Heidevolk Will Be Pillaging American Shores in 2013
There aren’t many clear cut details at this moment about location and dates.
But for more information you can check out the official Paganfest America Facebook.
Dark Messenger
I am the dark
black feathered truth
Fortune teller
Of fear and doom
Fly with me
Up through a tree
Climb through the branches
of eternity
Born from gold yoke
A crystal ball
Of birth and growth
Sooth sayer to all
So close your eyes
And hear my call
What am I?
Can you tell? Can you tell?
I am the dark
Black feathered truth
Nest with me
Never to return
Two Major Grocery Stores Ditch Factory Farmed Meat
Are you a vegetarian?
Or do you try to buy local because you don’t like subsidizing the torture of animals?
Do people tell you your choices are useless, because you’re only one person?
And one person can’t make a difference?
Well, guess what?
Two major grocery stores in Australia now refuse to sell factory farmed meat.
Consumer choices are beginning to effect industry.
The battle isn’t won.
But this is a step in the right direction.
The Spiritual Artwork of Christina Marin
(Belladonna Beauty)
Christina Marin is a spiritual artist and empath who currently resides in Canada. She has been creating art since she was a child and many of her creations come to her in dreams or meditations. She also says on her facebook page that she is clairvoyant and clairsentient – making her an antenna that can pick up on subtle energies that other people may not notice. Her artwork reflects an expanded awareness of the magical world. She also does drawings of spiritual guides upon request. Below are some of my favorite pictures by this artist.
(Purple Candle Meditation)
(3 Ravens at Stonehenge)
(Feeling Like a Wolf in Captivity)
Female Druids
For the last 1,000 years of history it was believed that all druids were men.
Yet much new evidence is confirming that this just isn’t true.
Druids were part of a culture where women and men were equals in many aspects of life.
It’s hard to believe that there would be an exception in terms of religion.
This is a great article on Female Druids that gives more details: CLICK HERE
It’s Time To Follow Nature’s Lead
Many of man’s greatest inventions are mere mimicry of nature. Have you ever noticed that the flight of a helicopter resembles that of a dragonfly or hummingbird? Hovering birds such as eagles, vultures and pelicans inspired the designs of a plane. Reptiles basking in the sunlight inspired solar panels (Human Inventions Inspired By Nature).
Now we are at a critical moment in history where once again, we need to learn from nature. As climate change accelerates and the modern world becomes more polluted – we need to learn once again how to coexist with the Earth. Total destruction of the environment is not a necessity for progress unlike what we have been lead to believe. So how can we live on the planet without jeopardizing our own future?
Here Are Some Lessons From Nature
Recycle: Nothing is wasted in the natural world. All excrement and decay is brought back into the Earth and reused as a fertilizer for plant growth or food for insects and worms. Nature’s “trash” becomes a treasure when it adds new life and richness to the soil. We need to find ways to recycle our own trash back into the economy. We can do this via donating old goods rather than throwing them away, having a compost pile, recycling on a regular basis and reusing many of our goods.
The Perfect Balance of Order and Chaos: Whatever type of government or system we choose for ourselves. It must be one that benefits the planet as well as the people. It must benefit the ecosystem through which we live and lead to the creation of new life, even if this means the destruction of old ideas. Right now most people live under destructive governments with destructive world systems. These systems are powered by war, terror and the destruction of the planet. If these governments cannot reform themselves, they will self destruct and something else will take their place.
The principles of Humanism and Christianity are not sacrosanct. They are not the ideals for the whole planet and everyone on it. We must switch to a system that follows nature’s law, for nature is a complex of chaos and order that protects the whole of life.
Nature Creates Its Own Energy: We must find sources of energy that are renewable and replenishing. We must invest more in solar and wind power, because these are sources that do not damage the surrounding landscape. There is no such thing as “clean coal,” “clean nuclear” or “natural gas.” All of these sources are dirty and toxic to human health. We must phase out coal, nuclear, fracking and oil like we would wean a drug addict off their addiction. Solar and wind will be the vegetables and fruits to a system pigging out on alcohol and potato chips.
