NeoWayland's Technopagan Yearnings

Thu - January 8, 2009

Still leaving the scene

Jason Pitzl-Waters over at The Wild Hunt Blog has been talking about outgrowing Paganism. It was prompted by a pair of Pagan podcasters converting to atheism.

Now I didn't discuss this particular case (obviously), but I did look at some of what was happening back in 2005.

It's one of the very very few times I've beaten Jason to a Pagan topic, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to stand over here and buff my nails on my shirt. And maybe blow on them a bit.

—

Posted: Thu - January 8, 2009 at 06:45 AM
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Systematically

This is the third and last blog entry inspired by a certain discussion on one of my freedom lists, and the second one on this blog. It's the third one of five in my "tool group" of posts. And now you know exactly where you are, right?

Well, no.

I'm here to tell you why.

The person who created the original thread thought that some things should not be accepted on faith. Now he was talking about certain ideas on freedom that were accepted as givens, but the conversation diverted into a discussion on faith and belief in large part because of things he and I disagreed on. He wanted proof of those ideas, something more than a vague feeling of spiritual connection. He thought that faith was a flawed methodology and it didn't make sense to accept that two plus two equaled five.

Well, his language was stronger.

The thing is, faith isn't a methodology.

In this context, I don't mean the rites and rituals you may use. I mean the working assumptions that you may not fully understand but you accept anyway.

Obviously the big one of these is the existence of the Divine, however it may or may not manifest in your life. And yes, I've studied and used chaos magick. I know that there are explanations that do not depend on the existence of specific gods per se.

Faith isn't a methodology, but it can inspire methodologies. Later we go back and rationally draw the map to tell ourselves (and perhaps others) how we got there and what route we took.

But there is another reason, a deeper reason, one that he touched on but wasn't really ready to think about yet.

Faith opens you up to the experience, whatever it may be and wherever it may go.

I am not talking about the experience that you may read about, although that is one reason why he and I were having such a symbol mismatch in our discussion.

I'm talking about something I do not really have the language to discuss which is probably why I have been staring at this sentence for ten minutes.

I'm talking about the point where you surrender, where you let the touch of the Divine propel you into worlds and perceptions that you never dreamt of.

I'm talking in a sexual metaphor and it's really not explaining things well, is it?

I could talk about Drawing Down the God or Drawing Down the Goddess, I could talk about being ridden by a god, but I think this is the point.

What you think you know is not what you need to know.

If you had the maps to get to where you were going, you wouldn't be reaching beyond yourself, reaching beyond the world to touch the Divine.

Having reached out, you've had to let go of your expectations, you've had to surrender.

And you're not the one calling the shots anymore.

What you think you know is not what you need to know.

Where you are is not where you need to be.

We humans like our maps. We like knowing that this hill shown here is really that thing over there, that this little squiggly line in red is that blacktop over in the other direction, and if we orient ourselves correctly we can get to where we are going by putting one foot in front of the other.

The touch of the Divine shreds the map and gives us directions that we never saw before. The landmarks are totally different. We may not even recognize the landmarks. The language has changed. Maybe even the World has changed. All we really know is that we're not where we were.

What you think you know is not what you need to know.

Where you are is not where you need to be.

Who you believe you are is not who you were meant to be.

Faith should be the start, never the destination. Yes, it's the Journey instead of the Story. Faith opens the gate and gives you a direction, but it won't tell you what lies ahead.

That's your job, when you have gotten back from the mountain. Even if it's just for yourself.

What you think you know is not what you need to know.

Where you are is not where you need to be.

Who you believe you are is not who you were meant to be.

Have faith. Worry about the directions later.

—

Posted: at 05:36 AM
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Tue - January 6, 2009

Two plus two equals ?

It's not often that there's a discussion on one of my lists that inspires a post. I'm pretty sure this is the first time that I've been able to draw three posts from the same discussion. It wouldn't have happened except I was already talking about tools on this blog.

Someone said that it was insane to think that two plus two equals five.

Well, sort of.

