Vinyl Paganism

What I call “vinyl paganism” means consciously choosing technologies that allow us to slow down, pay attention, be present in place and in our bodies, and let the more-than-human world speak to us in its own way.

The Original Heresy: Homesickness, Civilization, and Transcendental Religion (part 2)

To be pagan is nothing more and nothing less than to be fully human, fully human in a more-than-human world. The alienating forces of civilization—including Christianity, yes, but also capitalism, industrialism, the Enlightenment, and patriarchy—have divided us from ourselves, from each other, and from the more-than-human world. The work of being pagan today, then, is to reclaim our humanity.

The Original Heresy: Homesickness, Civilization, and Transcendental Religion (part 1)

The original heresy is the belief that the earth is not our home, that our real life is somewhere else—whether in heaven or a future technotopia. We embrace this heresy to make sense of that nagging feeling that something is wrong with the world itself. But the real reason we feel this way is because civilization alienates us from everything that makes us human.

Anarchism, Land, Paganism, Polytheism, RewildingJohn HalsteadJanuary 11, 2023civilization, paganism, Polytheism, homesickness, Christianity, transcendenceComment

Neither Faith Nor Reason

“By focusing on the unwinnable debate between faith and reason, both Christians and atheists have agreed to ask the same questions – thus missing the potential for a type of religion that asks different questions in the first place.”

The Chthonic King of Christmas

From Rhyd Wildermuth

Rhyd WildermuthDecember 24, 2021Rome, christmas, Saturn, saturnalia, Yule, solstice, paganism, caroling, riotComment

The Chthonic King of Christmas

Roman priests knew the same truth psychotherapists know: deep desires and ancient drives cannot simply be consigned to the underworld. Sublimated urges live on still, quake through the illusory stability of our society, and resurface again to manifest their wills.

Rhyd WildermuthDecember 20, 2020Rome, christmas, Saturn, saturnalia, Yule, solstice, paganism, caroling, riotComment

The Manor of Tara

“Taking this idealized portrait of early Ireland as a mental map, we see particular Buada or ‘excellences’ associated with each of the four directions as well as the sacred center. The purpose of the Manor of Tara ritual is to invoke these excellences...”

Uncategorized, DruidryChristopher Scott ThompsonFebruary 12, 2020radical druidry, druidry, druidism, Tara, Irish, paganismComment

Building a Relationship With Nature

The deep, dark wild woods, mysterious and magical, have an almost mythic status amongst Pagans. Indeed there is something so alluring about losing oneself beneath the canopy of the forest. However, for the beginner, the best place to start is somewhere close to you, somewhere you can visit daily or weekly. It can be a garden if you have one, or a local patch of trees, whatever. What is important is that you can get there as often as possible.

Animism, WitchcraftEmma KathrynJanuary 10, 2020Animist, animism, witchcraft, paganism, Nature Comment

The Chthonic King of Christmas

Roman priests knew the same truth psychotherapists know: deep desires and ancient drives cannot simply be consigned to the underworld. Sublimated urges live on still, quake through the illusory stability of our society, and resurface again to manifest their wills.

Rhyd WildermuthDecember 22, 2019Rome, christmas, Saturn, saturnalia, Yule, solstice, paganism, caroling, riot Comments

The Cup of Truth

“If our treaty of friendship with the spiritual powers is to be restored, we must take the responsibility of Fírinne upon ourselves.”

Uncategorized, DruidryChristopher Scott ThompsonSeptember 11, 2019radical druidry, Celtic, paganismComment

The Prison and The Key: Pagan Perspectives on Suicide (Part 1)

The 1st part of a 2 part series on the extremely painful subject of suicide. We hope this can help everyone who has had to deal with it one way or another. This section includes an Intro and The Value of Autonomy.

[Un]Conscious Colonialism – Why is “Native Spirituality” a Pagan Genre?

Being placed within Paganism for quite a few decades now, the genre of “Native Spirituality” has been a convenience entirely directed by white people.

Abuse Within Paganism - A Taboo Topic?

We must make those who think that Paganism tolerates abusive, controlling behaviour aware that they have no place within our traditions.

Paganism, Witchcraft, Struggle, CommunityEmma KathrynNovember 9, 2018witchcraft, paganism, abuse, justice, me tooComment

Anti-fascism and the Left's Euro-Secular Arrogance

An editorial from Rhyd Wildermuth

The Cresting Wave

We’re all in a building that’s on fire, and most of us are wearing blindfolds. Spiritual practice helps us take the blindfold off. We’re still in the building, but if we can see, there’s more we can do.