The Pagan Pages

pagan | winter | trees | they/them | adult Blessed be

[omtai]

oh log we’re really in it now

[ravenrook]

reminder that animals have their own spirits that can be venerated in their own right. I've recognized a tendency in myself and many others that if an animal is significant to us, we go looking for a deity related to that animal. this may be fruitful—I came to know Venus through the doves outside my window—but it can also just complicate things. for all that time spent wondering if this crow is a sign from a deity, you could be enjoying the company of the crow itself.

thanks and blessings to the spirit of the vulture who watches over my doorway for teaching me this lesson.

[broomsick]

Hey norse pagans! *Leans close and whispers*

Reconstructing historical festivals and holidays is especially tough for us, isn’t it? Because there’s just so little evidence of anything, and even though Håkon the Good gave us a pretty good idea of some historical practices, it’s far from enough to have a clear idea of the actual celebrations, right? Plus, I bet your schedule’s tightly packed and that at least twice a year, you find yourself going: “Is it already [insert holiday]???”, and “crap, I forgot to prepare this or that for [insert holiday]”. Well my friend, let me tell you two important tips I’ve learned from years of trying to keep up with the proverbial wheel of the year. The first: holidays aren’t mandatory, especially not if you practice paganism alone, and especially since we know so little of holiday celebrations within germanic tribes, and during the Scandinavian Iron Age. Second *leans closer*: there’s nothing keeping you from making up your own festivals! If history hasn’t left us a lot of evidence on how your main deity/deities was worshipped, who’s to keep you from picking a spot on the calendar and going: “this day is all about [insert deity]”. You’ll have the possibility of listing out pre-determined rites and offerings. Are you going to sing songs? Recite poems? Decorate? Is there a symbol that’s prominent on that day? There are many ways to honor deities, and it’s fun to give oneself a chosen structure to follow when it comes to deity worship. Plus, it’s all the more rewarding to celebrate the seasons according the weather in one’s own area! I’m usually not in the mood to celebrate the coming of spring when it’s still -30 Celsius outside. In that regard, I give myself the leeway to diverge from historical practice and to celebrate the coming of spring when its does actually start to feel like spring! The crops are reaped a bit earlier than the 31st of October, in my area. For this reason, my Álfablót usually happens halfway through that month, and is spread out onto three days (the first for the ancestors, second for the álfar, and third for Freyr). So don’t hesitate to think up your own little holidays, and play around with the freedom it gives you! Just to give you guys a few ideas of where to start with this, I’ll add a little “holiday starter pack” right below!

Step one: choose the date! Is there a day of the week that’s associated with your chosen deity/deities? A season, or type of weather in particular? Maybe a time of day?

Step two: figure out the general “mood” of the holiday. Do you want it to be a time to party? To be grateful? To connect with loved ones? To be at peace? Or a time of self-reflection and silent introspection? (Every year, I dedicate a full day of silence to Víðarr.) What’s the goal of the holiday? What are you celebrating?

Step three: think of some ritual offerings! It’s no big deal if, for whatever reason, you can’t actually offer them up: the idea of these offerings will suffice to help you define this holiday better. Will you be offering a specific food, or drink? Or a particular craft, or a depiction of an animal?

Step four: will you be decorating? If so, what’ll serve as the theme for decorations? Are you going to buy them or make them yourself?

Step five: is there an activity, or activities that you would want to engage in to honor the deity/deities on this day? If so, what’ll it be? I love to cook to honor Freyr, for example (this year, I made a seasonal pumpkin soup in His honor)! You could also go swimming for Rán and Ægir, or take a walk in the woods for Jörð. What do you think would please the deity/deities this day is dedicated to?

Step six: will you be inviting someone, or people over? It doesn’t matter if they’re pagan or not: if you want to celebrate with friends or family, any excuse is good to invite people over! Still, even if you celebrate alone, you’re certain to have lots of fun! So don’t worry about this last step if you feel uncomfortable with it.

[coven-of-genesis]

Worshipping goddess Aphrodite 🌙🕯️

Worshiping Aphrodite can involve offerings like flowers, incense, or sea shells. Consider engaging in activities that celebrate love, beauty, and harmony, such as creating art, practicing self-care, or fostering positive relationships. Additionally, learning about and incorporating Aphrodite's myths into your practices can deepen your connection with the deity.

Visiting natural places associated with love and beauty, like beaches or gardens, can be a way to honor Aphrodite. Offering prayers or dedicating time for meditation and reflection on love, compassion, and relationships is also meaningful. Some people choose to celebrate festivals dedicated to Aphrodite, like the Aphrodisia in ancient Greece. Tailor your worship based on personal preferences and cultural interpretations of Aphrodite's attributes.

