9.21.2006
(Pagan ) News of Note
My semi-regular round-up of articles, essays, and opinions of note for discerning Pagans and Heathens.
I doubt that the members of underground prog-metal band Mastodon are Pagans, but the cover of their new CD "Blood Mountain" is one of the most "pagany" things I've seen in awhile.
You can download a huge desktop version of the cover, here.
Soul-retrieval expert and New Age author Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D. talks about why kids like witchcraft in the latest edition of the Hay House Moments Newsletter.
"It's difficult for us in the West to trust that we can achieve peace and happiness if we're not doing something active to bring it about, but embodying peace and happiness does bring it about. Our egos don't want us to believe that we can have infinite power by immersing ourselves in the wisdom of the universe, but it's true. For example, many young people today are fascinated by witchcraft because they think it might give them a chance to have a greater influence over what happens to them. They want to believe that if they follow a spell's instructions to the letter, they'll be able stop a bully from picking on them, make a popular kid like them, or magically become as physically attractive as a movie star. They don't realize that real magic doesn't come from chanting incantations or mixing together herbs with a mortar and pestle, but from shifting one's perception and embodying confidence and grace."
While he has a point about magic and the shifting of perceptions, I can't stand it when white-lighters start spouting about "infinite" this and "embodying" that. But I suppose if you are immersed in the wisdom of the universe you can't help sounding smug.
An opera about the famous Renaissance courtesan and poet Veronica Franco starring Broadway star Dee Hoty is in production. Franco was accused of witchcraft by the Inquisition, but she defended herself with dignity and was able to have the charges dropped.
"Hoty will be among the stars of Dangerous Beauty, which features a book by Jeanine Dominy, music by Michele Brourman, and lyrics by Amanda McBroom (composer of such popular songs as "The Rose" and "Errol Flynn"). Based on the book The Honest Courtesan, the show, to be directed by Sheryl Kaller, focuses on the Renaissance courtesan and poet Veronica Franco, who was arrested for practicing witchcraft during the Spanish Inquisition."
Neurotheologist and director of the Center for Spirituality and the Mind Andrew Newberg explains how meditation and prayer both increase activity in certain parts of the brain to Salon.com.
"We found that the Franciscan nuns activated several important parts of the brain during prayer...We did see similar changes. In both prayer and meditation, we see a decrease of activity in this orientation part of the brain. So when the Buddhist meditators feel a blending in or absorption with the visual object -- in this case, they're doing a visualization technique -- we see a similar change. And it raises some very intriguing issues. How similar are these different practices? Are they associated with similar or different changes in the brain?"
One wonders if ritual work and spells would produce similar results? I would like to see his research broadened to more "primitive" faith activities. You can learn more about Newberg's work from the recent book he co-authored: "Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth".
Gearing up for Banned Books Week, the American Library Association releases stats on challenged and banned books for 2005. One interesting tidbit for Pagan readers is in their look at trends from challenged and banned books from 1990-2000.
"842 [challenges or bans] to material with an 'occult theme or promoting the occult or Satanism,'; (up 69 since 1999)"
Considering the current brazenness of certain Christian groups, I doubt that figure has gone down since 2000. I wonder if those were for actual books dealing with Paganism, or if they were mostly Harry Potter-obsessed loons.
In a final note. I have heard Fidel Castro called many things in my life (good and bad), but I think this is the first time he has been called a "Druid".
"Fidel Castro has, after all, survived nine US presidents, most of whom have tried to get him killed or deposed at some stage. He is the druid of anti-Americanism at a time when hatred of America has become trendy around the world."
Well, he does have the beard. But I want to see him shimmy up a tree to harvest mistletoe before I call him a Druid of anything.
That is all I have for now, have a good day!
Labels: Paganism
Comments:
I think it's possible to recognize the dark aspect of deity and still sound very white lighty. Smug? Really? I didn't get that from the article, though I think I can see how someone could.
I think there are a lot of people out there who are mistaken for white lighters when they have a clear understanding of darkness too. But this guy could be the genuine white light article for all I know.
I dig your Pagan News roundups. They keep me on my toes and in the know.
But I suppose if you are immersed in the wisdom of the universe you can't help sounding smug.
Awesome statement! :D
Bjorngrimnir.
Any idea why the CD is titled "Mastodon" but the image is deer + other animals? Zoological illiteracy or just that no one cares?
The band's name is "Mastodon", the CD title is "Blood Mountain". Not that "Blood Mountain" fits the image any better, but thats metal for you.
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I think it's possible to recognize the dark aspect of deity and still sound very white lighty. Smug? Really? I didn't get that from the article, though I think I can see how someone could.
I think there are a lot of people out there who are mistaken for white lighters when they have a clear understanding of darkness too. But this guy could be the genuine white light article for all I know.
I dig your Pagan News roundups. They keep me on my toes and in the know.
But I suppose if you are immersed in the wisdom of the universe you can't help sounding smug.
Awesome statement! :D
Bjorngrimnir.
Any idea why the CD is titled "Mastodon" but the image is deer + other animals? Zoological illiteracy or just that no one cares?
The band's name is "Mastodon", the CD title is "Blood Mountain". Not that "Blood Mountain" fits the image any better, but thats metal for you.
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