Pagan Gift Giving

Dear Neophyte,

I don't know a person who doesn't like books.  This being said, I also don't know many people who aren't Pagan and don't want to add to their already considerable collection.  With this in mind I've decided to start a new tradition this year: giving books as gifts.  

This meme on facebook inspired the idea:

                                      

Now giving books is not exactly new to the whole Yule thing.  It's just not a special gift to get a book; it's one of the many, many ideas of possible gifts.  What's behind my idea of Yule book giving is to make it a special thing to receive a book.  

Of the three families I knew growing up each one of them had a tradition of giving out one gift on Christmas Eve.  Usually which gift gets to be opened is not selected by the opener, but by the giftee.  That is, it won't be the biggest and best of the gifts (which it would be if the gifted got to pick).  It's something small like a music CD, doll clothes for a doll they already have, or a set of napkin rings which would look good on the table the next day.  The gold jewelry and mongoose bike were the big gifts of the next day.  These gifts usually are enough to hold over the enthusiasm of the holiday participants and give them something to fiddle with between Yule Eve and Yule Day.

My idea is to replace these random gifts with a book which is actually chosen by the gifted, purchased by the giftee, and actually given to the gifted on Yule Eve.  They can then spend the time diving into a world of book rather than sweating the anticipation of having new things the next day.

While conservative Christians are taught that Christmas is not about the anticipation of gifts, that is just not how humans phychology works.  We want things to help ensure our survival and berating ourselves for anticipating having our very real physical needs met just seems anti-Spiritual to me.  I don't follow any logic that says you're not suppose to look forward to getting gifts on Christmas.  

That being said, Yule is different for Pagans the same way Christmas is suppose to be different for Christians.  Christians give each other illogical gifts from department stores and gift cards to places people wouldn't shop on their own.  I've noticed Pagans tend to give practical gifts like books on edible mushroom identification, knitted shawls, and pressure canners.  Things that are creative, immensely personal, and often hand made.  Oftentimes Pagans will exchange magical supplies and statuary.  Yule tends to have a heavily religious theme for Pagans whereas most who claim to be Christian don't even sing happy birthday to Jesus, let alone exchange images of Him for their altars.  Assuming they even have altars to their Gods.

Pagans are deeply spiritual and open with each other about our spirituality.  We care about and lean on each other's stories and information even if it's not from our God/desses.  We reach across the veils that separate the different pantheons and often reach out to each other's God/deses when reaching out to our Pagan friends.  For example I have three different deity images given to my by three different people, and they are currently on my altars.  I didn't have to put them there; they did seem to fit.  These people don't follow my pantheons and don't worship my deities; they saw something they thought I would like and got it for me.

Pagans are also extremely practical.  We're earth-centric, most of us, and understand that the limited resources of the Earth are being used up at an alarming rate.  To combat this most of  us are some kind of environmentalist and deeply care about our impact on the environment.  This directly correlates with how self-sufficient we become in order not lesson said impact on the environment.  Which leads to our love of giving and receiving practical non-dust-collecting gifts, handmade gifts, and books.

Things to consider for your Pagan friends:

Books, of course!

In Portland Oregon or Online

Such topics as Kemetic Paganism, Spellwork for Children, Kitchen Witchery, Book of Oven Dehydration, Seasonal Cookbooks, Gardening, Knitting, Home Disaster Preparation, Dog Training Manuals, Herbalism, etc.    

I deliberately did not post links to specific books.  Books are incredibly personal and there are so many out there that cover just aspects of a specific subject that it would do me no good to link you books which work for me (Women's Herbal Handbook) but may not work for you (if you're male).  

You want to avoid giving them a book on Yule Eve that goes along with a present they won't get until Yule Day.  If you get them a knitting book, but they don't own knitting supplies then that not only gives away what else you may have gotten them, but defeats the purpose of a book to hold them over till they got to open other gifts.  This is why I like the idea of letting the giftee pick out the book and tell you what they want (or give you a list such as provided above).  If you can't do that then use common sense.  The book should stand alone or compliment something (a dog?) which they already own and have access to.

Crafting Supplies

We LOVE arts and crafts!

Clay

They can make their own altar bowls, pentacle, jewelry, statuary, and more!

Craft Paper

My sister does watercolor and is perpetually out of paper.

Depending on what kind of crafting they do you could give them drawing paper, watercolor paper (pictured), cardstock, calligraphy paper, and on.

Fabric

The seamstress, Etsy owner, fabric hoarder in us all.

This works best when they are in love with a particular type of fabric (brocade is pictured) and don't mind getting random amounts of it, and they have the room to store fabric they are not currently using.

