PaganSquare


PaganSquare is a community blog space where Pagans can discuss topics relevant to the life and spiritual practice of all Pagans.

  • Home
    Home This is where you can find all the blog posts throughout the site.
  • Tags
    Tags Displays a list of tags that have been used in the blog.
  • Bloggers
    Bloggers Search for your favorite blogger from this site.
  • Login
    Login Login form
Subscribe to this list via RSS Blog posts tagged in genetics

Posted by on in Paths Blogs
Solving an Ancestor Mystery with DNA

Asatru is one of the paths that includes ancestors among the beings we honor. That doesn't always have to be one's own personal literal biological ancestors, as explored in a prior post. However, many heathens go in for genealogy, and for those who have done so and hit a wall, or for adoptees and others who don't know anything about their ancestors, the corner where modern science and capitalism meet has provided home DNA tests.

My brother has extensively traced our family genealogy and uncovered some interesting things, but there was one mystery the paperwork could not answer for us. We had been told that we were part Cherokee. The summer after I graduated from college, which was about a year after my father died, I went looking for my Cherokee roots and drove across the country, all the way from California to the Qualla Boundary reservation in North Carolina. I utterly failed to connect to the land spirits, the people, or even the artifacts in the museum. I went camping nearby in the Great Smoky Mountains and did not connect to the land there either. I tried looking for records, and whether I approached via writing or in person, I hit a wall of silence everywhere I went. I tried to connect spiritually, and decided that was not the path for me. I had already been following a heathen path at that point, but that was about when I found a local California Asatru organization, and when I went there I felt right at home, welcome and connected, so I was affirmed on my path. But the unsolved mystery of the elusive Cherokee ancestors stayed in the back of my mind.

...
Last modified on

Posted by on in SageWoman Blogs

Recently I had a lengthy discussion with my daughter about cellular memory. If you are not familiar with cellular memory, it is theorized that cells have specific memories and these memories are passed on should a person pass away and their organs donated.

The receiver of these organs may start to have memories from a place or event that they are not familiar with, as well, it is possible that they may have emotions over certain circumstances or during certain events that they have never before experienced.  It is believed that these memories and emotions come from the previous owner of the donated organs.

...
Last modified on

Posted by on in Culture Blogs
Researchers Identify 'Witch Gene'

AP: Minneapolis, MN

Are witches born or made?

According to the results of a genetic study to be published in next month's Scientific American, the answer is: A.

Dr. Stephanie Fox of the University of Paganistan's Department of Genetics and Epidemiology, announcing the results of a 40-year study, told reporters yesterday, “The Great Witch Families of Europe have long contended that witchery runs in families. We can now say confidently that genetics back up that claim.”

Although the so-called “witch gene” is predominantly present in mitochondrial (maternal) DNA, the study found that it can also be transmitted Y-chromosomally (in the paternal line) as well.

Interestingly, the “witch gene” has been found to be present in every human population so far studied.

Last modified on
Pagan News Beagle: Earthy Thursday, June 1 2017

Why are whales bigger now than prehistorically? How are laws governing "genetic privacy" impacting scientific research? And what's up with that flickering star that keeps bothering astronomers? It's Earthy Thursday, our segment for science and Earth-related news! All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

Last modified on
Pagan News Beagle: Earthy Thursday, April 14

Archaeologists pour over artifacts recovered from a recently discovered Neolithic grave. The impact of climate change is considered as well as how best to combat it. And the scientific community is spellbound by a new discovery about human anatomy. It's Earthy Thursday, our weekly segment on science and Earth-related news! All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

Last modified on

Additional information