SOURCE: To Change Our Direction, It’s Time To Follow Nature’s Lead (Common Dreams)
More Than Two Genders?
Watch this episode of Taboo for a more in depth look at the existence of multiple genders in Indian, Indonesian and Albanian culture.
Throughout Western Society, there is only room for two genders: male and female. Although there is a growing acceptance of homosexuality and transgendered people in the modern world – most homosexuals and transgendered folk still live on the fringes of society.
Yet in some cultures around the world, there are more than two accepted genders.
In India there is a third gender: The Hijra, men who cut off their genitals and live like women.
In parts of Indonesia there are five genders.
In Albania, a woman traditionally could forsake her female gender in exchange for male duties and responsibilities.
In the cultures that accept other genders – this other gender is often endowed with a spiritual significance. People with both male and female gender have a certain relation to the Gods that heterosexuals with their one gender do not.
I believe that in indigenous cultures there is more acceptance – and even an embrace of such sexual diversity, because this is only natural. After all, if nature chose you to have a unique gender, that is a destiny chosen for you by the Gods. Do not be ashamed. You are a product of the natural world and thusly beautiful as you are.
Byzantine Paganism
“As long as one person remembers, the ancient path survives.
As long as one person worships truly, the ancient Goddesses and Gods are with us.
As long as one person acts with noble spirit, even if they act alone, we are all blessed.
Be thou that one.” ~ The Julian Society
What is Byzantine Paganism?
The religion and philosophy of the Graeco-Roman cultures influenced the lives the of people from the coast of Britain to the borders of modern day Turkey. Not saying that everyone loved the Roman Empire, but rather that Graeco- Roman culture was highly influential in the ancient world. Variants of the Greek language still exist in modern day Afghanistan in the form of the Pushto Language.
When the Roman empire collapsed in about 476 AD, it was split into two different empires: The West and the East. Much of the philosophy and Hellenistic culture of Rome was passed into the hands of the Byzantine Empire, while Western Europe descended into the Dark Ages.
Few people realize that worship of the Classical Greek and Roman Gods continued into the Byzantine empire long after the collapse of Rome. The Pagan religion survived the founding of the capital Constantinople in 324 AD and past the fall of this city in 1453 AD.
(Lararium, Home Altar)
Paganism Goes From Public to Private in The East
Now, this is not to say everything was happy and open for Pagans in the East. As Orthodox Christianity became the mainstay religion in the Byzantine, there was less and less tolerance for the ancient ways. Eventually the church banned public rites and temples for Pagan Worshipers. At this juncture, Pagan worship moved into the home and hearth. Yet as history went on, even worship in the home was banned under pain of death. So the Pagan worship in the East was carried on in secret mystery cults.
Modern Byzantine Paganism
So if Paganism ended up becoming persecuted in the Byzantine, why would anyone return to this practice? Why not look to an earlier time where Paganism was practiced openly in the city center? Byzantine FAQs answers this question well by stating that we probably have more in common with the Byzantine Pagans than we do with the Classical Pagans – since we live in a world where Paganism is no longer the dominant religion.
Modern day Byzantine Pagans look to the Byzantine era as the place where our ancestors left off. They incorporate the iconography and art of the Byzantine Empire into their own practice. Philosophy is also highly important to the magical practice, as are home altars and private rituals. (This is not to say that community and public rights aren’t included – just that they are less common)
How To Practice Ancient Byzantine Paganism
Establish a personal connection to the ancient Classical Deities
Prayer
Household Worship
Religious Statues and Icons
Ritual
Philosophy
Community and Public Rites
How to Practice Byzantine Paganism
Links
Runes Shall You Know
For nine days and nine nights, Odin hung from the world tree pierced by his own spear. He sacrificed himself onto himself – the highest of the Gods. He did this to learn the wisdom that would give him power in the nine worlds. Nine is a magical number in Norse Mythology, after all there are nine realms of existence in the Norse Cosmos. Odin learned 18 magical runes. (Source: Rúnatal, a section of the Hávamál)
Odin’s Description of the 18 charms he discovered.
