Best of the Pagan Blogs

A look at some of the quality writing and commentary in the diverse modern Pagan blogosphere.

Chas Clifton wonders why some modern Pagans aren’t more practical:

“A friend in California today was telling me of recent rituals in the Berkeley and Sacramento areas, with authentically (?) costumed Druids red-faced and on the verge of heatstroke thanks to their wool garments. People, people, people, if you are going to practice nature religion, you have to adapt to where you are in actuality, not where you are in your fantasies.”

Jane Crow has a modest suggestion for those wanting to save wild horses from slaughter:

“Ever since the Bureau of Land Management got the okay to remove and have slaughtered wild horses in Montana (thanks to the Burns Amendment), I have been posting updates here about the issues. What I am surprised by, despite the emotional tidalwave of response to the tragedy, is the reluctance of self-declared, outraged horse lovers to stop eating beef. There’s no doubt that the sole reason for the relocation and slaughter of wild horses and burros today is that they directly compete with grazing livestock, primarily cattle. Conrad Burns, the culprit behind the pernicious amendment, is a puppet for the cattlemen, and no one has doubted this from the beginning. Yet despite the direct correlation between horse slaughter and cattle grazing, so many horse advocates remain frightened or angered by the mere mention of a beef boycott.”

Heathen blogger (and farmer) Dave Haxton has some meat musings of his own, about a study linking red meat consumption to cancer:

“I don’t really doubt that this study is “true” – what I seriously doubt is that “meat” is the culprit. Why? Because humans, being biological omnivores, are “designed” to eat meat. In fact, in our dim past as hunters and gatherers, meat probably accounted for the bulk of our diet. And we still, as a species, consume a great deal of meat. But in today’s agricultural environment, we’re eating a lot more than meat when we munch a steak. We’re grubbing all the antibiotics, hormones and “additives” that the poor cattle are stuffed with prior to slaughter. And as if that’s not enough, we often take these contaminated meats and “process” them – adding sugars and preservatives, flash frying in hydrogenated oils and then irradiating the whole mash for better shelf life.”

Daven explains the fallacy of Pagan unity:

“I think that a group of pagans getting together to support a political candidate and contribute to his campaign is a GOOD thing. I think that issuing a press release to the media stating why this group is supporting him could really help at various times, especially if the more moderate Pagans started speaking up. I think that using that influence to set up a Pagan run Mission who does work for the homeless is an exceedingly good idea….Probably not going to happen though. What I’m describing here is a limited group of Pagans, who may or may not necessarily agree with each other on all issues, who come together to accomplish a limited goal, be it to clean up a road, or to help cure MD….But, what I see happening is the homogenization of Pagan beliefs.”

Finally Mikki of Non Fluffy Wicca talks about the pitfalls of exposing your child to modern Paganism:

“Regardless of how little or how much you teach your child about your beliefs, some children will embellish it to the point of distortion. If someone has a beef of any sort against you, or claims to be looking out for the “best interests of the child,” they will grasp onto these stories and use them against you. Your intentions, “do what thou wilt an it harm none,” or any other good or wholesome beliefs of your religion will be meaningless. Even those you previously trusted will either hop onto the bandwagon of “you’re all Satanists” or wave the banner of “that’s what others think therefore, it must be stopped.” At this point it doesn’t matter whether the child in question is well adjusted, relatively happy or otherwise fine. None of your input to the child’s well roundedness will matter. Instead, your religion (if non mainstream) will be grasped upon and made the scapegoat, and all of your best intentions will fall to the floor.”

Just a taste of what’s out there. For more explore my list of Pagan blog links.

Tags: Neopaganism