Explore rituals such as lighting candles in her honor, using colors associated with love and beauty (like pink or red), or incorporating gemstones like rose quartz into your practices. Reading and reciting poetry or hymns dedicated to Aphrodite can be a poetic way to express devotion. Engage in acts of kindness and generosity as an embodiment of her values, and remember that genuine love and respect in your relationships are fundamental to honoring Aphrodite.

[thespectralcottage]

Witchcraft 101:

Cleansing vs Uncrossing vs Banishing

Alright witches. Lets dive into some witchy basics and discuss the differences between cleansing, uncrossing and banishing. This will hopefully help you differentiate between them. But.. lets be honestly if you do something like call a spell an uncrossing when "technically" doing a banishing, who cares its all in good spirit. The reason i think its good to have a difference in mind between these falls into how you handle a spell. If I'm doing an uncrossing vs a banishing i would choose different spell ingredients, maybe work with different gods, or choose a different element to work with.

Cleansing: I consider cleansings as the foundation and most basic of these. Its almost an umbrella term the other two fall under. All banishings are cleansings, but not all cleansings are a banishing. Cleansings are when you're trying clear something away. Most often people will use this term in day to day workings and general upkeep to make sure nothing has stuck to them. This would include more casual things like smoke cleansing, showering and asking the water to cleanse you, sound cleansing, etc. Its not a full spellworking or ritual, but still done with energy and intention. Sometimes you may do a cleansing and realize whatever is there, is stuck deeper then you expected. So you take the next steps and do a more "intense" cleansing like an uncrossing or banishing.

Uncrossing Spells: Uncrossing specifically refers to removing unwanted energy. Usually when discussing what is an uncrossing, I sperate it from just a cleansing by describing it as a very intense cleansing where you're trying to strip away intense and specific energy. These are more work and a step up from an everyday cleansing for more intense scenarios. This is very spirit focused; think of it as taking out the bad and putting in the good. Some types of spells I would consider an uncrossing are: removing hexes/jinx/curses, removing the evil eye, spiritual detoxes, road openers, removing any stubborn energy, removing feelings, etc. I associate uncrossings with water: it's soaking in and getting that energy out. I would choose herbs/spell ingredients that are uplifting and purifying. Think salt, rosemary, rue, and lemons.

Banishing Spells: Banishing spells remove unwanted entities, spirits or people. You can use it to get rid of very deep rooted things like habits or insecurities. Banishings are quite a strong forms of spellwork. You're really kicking something out and away from you when you do a banishing. Its connected to more deep rooted things that you're trying to remove from your life. Some types of spells I could consider a banishing: cord cutting, exorcisms, banishing a spirit attached to you, getting rid of insecurities, freezers, etc. I associate banishings with fire. Burn and gtfo. I would choose herbs that have more of a kick to them and are defensive. Think nettle, blackberry leaves, cloves, even pepper in some cases.

Please note this doesn't have to be something strict. Like i said at the beginning this is just a guide that will help you differentiate so you can tackle the spellwork as effectively as possible.

✨Stay Spooky ✨

[bodhrancomedy]

And when I say 1700s, I’m being REALLY generous. Hell, while interest in the “pagan religions” (because that’s a catch all term for a LOT of religions) really blew up during the late Victorian spiritualism craze, modern Wicca and Paganism really started 1930s at earliest and gained a hell of a lot of ground in the 50s & 70s.

Sandman’s start date (the comics at least) are based on that boom in the 30s mentioning Alistair Crowley.

Your religion isn’t new and that’s not a bad thing. All religions have to start somewhere. But don’t cosplay other people’s persecution, ok?

[oracle-fae]

🍵

[erraticalraven]

Yo fellow (norse) pagans! I often see people task about "working with" the deities, and I'm honestly so confused on that topic?? What do ya'll mean with that lol. Never heard of that way of practicing asa before seeing it online

[gefdreamsofthesea]

*takes a deep breath*

Some people are uncomfortable with terms with terms such as "worship" because it implies a level of submission or reminds them of bad experiences with Christianity. I think "working with" is popular because it sounds more cooperative, less hierarchical. Some folks see their relationship with deities as more "weird family member" than say sovereign and subject.

Regarding altars, I have a few thoughts:

1) "Altar" has been conflated with "shrine" due to Wiccan influence, where an altar is simultaneously a workspace/ritual focus and a shrine to a deity

2) Since the vast majority of people don't live in areas with access to public worship spaces or even with access to private land, it makes sense that practice has shifted to the home shrine even if it wasn't the norm in some cultures. I would also note that Heathens back in the day had a couple different terms for "places used for religious functions" (hof, vé), it's just one example of how religions change to accomodate the needs of adherents

[isa-sketches]

Frigg - The wife of Odin

[pinkstarlightcomputer]

NAOYA EGAWA “Quatre arbres” Natural pigments on japanese paper mounted on wood panel 112 x 146 cm (44 ¹/₈ x 57 ¹/₂ inches)

[slavicafire]

some burdens you must offer to the earth, bury them like a bitter offering, yield to the dirt. there is a heartbreak which can be hallowed only by flame, and ache which must be thrown onto the pyre. sometimes the only way to free yourself from worry and regret is to air it all out into the cold night wind.

there's grief which can be only carried away by water.

