If you’re familiar with household folklore and traditions, you’ve probably noticed that there’s a lot of concern about housefires. While fire was a necessary element for survival – keeping warm, cooking food, boiling water to make it safe to drink and clean wounds with – it was also a hazard, especially in homes made of wood and thatch. Lightning could strike during a storm, and the roof would be set ablaze. An accident or malfunction could happen in the hearth, and the house would be consumed from within. Loss of a home spelled disaster, just as it does today, although fire codes and emergency response units have reduced risks for many of us.
Fiery Gods and Devils
Many household spirits were associated with fire. The German kobold is one example. Kobolds, like alps, were often described as fiery spirits that dwelled near or within the stove and, if they were treated poorly, could cause housefires in vengeance. Feeding the kobold regularly, refraining from speaking ill of him, and keeping the house clean and tidy were good ways to keep him happy and supportive of the household.
The Solstice is upon us and the chill of Winter is reaching deeply into bone. This year, in particular, is one that has tested the boundaries of cold and feeling isolated in a vast tundra of unknowing”ness”. Things change from season to season and in the never ending cycle that is life itself, Gaia remains steadfast and strong in offering up her body as our home and our refuge as Her fires burn brightly.
Even though I know this to be true, the memory of her fires fades as the Light of the Solstice returns and Summer takes hold. But now, this is the time of remembering as the nights have grown longer and the cold seeps in, and I feel a chill that cannot be heated by physical warmth. This is a cold that holds the space of awaiting the stoking of the inner fires that resonate with that of Gaia and fuel the yearning, to once again, be held in her embrace.
Lovers reach towards One another seeking The fires of creation’s Sacred union
Mouth to mouth Hand to hand
Bodies pressed tightly In rapturous embrace.
Lovers dance held in Passion's sweet embrace.
Each step a garden of Spring flowers left in Lusty foot fall's place.
Lovers yearn to see Love reflected back In upturned face.
Two become one As each holds fast To their separateness.
Lovers hold the gift Of creation in the pure Essence of their love.
The dance of courtship And coyly sought mating Awakens the fires of Planet’s act of creation.
And in lover’s passionate Union the greening of The earth is begun.
All of life quickens As HIS passion's heat Shines down upon HER body of fertile Verdant grace.
The fertile womb of the Goddess is filled with the Light of quickening at this time of the year. Look around you! Life awaits the seed of potential. Life is bursting with anticipation of reaching its fullness. Delicate flowers are blooming and the growing heat of the sun stirs us to our passionate acts of creation in all of its forms. We are inspired, we are enlivened as the hand of the Maiden seeks the warm caress of her Lover's embrace.
Erin Lale
Fellow faculty at Harvard Divinity School posted an open letter to Wolpe in response to his article. It's available on this page, below the call for p...
Erin Lale
Here's another response. The Wild Hunt has a roundup of numerous responses on its site, but it carried this one as a separate article. It is an accoun...
Erin Lale
Here's another response. This one is by a scholar of paganism. It's unfortunately a Facebook post so this link goes to Facebook. She posted the text o...
Erin Lale
Here's another link to a pagan response to the Atlantic article. I would have included this one in my story too if I had seen it before I published it...
Janet Boyer
I love the idea of green burials! I first heard of Recompose right before it launched. I wish there were more here on the East Coast; that's how I'd l...