In a recent email exchange with a friend, he mentioned that he wants to make a distinct effort to promote authors of the “new wave” – those in the Pagan and magical community who have come of age (so to speak) in the recent 10-15 years and become teachers and authors – rather than always referring to works from 50-60 years ago.
This got me thinking.
Specifically, it got me thinking how important this really is.
The founding authors and teachers of modern Paganism are important and I dare say that they always will be. It is also important to be mindful of our roots and to not forget where we have come from. But we also need to be realistic about the degree of relevance that they have.
That is not to suggest that they are no longer relevant, but I believe that we have to accept that the shape of our modern world presents many issues that are just not addressed by those who were writing and teaching half a century ago.
This got me thinking.
Specifically, it got me thinking how important this really is.
The founding authors and teachers of modern Paganism are important and I dare say that they always will be. It is also important to be mindful of our roots and to not forget where we have come from. But we also need to be realistic about the degree of relevance that they have.
That is not to suggest that they are no longer relevant, but I believe that we have to accept that the shape of our modern world presents many issues that are just not addressed by those who were writing and teaching half a century ago.
Millennials need more.
The world – and even Paganism, is not the same as it was for writers and teachers who were experience the world and Paganism in the years from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. Even those years from the 1980’s to 2000 were distinct enough to warrant an extended approach to the young people of that time. These were the “teen witch” years. But Millennials are again in need of something more. While the ideas of yesterday are still important, we need Paganism to expand so that it is relevant to the current shape of the world. While so many of us are looking back, either to the works of the modern founding teachers and writers, or even further back to historical Paganism, we need to also be looking forwards and understanding how those things are relevant to the Paganism of now – and if there are aspects of our modern world that are not addressed by these things, then we need to be willing to explore those things and find how they fit with being Pagan now. Perhaps more importantly, we need to also be willing to throw out those ideas that no longer serve us.
The world – and even Paganism, is not the same as it was for writers and teachers who were experience the world and Paganism in the years from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. Even those years from the 1980’s to 2000 were distinct enough to warrant an extended approach to the young people of that time. These were the “teen witch” years. But Millennials are again in need of something more. While the ideas of yesterday are still important, we need Paganism to expand so that it is relevant to the current shape of the world. While so many of us are looking back, either to the works of the modern founding teachers and writers, or even further back to historical Paganism, we need to also be looking forwards and understanding how those things are relevant to the Paganism of now – and if there are aspects of our modern world that are not addressed by these things, then we need to be willing to explore those things and find how they fit with being Pagan now. Perhaps more importantly, we need to also be willing to throw out those ideas that no longer serve us.
Kindle of Shadows? Homosexuality, bisexuality, transexuality, current science, gender and so on. Attitudes and understanding of these kinds of issues are starkly different today, compared to just twenty years ago. So much so that western culture is different to the point that these kinds of issues can be openly embraced, discussed and spiritually explored. For young people growing up today, being able to spiritually explore these kinds of issues, can be the difference between a spirituality that is relevant to their lives and one that is not.
There are also other issues that are far from new and that have been present in Paganism for some time, such as ecology, environmentalism, sacred sites, ancient graves and so on. These kinds of issues also need to be addressed in their modern context, using our best modern understanding, rather than leaving people to form a spiritual perspective on these things using information and ideas that may now be 30+ years out of date.
Of course, some things never change (or change little). The general concept of Nature = Good, is as relevant today as it ever has been, for example. But that is not to say that we wouldn’t benefit from exploring those things with fresh eyes, as well. After all, even the general idea of being pro nature, has it’s limits. For example, I don’t think that any sane Pagan would suggest that we should avoid modern medicine because diseases are natural. In fact, the relationship between nature and human ingenuity is a good subject of discussion. But in this instance, the point is that in the modern day, in the light of growing understanding and technology, even the simplest of Pagan concepts can be expanded upon to make them more relevant to now.
There are also other issues that are far from new and that have been present in Paganism for some time, such as ecology, environmentalism, sacred sites, ancient graves and so on. These kinds of issues also need to be addressed in their modern context, using our best modern understanding, rather than leaving people to form a spiritual perspective on these things using information and ideas that may now be 30+ years out of date.
Of course, some things never change (or change little). The general concept of Nature = Good, is as relevant today as it ever has been, for example. But that is not to say that we wouldn’t benefit from exploring those things with fresh eyes, as well. After all, even the general idea of being pro nature, has it’s limits. For example, I don’t think that any sane Pagan would suggest that we should avoid modern medicine because diseases are natural. In fact, the relationship between nature and human ingenuity is a good subject of discussion. But in this instance, the point is that in the modern day, in the light of growing understanding and technology, even the simplest of Pagan concepts can be expanded upon to make them more relevant to now.
That is not to say that I am advocating some kind of united Pagan paradigm on any of these issues. The Pagan way has always been very personal and driven by the individual’s freedom to find what is right for them. But even if the result was fifty differing views on the same subject, just the fact of addressing those subjects and how they can fit into Paganism, is important.
In reality, I doubt that there would be a massive division of views among the majority of Pagans. But there may be a wide variety to approaching these things in regards to Pagan practice and spiritual experience – and that is perhaps more important than anything else. It is one thing to say “oh yeah, we’re cool with homosexuality”, but it is a whole other thing to present ways to explore homosexuality from a spiritual perspecive, in a way that is as indepth as the ways in which hetrosexuality are explored, for example.
In reality, I doubt that there would be a massive division of views among the majority of Pagans. But there may be a wide variety to approaching these things in regards to Pagan practice and spiritual experience – and that is perhaps more important than anything else. It is one thing to say “oh yeah, we’re cool with homosexuality”, but it is a whole other thing to present ways to explore homosexuality from a spiritual perspecive, in a way that is as indepth as the ways in which hetrosexuality are explored, for example.
"Perhaps this wasn't the best way to find my ipod" In the world of now, those kinds of explorations are not only relevant for those upon whom they focus (I.e. homosexuals, bisexuals, etc.) they can also be incredibly valuable in helping others to develop a spiritual understanding of such issues and that is the spiritual mirror of the world today’s young people are growing up in – a world where people of different creeds and backgrounds, are not just accepted and tolerated, but one where they are understood and accepted from a genuine perspective of equality. The buds of that world are just starting to bloom in the youngest members of western society, but if we want that potential to blossom fully, we need to be open to that world and to make it a part of our own.
This, I feel, is not only important for the developing future of Paganism, but also for giving young people real options for exploring their spirituality in a way that is relevant and present, rather than archaic and incomplete.
This, I feel, is not only important for the developing future of Paganism, but also for giving young people real options for exploring their spirituality in a way that is relevant and present, rather than archaic and incomplete.
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