Naturalistic PaganismDiscover a way of life rooted in ancient Paganism and modern science. Check out the resources below to learn more.
- What’s this? – your first stop for understanding what this path is all about
- Mission – the mission statement of this website
- The HPedia – an encyclopedia of common concepts in Naturalistic Paganism
Naturalistic Paganism 
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Just found your site from someone who posted a link to it from patheos.com. Really good stuff here. I go by the generic “pagan” label, but really “nature reverence” is the foundation of my practice which is a mix of Wicca, Buddhism and a smattering of other stuff picked up over a lifetime. I blog at: http://www.blackpagan.com and will definitely be stopping by here on the regular.
Also, about the topic of your other blog “one good deed a day,” that is a really excellent practice. Sometimes I just meditate on the mantra “may I be kind” and it sets me right for the day. I am not a Christian but I do believe that love can be a revolutionary force in the universe. Take care!
Hi Lynn. Thanks for the kudos. I checked out your site too – very interesting. I enjoyed the interviews especially. Also, it took me a second to figure it what the “aa” in “an aa solitary” meant, then that was followed by a quick slap to the forehead when I finally got it! 🙂
>I am not a Christian but I do believe that love can be a revolutionary force in the universe.
I think there was an ancient Greek theologian or two who saw Eros (Love) as the binding force pervasive throughout the universe.
Ah yes, here it is:
[In the ancient cosmogonies, philosophies, and mysteries) Eros was one of the fundamental causes in the formation of the world, inasmuch as he was the uniting power of love, which brought order and harmony among the conflicting elements of which Chaos consisted. In the same metaphysical sense he is conceived by Aristotle (Metaph. i. 4); and similarly in the Orphic poetry (Orph. Hymn. 5; comp. Aristoph. Av. 695) he is described as the first of the gods, who sprang from the world’s egg. (theoi.com)
So there is certainly a pre-Christian precedent for love being a powerful force in the universe!
Goddess only knows what label fits me but humanistic pagan buddhist might be a good one.
What I’ve done, and it hasn’t been a conscious effort so much as an unconscious sifting of ingredients, is to take a fairly typical devotional practice to the mahadevi and buddha Tara and naturalize & humanize its components. The Buddhist philosophical underpinning remains (minus the supernaturalistic and retributive understandings of rebirth and karma respectively), as does the belief that (White) Tara provides long life and healing (understood as deeply-lived life and peace of spirit).
I pray, understanding that in praying for compassion for others I become compassionate in the process. I recite Tara’s mantra thereby reminding myself that all of reality at its best is epitomized by selfless dedication. I visualize Tara’s healing techniques as an aid to my commitment to heal myself and others (see above for meaning of healing).
Anyway, it’s good to find this site.
Good to meet you, Peter. I too have an interest in Buddhism. I’ve found there are quite a few out there naturalizing their Buddhism. Gil Fronsdal and Mark Nunberg especially come to mind.
This sounds pretty much like me! I’ve described myself as adhering to what I call Nature Spirituality. I’ve studied Druidism, Wicca, Buddhism, and like some things about all of those but none of them seemed to encompass everything I do and don’t believe in.
When I was six years old I told my mother, “The woods is my church!” and I’ve felt that way ever since. I never took to Christianity or any other Abrahamic religion–they were all sexist. The Bible is violent, racist, sexist, full of contradictions, badly translated, nonsensical, and I just didn’t believe in any of it, none of it rang true to me. I never felt anything spiritual in a church. I also tend to more scientific thinking so I could never accept the “miracles” of the bible as facts. I never thought it should be interpreted literally.
I always felt something deeply spiritual when out in nature, whether it’s the woods or along a lake shore or in a meadow.
Welome, Marie! Sounds like there are many others like you here. 🙂
A fellow Pagan who liked my article on Witchvox.com When Walking The Path…. Waer Shoes by Charmed Boy, suggested this site to me. I like what I have read so far. I follow the Greek Path myself and Worship Gaia. I am a “non-magical” Pagan. I dont do spellwork or rituals. I thought I was the only one. I am glad to see there are others out there who think and believe like I do. Kudos!
Blessed Be!
I have come to think of myself as a Spiritual Omnivore/Cultivator.I like this site.There is much to explore here.I like the comments other Peoples have made .I will settle in and explore.I will be flowing You on face book/twitter .
I am Richard C Brown(just one following a Path)
I was curious if you ever thought of changing the page layout of your blog?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a
little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two pictures.
Maybe you could space it out better?
Thanks for the input. You’re probably right.
Back in the Vietnam War days, a number of my antiwar allies belonged to various Socialist and Communist as well as Anarchist associations, and for a while I was persuaded to call myself a socialist. Before long I felt like I had just substituted one set of stupid rules for another, and began to refer to myself as a Groucho Marxist. Groucho Marx once said that he would never join a club that would have him as a member, and that seems like a good rule of thumb for religious organizations as well. Humanist Pagan seems like a good label to wear, and the t shirt design possibilities are mind boggling.
I was so happy to come across your site, both as a more naturalistic inclined pagan, and as someone living in South Korea! Are you still here? I’m in Daegu, and Ulsan before that for four years. I’ve met so many lovely people here over the years, yet struggled to find a kindred pagan soul in this beautiful land. Very nice to meet you, albeit electronically 🙂
Unfortunately, no, my wife and I are back in Minnesota now. We visited Daegu, but not at the right time apparently! 😦
Nice to meet you.
I love this site as at times I am sided with Atheists nationwide who , like pagans and naturalists are defending their rights to even ‘be’ in this continuously backward looking nation.
My Practice
by Tovenaar, aka Catskillbob
(Robert ‘Bob’ Dorn)
My practice with others is limited, living in a secluded very rural area of the NY Catskill mountains, but several times a year (regularly at Winter Solstices, this year at Beltane )… my small group of ‘eclectics’ and I will gather at the house of our friends Tom and Jack in Ulster county NY. I believe we will be having a ‘Beltane’ fire outside.
Personally, I sometimes do ‘fire’ or ‘candle ‘ magic and send vibrational energies to those who are in need and myself.
I also having studied the Runes, on occasion, do readings, but moreso keep them to myself.
My Pagan leanings are Wiccan with a Norse slant.
So I may personally practice or perform, sole, certain practices closer to Astaru, but with more open Wiccan slant.
One of the many Nordic rituals for May are ‘Ostara’ or a kind of Sacrifice to Odin/Wotan, or an agricultural celebration of the beginning of summer.
I think that everything published made a lot
of sense. However, consider this, what if you composed a catchier post title?
I mean, I don’t want to tell you how to run your blog,
however suppose you added something that grabbed a person’s attention? I mean About | Humanistic Paganism is kinda boring.
You could peek at Yahoo’s home page and note how they create news
headlines to get viewers to open the links. You might add a video or a pic or two to get readers interested about what you’ve
got to say. In my opinion, it might make your posts a little bit more interesting.