Now I will be the first to tell you that symbols are always imprecise. "The word is not the thing." "The map is not the territory." These are accepted truths. And they are accurate.

As far as they go.

Two point three one and two point four four two approximates five.

It's certainly more than four and a half.

And it's not four.

That was me being a smart ass troublemaker. And it's also accurate.

As far as it goes.

Since our symbols are approximations, we make them as compact and concise as possible. In the case of measurements, we round. You may say that it's two miles to the nearest gas station, but it's really 2.37 miles.

Hold on, today you had to park in a different spot. That makes it 2.372 miles.

But two is "close enough for jazz" as the late Stan Freberg would say. It's close enough for our purposes, It's a given that it's an approximate measure.

Among the older Diné, directions are usually "over the next hill" while pointing with their lips. And that is accurate.

As far as it goes.

What they're not telling you because they don't necessarily think linearly is that it may be over that hill and over the next six, about ninety miles away. It's literally a mismatch of assumptions and ideas. In their minds, they gave you the information you needed, it's not their fault it doesn't fit your map.

The map is not the territory.

Symbols approximate reality.

It's one of those tradeoffs we make.

I can say "Give me a screwdriver" and you don't have to know which exact screwdriver I need. I may not even know, I just want a starting point. Later I can say "A smaller one" and we both have a shared frame of reference.

Two plus two equals five.

Unless we're working in base 3.

Change the assumptions and the symbol context changes. Truth is no longer our constant, it may not even be our reference.

All this is well and good.

As far as it goes.

But I am about to get sneaky on you.

Magick is about shaping reality with your thoughts.

Which makes those symbol things really important.

The spell isn't just about what you want, it's about the process of moving from a to b to c through qq and up to Green-ssss. You have to understand where you are in order to know where you are going. You have to understand what force to apply where. The spell is not just a framework to pour your thoughts, will, and passion into, it's a set of directions that tells you how to get there. It's supposed to be accurate.

As far as it goes.

Now I don't mean carrying out the math to thirty or fifty decimal places. I mean identifying what is involved and what needs to be involved.

Do that and the spell can take you places.

As far as it goes.

—

Posted: Tue - January 6, 2009 at 02:47 PM
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Sun - January 4, 2009

The right thingamajig for the job

The time has come for me to talk about something near and dear to my heart.

Tools…

I do admit I have a fetish for tools. Nothing sexual, but certainly something Tim Allen or Pat McManus would understand. I may not grunt, but I hear a well made tool calling to me every time I pass it.

Usually when I have a belt on, I'm wearing my Number Two tool pouch. The latest version carries my Micro-Tech™ 8-in-1, my Utili-Key® 6-in-1, a Maglite Solitare, a London police whistle, and a dog whistle (more useful than you might think).

Of course my Number One tool pouch is usually close at hand, either in my computer case or my overalls pocket or in the tool chest next to my desk in the sanctum.

Usually about a third of the time, the Number Two pouch is enough for what I may need. About two thrids of the time, the Number One pouch would be enough.

But while the knife in the Utili-Key or the Leatherman works, it's not comfortable. It doesn't fit my hand, it's not balanced. Basically it's a tool in a pinch, not the best tool for the job. It's lousy for hunting, and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't work well for fighting.

Certainly there are times when you don't want your screwdriver to fold up.

Nothing in my tool pouches can do the job of a wrench or a hammer.

Ah yes, hammers.

You see, a five pound sledge, a geologist's tap hammer, a meat tenderizer, and a blacksmith's hammer are all technically hammers, but none will work well to hang drywall. For that, you need a carpenter's hammer, which wouldn't work terribly well for all those other things.

When I created my tool pouches, I selected tools that I would be likely to need in a wide variety of circumstances, but I didn't want to carry a complete tool case. They were almost good enough for everything. Now I wouldn't be able to hammer, I wouldn't be able to solder, and I wouldn't be able to sew up a hole in my sock. For that I needed other tools which I keep at home in their own places.

That's one of the tradeoffs I make. The tools I carry close at hand aren't "perfect," but they don't take up the space and aren't as heavy as the best tools would be. Almost-as-good in exchange for carrying capacity and flexibility. Not a bad trade.

