Ruckus in the Pagan Realm: A Naming Brouhaha
Lately the Pagan blogosphere has been buzzing over, well, the word Pagan – what it means, what it doesn’t mean, and who should and shouldn’t be called one. GG and I made our position pretty clear early on (What’s in a Name?) – we are the PAGAN Princesses after all! But with all the hullabaloo,...
Framing Personal Strife in Paganism
I am Shiva I am destruction My gift is Tandava I ride on baser instincts My Ganas whisper in my ear I release the weary world I hold deer immobile My serpents are sage My skin is ash I am Sekhmet I consume others My mane’s purpose, slaughter I am the eye of the sun...
Oh Thor, Mighty God of Thunder!
For a Heathen, I’m not a huge fan of Thor.* He’s always struck me a little too much like the stereotypical jock of Asgard. You know, that pretty boy who swings first and asks questions later. The one who’s defending the status quo with his big muscles and no thought about why (Jotunn bad; Thor...
Pagan Stories of Apocalypse
Last Friday we posted a commentary on the prediction that May 21, 2011 will be the end of days. Basically, we said that prediction story was nonsense. But it is not a unique story, as religions across time have proffered apocalyptic tales. I wondered if Dr. Jung had anything to say about the psychology of...
The Right-Brained Viking
Not to brag on myself (okay, I’m bragging!), but I have many good qualities. I’m usually kind. I’m typically easy-going and great at forgiveness (well, for crimes against me anyway; I’m less great at forgiveness for crimes against my loved ones). And I think I’m pretty open-minded (sometimes I see so many sides of an...
Predicting the End of Days: A crapshoot or a load of crap?
“No man has learned anything rightly until he knows that every day is Doomsday.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Several weeks ago, we shared with you pagan stories of resurrection in honor of Easter. Tune in next Friday for pagan stories of the end of days, in honor of – wait, not “in honor of†–...
The Trouble with Capital Letters
I’ve never worried too much about what I capitalize and what I don’t. I know that in English it’s about “proper nouns†as opposed to “common nouns,†and for a lot of people there’s this sense of respect that comes from giving something a capital letter. But I’ve never divided “proper†and “common†into “respectedâ€...
Planning a Pagan Observance
Greetings Royal (and loyal) Readers! As you now, our Beltane celebration didn’t happen the way we wanted. Jax and I did break bread together on May 1st, but we did not ritual.* We firmly believe sharing time, wine, laughs and food (there must always be food!) is the best kind of “bare bones†observance of...
Thoughts on the Death of a Terrorist
Naming the Dead (and other Funeral Traditions) Heathens believe people live on after death when we speak (or write) their names,* which is why at blóts it is traditional to recite the names of our ancestors as far back as we can remember. Words can give life and power to the dead every bit as...
