Question for Pagans and Polytheists
aroacepagans reblogged
Some maybe helpful Definitions:
Pantheism: The belief that everything is divine and the divine is in everything.
Panentheism: Similar to pantheism, but believes that divinity goes beyond everything while still also being everything.
Henotheism: Polytheism, but with a "main" deity. Like worshipping one but believing in others.
Pluriform monotheism: Monotheism, but you think all deities are a facets of one deity.
Soft polytheism: Polytheism, but you believe that the deities are more of an archetype rather than a concrete and separate being.
Hard polytheism: Polytheism where you see each god as a distinct and concrete being.
aroacepagans reblogged
drachendiamant-deactivated20230
This is your witchy reminder to research the author, their background and the source of the information contained in any books that you're reading. There is way too much n@zi bullshit surrounding modern occultism/spiritualism/witchcraft nowadays. So, beware of what the roots of that knowledge you're gaining might actually be.
aroacepagans reblogged
Happy winter solstice! The light begins to return tomorrow!!
Happy summer solstice! The dark begins to return tomorrow!!
This post is applicable in both hemispheres on both solstices!
aroacepagans reblogged
I published this a little early the other day while I was working on it, because I was having issues with Wordpress, but here’s the updated version! It will continue to have WIP in the title until I’m done tinkering with it.
This is a critical reading guide. It’s a guide to help you read critically.
It is not telling you to throw away any resource or publication that has questionable content.
What it does say, however, is that every author and every piece of media comes with a set of biases and assumptions. The main factor of critical reading and comprehension is to be able to identify both your own and the author’s biases and assumptions, so that you understand any social, political, or cultural context that flavors the narrative.
Anonymous asked:
How the hell does one, like, exist as an aro/ace Pagan on Beltane? I mean I'm not Wiccan so I feel iffy about celebrating it (or any of the Wheel holidays tbh) ANYWAY but like. it's the same "this is not for you" vibes I get from Valentine's Day but worse. It's a lovely reminder that I barely count as Pagan and should probably go be a Methodist or something else equally plain and boring. What do I do with this?
If Beltane isn't your thing then it isn't your thing - that's okay! It's your spiritual practice and you can do what you want with it. But don't feel like the holiday, or even Paganism itself isn't for you just because you're aroace.
Beltain isn't meant to just be about sex, it's about fertility in all forms. Lean into that! Fertility can be about creativity, abundance, sustainability, and resourcefulness too.
Some things I like to focus on during Beltane include:
Land and livestock- This one is the most obvious, but if you garden, keep livestock, or have house plants, this is a good time to focus your energy on that. If you don't tend plants or have livestock you can still put your energy in this direction on a more systematic scale. Some people like to use Beltane as a time to do spells against climate crisis that can limit food supply, or put their energy towards fertial crop lands more generaly.
Fertility of the mind - Beltane is a good time of year to think creatively, explore new ideas, and do the kind of self care that will help you be open to new learning and experiences going forward.
Arts/ Cooking - Cooking and artistic pursuits are both great places to focus energy during Beltane. Creativity and productivity are both a big part of fertility and there's no better way to embody that than taking the time to make something!
Community Care - Fertility has a lot to do with abundance, sustainability, and resources, so focus your energy on making sure people in your community have their needs met! This can involve spell work, but it can also mean taking more tangible actions like making food for people, offering to watch the kids at a festival, or even volunteering somewhere like a food bank.
A lot of people do focus on the more sexual aspect of Beltane but there is a lot more to the holiday than that. If Beltane is something you want to participate in, I hope this gives you some ways to enjoy it!
aroacepagans reblogged
i think, honestly, the weirdest upg i have is thinking aphrodite is the patron goddess of dinosaurs
idk, tag this with your weirdest upgs, i wanna see whats out there
That last post has me thinking about Paganism in connection to alternative relationship structures, and how Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart, who coined the term polyamory, also helped to found the first registered Neopagan church in the U.S. and how that might be relevant for those of us who are both a-spec and Pagan.
We talk a lot about how the poly community and a-spec community overlap, interact and share values due to an allowance for non-normative relationship styles. For those of us who practice some form of Neopagan spiritual tradition, I think this can also help link us to our religious communities. Personally, I have always viewed Pagan spiritual space as being a place for alternative relationship models. I think more than half of the other Pagans I know are poly or otherwise queer, and those who aren't still often participated in cis, heterosexual, monogamy in a non-normative way. This is due, at least partially, to the shared history and community values of Paganism and polyamory.
From an aroace perspective then, I can say that growing up in Pagan spaces gave me many different examples of how a non-normative relationship might work. It lessened my anxiety about what the future would look like as an aroace, because I could see a large portion of my community building their relationships, families, and support networks in a way that didn't fit the norm. That understanding creates a wholeness to my identities. My spiritual identity helped build a framework for my queer identity to grab onto, and so my aro-ness is part of my ace-ness, my aroace-ness is part of my pagan-ness, and my relationship anarchy and non-monogamy is wrapped up in all of it.