So what are the Runes? They are a gift to mankind. These sacred letters originally were carved into stone. Each letter has a metaphorical meaning as well as divination abilities. I suggest doing much research to completely know the runes. Reading this page alone won’t help you learn everything. After all, Odin had to hang from a tree for nine days pierced by a spear. He never said learning everything there is to know about the runes would be easy.
The graphic below may be helpful:
Happy Diwali!
While called the “Festival of Lights,” Diwali is most importantly a day to become aware of one’s “inner light.” In Hindu philosophy there is an idea of “Atman,” something beyond the body and mind which is pure, infinite and eternal. Today is a celebration of “good” versus “evil”; A day when the light of higher knowledge dispels ignorance. With this awakening comes compassion and joy.
The background story and practices very region to region. Many people celebrate by lighting fireworks and sharing sweets and candies. Diwali is a holiday celebrated across a vast array of countries and religions. It’s celebrated in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji, by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists.
A GREAT INFOGRAPHIC ON DIWALI
The many faces of Freyja
The complex nature of the Norse Goddesses
Freyja is the nordic goddess of love. She is also associated with war, life, death, rebirth. Her name means “lady” , and as such, is heavily connected with the feminine principle, the divine feminine. “Freyja” is the old-nordic name for this goddess, and other names which are in use today include Freya, Frejya, Freyia, Frøya, Frøjya, Freja and Freia. In Norway, the most common name for the goddess today is Frøya. In Sweden, she is referred to as Freja or Fröja. In Iceland, the old-norse name prevails, she is still called Freyja there.
As many names she has, as many faces. Some speculate as to whether she is one and the same as the goddess Frigg, or Frigga. Indeed, both are strongly feminine archetypes concerned with matters of love and birth. Freyja now, is perhaps more seen as an adventurous, risqué type whereas Frigga is seen more as…
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Primitive Celtic Nature Worship
I invoke the land of Ireland
Shining, shining sea
Fertile, fertile mountain
Wooded vale
Abundant river, abundant in waters
Fish abounding waters
Fish abounding sea
Fertile earth
Irruption of fish! Fish there
Bird under wave! Great fish
Crab hole! Irruption of fish
Fish abounding sea
Among the ancient Celtic people, there was a primitive nature magic that permeated the land. The verse above is a proclamation from the poet of the Milesians, Armairgen, before the Milesians invaded Ireland.
WORSHIP OF THE ELEMENTS
It was common for folk to invoke the elements when taking an oath. People could swear by heaven, earth, sun, fire, moon, sea, land, day, night etc, and these things would punish the oath breaker if they did not keep their word. Even the Gods would swear by the elements. Such oaths existed at a time when people believed the elements to be a divine force. Similar beliefs were practiced by the Greeks and Scandinavians.
It makes sense that people would worship the basic objects of nature. As the comedian George Carlin said in one of his sketches, “I’ve begun worshiping the sun for a number of reasons. First of all, unlike some other gods I could mention, I can see the sun. It’s there for me every day. And the things it brings me are quite apparent all the time: heat, light, food, and a lovely day.”
SPIRITS OF THE LAND
Yet the Celts also populated the Earth with spirits, both friend and foe. Some of these spirits may exist as fairy in a meadow or as a demonic being haunting a lonely place. The druids were known to send forth mischievous spirits called siabra. These were spectral bodies they could raise from the ground. And of course there are the The Tuatha Dé Danann (a mythical race of people who were defeated, moved underground and resided within the Earth as spirits or fairies).
THE MOON
One of the most important elements of nature to the primitive folk was the moon. The phases of the moon offered an easy way to measure time. The Celtic year was lunar before it became solar. There are still many cultures today that use a lunar calendar (the Islamic calendar for example). Night also preceded the day.
The moon dictated when certain tasks would be carried out. The moon waxes and wains, therefore it was a symbol of growth and decay. Crops would be sown on a waxing moon and harvested on the waning moon. If you needed something to grow – you would do it while the moon was waxing. If you needed to finish a task, you did it when the moon was waning.
In Greek Culture, Artemis and Diana – the moon goddesses – had power over all growing things.
