tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9492013.post8889107447796213917..comments2023-12-24T13:19:34.111-08:00Comments on John Burridge: Why I'm a Solitary Neo-PaganJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543619001490034240noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9492013.post-6483175560857988022010-08-05T16:07:39.816-07:002010-08-05T16:07:39.816-07:00Rev. Landon,
Thank you for your comments; I alway...Rev. Landon,<br /><br />Thank you for your comments; I always look forward to theological discussions of Neo-Paganism.<br /><br />It's been about fifteen years since I've read either <b>The Spiral Dance</b> or <b>Dreaming the Dark</b> cover to cover. In the interim, I've relied on my memory and the copious post-it notes I've stuck to pages. At the time of their publication, I found them instructive and inspiring. I was also not out to myself as a gay man. <br /><br />Certainly, Starhawk offered an alternative male modality to the late 1970's and early 1980's unfeeling, patriarchal, male head of household. But what I remember as a newly out gay man in the 90's was that I found less in her writings that spoke to me, both as a male Neo-Pagan, and as a homosexual one. <br /><br />For example, in her list of spells, there is a <i>Spell to be Friends with Your Womb</i>; elsewhere she writes about getting in touch with one's "spiritual womb" in the advent that one doesn't presently have or never had one. Nowhere in her writings have I found a <i>Spell to be Friends with Your Prostrate</i>. I recall only a few paragraphs on, say, the Radical Faeries. And that's fine: Starhawk was exploring Neo-Pagan Women's Voices, not Gay Male Neo-Pagans'. (As an aside, Harry Hay's Subject-Subject Consciousness and Starhawk's Power-With have some interesting similarities.)<br /><br />As you point out, gay male Neo-Pagan theology is about 30 years behind the times -- and so I approach Starhawk's writings as I imagine Goddess Worshipers might approach the Bible: text that inspires and can guide, but that is not addressing my particular spiritual experience.<br /><br />I will have to re-read my Starhawk collection (just as soon as I'm done with St John of the Cross's "Dark Night of the Soul") to see if what is written squares up with my memory and notes.<br /><br />- JohnJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15543619001490034240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9492013.post-16475814201025085572010-08-05T14:22:49.529-07:002010-08-05T14:22:49.529-07:00As a heterosexual woman married 30 years, I write ...As a heterosexual woman married 30 years, I write here only as a sympathetic outsider, who was mentored by a closeted gay ceremonial magician and later by an out lesbian feminist Thelemite.<br /><br />I'm surprised that Starhawk, et. al., authors of Spiral Dance and Dreaming the Dark aren't mentioned.<br /><br />Over the years, I have found this material very useful for opening the minds of heterosexual Pagans to appreciate and -- dare I say -- champion GBLT sacred sexuality. The fact that SPIRAL DANCE is one of the most read books is responsible in part for the decline of the Neo-Pagan heterosexism I had to struggle against back in the 70s.<br /><br />I also commend Reclaiming Tradition for being GLBT affirming (yes, they let heterosexual couples play too.)<br /><br />Having said all this, I'll now put on my doctoral robe. Whenever a religion meets a crisis, it turns to its ancient roots and reads that material to seek an answer among what was previously ignored or otherwise interpreted.<br /><br />The paucity of Deep Pagan theology is due in part to the neglect of classical studies. We need to cultivate a dialogue with the Ancients. I understand that when you can't remember, you must invent. I recognize that much has been lost. I'll add that even what IS remembered must be subjected to the same criteria we'd use to choose any religious resource. <br /><br />But just because the Christians deliberately destroyed most of of heritage, <b>there's no excuse for lack of due diligence in seeking out the literary survivals. </b> <br /><br />Modern Gay theological thinkers are about 3 decades behind the Feminists in this regard, but there is MUCH uncovered ground.<br /><br />Rev. Christa Landon, A.M., D.Min.<br />editor, paganinstitute.orgChrista Landonhttp://paganinstitute.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9492013.post-30347772930147677272009-03-29T23:52:00.000-07:002009-03-29T23:52:00.000-07:00What about looking in traditions like the OTO or o...What about looking in traditions like the OTO or other Crowley-influenced arcane systems? From reading Regardie's biography of him, I think that Crowley's general attitude towards sex was "whatever kink turns you on -- that's great". Certainly his physical praxis was heavily influenced by tantric yoga, and that can (should?) be done both as a solitary exercise and in the context of joint ritual. I know tantric yoga isn't really a <I>western</I> "pagan tradition", but Crowley's idea was to appropriate it and integrate it into a nominally western occult tradition.joXnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06472856488645569567noreply@blogger.com