Pagan articles of interest by Lyon

Past, Present, Future

©July 2004 by Lyon
Where are Pagans heading as a community? Where are we and where have we come from? These questions are uppermost in my mind these days. So much has changed since I first found my Path. Have I been the one who has changed or is it the Pagan community around me? I think it's equal portions of both.

I came to my Pagan path through a-round-about route. In contrast with the almost mainstream position Witchcraft assumes nowadays, twenty years ago Witches clung to the shadows. There were notable exceptions among them - Starhawk and Raymond Buckland come to mind. But for the most part you had to know someone who knew someone before you found other Witches. Read the full article.

Bringing Ritual into Your Everyday

©June 2004 by Lyon
Many people are drawn to the neoPagan paths because of the images of pop culture. TV shows like ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Charmed’ have put a new face on magic and witches. Gone are the days of ‘Bewitched’ and ‘I Dream Of Jeannie’ when magic was a wiggle of a nose or a blink of an eye. The new Hollywood witch actually has to work at her magic. While these new TV images are closer to real people than the characters from shows in the past, you and I both know we don’t spend our days fighting demons and monsters. I doubt very much whether any of us has actually met a demon much less vanquished one. Read the full article.

The Delicate Balance of Pagan Ethics

©December 2003 by Lyon
If you've been on any of the Pagan paths a while, you probably know about the Wiccan Rede. Briefly, it can be summed up as "Do what ye will, that ye harm none." At first that seems pretty simple. Since Neo-Paganism is a mere 60 to 70 years old, as a religious group we have yet to adopt a code of what are ethical behaviors and what are "taboo." Right now we have to figure out for ourselves what Harm None really means. Many non-Wiccan paths have adopted some form of "Harm None" into their belief systems. Many have not. Whether or not you are Wiccan, having some form of a moral guideline is part of any religious path. Morals are often customs that have become so deep-rooted in a society as to become unquestionable. Our very lack of a set of written rules causes confusion for many Neo-Pagans. Just what is 'harm' anyway? Read the full article.

Make a Real Difference Out of the Broom Closet

©June 2003 by Lyon
So you’ve come out of the broom closet. You made your announcement to friend and family member alike. You even came out at the office and your boss and co-workers were accepting, even slightly curious. Now what? There are many Pagan oriented activist groups who are begging for your help. These groups hope to strengthen the Pagan presence in the mundane world through education and charitable actions. They are in desperate need of committed individuals to help. Read the full article.

Blame it on Dad’s Compost Pile

©April 2003 by Lyon
Our backyard edged into a town park. The park was neglected for the most part. It didn’t even look much like a park being surrounded on three sides by homes and on the fourth side by a heavily traveled road. It was a jumble of trees, undergrowth, paths and hills, a haven for all the children in the area. I think the only time I ever saw an adult there was to fetch an errant or hurt child. Read the full article.

Pagan Tribalism? Can We Say Pagan Feudalism?

©March 2003 by Lyon
In theory the idea of the perfect Pagan village is a great one. We'd live in a place where we can worship the Lord and Lady together in peace and harmony. We can send our children to school without fear that their differences will make them outcast from their peers. We'd all be one big happy family, with a shared vision and a shared goal. Utopian visions are nice. But the problem with Utopia is that reality is a far cry from the vision. Read the full article.

Out of the Broom Closet, Into the Cauldron?

©December 2002 by Lyon
There you are, newly on your Path, excited at the spiritual world that this new religion has brought to your life. You want to share your newfound joy with your best friend, your sister, and the whole wide world. That's really great, but are you really prepared for the reactions you may or may not receive? A while back, TWV had a global notice about a handfasting party in Nashville, Tennessee http://www.witchvox.com/wotw/noticeg_detail.html?id=736 being detained at gunpoint by park rangers. The Pagans involved were able to get the situation resolved to their satisfaction later, but the event was ruined by this blatant show of hostility. While occurrences like these do happen, luckily they are less frequent than in the past. Unfortunately, when a Pagan “goes public” with his or her faith, similar situations can happen.Read the full article.

Leaving Small Footprints, Walking the Talk (Pagan Life)

©November 2002 by Lyon
I don't cease to be Pagan when I open my circle after a ritual. If I did I would be a part-time Pagan, because in my family we seldom have a formal ritual with all the bells and whistles.
Both my husband and I prefer to be Solitary, and given our schedules with children, work and other activities, the hour drive each way to local functions is usually more than we can manage.
In spite of the lack of official Circles in our lives, we are always Pagan. Read the full article.

Strolling the Path Hand-in-Hand With Your Children

©September 2002 by Lyon
Remember the first time you looked into your child’s eyes? I remember looking at my daughter the day after she was born. She was wired with tubes and cords and odd-looking things because she had been born prematurely. I was afraid to touch her, so all I did was look at her. She had the most incredibly wise look in her eyes. I was overwhelmed with the realization that I was now totally responsible for the safety and education of another human being. It was up to me to teach her how to be an honorable and contributing member of society. I also wanted to share with her the joy that my path as an eclectic Pagan brought to me. Read the full article.

A Children's Lammas Ritual

©August 2002 Ritual article by Lyon
Nearly a decade ago, following some particularly rousing Lughnassad games, my partner and I held a ritual asking for bounty and increase for the coming year. We meant for our income to increase but God/dess had other ideas. I conceived my daughter that night after the ritual. (Another case of being careful what you're asking for.) Up until that point in my life I had never considered what it meant to be Pagan from any other standpoint than my own. I never had to explain my beliefs to anyone. They were my beliefs and that was enough. Read the full article.

Pagans in Recovery and Alcoholics Anonymous

©July 2002 by Lyon
Recently, I attended the Pagan Unity Festival (PUF) in Tennessee. A whole blissful weekend including classes and workshops with about one hundred like-minded souls. Because PUF was being held at a state park, there was no alcohol (or drugs) allowed. This is perfect for me. You see I am an alcoholic in recovery. Goddess has seen fit to help me stay sober for more than nine years.

One of the workshops listed in the program was billed as "Pagans in Recovery". Read the full article.