ANIMAL DEITIES
There is evidence that the primitive peoples of Europe may have worshiped animal deities: Wolf Gods, Bear Gods, Deer Gods and Bird Gods. The current theory is that as humans became more agricultural and asserted more power over the land – anthropological deities replaced animal deities. As nomads, humans were more subject to the whims of nature. The might and power of a bear could certainly seem divine. Yet as a farmer, man not only asserted himself over the land – but began to assert himself more in the spiritual realm as well (Native American and Hindu Mythology are rife with traditions of Animal Deities).
Also, as the Romans took over the Continental Celts (The Gauls), they forced the Gauls to abandon their more animalistic deities in favor of purely human ones.
What is the evidence that points to the worship of animal Gods? Many of the Gods the European pagans worshiped were shape-shifters who could turn into animals. The Morrigan, the phantom queen of battle, strife and fertility, often took the form of a raven or a crow. Moccus was a Swine Agriculture God. Epona was a Gallic/Roman horse Goddess. Then there is Cernunnos the horned God, a liminal God connected to the hunt, the underworld and sexuality.
Even in their more humanized form, certain Gods still had an association with an animal familiar. For example, there is the wise Roman Goddess Minerva who would often be associated with an owl. Even today the owl carries a connotation of learning (just watch Winnie The Pooh).
SOURCE
Most of the information in this post came from “The Religion of the Ancient Celts,” by J.A. MacCulloch. If you go to the listed link, you can read his ebook for free. A great comprehensive source on the religion of the Celts.
Who Says Science Isn’t Spiritual?
Nikola Tesla was one of the twentieth centuries most prolific and ingenious minds. He was an inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, futurist – and had a strange fascination with pigeons.
Some say the more we learn about science, the less spiritual we become. Yet I believe the more we unlock the secrets of the universe – the more we learn just how magical it is.
Think about yourself as a person, here on this Earth. Looking at the Scientific Odds, you’re incredibly blessed to be here! You were one out of a million sperms! Then think about the rare luck that we have life on this planet. Earth was formed in a section of the solar system where water doesn’t normally form. Yet it is theorized that an ice comet – and perhaps even a series of ice comets – hit us at just the right time for water to form.
We are just the right distance from the sun to have a tenable temperature. We have just the right composition of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon and Hydrogen in our atmosphere for life to breathe and exist. Life isn’t as simple as a perfect God making a perfect world in 6 days. Science is showing that it is much more rare, exquisite, nuanced and complex. Because the more we know, the more we realize how much we don’t know.
The universe isn’t a composition of perfect circles with perfect spheres. It is a vast and unfathomable depth of expanding space. It isn’t a parallel between goodness and evil. It’s a void of chaos and mystery. Exploding stars. The void of black holes. New systems of light being formed from galactic destruction.
We cannot think of life on a finite level. We must consider this universe at a quantum level. With the smallest particle of mass – there are even smaller particles spinning and dancing within. For every fact you know, consider the endless possibilities of what you don’t know.
The ancient ones considered life to be ever connected. And think of how right they are! When you look up in the sky and bathe in the divine light of the stars, think about how much that divine light shines within yourself – considering that you are made of stars!
Environmental Stewardship – A Religious Issue?
Changing Public Policy Through Spiritual Perception
The land is endowed with many spirits. It is sacred. Paganism and Earth based Spirituality is keenly aware of this fact.
Unfortunately, not all religions are.
The data shows that religious ideals can effect public policy and even how people vote.
(Data From Enviroknow)
Popular political issues in terms of religion are reducing poverty and preventing abortion.
Yet the desire to reduce pollution and climate change are at the bottom of the list.
Imagine how society would change, if more people connected with the Earth at a spiritual level, rather than just looking at it as a data point or as a resource for consumption.
And for the Judeo Christians out there, even the bible states that lessons can be learned from the Earth.
Job 12:7-10. But ask the animals, and they will teach you; or birds of the air
and they will tell you; or speak to the earth and it will teach you; or let the fish
of the sea inform you.
And that we are responsible for the land’s care:
Lev. 25:23-24. The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.
Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the
redemption of the land.
Gonna Vote? See Who You Side With
Take this quiz to see who you agree with most on the issues. 3rd party candidates included. The results may surprise you.
Metal Gaia 