What Paganism Means to Me

What Paganism Means to Me

appeared in a 2002 edition of Oracle magazine

People often ask me what it means to be pagan, to be a Witch. Like any form of spirituality, paganism has as many forms as it has practitioners. My practice of this earth-based path has been profoundly guided by the Reclaiming tradition, whose best-known spokesperson is the author Starhawk. Since I grew up in the country surrounded by forest, it was easy for me to identify with Reclaiming's assertion that the earth is alive; but I wanted to know more. Science classes confirmed the tradition's teaching that all life on the planet is interconnected in a vast web.

Also supporting pagan ideas is Dr. James Lovelock's Gaia Hypothesis. Lovelock, a British chemist, found that in order to support life, Earth (or Gaia) demonstrates a characteristic that all living systems have in common: homeostasis. Humans' bodies achieve homeostasis (and continued life) by maintaining a consistent interval teperature and by regulating the amount of white blood cells, acidity and salt content in the blood. Gaia does the same. The Earth's surface temperature has stayed within the optimal range for life for hundeds of millions of years. Geologic evidence shows the amount of salt in the ocean has remained constant despite the fact that fresh water is constantly being washed in by rivers. The percent of oxygen and ammonia in the atmosphere remains steady, and Gaia has an ozone layer or "skin", without which life on land would be impossible. Lovelock came to the conclusion that Earth's homeostasis is maintained by all the living matter on earth plus the air, oceans and land. All this forms a giant system able to ensure planetary homeostasis and maintain life, and you and I are part of it. This truth permeates Reclaiming's core value of deep commitment to the earth and the linking of spirituality with political action, service to the environment, and community.

Because Reclaiming honors all beings, the Goddess is a central figure (unlike some religions that only acknowledge a Father). In the words of Starhawk: "Honoring both Goddess and God, we work with female and male images of divinity, remembering that their essence is a mystery that goes beyond form. Our feminism includes a radical analysis of power, seeing all system of oppression as interrelated, rooted in structures of domination and control." At first glance, that statement may seem pretty heady, but in my own life it has given me jumping off points for participating in a positive way with Gaia's homeostasis and the honoring of all beings.

Like other pagan traditions, Reclaiming values the building blocks of life: Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit, and translates these elements into aspects of human life. What makes Reclaiming different is that we take this understanding from ritual and into daily life and the political arena. For me, the most important place to start is in my own home and relationship. In my relationship I am conscious of the dynamics of power and control as they relate to communication (Air) and passion (Fire). I work on feeling my emotions (Water) and take care of my body (Earth) with healthy foods and exercise. And of course, I experience Spirit through ritual and meditation.

Lately my spirituality has begun branching outward. It started when I read about global corporations that control our food supply. Companies are doing things like splicing flounder genes onto tomatoes to make them hold up for refrigeration, and putting pesticide bacteria into corn so that pests will stay off them. Who knows what impact a tomato with a flounder gene will have on our environment and Gaia's homeostasis? Agribusiness is having a tangible effect on Gaia, a living system. No one can predict where it will lead. Already it has been discovered that some of these crops kill Monarch butterflies, and butterflies are more than pretty. They are pollinators that have an important part in our way of life.

It seemed pretty futile for me as one person to take on Agribusiness. But when I looked on a national Reclaiming elist, I found that there are many others who share my concerns. As I write, Starhawk and others are in Quebec, protesting the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) which is an attempt to extend NAFTA through the Western Hemisphere. Similarly, Reclaiming witches took part in the WTO protests in Seattle.

Working for Gaia isn't always so public, however. There are many ways to live in harmony with the earth's systems. I have started an organic garden with heirloom seeds. Heirloom seeds are those that have come down to us from our ancestors, unlike some modern hybrid varieties which either don't produce seeds (requiring that you buy more from the company) or if they do, may not result in the same fruit next year. I think organic gardens are even more important now, as we see a rise in genetically modified plants. Similarly, I have become a vegetarian because of my knowledge that everthing is connected. It makes no sense to me to eat commercial meat, which is poisoned with steroids, antibiotics and growth hormones. These chemicals have been linked to early puberty, autoimmune diseases and cancer. My interest in personal health just naturally flows into an interest in the global corporations that regulate food: its' production, and what winds up on our grocery shelves and in processed foods.

I started working for animals last summer by volunteering at an animal shelter. I call and write my politicians and let them know what I think. I make a point of thanking people who have done good for the Earth. Last year I heard a radio story of a herpetologist who was instrumental in gettting a rattlesnake roundup closed for good. It took a few calls, but I finally found him and was able to send him and several others a thank you letter.

Reclaiming has taught me that spirituality needs to extend beyond the ritual circle, the temple and the church. The Goddess is literally alive and magick is afoot!



