Category: Paganism

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From the Forum

Curated by Cat Gina Cole

The Green Egg Forum is a lively hotbed of thoughtful discourse, moderated by Cat Gina Cole. In this column, Cat shares some of the most interesting and interactive posts and threads from the forum. Want to get in on the conversation? We would love to have you! Go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1069823176940972/ to join.

The forum does not disappoint when it comes to having a variety of topics. This week’s topics include getting your solar eclipse t-shirts as Oberon Zell is quite excited to see yet another solar eclipse, a publisher offering a discount on books for Valentine’s Day, WitchCon coming up, a new Asatru Temple that was built and even a couple of videos from Witchcraft masters like Lauri Cabot and Oberon Zell. As is typical, the dialogue on these topics was as varied as the topics themselves. Let’s take a look. Continue reading From the Forum

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Witch At The Crossroads: A Seat At The Table

By Katrina Rasbold

Every now and then, a person influential in your field of influence says or writes something so profound that the whole world seems to stop around you as you let the message sink in. This happened to me in February 2018 in San Jose, California when I attended a presentation by one of my favorite writers and lecturers, John Beckett. Every time I sit through any of his classes, I come away with some snippet that finds its way into my future teachings. For this presentation, his topic was “Alliances” and although he made this statement within a different context than I use it in this post, I was stunned (not for the first or the last time) by the raw truth in his words. John said, “Too many people expect a seat at the table when they bring little or nothing to the table.” Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: A Seat At The Table

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From the Forum

Curated by Cat Gina Cole

The Green Egg Forum is a lively hotbed of thoughtful discourse, moderated by Cat Gina Cole. In this column, Cat shares some of the most interesting and interactive posts and threads from the forum. Want to get in on the conversation? We would love to have you! Go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1069823176940972/ to join.

This week in the forum there has been a wide variety of things discussed. From money and ethics, a new book release, a bit of poetry, and even murder. Let’s take a look at how all this unfolds. Continue reading From the Forum

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Witch At The Crossroads: Imbolc, Dawn’s Early Light

Imbolc is arguably one of our most underrated sabbats. If you do not study the value and impact of each of the eight sabbats, you lose balance on the wheel of the year, but for many Pagans, any celebration that is not Samhain or Beltane is met with limited enthusiasm… the sure sign of an amateur, truth be told. Sigh.

Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: Imbolc, Dawn’s Early Light

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The Cat’s Eye: What Is Witchcraft, Magic, Psychism, and Paganism?

By Cat Gina Cole

What is Witchcraft?

That is a question that continues to be hotly debated on social media. There is a lot of “Who gets to decide that and why?” type of questions that come with it. The answer also depends on culture, pantheon, and personal beliefs. So, you may be asking why attempt to answer such a question? Well, as a teacher, and practicing Witch for over 50 years, I am in about 40-50 “witch” groups on social media and I see many looking for direction and firm answers, so I will attempt to provide some clarity. Continue reading The Cat’s Eye: What Is Witchcraft, Magic, Psychism, and Paganism?

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From the Forum

Curated by Cat Gina Cole

The Green Egg Forum is a lively hotbed of thoughtful discourse, moderated by Cat Gina Cole. In this column, Cat shares some of the most interesting and interactive posts and threads from the forum. Want to get in on the conversation? We would love to have you! Go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1069823176940972/ to join.

This week I asked the forum this question: “What do you like or enjoy about being Pagan and the Pagan community in general?”

I truly enjoyed the response and this week I am just going to let the responses speak for themselves.

Continue reading From the Forum

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Witch At The Crossroads: 22 Major Arcana Archetypes of Pagan Groups

Archetypes, labels, and cubbyholes. Did we invent them or did they invent us?

There comes a time when you are an old crone sitting back and watching the world turn when you begin to feel like there is nothing new under the sun. When something does spark interest as a new thought, new idea, new concept, new approach, it is exciting, breath-taking even. Mostly because it is so rare. I never imagined that I would be as jaded as I am, thankful for all of the wonders in the world, but bored with them all the same. And yet, here I am, jaded as the evergreens that grow around me and almost as old. Continue reading Witch At The Crossroads: 22 Major Arcana Archetypes of Pagan Groups

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From the Forum

Curated by Cat Gina Cole

The Green Egg Forum is a lively hotbed of thoughtful discourse, moderated by Cat Gina Cole. In this column, Cat shares some of the most interesting and interactive posts and threads from the forum. Want to get in on the conversation? We would love to have you! Go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1069823176940972/ to join.

Thank you all for your participation in the conversation about atheists. One comment was very skillfully laid out that I did not want to get lost in the shuffle the reply was…

Continue reading From the Forum

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The Pagan Agenda

By Katrina Rasbold

If you are unconvinced that everyone has an agenda, you desperately need a Facebook account. We all have agendas which we kindly refer to as “life goals.” Sure, we can parrot platitudes such as “all we want is to be treated with tolerance” and “if I don’t get a cast iron cauldron at a good price at this swap meet, I might shank someone,” but really, when it comes to it, the agenda is far more predictable than that. In fact, considering the number of Pagans I have known throughout forty plus years of active Paganism spanning multiple continents, I have found I can boil down the life goals of individual Pagans to one or more the following five things: Continue reading The Pagan Agenda

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On Words and Practices, Groups and Solitaries

By Gus diZerega

For six years, I participated in a healing center in Berkeley that integrated African Diasporic practices and Buddhism. Sometimes, I did so several times a week. Those years were as demanding (and rewarding) as the previous years I spent getting a Ph.D. in Political Science at Berkeley, but they never involved writing or reading anything.