Knitting Looms

Expect to get a hat and scarf from this person on your birthday.

For Pagan children and adults who don't fancy moving yarn around with sticks.

Remember: When shopping for anyone who is crafty to focus on crafts you know they already love.  Try not to get someone started in a new craft if you don't know they've been wanting to do it for a long time.  This could mean wasted money for you and disappointment for them.  A safe bet would be to avoid things like Chinese Calligraphy Kits if you know they don't enjoy handwriting letters or even drawing.  Use your common sense!

Practical Gifts!

Pressure Canner

Taking kitchen witchery to the next level!

Owning a canner is like some sort of Pagan membership requirement.  If you know a Pagan who doesn't own a canner they must be new.  Help initiate them this Yule!

Recurve Bow

This image is Artemis approved.

Nothing says "I love you!" like dangerous weapons.  Better if they can bring down a deer and fold up for easy carrying in a tote case.

Non-GMO Seed Kit

Earth-centric religion followers are all about the heirloom seeds.

Practical sense indicates don't get your friend a selection of goard and corn seeds if they live on the second level of an appartment complex.  Stick with a variety of herbs instead.  I have purchased from this company and they are wonderful.

Soap Making Kit

The gift that keeps on giving.

Soap is a fun and personal gift, as a lot of people have skin allergies and you also need special equipment (not provided in kits) to cook it at home.  Make sure the person wants to make soap and is willing to forfeit a pan forever to use for just making soap.

Practical gifts means anything which will help make a person more self-sufficient and less dependent on "The System" to provide.  Pagans are each and every one practical people who go out of their way to develope skills to make life easier, simpler, slower, deeper and more fulfilling.  Being able to bring down a deer and then can the meat are two skills which make you independent.  To say the least these activities bring us i line with our Gods, who hunt and farm the land the same as us.

Handmade Gifts!

Recipe Box

Especially for folks finally in their own place.

Craft stores abound with wooden boxes.  You can varnish plain wood, or paint, burn or stamp designs on the outside.  A clear topcoat keeps the box looking nice.  Use blank index cards inside, print out your own, or buy special recipe cards.

Drop Spindle

Almost no chance of pricking a finger!

Craft stores sell wooden wagon wheels and wood dowels.  Most of them also sell hooks that screw into walls.  Glue the wheel in place 2" from the top of the dowel.  Screw the hook into the top.  Measure down 18" from the top and cut it off.  A kitchen knife can work for this as most dowel rods sold at craft stores are extremely soft wood.  Technically you're finished now.  You can paint, stain, varnish or oil the wood.  I sharpened the bottom tip of the one I made so it would spin on a chair easier.

Coloring Book

Any theme they enjoy will work.

Google search "Pagan coloring pages" (or any other theme).  Print them out.  Either put them in a binder or tie them together with ribbons.  Make a cover page and a back cover and you'r finished.  If they don't also cave pencils or markers you should provide some of those too.

Tea Blends

Tiny potion bottles of tea herbs.

Everyone I know owns a tea ball so I really love the idea of loose tea in small jars.  These jars are available from craft stores like Joann's and have cork tops.  Tea recipes are available online, or you can portion out some loose tea you already own.  

Religious Supplies

Selection of Herbs

For Magic, Cooking, Healing.

I love the idea of putting some of the herbs you already own into small glass jars, adding antiqued labels (instructions online) and giving them as gifts.  Don't forget to write the correspondences on the back of the bottle.  If you don't have enough to share you can order them online as sampler kits and transfer them to bottles when they arrive. 

Statuary

Go for authentic, not artistic.

Sexualized statues only venerate the divine as recipients of sex and so I really don't like these modern takes on statuary.  It seems almost all of the modern statues are huge-breasted, slim waist, rippling abdominal muscles, and violent.  As if the gods were never anything more than ideal beauty standard contest winners.  For that reason I would never give one of these statues as a gift unless the person said they wanted that one specifically.   Those images have places on altars while that particular aspect of a deity is being invoked, but not all the time.

Spell Kits

Purifying detox bath salts.

Is your friend going through a hard times?  Do they need money?  Do they need peace of mind?  Do they need serenity?  Make them a spell kit!  It's not hard to find the ingredients around your house and recipes online.  Bath salts are my number 1 make-ahead-spell-kit which has already been primed.  Breaking the seal activates the spell and your recipient just needs to pour and soak.  Other spell kits involve candles, cord, felt, and a variety of things.  You can get supply lists and ideas online.

