The sacred cannot, ultimately, be turned into a source of profit without innately becoming profane. The degradation of true spirituality is only furthered by the new age zeitgeist that proclaims that the sacred can be purchased in cute magick shops, without a thought given to its origin, its ethics, its source. Everyone is seeking their personal gnosis, everyone is learning the vocabulary of esotericism and magick, and yet very few remain above the temptation for easy answers if only you can pay for them.
A friend of mine sees exchanging tarot readings for money as an energy exchange: the client worked for that money, and you are putting energy into giving them a reading, and therefore it is a fair exchange to exchange the reading for money. I think that is a valid standpoint, and I don’t necessarily see the problem with exchanging readings for money. After all, I sell candles and other items that may be used for spiritual purposes, just like those magick shops I criticize. But aren’t those just party favors & parlor tricks, in a way? The root of spiritual attainment lies not in handmade candles or tarot readings, but in inner work and true connection. All else are just tools, to be used reverentially or not depending on the holder.
Innately the reading that you give to a friend whom you know, are connected to in multiple ways, and who does not pay you will be more true and more useful than the reading you give to a stranger for the purpose of garnering income. There is no way to turn spirituality into your job without necessarily sacrificing the genuinely connected aspect of it: you must market it, you rely on it for your life, and therefore you will compromise at some points, whether you do on a daily basis or not.
Whilst I am in a tricky position regarding the need for income, and I recognize that most people would rather do what they enjoy doing for income rather than something they don’t enjoy doing or that they feel is unethical (a preference which I can most definitely relate to), I think that there is definitely a point at which we cannot purchase our spiritual attainment or our healing, where these things must come from people who love and understand us. At a certain point our ceremonies and rituals must not be transactional if they are to be real tools for inner work and genuine connection.
And perhaps this background is unnecessary, as after all this is a treatise on tattooing and not meant to persuade anyone as to the ethics or rightness of selling spiritual goods and services. Here the background is meant to only describe the flow of ideas that have brought me to the following conclusions:
I: I will not accept money for tattooing rites, but you must bring me an offering of value.
Money purchases things of value, but is not, in and of itself, valuable. It once perhaps stood for something valuable and existed as a convenient way of standardizing the value of that thing for transactional purposes. In the US, that “thing” was gold. Although, despite the fact that gold is valuable for some uses, gold as a signifier of “value” idealistically is not in and of itself any more valuable than paper currency.
Things of value are things that can be used, eaten, grown, perceived. Things of value include fresh food, acts of service or assistance, building materials, seeds, plants, livestock, blankets, cookware, and so on. Art can also be valuable in certain circumstances, as an exchange. Healing work, live-in community, these things are tangible in their own way and produce a far greater rippling impact than simply handing over cash. These are things that could be paid for with money, but would then exist in a contextually different space. Exchanging a healing or transcendent tattooing ritual for side-by-side work on the land, for example, strengthens a bond. Exchanging a healing or transcendent tattoo for money that I then pay a stranger with to do work on the land does nothing but furthers the purely transactional and self-serving nature of our reality.
Offerings of value should be discussed ahead of the tattooing rite, and agreed on by both parties. The offering should be accessible to you, the tattooee, but should also indicate the extent of the work expected to be done by me, the tattooer.
I might be an odd teacher of #Paganism because I encourage people to not do it if they're not feeling it. I think of it like sex, which is another intimate experience: if you don't want it, if you're not having a good time, then you shouldn't be doing it. Your practice should be enjoyable. If you're not looking forward to performing a ritual or celebrating a holiday, then put it aside until the inspiration strikes again.
If there is one thing I teach you, let it be that you should never, ever feel guilty about not practicing your craft enough. Let go of that capitalist “always growing” mindset, let go of the Catholic-inspired fear of retribution. There is no ‘missing out.’ The cyclical nature of paganism means that you can pick it up at any point in time.
“ This workshop is an introduction to and exploration of decolonising your magical practice. Respecting the spirit of this ancient land; acknowledging the Traditional Owners and their kinship to the land, honouring Ancestors and Spirits of Place. Deep listening, respectfully connecting to country and being in active solidarity with First Nations communities and causes. […] Raphael Lavallee is a Ngarigo-Buhlung from the Ngarigo and Yuin nations. Ngarigo is their Grandmothers country, and Yuin is their Grandfathers country. They are a Reclaiming Witch a WildWood Witch, a Priestess, artist, ritualist, a ceremony and law/lore keeper, meditation teacher, expressive and cultural arts therapist, experienced workshop facilitator and fat activist.”