[slavicafire]

very interesting breakdown regarding rodnovery from Scott Simpson’s Strategies for Constructing Religious Practice in Polish Rodzimowierstwo:

A purely academic reconstruction of a religion from the past is “legitimate” when it is made up of fragments which have been selected solely on the basis of the academic authenticity and reliability of the evidence. When a particular fragment had not been recovered, a scholar may always choose to simply leave that space blank without perverting the intention of the reconstruction (whether it be pottery or religion). Rodzimowiercy, in contrast, need to have a complete and functional religion in order for it to be legitimate. If the participant finds her- or himself in personal need of a Slavic marriage ceremony, then that space must be filled by something in spite of the lack of a conveniently pre-existing Pagan marriage script from, say, the Wiślanie tribe in the early 10th century. It would be a serious perversion of the religious intent of such a reconstruction to give up suddenly at that point.

the strategies Simpson describes below the cut. a very recommended reading, too, so I hope the full text will get some attention as well. 

Keep reading

[slavicafire]

also this should be a necessary reading and a necessary thought exercise for anyone into reconstructionist religions - why do we perceive certain things as more legitimate, how do we choose what is authentic and what isn’t?

how do we judge which parts are worthy of being included in the creation of religious cohesion?

[windvexer]

Before I scuttle back underneath my damp beach rock and prepare for high tide:

In some practices, correspondences may be personally chosen and intent-centric (i.e. their only purpose is to help focus your intent and maybe store/bring power to the crafting).

In other practices, some or all correspondences come from the spirits indwelling in those things - yes, even the spirits of abstract concepts like colors.

Correspondences may be things which spirits tend to do by virtue of their personhood (we could say that a correspondence of windvexer is writing),

that which they are skilled in and may choose to do to help you (you could petition to employ windvexer for her famous correspondence of doing the dishes),

or what occurs naturally around them as a consequence of their presence (windvexer, when evoked, compels people to make chicken jokes).

For how many people around these parts profess to be animists, I'm regularly surprised at how common the "nature is empty and humans imprint our own meanings onto it" take is.

The "correspondences come from people" take is perfectly lovely and can be very helpful. At the same time, if you're trying to roll with the spirits are inherent in nature vibe and something isn't clicking for you about correspondences, this can be a factor.

[wallflowerchild-deactivated2024]

[homunculus-argument]

in Finland, it is illegal to kill a bear when it’s hibernating. If you ask a hunter why that is, a number of them will tell you it’s wrong simply because it is the law, and they don’t make a distinction between what is right, and what is legal. Most people like that are perfectly normal, decent and respectable people, just like the rest of us.

 But if you ask people who think about things, the answer is vague. Killing a hibernating bear would just feel… impolite? You can’t fucking shoot a man when he’s sleeping, that’s just fucking rude. It’s just not the right thing to do.

 Long before hunting laws were established in Finland, you couldn’t kill a sleeping bear, and what commands you is something older than law: tradition. Even at a time when hunting was a matter of life and death, and a bear fighting for its life is mainly a matter of death, you just didn’t kill a hibernating bear, you have to wake it up first. Hunters risked their lives, the lives of their brothers and everyone in the hunting party, who were friends, family and men that they loved, to give the bear a fighting chance.

 In the modern time, the hunting season of bears is in the summer, for the warmest summer months. There are many reasons for why they are allowed to tread safely in autumn and to sleep in peace through the cold months, almost all of which are rational and scientific, and do not touch the old traditions.

 Old faith says a living thing has many souls - henki, luonto, itse. Plants only have one - the one that wills them to grow. Animals have two, both the spark of life and nature that enables them to act. A human being also has the third, one that makes them a person, personality, itse, literally “self”. But the soul that travels in your dreams is not the soul that defines a human - animals have that one as well. When your dog runs in her sleep, her soul is elsewhere, where a dog is needed.

 One’s waking soul is elsewhere when they sleep and dream. A bear’s soul is somewhere else when they are hibernating - there are two words for “hibernation” in finnish, one of which is talviuni, “winter sleep”, and that is the one that bears have - and if you kill a sleeping bear, their soul is not in the body, it is still out there, and it can find you, and as a revenge for killing its body, Ghost Bear will kill your entire fucking family.

[cor-ardens-archive]

Martha Nussbaum, introduction to C. K. William’s The Bacchae of Euripides

[upyrica]

unpopular opinion on tarot reading - or card divination in general - should you have any, of course, and if the idea hasn't been explored yet in an ask I might have missed.

Oh, absolutely.

Let us go with this: if a reader hesitates to charge fair compensation for their work, rather than beg for pennies, they are not ready to charge for it at all.