Magazine Subscription

Circle Magazine

Pagan publications have been around for decades.  Some of them are a hundred or more years older at this point.  If your friend likes the idea of new ideas, networking, being able to unplug from the internet to read new information, and taking their reading with them (without buying a new book) then give them the gift of a Pagan Magazine subscription!  A goodle search pulls up half a dozen well-known and reputable publishers.  Be sure to get one that your friend would like even if it's not your own personal taste.

So there you have it.  My Pagan gift giving ideas.  I'm going to get a book for my sister for Yule Eve (a self-help book), and I'm almost done getting the rest.  What I really want to get her is an 18" doll and dress it up to look like Lagetha from Vikings.  I also want to get her a shirt that says, "The Gods Smile on Brave Women" that I saw on Etsy.  I'll probably just make the shirt, if I wind up having enough time and money to do that (along with everything else).  

She's getting me tea and dishes.  I <3 my practical, Pagan sister!

Salutations,

Sesh

Counterculture Reality Check

Dear Neophyte


As members of a counterculture, we are often under the impression that our choices are right and best for everyone. Everyone should be vegan, everyone should be ok with bi-sexuality, everyone would know perfect happiness if they would only admit theirs isnt the Only Way.

We long for a return to what is popularly termed the 'old ways'. Though it is known now that these 'old days' did not exist, and there was never a prefect Atlantian-like culture where men and women were equal and everyone’s 'quirks' were accepted, we still use this term. "Old Gods" and "Old Ways" are umbrella phrases to describe our goals and our journey.

1. Women would once again become tied to the hearth as wives and mothers, while men would be responsible for fighting wars to keep their families safe.  A great many women died in the olden days from inhaling smoke from cooking fires.

2. All advances in medicine would be lost, leaving us only with homeopathic remedies, and prayer, to contend with such things as rabies and epilepsy.  Could you have took surgery without pain killers?

3. Church = state would once again be the norm, instead of a legal separation.  Our new government would of course be based off our religion, as just about every government of the past was.  Can you handle having the religious laws you now claim to follow being made into legally binding laws?

4. Slavery existed in every ancient culture. If these 'ancient valued' reemerged, our modern valued would either have to be sacrificed or compromised.  Maybe your religion didnt condone slavery, but the Roman Reconstructionists next door dont have a problem with it.  The cool fact of the matter is that most slavers though they were doing people favors by taking out of barbarian lands, introducing them to civilized culture and proper religion.  Could you handle people doing that to other people?

4. Lifespan would be shortened dramatically. The very real work that goes into getting up at the crack of dawn and hand-plowing 10 acres of land a day to feed your children would take it's toll on your body, taking it's tolls on your life expectancy as well.

5. Wealth would once again be counted by how much land you owned or how many cows you had. You would be expected to fight to defend them as well, maybe even resulting in the lives of you or your loved ones.  In ancient times, when one group's numbers outweighed the amount of food they could produce on their land, they often went looking for it elsewhere.  Never was there a time when ancient cultures weren't fighting over farming and grazing lands.  It wasn't a matter of sharing because whatever you were letting them keep was another member of your tribe going hungry!

6. Plural marriage would be normal again. Could you stand to share your spouse with 4 other people? How about four people and a few slaves your spouse would be banging on the side?  Polygamy is the practice of men having more than one wife, and polyandry is the practice of women having more than one husband.  Both are still practiced today.

7. As standards of sanitation decline, disease and plague would start to rise. Remember: no doctors, antibiotics or ant virus medication. No ambulance or emergency room. No life flight to the nearest hospital.  Just about every civilization that flourished had sanitation problems.  Dont think that just because we have toilets today that we wont forget about them in generations to come.  After all, the Romans had toilets in every home, and running water - but Medieval Europe forgot about them and were still shitting for hundreds of years after and then dumping it into the streets!

8. Burial customs would have to be reinvented.  After all, some religions created elaborate tombs for their dead and some ate them.  Just dont think of display, cause the Christians already did that, and better than you ever could!

9. Cats and dogs would not be indoor pets, but be expected to help hunt or keep the rat population down or they might wind up in the cook-pot.  From left to right we have pictured: Food, Food, Maybe Food and Will Be Food If He Doesnt Fetch Stuff I Shoot At So I Dont Have To.

10. Drought and famine would result in mass losses of population due to starvation and murder for food.  Circle of life is a bitch sometimes: Eat or be eaten.  How's that negotiating for more farming space while your people are starving looking now?

11. Guns would disappear, making the carrying of knives and swords the norm.  Only it wont feel epic because, yeah, you got a nice big sword.  But so does everyone else.  

12. Modern music and books would disappear, making traveling bards a MUST. But since they will be traveling via horse back, you wont be able to hear real music for several months at a time. 

