#Tarot underneath/shadow card of evening: The Chariot-VII.

Don't wait nor depend on others. This is your sign to take charge of your own work and take it in your direction to make it happen. Lead your own path, work your own craft.

#Tarot card of evening: Five of Swords.

You should've let it slide, but you didn't, and now you need to let it go anyhow. Heed the lesson, and be more discerning next time. Learn and move on.

#Tarot card of evening: Four of Cups.

Break the routine, shake things up a bit, and try something new. You've got nothing to lose at this point.

Class starting Wednesday!

Details:

6 online sessions, April 16-May 21, 2025, Wednesdays 5:30-7:30pm Pacific/ 8:30-10:30 Eastern 
 
Tickets are by donation, all are welcome!
 
We will have live ASL interpretation and automated captioning. 
 
The ritual will be recorded and emailed, for those who can not attend live.

Registration: https://earthactivisttraining.org/magic-for-challenging-times/

Week 16 of 2025, time to post #Atheopagan Principle 3: Gratitude

"I am grateful." Or "I practice the act of gratitude."

As I write this post, my cat Maui Luna is sitting next to the keyboard directly in front of me. A moment ago she rubbed my face and hit me with her tail. Now she's purring and washing a paw. She's cute and she unconditionally loves me.

I have much to be grateful for, and I wish to do more to acknowledge it.

https://atheopaganism.org/2015/01/15/the-atheopagan-principles-explored-principle-3-gratitude/

This week's Minoan Tarot cards are looking good!
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Nine of Daggers: You do indeed have the stamina, endurance, and strength of character to reach your goals no matter what obstacles lie in the way.

Ten of Rhytons: You have beautiful, joyous relationships with people you care about. Let that joy fill you up and hold you steady no matter what happens around you.

I created this deck myself; this is my art. Deck details and more card pix here: https://www.minoantarot.com/

Who else always finds stuff and has to take it home because you just know you could use it for something awesome?
And then it often never happens and it ends up cluttering your home... but sometimes it does happen. Like me sanding and painting this paddle I found washed up at our local river IJssel.
Also the main reason I sell my art & crafts: I need to make room or I can't create or collect cool stuff anymore :)

Just finished this little project: a wooden pendant made from Elder Wood (from my backyard!) with the Ogham sign for Elder burned into it.

Hail Freya, it's Friday! Here's this week's #FridayPaganPoll:

Ancient pagans liked to throw stuff in lakes. We know this because we've found lots of it. Nowadays, I think we're more environmentally conscious in our offering choices, but I'm wondering if this is still a common practice.

In the past year or so, have you given a physical offering to a body of water?

(Multiple choices enabled)

#Tarot underneath/shadow card of evening: Four of Pentacles.

A time to go within. Protect what is yours, be frugal. Avoid any unnecessary expenses be they coin, energy, or resources.

#Tarot card of evening; Queen of Wands.

Lean on your passion, energy, and creativity. A good time to work your magic and craft, do divination, or work on something creative that inspires you and brings you joy.

And another one: what's at the core of your pagan practices/lifestyle or however else you refer to it?

Personally for me, it's the wheel of the year based on the Sun's relationship to the Earth, seasons, nature and connection to nature. I think of gods and mythical creatures as metaphors, as entities living in our collective mind, something like that. I'm not sure I know how to explain it better.

Also, I belong to Balts and live where they lived. Also known as the last pagans of Europe because christianity came here late and was foundly fought against. Many practices survived christianity because it was hard to fight them, so they were successfully incorporated into christian practices - saved from the enemy through enemy itself (but didn't it happen like that everywhere?). I grew up with christianity and paganism both practiced at home, in school and society without conflict between them. All that with geographical influences (and my ancestry, as far as known) from Norse, Slavic and Germanic traditions. So, I explore paganism from this perspective, and learning and deepening my knowledge about Baltic, Slavic, Germanic and a bit Norse paganism is a part of my pagan path.

But mostly, for me it's all about nature. Understanding, learning, feeling, using, honouring, buliding and nurturing my relationship with the land I walk.

Anyways, what's the center of your pagan path?

What is paganism for you and what it means to be pagan? I'm not looking for right or wrong answer, I'm truly curious to find pagan definition of paganism today. If not a strict definition, than thoughts and feelings of those who proudly, quietly or just in their thoughts call themselves pagan or are trying to find the path to paganism. Can we talk about this?

It's serving pagan gods for one, celebrating the Earth's relationship to the Sun and celestial bodies to another. It's seeking wisdom of ancestors for one and connection to and taking care of Nature around for another one. It's fitting in and belonging to one and all of the above (and more) for another one of us.

What it means to be pagan for you? What is paganism from your perspective?

This is your weekly reminder that authors (like me!) are small businesses, and we really appreciate your support.

Up this week: Ancient Spellcraft. This is the 2nd edition of my very first book, originally published way back in 2001. Be sure to get the new edition with Morgan Le Fay on the cover!

Details: https://www.lauraperryauthor.com/ancient-spellcraft

#Tarot underneath/shadow card of evening: The Hierophant-V. In the #HardTimes find comfort in your good values and traditions, and keep faith in the structures that serve you well.

#Tarot card of evening: Ten of Pentacles.

Take a moment to be grateful for what you have, save some for the future, and where you can share some with those in need.

Psychologist Barry Schwartz coined the phrase "Paradox of Choice." His famous study shows that when consumers have more options, they are less likely to buy. If they have fewer options, they are not only more likely to choose one, but also more likely to be satisfied with that choice.

I think about this a lot in terms of paganism. I think that many people are very curious about pagan religions, and their beliefs and morals line up with paganism, but there are just too many options. It's intimidating. The most frequent question I get about paganism is "Where do I start?"

My answer sometimes varies depending on who I'm talking to. Most times, the people asking know a bit about paganism already, they just want assurance that they chose correctly. I sometimes wish there was like a standard formula or dichotomous key I could point toward and say, "Go through this and you will know which path to take."