Most engineering is made up a similar tradeoffs. And in some cases, those last couple of notches of utility can up the cost quite a bit. It's pretty easy to cost justify a decision if one wrench delivers 80% of what you need while the one that delivers 90% of what you need costs five times as much.

So here are the tool truths that we've come up with so far.

1). Tools concentrate your ability to work.

2). The wrong tool can be worse than no tool.

3). Tools are always a tradeoff among several factors.

Here's the big issue with tools. You personally can't make most of them.

Take our friend the hammer. I have only the vaguest idea of what metals are in hammers. I know you don't use pure steel because it can crack and chip. But I've no idea of the proportions. I've no way to produce the heat that forging a hammer would take. I've no way to handle the molten metal.

That gives me a choice. I can learn what it would take and acquire the forge and other tools to make the hammer. Or I can go to True Value. It's another trade off. For the time and money I spend learning to make a hammer, i could buy all the hammers I need, along with wrenches, screwdrivers, glass cutters, and almost anything else I could want. Plus I have a very good idea of the quality of tools I buy, and it would take many attempts by me to get close to that standard by making my own.

If I even could.

It's tied in with the distribution of labor. Some people make better hunters, others make better arrows, and still others sing the songs. I could spend the next few months learning to forge a hammer, or I borrow what someone else offers. And that brings us naturally to the next thing about tools.

4). Usually, someone else can make the tool better than you can.

So far I haven't talked about tools in the esoteric sense. This is where it gets a little complicated, so I am going to simplify.

In ceremonial and operative magick, you're creating a thought form. The tools are symbols, shorthand for thoughts and feelings that go into the thought form.

So why use tools at all? Because the best symbol is the thing itself.

Now I could tell you to use a hammer. Or you could feel the weight of the hammer in your hand, the hardness of the shaft, where the balance point is, the temperature of the metal, and hear the ring as the hammer strikes. Which is the better symbol?

If you are good enough, you don't need a physical hammer at all. But that's another trade off, it takes much less time and effort if you have one close at hand. Your thoughts can use the existing pattern.

Magick tools aren't for daily use, and they should be something unusual. Failing that, they should be a little difficult to get. It's the passion you're investing in the tool that will deliver when the tool is used.

For example, right now I am looking for a new athamé, something that can do double duty as a ceremonial sword if need be. At one point I was looking seriously at a reproduction of a Roman gladius, but now I am looking at something along the lines of a Arkansas toothpick. It's probably going to have to be custom made to get the black handle, the nickel silver fittings, and the blade etchings I want. While I can't make such a thing, there are those who can. And since it's not something I can pay $199.95 for at the local weaponsmith, it's going to require special effort on my part to get one.

That brings us to the next tool truth.

5). In magick, the best symbol is the tool itself when backed by your passion.

That's it's for simple tools. Join us next time when we get to Meet The Parts!

—

Posted: Sun - January 4, 2009 at 12:51 PM
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Tue - December 30, 2008

Coasting through the blog

I have to admit, I've been taking it sort of easy since about the 23rd.

I've got friends and relatives in town.

I'd rather be bending young brains with hot chocolate in front of the fireplace than thinking of Pagan topics to write about.

Admittedly, it's not my fireplace. It's not even my house. There's sort of an unspoken agreement there. So I go visiting and then back to my place.

But I did supply the marshmallows.

After the first of January, I'll buckle down. I promise.

—

Posted: Tue - December 30, 2008 at 01:43 PM
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Drool worthy

This one is not specifically Pagan, but I drooled over it.

Librophiliac Love Letter: A Compendium of Beautiful Libraries

Once upon a time I believed that all Pagans were failed librarians.

I can't speak for you, but I just might be. How many people have specific rooms that are libraries in their houses?

I do.

—

Posted: at 01:36 PM
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Sun - December 28, 2008

Altar-natives

Outside I have a raised ritual area that I use probably about two thirds of the year. In the middle spring to early fall, there are enough vines covering the fence that it's private.