I had already become a Wiccan when I began to work at the healing center and explained my first commitment was to the Wiccan Goddess, but so long as that was acceptable, I would love to participate. And participate I did until a growing focus on Buddhism gradually squeezed out the African Diasporic dimension of its work. I left on friendly terms and regard those years as one of the most important spiritual experiences of my life. Continue reading On Words and Practices, Groups and Solitaries

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Libertarian Paganism: Freedom and Responsibility in Nature-Based Spirituality by Logan Albright

Review by Katrina Rasbold

The author uses only 224 pages to tackle two far-reaching and complex subjects but does so with a distilled finesse that leaves no stone unturned. Choices were made, make no mistake. He carefully curates which topics will best support his argument for a potential marriage between the camps of libertarianism and paganism*, which is no easy task since those two camps are not even remotely on the same battlefield.

Continue reading Libertarian Paganism: Freedom and Responsibility in Nature-Based Spirituality by Logan Albright

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Gaia: Saving Her, Saving Ourselves by Irisanya Moon

Book Review By Katrina Rasbold

Working as I do for Green Egg Magazine, founded by the King of Gaia theology, Oberon Zell, the subject of earth consciousness and stewardship understandably becomes an important focus. Irisanya Moon encapsulates this mindset perfectly in this beautiful homage to Mother Earth. As she puts it (paraphrased), Earth is our home, where our birth, life, and death all are contained. Continue reading Gaia: Saving Her, Saving Ourselves by Irisanya Moon

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From the Forum

The Green Egg Forum is a lively hotbed of thoughtful discourse, moderated by Cat Gina Cole. In this column, Cat shares some of the most interesting and interactive posts and threads from the forum. Want to get in on the conversation? We would love to have you! Go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1069823176940972/ to join.

This week in the forum there was this provoking post:

“I thought this would be a good follow up to Wade’s earlier post on Paganism and Christmas. I take issue with the smallest of facts here, they keep calling it a pentagram, when clearly it is a pentacle, point up! I do not endorse the Satanic Church on the whole, but they really have done a lot in getting us Pagans in the door and on the map with their push for equal representation for all religions. Their choosing Baphomet I am sure was for shock value, and it works. Continue reading From the Forum

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Ask A Witch: Patron Gods & Goddesses?

By Katrina Rasbold

How do you “get” a Patron God or Goddess or know who yours is? In this video, veteran Witch, Katrina Rasbold, discusses two different ways you can attach to a Patron God or Goddess for your spiritual development, guidance, and companionship. Continue reading Ask A Witch: Patron Gods & Goddesses?

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A Caveat of The Craft

By Rev. DeeDee Stinson, Priestess

It’s the Season of the Witch and it seems that folk still wanna practice the Craft without realizing it’s not just a fad, a silly way to pass time, or use to your advantage once or twice. I’m not gonna yuck someone’s yum but as a Witch of over two decades of experience and a recently Initiated First Degree Priestess, as well as an Initiate by my First Teacher and Initiator, … it’s my solemn Oath to speak logically and cautiously.

Why do I believe Witchcraft can be dangerous if not properly learned, practiced, and even taught? Two quotes: Continue reading A Caveat of The Craft

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From the Forum

The Green Egg Forum is a lively hotbed of thoughtful discourse, moderated by Cat Gina Cole. In this column, Cat shares some of the most interesting and interactive posts and threads from the forum. Want to get in on the conversation? We would love to have you! Go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1069823176940972/ to join.

This week in the Green Egg Forum Group on Facebook, the point was raised that Christmas has Pagan roots. In that post, some historical facts came up to prove the point and the question was raised:

“Should we, as Witches and Pagans, stop telling people that Christmas was originally Pagan?”

Here are some of the comments that followed that question: Continue reading From the Forum

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Amazing Grace

By Katrina Rasbold

When I saw this internet meme, I literally laughed out loud with this wonderful, surprised, soul-smiling bark of a laugh. Let me tell you, I give amazing grace. I can grace like a pro in non-denominational, Christian, Heathen… I just read the room and flood that table with grace. I am grace fluent to the extreme. I will also finish before your food gets cold. It’s an art. 😉

Saying grace or as we called it when I was growing up in Kentucky “Returning the thanks” or “Saying the blessing,” is one of the traditions that sadly falls away for most people who leave the Christian Church. Personally, I am a fan of blessing the food that we eat regardless of whatever religious subscription dominates our spritual mailbox.

How do you bless the food you take into your body? How do you honor the people throughout the supply chain who helped get the food to you? How do you pay tribute to the plant or animal (or scientist) that sacrificed so you could eat? Continue reading Amazing Grace

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Pagan Voices

By Katrina Rasbold

Hello Green Egg Family! I started reading Green Egg in the 1980s when the Pagan climate and experience was somewhat different than it is now. We were not then as connected with other Pagans without the internet to draw us together. We had a limited number of resources available to us and only a handful of voices in the wilderness guiding us through the experiences. Not all of us were fortunate enough to be born into hereditary Pagan families and our only recourse was to follow the breadcrumb trails left by the people we now consider to be pioneers of Neopaganism. 

There are amazing teachers out there now and we have greater access to them than we ever could have imagined four decades ago. People like Christopher Penczak, Thorn Mooney, John Beckett, Jon Drum, Judika Illes, and so many more continue the process of developing the various Pagan religions and providing guidance to the twenty-first century Pagan community. These contemporary leaders follow a trail blazed by the ground-breaking teachers of our past.  Continue reading Pagan Voices