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Human Sacrifice in the Ancient Pagan World
For many people in the modern world, finding a Pagan belief system is a positive and life-affirming experience. It’s not uncommon for us to find a joy and lightness in our traditions, something that brings light into once was a dark existence. This is indeed a good thing, and what draws many new people into the Pagan community. Unfortunately, the downside of it is that there can sometimes be an unwillingness to accept that not all Pagan cultures in the past were full of light and love and rainbows. Our ancestors, hundreds of years ago, lived a completely different existence than we do today, and their relationships with their gods…
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The Magic of Singing Bowls and Healing Sounds
In many metaphysical disciplines and traditions, sound therapy is used as a healing modality. This is because certain tones, frequencies, and vibrations are associated with healing in a number of belief systems – people have been doing this for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years. Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular methods, and why they’ve become traditional. Obviously, this isn’t a comprehensive list, because there’s no way I can cover everything in a single blog post – entire books have been written on the subject – but these are some of the most popular. Shamanic Sounds In many traditions, instruments like bowls, bells, rain sticks, rattles, and…
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This is How We Get Nice Things
I first got involved in the Pagan community back around 1988 or thereabouts, but it wasn’t until some twenty years later that I heard someone use the term “love offering.” At first, no kidding, I thought it was in reference to some kind of sixties-era sex practice, but as it turns out, it’s just a phrase that means a donation. Who knew? Not me, that’s for sure. However, whether you call it a love offering or just a donation, at some point, you may find yourself at a Pagan event wondering if you should toss a few bucks in the pot. The short answer is, yes, if you want us…
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Bona Dea, Fertility Goddess of Rome
In ancient Rome, Bona Dea was a goddess of fertility. In an interesting paradox, she was also a goddess of chastity and virginity. Honored originally as an earth goddess, she was an agricultural deity, and was often invoked to protect the area from earthquakes. Unlike many Roman goddesses, Bona Dea seems to have been particularly honored by the lower social classes. Slaves and plebian women who were trying to conceive a child might make offerings to her in hopes of being granted a fertile womb. Her name comes from the Latin for “good goddess.” Although her principal temple was on the Aventine hill, secret rituals and rites were performed in private homes.…
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Don’t Be a Jerk at Sacred Sites
Morgan Daimler, who I respect and admire greatly, recently published a wonderful piece over at Patheos Pagan on Being Pagan and Visiting a Sacred Site. Morgan points out some really helpful things that many people don’t think of; in addition to showing careless disregard of the physical site, there’s often a complete misunderstanding of the traditions involved. Anyway, it’s a great article and you should go read it. Meanwhile, I thought I’d resurrect this one that I published on About.com back in 2014 or so, which is full of some helpful reminders on what NOT to do when you go to a place that’s considered sacred in the cultural context…
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The One Where the Cat Ate Your Tarot Cards
A reader says, “I found a deck of Tarot cards that I had forgotten about, and one of the cards looks really weird. It’s got a tear across one edge and it feels strange. Maybe my cat got hold of it and nommed on it. Maybe my toddler did, because he’s three and eats everything. Okay, honestly I really don’t know what happened to it. Can I use it?” You win the Internet today, because I don’t think I’ve ever gotten an email before with the Tarot equivalent of “the cat (or the baby) ate my homework,” and yet here we are. There’s a first time for everything. However, it’s…
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Holding a Handfasting? Give Your Guests Magical Favors!
It’s become traditional to give each of your guests a small wedding favor. Typically, these are small trinkets with either the date of the event or the couples’ names on them. However, if you’re having a Pagan handfasting, rather than a traditional wedding ceremony, why not come up with an idea that celebrates your spiritual path, as well as announcing your commitment to the community? In some traditions, it’s become popular to have a besom wedding. Decorate small brooms with ribbons, flowers and a bundle of fresh herbs. You can usually pick up little brooms at the craft store, or you can make your own. Make a magical charm for…
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How Accessible is Your Pagan Event?
Did you know that there are a significant number of people in today’s Pagan community who have a disability? Pagans with disabilities find themselves facing a unique set of issues that able-bodied people don’t have to content with. While non-disabled people may automatically assume that “disabled” means “in a wheelchair,” often disabilities are something that we cannot see. Because of this, there are sometimes conflicts between event or ritual organizers, and members of the disabled community. While the Americans with Disabilities Act created a set of guidelines for businesses, employers and other organizations, many people with disabilities are still limited in how much participation they have in their community. Please…
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Honoring the Green Man at Beltane
For our ancient ancestors, many spirits and deities were associated with nature, wildlife, and plant growth. After all, if you had just spent the winter starving and freezing, when spring arrived it was certainly time to give thanks to whatever spirits watched over your tribe. The spring season, particularly around Beltane, is typically tied to a number of pre-Christian nature spirits. Many of these are similar in origin and characteristics, but tend to vary based on region and language. In English folklore, few characters stand out as much–or are as recognizable–as the Green Man. Learn more about this ancient archetype here: The Green Man, Spirit of the Forest
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Celebrating Beltane with Kids
Every year, we talk about Beltane and fertility and the horned god and the warm earth and blah blah blah, and every year I get messages from parents who are like “My kid is four, do I really have to talk about the erect phallus of the god?” Well, nooooooo, of course not, because this is modern Paganism and you can celebrate anything you like in the way that best suits you and your family. A lot of people don’t focus on fertility for Beltane at all, because it excludes a lot of relationships, but that’s a conversation for a whole ‘nother post. So, what’s a Pagan parent to do,…