My main altar moves around. It's an old end table, probably not worth much, but I always liked the carving on the legs and under the tabletop. I use it for the special stuff that takes more than a few moments to set up. It's usually either in the outside space on inside in front of the fire.

Of course, I can't keep a special ritual area cleared in the living room, but there is another small altar on the mantelpiece. Most people never know what it is.

There's another small one in the bedroom. That one's a little more obvious, occasionally a sex toy or three lives there.

There's another small one in the kitchen. I'm only a fair to decent cook, but every once in a while I mix something in.

In the sanctum behind the chimney is an old dressing table. It's just about the right height for a standing altar. My largest bear statue, two feet tall and made of plaster of paris, pretty much lives permanently there. I don't like moving it, it nicks easy and is heavy and awkward. That's my "workshop" altar, the sanctum itself is about a third workshop.

My other "unused" statuary lives in the sanctum, along with a few choice pieces of art.

I do have a couple of altar cloths that I use as travel altars.

I do have a couple of places in the desert that I've used as ritual space, but I take all the stuff with me when I leave.

—

Posted: Sun - December 28, 2008 at 07:51 AM
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Sat - December 27, 2008

Pagan in the desert

There are still places in the continental U.S. where you can get away from the light pollution, the noise pollution, and the road pollution. My desert is one of those.

I say mine, it's not really. It covers a good portion of four states and doesn't belong to any one person. But it's in me and I'm in it. I was born here, not too far from where I am sitting now. My family has a long history of being tied to the land. Add this desert to that and you get me.

Well, mostly anyway.

It's a high desert, cooler than what you would expect. On a winter's night you can lose yourself in the jeweled sky. It's like the stars surround you and sing to you softly.

In the summer's night just after dusk you can feel the Earth giving up her heat to the Sky. Sometimes it can seem more sexual than the quiver of flesh during a lady's quiet orgasm.

I've seen other deserts. Phoenix with it's deceptive beige inoffensiveness. Death Valley where the heat is a presence you've no name for. Salt flats where your sweat dries and crusts on your skin faster than it can cool you.

But only one haunts my dreams with the colors bleeding through Kodachrome.

I can take you to a place where the sand is white on one side and red on the other. I can show you where the black volcanic sand still isn't strong enough to mute all the colors. I can show you where the sky is stretched so thin that you would swear the occasional cloud is really a rip into beyond. I can show you canyons where the sound never dies. I can show you where eagles leap to grab the wind. I can show you a place where one single tree is the only living thing you see for miles.

I can show you my desert.

I can show you the edge where Nature looks back into you. I can show you the place where the river ties itself into a knot during flood season. I can drag you along a twisty way where the desert becomes a forest full of pine and aspen where the wind whispers the deepest secrets you need to hear. I can show you the sacred mountains of the Diné and let them thrum through your feet.

This is where you can't lock the Divine away in a church.

This is my place.

This is the place that calls me.

—

Posted: Sat - December 27, 2008 at 01:20 PM
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Fri - December 26, 2008

Winter meander

After I got home yesterday, it was spitting snow and the internet was down.

Great excuse for fuzzy blankets in front of the fire.

No company this time around, but I did love watching the flames.

So with my hot grapefruit juice close at hand (don't knock it till you've tried it), I mulled over the world.

Overall, things are going well. The gods do their gardening and the wheel turns.

Think about it, you'll know what I mean.

Would I do things differently if I were "in charge?"

Probably, but then that's why I'm only in charge of me.

I made it though most of the holiday season without driving either myself or my family/friends nuts. That's a very good thing, and the first time in years. Guilt stops being the gift that keeps on giving when you don't pick it up.

I can't go barefoot in the winter, but I still skip the shoes whenever I can. There's something decadent about warm fuzzy socks when I put my feet up in front of the fire.

I was doing some painting a few months ago and I bought myself a couple of pairs of overalls. One of the great things about overalls is pockets, an absolute necessity for a technopagan. If I have to wear something at home, it might as well be something with pockets. I can carry my Palm on my chest, and that little pocket low on the right leg is perfect for the tool pouch from my computer bag. I still wouldn't wear them outside the house though.