	What Paganism Means to Me appeared in a 2002 edition of Oracle magazine People often ask me what it means to be pagan, to be a Witch. Like any form of spirituality, paganism has as many forms as it has practitioners. My practice of this earth-based path has been profoundly guided by the Reclaiming tradition, whose best-known spokesperson is the author Starhawk. Since I grew up in the country surrounded by forest, it was easy for me to identify with Reclaiming's assertion that the earth is alive; but I wanted to know more. Science classes confirmed the tradition's teaching that all life on the planet is interconnected in a vast web. Also supporting pagan ideas is Dr. James Lovelock's Gaia Hypothesis. Lovelock, a British chemist, found that in order to support life, Earth (or Gaia) demonstrates a characteristic that all living systems have in common: homeostasis. Humans' bodies achieve homeostasis (and continued life) by maintaining a consistent interval teperature and by regulating the amount of white blood cells, acidity and salt content in the blood. Gaia does the same. The Earth's surface temperature has stayed within the optimal range for life for hundeds of millions of years. Geologic evidence shows the amount of salt in the ocean has remained constant despite the fact that fresh water is constantly being washed in by rivers. The percent of oxygen and ammonia in the atmosphere remains steady, and Gaia has an ozone layer or "skin", without which life on land would be impossible. Lovelock came to the conclusion that Earth's homeostasis is maintained by all the living matter on earth plus the air, oceans and land. All this forms a giant system able to ensure planetary homeostasis and maintain life, and you and I are part of it. This truth permeates Reclaiming's core value of deep commitment to the earth and the linking of spirituality with political action, service to the environment, and community. Because Reclaiming honors all beings, the Goddess is a central figure (unlike some religions that only acknowledge a Father). In the words of Starhawk: "Honoring both Goddess and God, we work with female and male images of divinity, remembering that their essence is a mystery that goes beyond form. Our feminism includes a radical analysis of power, seeing all system of oppression as interrelated, rooted in structures of domination and control." At first glance, that statement may seem pretty heady, but in my own life it has given me jumping off points for participating in a positive way with Gaia's homeostasis and the honoring of all beings. Like other pagan traditions, Reclaiming values the building blocks of life: Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit, and translates these elements into aspects of human life. What makes Reclaiming different is that we take this understanding from ritual and into daily life and the political arena. For me, the most important place to start is in my own home and relationship. In my relationship I am conscious of the dynamics of power and control as they relate to communication (Air) and passion (Fire). I work on feeling my emotions (Water) and take care of my body (Earth) with healthy foods and exercise. And of course, I experience Spirit through ritual and meditation. Lately my spirituality has begun branching outward. It started when I read about global corporations that control our food supply. Companies are doing things like splicing flounder genes onto tomatoes to make them hold up for refrigeration, and putting pesticide bacteria into corn so that pests will stay off them. Who knows what impact a tomato with a flounder gene will have on our environment and Gaia's homeostasis? Agribusiness is having a tangible effect on Gaia, a living system. No one can predict where it will lead. Already it has been discovered that some of these crops kill Monarch butterflies, and butterflies are more than pretty. They are pollinators that have an important part in our way of life. It seemed pretty futile for me as one person to take on Agribusiness. But when I looked on a national Reclaiming elist, I found that there are many others who share my concerns. As I write, Starhawk and others are in Quebec, protesting the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) which is an attempt to extend NAFTA through the Western Hemisphere. Similarly, Reclaiming witches took part in the WTO protests in Seattle. Working for Gaia isn't always so public, however. There are many ways to live in harmony with the earth's systems. I have started an organic garden with heirloom seeds. Heirloom seeds are those that have come down to us from our ancestors, unlike some modern hybrid varieties which either don't produce seeds (requiring that you buy more from the company) or if they do, may not result in the same fruit next year. I think organic gardens are even more important now, as we see a rise in genetically modified plants. Similarly, I have become a vegetarian because of my knowledge that everthing is connected. It makes no sense to me to eat commercial meat, which is poisoned with steroids, antibiotics and growth hormones. These chemicals have been linked to early puberty, autoimmune diseases and cancer. My interest in personal health just naturally flows into an interest in the global corporations that regulate food: its' production, and what winds up on our grocery shelves and in processed foods. I started working for animals last summer by volunteering at an animal shelter. I call and write my politicians and let them know what I think. I make a point of thanking people who have done good for the Earth. Last year I heard a radio story of a herpetologist who was instrumental in gettting a rattlesnake roundup closed for good. It took a few calls, but I finally found him and was able to send him and several others a thank you letter. Reclaiming has taught me that spirituality needs to extend beyond the ritual circle, the temple and the church. The Goddess is literally alive and magick is afoot!