. And nothing has been the same since. Today, we marvel at the Hubble images, the crystal-clear shots of our Solar System’s planets, asteroids, comets, the alien landscapes of Mars and the Moon. We look up to where human feet have walked on our Earth’s own satellite, and listen for the distant peeps of the Voyagers, far beyond the worlds of our Sun. We have…
-
Joy Hunt
It’s been a long time. I mean, a really long time. For many of us, since long before even the pandemic. Since we strode, or ran, or wheeled, or paddled into the wild, lungs gulping precious air, consumed with The Moment of Aliveness. Or, being unable to do any of those things, simply witnessed one of the many miracles of life on this exquisite Earth—a sunset or rise, a rainbow, a bolt of lightning, a crashing wave, a moonrise, snow falling, an aurora—and had our breath taken away. It’s more than a year now since our socialization, our group activities were taken from us. And I’m writing now to suggest…
-
Equanamity, Balance and the Equinox
As I write this, the Earth coasts in its slightly angled orbit towards the Ecliptic, the plane of rotation of the Sun. When we cross it, the days and nights will be of equal lengths (at the equator). It is the Vernal Equinox, the moment when the days begin to stretch longer than the nights in the Northern hemisphere. There are many themes associated with this holiday for Pagans, as we frame our Wheels of the Year based on our local climate and ecologies and, in some cases, on the agricultural cycle and/or the life cycle of a person. But one we don’t talk about quite so often is this…
-
Doing the Work
As Atheopagans, we’re about being healthier, wiser, happier humans, and through action contributing to a better world. Some of that is about values. Ours are articulated in the 4 Sacred Pillars and the 13 Atheopagan Principles, and in this area particularly Principle 4: humility; Principle 5: perspective and humor; Principle 7:, inclusiveness; Principle 8: legacy; Principle 9: social responsibility, and especially Principle 13: kindness and compassion. Some of it is about healing: healing our wounds and shame, our self-esteem. Our fear. And some of it is about moving through and beyond our bullshit. Which, let us be clear, we all have. Personal work is core and essential in Atheopaganism. Willingness…