I broke out the fire salts last night and watched the different colors.

Usually this time of year it's the Christmas carols I can't get out of my head, which makes me grumpy. This year it's "The Holly and the Ivy." I substituted the Pagan lyrics, which made me much happier.

Okay, I'll admit it. Sometimes there are years I stay grumpy. I'll have to work on that.

People still laugh sometimes about me naming gadgets and gizmos. But I can usually get more out of them then they can.

—

Posted: Fri - December 26, 2008 at 01:59 PM
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Thu - December 25, 2008

Pagan Spirit

The moment Scrooge's hand was on the lock, a strange voice called him by his name, and bade him enter. He obeyed.

It was his own room. There was no doubt about that. But it had undergone a surprising transformation. The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove; from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened. The crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there; and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney, as that dull petrifaction of a hearth had never known in Scrooge's time, or Marley's, or for many and many a winter season gone. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam. In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see:, who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door.

"Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost. "Come in, and know me better, man."

Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this Spirit. He was not the dogged Scrooge he had been; and though the Spirit's eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them.

"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," said the Spirit. "Look upon me."

Scrooge reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust.

"You have never seen the like of me before!" exclaimed the Spirit.
— Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

When I was a child, my mother used to take me to art shows, concerts, theatre (performing) matinees, art house theaters (movies), museums, basically anything that was cultural, cheap, and could be done on a weekend. The stebsibs were a little too old to appreciate the shows, but she got to me at exactly the right time.

One of my earliest pure "Pagan" memories is going to see a stage production of Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Now granted, it's a very Christian story, but there are three pure Pagan characters that Scrooge's redemption hinges on. None more than the Ghost of Christmas Present, who is about as Pagan as they come. This guy appeared in the middle of a feast, which was absolutely amazing to the child me. You just knew he was naked under that robe, and his laugh made it clear that he was ready for fun. He didn't care about conventions, he was here to PARTY. This was Santa as a much younger man after he had been drinking for a few hours. At least, that is how the child me saw it.

Above is a colored version of the original John Leech illustration.

This is Desmond Barrit from the 1999 film staring Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge. Look at that robe, it practically screams Pagan spirit. It sings life in the middle of winter and demands charity.

I've a beard and long hair myself. How much did this early exposure influence me? It's hard to say, but fun to speculate.

I did my rites a few days ago, but there is still a matter of tradition to fulfill. I'm volunteering in the local food kitchen today. I've several Santa hats in red and one in green. I'm choosing the green one to wear.

Have to erase the Doom of Ignorance and Want somehow, at least for today.

—

Posted: Thu - December 25, 2008 at 04:58 AM
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Wed - December 24, 2008

Hoopeston

Regular reader Juliaki sent me a link to this documentary on Hoopeston and Witch School.

I do think it might be a bit more biased against the town than strictly necessary. But hey, I grew up in a small town, I know how the politics can work. I know how one issue can become the banner cause to draw people out of the woodwork that you will never see again.

I'm not sure I would be willing to set up shop in a town that had that kind of opposition. Ed Hubbard and Don Lewis deserve kudos for that at least.

Ed's still on my Watch List though.

I'm still not convinced that Witchschool.com is a good idea.

You should probably watch to make up your own mind.

—

Posted: Wed - December 24, 2008 at 07:24 AM
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Tue - December 23, 2008

People needing people

Here's another from my beliefs.

Humanity is a colony organism. We'll tackle the simpler part of the assumption in this post. People need people.

I've talked before about how the orgone threads of the wyrd are shaped by thought and driven by passion. It's no place more evident than how we interact with other people. We open ourselves to those we care for and trust even as we act to draw them closer.

And for those we dislike, we wrap ourselves in our thoughts and emotions to keep them at bay when we deal with them.