13. Only cities would have libraries. Very few would know how to read due to lack of educational requirements.  If you had the patience I suppose you could teach your kids how to read.  Hope you dont mind having a library that could fit between your nipples by which to do that with.

14. Superstition would run rampant and con artists would be crawling out of the woodwork.  Hint: If you ever see a bottle of this, DONT BUY IT!

15. What is accepted forms and reasons for murder would be reinvented. Maybe your Roman sect wont bring back honor killing of unfaithful wives - might they bury disgraced Vestial Virgins alive instead?  What about ridding the village of children that will only be a hindrance to their families in times of severe food restraints?  Will you make the parents pretend it was an accident, or allow them the dignity of a legal cop out?  What about killing enemy troops and lining their bodies up for their people to see?  What about sacrificing these same enemies to their gods in order to gain their favor for the next battle?

14. Laws from Gods you don’t worshiped may not be pressed upon you, depending on the whim of the neighboring tribe who just won the war with your tribe over cattle pastures.  Egyptian women had great freedom of expression - however, Romen women were not only forced into layers of clothing that coered them from head to foot (ahem! see similarity to the recognizable picture below) and not allowed to wear but a few articles of jewelry to stand apart from each other.

15. No vote. For anything. Taxation without representation. Taxation because the hereditary rules decided you had too much bread and wants you to have less.  Hope you like wheat too, cause that flavorless processed white bread is *gone* when the new age comes!  

16. Hereditary rules that do not have YOUR best interest at heart, only THIERS.  If you plan to get anywhere in live, swearing blood oaths and sacred vows of loyalty before the Gods that you will support the monarch is in order. But dont worry, the lectures often have a test at the end.  Several in fact. 

17. You will never see the world. You will never step more than 15 miles beyond your front door all of your life. You will only ever hear about happenings from outside your community.

18. No pads, tampons or condoms. No reliable birth control or safe abortion. No paternity tests, baby formula, disposable diapers, rocker machines, etc.  Men, get used to handwashing poopy diapers and ladies - enjoy stitching your home made reusable pads!

19. Homosexuals would be oddities, not accepted. Men and woman who don’t want to couple and make babies were never accepted in ancient cultures unless they were status holders of some kind (priests, kings, land barons), or the lover of a status holder.  Its been like 20,000 years and were still not ok with the gays just yet - if we reverse time, it's not going to get better!  (DAMN, is he pretty in this picture!)

20. What is and isn’t acceptable would change dramatically and shockingly.  Sanctioned honor killings and revenge, public hangings and dueling.  If someone crossed you, or your sister (or husband if you were Egyptian, cause their women were the revenge seekers) then you were either a man (or woman) about it and did something or you were a coward and ostracise's from your community.

21. No electricity and no car. Just to understand this, turn all your lights and electric appliances off (with exception of fridge), and have a friend drive you home from their house so you don’t have a car. Live that way for just three days.

22. Dietary changes. Meat would be scarce, as would most fruit. We’d be living off porridge and wheat cereal again. Malnutrition is one thing that would shorten life spans.  Hope you like grain cause it's 70%o f your diet now.  That is, if the king hasnt taken it all in taxes and the warning neighbors arnt overrunning your lands today.

23. Hazing would become commonplace again. Tests of manhood and rites of passage for women. Failing would most likely mean becoming ostracized from your community.  Back and abdomen slicing to both men and women, genital mutilation for both men and women and tests of fertility for both men and women.

24. Your entire wardrobe could fit in a suit case, all four seasons worth. And you had to hand wash it all, but only once a week since it was such a chore.  Let me tell you, from someone who used to hand was their own laundry on a wash board - it gets old.  Fast.  Especially when you multiply that by 4 to 12 people all living in the same household (you'd be living with your in-laws most likely and taking care of them in their old age).  For the record, I only stopped hand-washing my laundry because I moved in with people who didnt believe you really can get clean laundry by hand-washing. 

25. 25. The very real possibility of starving or freezing to death during the winter.  Just look up Donner Party.

26. Inflation. No minimum wage. No job security due to any job contracts.  Best come to terms now about what you will and wont do for money.  Especially if children are involved. 

27. Salt would be worth its weight in gold again.

28. Arranged marriage existed in almost every culture. Would our mommy and daddy let you marry the person you chose? Who would they have chosen for you? 

It's laregly up to us to shape the future, but if we are genuinly trying to reconstruct dead religions, you have to understand the culture they come from. You have to understand the region, the agriculture, the animal husbantry and the enemies. 

We are our own counterculture. Fighting to recreate cultures we will wind up reinventing. We'll take the Vikings form what they were and make them what they COULD have been.



Salutations,
Sesh