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Subscribe to this list via RSS Blog posts tagged in charity

Posted by on in Paths Blogs

This post was prompted by the outpouring of support for Ukraine I've seen on social media. It could apply to any future emergencies too, though. I have seen some very well intentioned people calling on Slavic deities with whom they do not usually have a relationship and I just wanted to write a little guide to how to craft supportive prayers or spells outside one's usual area of practice to respond to current emergencies in the world.

I'm not going to get into political analysis here because it would be off topic for my blog which is about my personal gnosis and experiences with the Asatru religion. If any of my readers would like to see my commentary on military and intelligence matters, I have some posts on my social media about it, as I have been asked to comment because I studied the Soviet Union. This post is just about writing prayers and spells. Writing is my thing now.

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Recent Comments - Show all comments
  • Erin Lale
    Erin Lale says #
    You're welcome, Anthony! Glad to be helpful.
  • Anthony Gresham
    Anthony Gresham says #
    Thank you, this helps to bring focus to my efforts.
Pagan News Beagle: Watery Wednesday, January 13

Ten Pagans who made a difference in 2015 are remembered and honored. Some of the most interesting Pagan books are listed. And the place of Heathens in the U.S. military is examined. It's Watery Wednesday, our weekly segment on news from within the Pagan community. All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

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Posted by on in SageWoman Blogs
Sources of Comfort

   It is the season of Lughnasadh: the final bright blaze of summer, ripe with bounty. The early morning mist rising over the river is just touched with the barest whisper of frosts to come. Autumn is approaching, imperceptive, yet inevitable. Even this early, as the first day of the season has only just passed us by, I am thinking ahead. Not planning, but daydreaming, anticipating the comforts of home, hearth and family that only this season seems to bring. Autumn is the season of comfort: Spring gives us freshness and hope, Summer joy and play; Winter is a time of introspection and rest. But Autumn? Autumn is harvests and canning, baking and freezing. Autumn is abundance and comfort.

   What exactly is comfort? A dictionary will tell us that comfort is "a state of ease and contentment." This stark analysis hardly conveys the true essence of comfort. Comfort is a feeling, a scent, a sound, a flavor. It is knowing your family has food and shelter; it is your children's arms around you welcoming you home from work. It is the scent of your spouse's coffee brewing first thing in the morning: you may not drink the vile stuff, but he does, and that rich, bitter scent means he's there with you, probably fixing your morning tea as he fixes his coffee.

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

The Autumnal Equinox is that time of the year when we start talking about food-sharing. It makes sense; the Autumnal Equinox marks the last harvest, the time where one would expect that there's plenty of food to go around. But the harvest and the equinox have come and gone along with the Pagan Pride festivals that dot the month of September (many PPD fests include a food drive). Hunger is a sad reality for millions of people all over the world, all year round, so it's important not to forget your local food bank, and to donate when you can throughout the entire year.

b2ap3_thumbnail_food_bank.jpg

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If you've notice I've been a bit inactive, it's mostly because that most of the communities I involve myself in have caught a case of "Being-on-fire" and that has kept me quite busy.  I have forgotten about things here, and you will be seeing some posts from me soon.

b2ap3_thumbnail_logo.pngIn the meantime, while I get those posts ready to roll, have you all heard about the fundraiser that some of us from Heathens United Against Racism have put together?  It is to try and extend some goodwill, positivity, and compassion to those who were effected by Frazier Glen Cross in Kansas City, and help relieve those with financial burdens created by the frenzied madness of a murderer.  While HUAR started this, we've seen support (both financial and awareness raising) from everyone from McNallen to Krasskova, and from the Troth to the AFA.  Dozens of us have all put aside our political and philosophical differences in order to help bolster the spirits of those so effected by this madman.  We've also seen assistance outside of the Heathen community from several covens, bloggers of all sorts, and the Pan-Pagan community in general.  We are grateful for all of that help, and with just a little more we will be able to reach the goal we established in the hours following that crime.

We cannot buy back lives or peace of mind, but perhaps we can help stabilize these families enough that they can grieve and say goodbye without mundane distractions.  We can give these families a small measure of support, and show them that our thoughts are with them during a horrible and bleak time.

We are in the last 10 days of the fundraiser, and our five thousand dollar goal is in sight.  Those who have the money to give, please do.  Those who don't, please help us spread the word.  This is not money being raised on behalf of some faceless corperation; this was a fundraiser started by people in the community and initiated through a fund raising group that allows you to control how much of your donation goes to help their administrative costs.  Every dollar you donate through this will go directly to the people effected. 

Thank you for your consideration, and I'll be seeing you all again real soon.

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A Decent Proposal: Pagan Social Services

Friends, Romans, heathens, pagans, countrymen and women, lend me your ears. From time to time, many of us bemoan bad behavior in our communities, but today I would like to put forth a serious question: what would you like to do about it?

I know that we are scattered and often many of us are isolated or solitary in our practices. But faith should bring us solace in our grief and a network of support when we are in need. What can or should we do to facilitate this?

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Recent Comments - Show all comments
  • Heather Freysdottir
    Heather Freysdottir says #
    Thank you all for your support; for now I've started a Pinterest board for the social services that I'm already aware of at http:/
  • Kimberly Reeves
    Kimberly Reeves says #
    http://www.pagansinneed.org is our food pantry. We are just local to SE Mich but I'd love to hook up with other groups for ideas.
  • Art and Spirit Guild
    Art and Spirit Guild says #
    OMG this is so awesome. Our local community leaders really want to provide services to Pagans in need but we have a difficult tim
  • Terence P Ward
    Terence P Ward says #
    Thank you for taking on this task. I've tried to collect names of Pagan charities, and sometimes even asking the question has res
  • David Dashifen Kees
    David Dashifen Kees says #
    If your programmer friend needs any backup, let me know. This is something I tried to do a few years ago to try and get some co

Posted by on in Culture Blogs
'Tis the season to move money around

The beginning of shopping season may be blurry, particularly for those whose traditions include portmanteau neologisms, but it's safe to say that it's in full swing as I write this on December 2.  The convergence of the gifting culture and the end of the tax year in many locales also makes this the time when many charities make their year-end pitches.  Likewise, this is when tax-free gifts to family members are often delivered, stocks bought and sold to maximize profit or minimize taxable gains, and people who participate in pre-tax health savings accounts and the like are making sure that they've spent everything they're required to.

So there's a lot of money on the move right now, a lot of energy flowing.  I'd go so far as to say that December is to money what October is to the spirits of the dead:  if you want to work with money, this is one of the best times to do so.  Spells and prayers for abundance and prosperity, as well as workings and offerings which are released through the movement of money, are worth incorporating into one's practice at this time of year, when the secular cycles are so strong that they reveal the unseen powers which shape them.

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Recent comment in this post - Show all comments
  • Jamie
    Jamie says #
    Mr. Ward, Thanks for sharing your thoughts, as well as the links! Some of the suggestions were just great.

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