It doesn't matter to the universe how we feel about other people. Often it doesn't even matter to the other people. But it does matter to us, and it governs our actions. Shaped by thought and driven by passion. It's the intensity of the emotion that's fueling the reaction, not if it's a "positive" or "negative" emotion.

We need other people to challenge our assumptions, to make us check our landmarks and maps, to knock the bad props out from under our ideas.

Shaped by thought and driven by passion.

One problem is that if we hate someone too much, we bind ourselves to their actions even as we limit our own. Enemies aren't all that healthy. Respected rivals can be.

It's not enough to hate someone, all that does is use our own energy to confine ourselves. To draw ourselves out we have to give up the hate. We have to find something we admire in them even as we disagree with their opinions. I can be really guilty about not following my own advice here.

Shaped by thought and driven by passion.

The people we care for, we let them get close enough to take a close look at our ideas. They're the ones who can poke and prod and kick. If they really love us, that is exactly what they will do.

Because there are going to be times when it's just you and your ideas all alone. That's when you hope that both you and your thoughts are strong enough to survive.

Shaped by thought and driven by passion.

If your ideas can't stand friendly examination, they won't be able to withstand rivalry by your respected opponents. And there is no way that you'll be able to hold out against a hostile attack.

Shaped by thought and driven by passion.

That's only one side of the dice though. Even friendship and love can be inverted into unhealthy obsession. The wyrd will still bind you as long as your emotion flows.

A healthy person touches others and accepts the wyrd winding deep inside themselves. It's the give and take that makes you reach beyond your expectations. It's the give and take that exercises our ability to think. It's the give and take that challenges our identity.

It's the give and take with others your trust and respect that makes you grow.

That's when you get out of the box.

SHAPED by THOUGHT and DRIVEN by PASSION.

That's why we need them. Our friends, our loves, our honorable rivals, even our enemies. Our interaction makes us stronger, raises our passions ever higher, and forges our ideas into the strongest support possible.

Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it's joyous. Sometimes it sends us crashing into the ground so we have to begin again.

But without the lives we touch and the lives that touch us, each of us would be diminished to nearly nothing. We have to have it, it makes us what we are.

Even semi-hermits like me who sometimes might like to deny that they need anyone else.

We're social, it's our nature.

Shaped by thought, driven by passion, reaching out. None of it matters unless we are touched by another.

—

Posted: Tue - December 23, 2008 at 01:53 PM
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Sun - December 21, 2008

Sex & the Modern Pagan

I got an email from someone asking about sex in a Pagan context.

I'm probably not the best person to ask, but I did answer them and I'm going to give suitable answers here. I can't do it without drawing from my experiences and opinions. Some of you might be offended.

Just as I believe that there are different types of love, of joy, and of friendship, I believe there are different types of sex.

Once you get past the petting and snuggling and stroking and oral sex, there's casual sex, that's fucking. That's letting the animal part of you out. Higher sex (for lack of a better phrase) is when you connect on multiple levels. Sex can be holy, but that's higher sex. Fucking scratches the itch. Higher sex gets rid of the itch and gives you a whole new perspective. There is a difference.

I believe that there's nothing wrong with sex and cuddling with friends IF everyone involved is a consenting adult. Emphasis on C-O-N-S-E-N-T-I-N-G. Emphasis on A-D-U-L-T. Consenting adult. Understand? But it is still casual sex, just another aspect of friendship.

Personally I have a simple motto, "the lady always chooses." I may want to seduce someone, but if she's not interested it doesn't happen.

That doesn't stop me from admiring though. Or the flirting. But even there, the lady always chooses just how far it could go.

In a way my motto is a reflection of the Divinity I try to see in every woman. And yes, it's goddess worship. When it works it's wonderful, even if it's not higher sex.

I do believe that some Americans are screwed up with their sexual attitudes. That is one big reason we obsess on celebrity relationships and the exposed nether regions of young starlets. Not to mention that delectable portion of the female anatomy, the breast. Fortunately, we do seem to be growing up.

I strongly believe there's nothing wrong with casual nudity, and I do not believe that nudity equals sex or sexual behavior. I don't agree that nudity constitutes sexual harassment, but for the sake of civility I'll wear pants around those folks not used to it.