Anyways, I'm interested to know if other neopagan a-specs also feel this connection between their identity and their spirituality. I know these values can shift a little across religion and congregation, so I would love to hear people's thoughts.
aroacepagans reblogged
Hot take but you can’t learn about paganism without also learning about white supremacy and how it uses pagan religions to push hate group agendas all over the world today. If you don’t learn about the connections between the two and how it operates, your ignorance enables white supremacists to keep on doing it and using it to recruit others. People in our community who do nothing and stay silent are literally a part of the problem, there is no opting out whatsoever. Divorcing the two makes the issue repeat itself over and over and over again.
It’s not hard to include this in your research and stay aware. It’s the bare minimum.
aroacepagans reblogged
I hope pagans of colour know how loved and valued you are <3
aroacepagans reblogged
okay heres a genuine advice post for pagans who DO want to be allies to poc, jews, muslims, etc etc etc
grow comfortable with people not trusting you. make peace with it. dont get defensive, just let it be.
Im gonna use norse paganism as an example for ease of typing but this applies to all pagan branches. yes even you hellenic polytheism.
Its true! Not all norse pagan are neo nazis. There are DOZENS of good, wonderful norse pagans. Everyone knows that. However the issue is that there are just enough who are neo nazis. And its not just a small batch. Its more than you think. Its entire movements of facism.
That is not your fault - no one is personally accusing you of contributing to that. But it is still a part of your religion that you are responsible for, and you do benefit from the supremacy it offers. Again, not your fault, its just the way it is.
So because of that, you need to understand that minorities are justifed in not trusting the ENTIRE religion, which does indeed include you. Because mistrusting one person could be the last thing we do. Its not a slight against you, its an act of self preservation.
So when a minority expresses that distrust, they ask norse pagans to not interact, or they say they are uncomfortable with those symbols, the correct response is to respect that boundary. Entirely. Don’t go onto the post talking about how you’re one of the good ones, dont talk about how much you hate nazis.
If you TRUELY want to be a “good one” then your first step should be to respect boundaries. And that includes when minorities distrust you, personally.
Then your second step should be to do MEANINGFUL efforts to combat the “bad ones” and that doesnt mean rbing a post that says “nazis arent welcome here”. That means critical engaging with traditions, with people, and doing a lot of self reflection to unlearn that shit. Because you also internalized more than you think, which isnt your fault exactly, but it is still your responsibility to unlearn it. And ultimately it comes down to acknowledging how the religion benefits you.
Instead of using being rejected as an opportunity to sulk or get into a fight with said minority use it as a chance to improve yourself, your religion, and your allyship. If you truely are one of the good ones, then thats what you should want to do anyway. And minorities do notice who actually cares and who is performative, and we appreciate honest effort
And if people have genuine questions about anything im in a mood to answer. education is far better than discourse.
vampireapologist-archive-deacti
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aroacepagans reblogged
You can’t “no true Scotsman” fascists out of paganism no matter how much you want to. You can’t pretend they’re not “real” pagans. You can’t act like they’re “perverting” paganism.
They’re pagans. They’re white supremacists. These are not contradictory. Neopaganism has been a venue for racism since the beginning, and if you’re going to be pagan, you have to confront and unpack that, and answer the question of what you’re going to do about it.
Happy Winter Solstice Everyone ☀️❄⛄
(And a happy summer solstice to my southern hemisphere friends!)
aroacepagans reblogged
Happy Beltain everyone!
🌻🌹🍀⚘
Happy Ostara everyone! 🐣🌼🌱
aroacepagans reblogged
blessedhikes-deactivated2020090
Celebrating the spring equinox in quarantine
If you can, make a meal with seasonal ingredients. Otherwise just cook whatever feels right; whatever reminds you of spring. Use your own correspondences, be it colors, spices, tastes, smells…
You can still observe and feel the environment even from the comforts of your own home! Spend some time on the balcony or garden, or just keep your windows open. Let the air cleanse your house. You can also take advantage if you have to go out to buy supplies or walk your dog.
One of the most significant activities for this season is spring cleaning! Clean your house thoroughly and organize your wardrobe. Maybe even reorganize and/or redecorate your stuff!
Do some crafting or any artsy activity you enjoy. You can make a DIY bird feeder, do knitting or stitching, paint a new art piece, etc.
Do some gardening! Whether you have a garden or just some house plants, you can do some maintenance or plant new seeds.
Learn a new skill! Spring symbolizes new beginnings, so if there’s something you’ve been wanting to start for a while, now’s the best time!
This is all on the top of my head. Please feel free to reblog and add more!