Recently in Pagan Category

  

Newsweek may have found a way for magazines to be relevant in the digital age: publish a cover with Sarah Palin in religious garb. Above: the latest Newsweek cover. Below: Rabbi Sarah and Sarah Pagan, a couple of the parodies created by Vanity Fair.   

Here's a fascinating set of photos documenting Asgarda, a group of women who have formed their own alternate society "based on the the tribal traditions of the Scythian Amazons of ancient Greek mythology."

Jezebel has an excellent roundup of information regarding Asgarda, including this excellent first-person account from the photographer.

Given the international success of Angels & Demons, the smart folks at Antik Jewelry did well to debut this new Illuminati pendant for June. Even if you think the Illuminati is just a bunch of conspiratorial hype, there's lots of other good stuff over at Antik, so be sure to check out their site!

Of course, devotees of spiritual symbology--I hear Harvard has a whole department in that, doncha know--understand that the conspiracy is real . . . and it's controlling the world through Nickelodeon!

Speaking of pagan decorations, King Arthur Pendragon, battle chieftain of the Council of British Druid Orders, has vowed not to leave Stonehenge until certain action is taken to improve access to the site & to certain remains that had been removed for study.

"We have opened a bottle of mead and we are drinking to Stonehenge," he said.

"I have done a short ritual and spell of protection, calling on the kings of old.

"I am still here, so I am in breach of the order as they see it, but I have as much right as anyone else to be here.

"I am not going to go, I am battening down the hatches and continuing my lawful right to protest and my equal right to religious practice."

For more on British druid practice, check out the Council's site. As the "About" page indicates, there's a fascinating organizational backstory here. Note how its statement opens:

We the undersigned Representatives of Orders and Officers of The Council of British Druid Orders, established 1989 (˜The Council), would like it known that we do not recognise nor permit the usage of, nor representation under, the name of the Council by any other Groups or Individuals other than those undersigned Orders and Individuals.

Neither do we recognise or support the usage and representation of our name by any group claiming to be a subsidiary or regional Council of CoBDO.

Now that I'm (a) more or less getting over being sick and (b) past the @!#!?! phishing hack that froze the site the past couple weeks or so, I can finally post reader contributions! To start, here are a couple of pics showing that Christians aren't the only ones who have turned car decoration into a means of religious expression--and even a nonprofit business opportunity!

Thanks Chris!

Crystalle Charmer provides this explanation:

The Pagan Priestess wears this unique, OOAK, handmade clear quartz amulet, which has been charged and carefully designed as an amulet/ talisman for self-empowerment. With that honor of power comes great responsibility, and the colors of the amulet reflect these qualities. The amulet is covered with composite gold leaf, then adorned with a Pentagram, a Celtic spiral, and a Crescent Moon, all symbols of the Mother Goddess. The black satin cord is echoed in the designs on the amulet, which appear to be made of elegant satin as well.

The Priestess knows that all Power comes from the Mother Goddess, who wants the highest and best for Her children. She feels the Power of the Mother Goddess flowing through and around her, and as She performs the rituals, she knows that she has been empowered by the Goddess to perform Her Will.

This Goddess of Power pendant measures approximately 1 1/2" not counting the bail, and the cord measures app. 18 inches. Buyer may request a different length.

 

Available from occult & new-age supplier Abaxion, which provides this explanation:

The symbol of the left handed path, usually portrayed as half human, half goat figure, or a goat head. It is often misinterpreted as a symbol of Witchcraft in general, it is used by those who practice the black arts. The origin of the name Baphomet is unclear. It may be a corruption of Mahomet "Mohammed", or even a combination of two greek words, baphe and metis, meaning 'absorption of knowledge'. Baphomet has also been called the Goat of Mendes, the Black Goat, and the Judas Goat.

Of course, if you want the REAL story, you should read this Jack Chick tract, which explains how the Masons worship Baphomet as part of their secret plan to rule the world as puppets of Allah or the Vatican or rock music or something.

Personally, I don't see why folks think Baphomet is dangerous. Let's face it--anyone who's really serious about annihilating law and decency wouldn't be wearing pants.

This ancient bowl, possibly from the first century C.E., appears to have been used for fortune telling. One suggestive clue is an inscribed reference to "the magician."

No big so far--soothsaying by reading the patterns of oil in water is a familiar ancient practice.

What has scientists and historians excited about this object is the rest of the inscription, seen above--"dia Christou"--"through Christ."

If this a reference to the Christ of the gospels, it's evidence of an admixture of Christianity and white magic dating back to the early years of the Christian church. As one scholar notes, reports of a wonder worker might have spread throughout the region and been incorporated into existing spiritual practices:

Bert Smith, a professor of classical archaeology and art at Oxford University, suggests the engraving might be a dedication, or present, made by a certain "Chrestos" belonging to a possible religious association called Ogoistais.

Klaus Hallof, director of the Institute of Greek inscriptions at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy, added that if Smith's interpretation proves valid, the word "Ogoistais" could then be connected to known religious groups that worshipped early Greek and Egyptian gods and goddesses, such as Hermes, Athena and Isis.

Hallof additionally pointed out that historians working at around, or just after, the time of the bowl, such as Strabon and Pausanias, refer to the god "Osogo" or "Ogoa," so a variation of this might be what's on the bowl. It is even possible that the bowl refers to both Jesus Christ and Osogo.

Fabre concluded, "It should be remembered that in Alexandria, paganism, Judaism and Christianity never evolved in isolation. All of these forms of religion (evolved) magical practices that seduced both the humble members of the population and the most well-off classes."

By Luxotiq:

Introducing the Hera dildo. The Hera dildo pays homage to classic Greek sculpture, which focuses on balance, symmetry and simplicity. The human body has been immortalized in Greek sculpture, which celebrates the spirit and form of the human body and has influenced art and design throughout the ages.