But there are two sex issues that frustrate me. Well, two and a half, but I will get to the half in a bit.

First, the sexualization of children. Yes, children are sexual beings but I don't see why there are 8 year old beauty contestants wearing more makeup than a 22 year old would wear club hopping. Blazes, I don't even know why there are 8 year old beauty contestants.

Second, if you promised to be "one and only," sex with someone you didn't promise is cheating no matter what your faith is. It also destroys your honor. Even if you are planning to get divorced, fooling around BEFORE the divorce is final is still cheating. Keep your promises and don't let others break theirs with you.

Understand, I see nothing wrong with fucking. I just don't believe it's an option if you promised someone that you would not. Keeping your honor is worth much more than indulging the biology.

That brings us to the half issue. I've no problem with same-sex marriages, but I have encountered some gays and lesbians who adamantly oppose other alternative marriages. Group marriages, poly marriages, year marriages, all these deserve the same chance as same-sex marriages. Let people choose what they want.

These are my beliefs, but they aren't specifically Pagan attitudes towards sex. I'd be surprised if you didn't find most libertarians felt the same. Probably many people who didn't fall under those labels wouldn't disagree. I would be astounded if you found that all Pagans agreed with my views and beliefs on sex.

Pagan paths do attract more than our fair share of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered. We also attract some alternative sexual practices. Not everyone is open about their sexual choices though, most Pagans are pretty accepting when it comes to how private or public someone wants to be. Officially it's because we're not as dogmatic. I think it's because we're still arguing over the rules. Pagans can be just as intolerant as anyone else. Just as one example. there are Goddess centered paths that are extremely anti-male.

Not all my sexual partners have been Pagan. In fact, I don't have a Pagan sex partner now. And yes, it would be nice, but it is not strictly necessary.

When it comes to magick, yep, I usually shuck the clothes and do the "nekkid pagan guy" thing. Nudity doesn't usually excite me, but magick does, with all the physical symptoms. Despite my body's reactions, I very seldom use a sexual release in my magick.

I'm not the only Pagan who prefers to work nude. It's probably because most Pagan paths are experienced rather than revealed, and sensuality is a major part of experience. That's why some Pagans use ritual garb chosen as much for it's texture as it's color.

A few years back I would have said all Pagan paths are experienced, but that isn't true.

Nudity is not necessary for magick. It's very much a personal choice. It can be distracting and in today's society and can introduce sexual complications (even though it shouldn't). That's one reason why I wear clothes when I work with others or when someone is likely to see me.

Some Pagan rites combine sex with ritual. The best known is the Great Rite, usually performed by a Priest and Priestess in a committed relationship (that higher sex thing again). However, there are symbolic versions. The Great Rite doesn't have to include sex anymore than the Christian communion has to include actual cannibalism.

At the very least, it's rude and insulting to use someone for a sex ritual and not ask them. Consent means they should know before they choose.

I know of no ethical Pagan practice that involves non-consensual sex.

Let me repeat and bold that. Make that in red too.

I know of no ethical Pagan practice that involves non-consensual sex.

Even in the ones that involve bondage and discipline and power exchange, there's always consent. And if you don't believe me, go read your Gardner and Crowley again.

Some will tell you that there are no Pagan sexual initiations. That's not exactly true, but I know of only a handful. Every one was a single line, which means that the magick could only be passed once from teacher to student, who in turn could only pass it on only once. No moonlit orgies there.

If it's a group that requires sex with the (usually) Priest or Priestess, it's a safe bet that someone is collecting pelts and you can find something safer AND BETTER elsewhere.

If you are uncomfortable with sex and ritual combined, then don't do it.

Finally, you are your own person, no one owns you except you. Sex is something you share with someone you care for and trust. You shouldn't share with people you don't trust or don't like.

Sex and magick can be mind-blowing, but do yourself a favor and keep the sex safe. You'll be glad you did.

I make no promises about the magick...

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Posted: Sun - December 21, 2008 at 08:12 AM
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