It is widely understood that Christian proselytism is one of the most damaging aspects of the colonisation of so-called Australia. However, many aren’t aware that even less mainstream spiritualities inherit similar attitudes which invalidate or exploit First Nation peoples and cultures. This workshop is an excellent way of showing solidarity to Indigenous grief surrounding the events of 26th January, 1788 (Invasion Day or so-called “Australia Day”). :firstnations:
I have personally attended this workshop, and found it extremely insightful. Raph helped answer questions I had on how to ethically connect with nature on a spiritual level as a non-Indigenous inhabitant of so-called Australia, and enhanced my understanding of Indigenous wisdom, culture and truth-telling. It is my strong belief that we should support local/indie initiatives, especially those owned/run by Indigenous people. 💚
I'm Layne, resident late 20s transmasc goth / metalhead hybrid from Germany, queer as heck, disabled and ND in various ways. Library assistant by day, utter nerd 24/7. I love ttrpgs, space, science and bunnies.
A look ahead: Tarot Prospectus for 2024 ~ Our tarot expert, Star Bustamonte, shares a12-month overview of the year ahead utilizing a different deck for each month.
Discourses over whether the holidays are "truly" Christian or "actually" #Pagan are frustrating, because each argument can find some grain of truth to support it, but it's never the whole truth.
There are so many layers to the holidays' variegated history, it's like a kaleidoscope. Anyone giving a pat answer or simple narrative to explain it all is serving their own interest rather than the messy reality.
Have I complained about what I consider a logical inconsistency with the myth of the Holly King and the Oak King on here yet?
Well, here it is anyway.
The myth usually goes that on the Winter Solstice the Holly King and the Oak King fight and the Oak King defeats the Holly King and rules until the Summer Solstice when they fight again and the Holly King takes over.
But Winter Solstice is when the Holly King is at the height of his power! It's the longest night of the year! They should fight on the equinoxes when the balance of light and dark actually shifts!
/EndRant
Anyway, have a blessed Yule. Hail to the Sun Child. Hail the return of the light.
This solstice marks a year since I decided to explore (a very personal form of) paganism. It has been a soft, welcome change in my life, and also quite a journey. It is a challenge to find my own way with a traditional Catholic upbringing behind me and a very skeptical archeologist mind. But a lot of things have fallen into place and I love that.
Today it made me happy to find ivy for solstice decorations. It's the little things. 😊
Only once we've plunged into the depths can we begin to rise again. From the darkness comes the light, and from death comes rebirth. Well wishes to all on this Winter Solstice! ❄️🕯
Winter solstice is fast approaching! I know I've discussed traditions with some of you before, but what are your plans for the Solstice, if you celebrate?
Agape (Divine Love) is, I think, as incomprehensible as Divinity Itself. Therefore, it makes sense that everyone's subjective experience of agape is unique. It also makes sense that we draw upon human concepts of love (familial/platonic/romantic) to approximate It.
I do a lot more than just "the Minoan stuff." I bet you do, too. I'd love to hear about the other things you all do besides what you're best known for - spiritually, hobbies, pastimes, etc.... we're all multi-faceted beings!
The Dutch Supreme Court has ruled that objects borrowed 9 years ago by a museum in Amsterdam from museums in the now Russian-annexed region of Crimea belong to Ukraine and not Russia.
I hardly ever talk about my faith online, but I'm curious how many other pagans and polytheists are on here.
I practice a form of Roman Polytheism, with a lean towards reconstructionism but a fair bit of eclecticism to fill in the gaps + make things easier & more compatible with modern life. I also venerate deities from Norse paganism.
Would love to hear from some other folks on here and chat sometime!
Scientists have detected one of the most powerful cosmic rays ever observed. Named after the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu, the particle rivals the famous “Oh-My-God” particle observed in 1991 – and appears to come from a blank area of the sky.
The Tomten family are enjoying their offerings. Like the Ancestors, they are especially fond of marshmallows. Though they look like Solstice decorations, they comprise our house spirit altar, so they stay out year round. I made them from thrift-store wool sweaters that I felted.
Hello to here! A quick little introduction as this is an alt account for now. My name is Hannah, I go by Jaedia online.
I'm a pagan witch - mostly working within Celtic Paganism (English and Welsh, primarily), Druidry, a little Norse Paganism (I grok Heathenry a lot but I lean much more Celtic/Druid), and Anglo-Saxon. And then intuitive witchcraft, British traditional folk, Hedge witchery, and fairly Wiccan inspired (though I do not practice Wicca, I have to give credit where it is due). Sooo... I usually just say "pagan witch" and perhaps "eclectic" because I follow where the path leads. 😅
I also work with tarot and other card-based divinations, incense and candles, tea, dreams, energy... many things.
I'd love to learn more about the runes and nature divining and so many things but have learned not to bite off things before I'm ready.
"Outside of magickal things" (because are they really?) I cross stitch, I GM for a lovely TTRPG group, I play video games, I read books and watch movies, series, and anime - particularly love horror, fantasy, history, folklore and scifi.
Oh and I'm from Britain. Born and raised in the East Midlands, currently living in South Wales along the coast. I adore old parks, castles, Cornwall and Glastonbury, finding magickal things where the mundane believes they have a hold. :chickwizard: It's lovely to be here!
Quick reminder for both new pagans and experienced pagans: it's normal to not always feel a deity's presence, and it's normal even if you never feel their presence. You're not doing anything wrong.