When witchcraft first flourished in the 20th Century, it was cutting edge. Hot on the heels of the feminist movement, the fledgling environmental movement, and a time of great social upheaval, neo-paganism opened a whole new realm of possibility that at once called to our roots but also challenged dominant paradigms. At the same time, a lot of us are drawn to pagan beliefs when we ourselves undergo inter and intra-personal change. To dedicate yourself to a pagan path is a challenging step to take, and the journey is a difficult one. If it was easy - everyone would do it. To be a pagan is already a radical and progressive act. But is it enough? I'd like to offer my own interpretation of what radical, progressive paganism can look like.

 

I've always subscribed to the notion the the personal is political is spiritual. And there's a bit of a shift happening, and as usual during times of upheaval, there is resistance in various quarters that make the now large umbrella uncomfortable indeed. As a self-declared pagan, witch and devoted priestess, there are some things that frustrate me where I think we, as a community, could be doing better. Gender essentialism, transphobia, cultural appropriation, environmentalism as a spiritual choice - these are all hot button issues (or they should be) and we need to keep the conversation going.

 

Let us be progressive and gender inclusive

 

Once I saw how the patriarchal notions of gender binary infiltrated the very core of most modern pagan writing, I just couldn't unsee it. I felt like I had just been unplugged from the Matrix, and I want to rattle the cage of everyone who continues to insist on perpetuating a harmful paradigm. And yes - it is harmful, to those do not fit into the pink and blue barriers of gender, some things seem to be getting worse rather than better (look at the toy aisles for examples), and in our spirituality we can do so much more. No longer do I want anything to do with practices that have a heteronormative patriarchal fertility narrative at its core, and this has opened my eyes to the deep wisdom found in practices that reach far beyond dichotomies of black and white. Is a binary structure really a beneficial core teaching point as I so frequently hear it insisted? Or does it perpetuate ideas that exclude those who don't fit, creating a foundation that alienates people who are standing in our circles? Whether it is deliberate or not, it is certainly outmoded, and we are being told that it is causing harm and we need to stop. We should listen. Transphobia is rife in the pagan community and we seriously need to cut the crap and call out those who express bigoted and misinformed notions spread from their own fear and lack of education, and look at how our own liturgies support the seeds of such bigotry.

 

Let's show respect for other cultures

 

We've been told over and over again, with voices of increasing intensity, that cultural appropriation in paganism is not okay. So why do we keep doing it? If we're told that certain words and appropriation of practices is harmful, we need to stop and listen and make the change that will be minor to us but major in terms of the difference in preventing the erasure of cultures that are not on top of the power pyramid. And yet I still see pagans, witches and leaders in our community throw terms around like gypsy, smudge, voodoo, tribe and totem usually to sell goods and services in a postcolonial white fantasy.  This has made me ashamed and disheartened when individuals have been presented with education but have chosen to do nothing with it. Here we are still on the merry go round. Let's listen, and let's stop.

 

Let's treat our planet and ourselves with care

 

The earth is hurting, and she needs us to stop participating in the machinery that is breaking him down. I would love to see more pagans withdrawing from consumerism, growing their own food, choosing more ethically what they consume and where it comes from. There is no doubt that issues such as privilege come into play here - but if you are privileged (and let's face it, if you're reading this you probably are), and you are able to choose to shop more sustainably, or even shop less, then why don't you? I have seen a lot of environmental laziness especially from pagans who drown themselves in plastic, cheap crap from dollar stores, and fast food for agape feast, without a second thought for buying locally or considering where the food might come from. I want to see more pagans at environmental protests, more pagans advocating for political candidates who can instigate policy change, and more pagans taking little opportunities like boycotting plastic bottled water or plastic bags, or just arguing with their high priestess when they suggest buying plastic plates and cutlery for the feast because it makes for an easier cleanup.

 

Let's get louder and brasher with our insistence for change. Do we really want to fit in? Or do we need to lead the charge in getting our peers to wake up? Let's be more inclusive, more sustainable, and the change starts with us - the individuals. Whose cage can you rattle today - or could it just be your own?

 

Blog image is 'Ace of Pentacles' by me, see more at my website.