August 26, 2018August 26, 2018 by Daniel

Seriously…what’s with all the cleansing?

I was reading through a pagan facebook group I belong to yesterday when I came upon a post in which a young pagan lady was asking for advice. It seems she and her partner have heard noises they described as “growling” and saw flitting images out of the corner of their eye. They wanted to know what they should do about it.

What followed was a torrent of replies, well meaning I’m sure, that offered dozens of different ways to drive out the “spirit” and “cleanse” the house.

I found myself flabbergasted that nobody other than myself, suggested welcoming the spirit. No one.

This is not an isolated case either. I’ve noticed over the last few years an ever increasing trend in the Pagan community to treating all spirits as “evil” at worst, and even angry and malevolent at best. I really don’t know where this is coming from. I suspect we’ve allowed hollywood and the local church to infiltrate our understanding of the spirit world to the point that we view it the same way they do…

…and that is a shame.

There was a time, long past…and more recent, when things were different….a lot different. My ancestors the Celts, and many other ancient cultures, viewed the spirit world in a very different way. They viewed the spirit world as being much the same as the mundane world….i.e. normal.

In the spirit world of my ancestors there wasn’t any big “E” Evil. the spirits were pretty much the same as the people, which makes sense since a lot of them used to be the people. Even the wee folks were just other folk with their lives and relationships and goals and dreams.

Just as very, very few mundane folk are “Evil”, you’d be hard pressed to find an “Evil” spirit. What you would find is a mix of some benign, some friendly, some indifferent, and perhaps rarely even an angry spirit, but hardly ever, if ever, any spirit that would be considered “Evil”.

Even among the Gods and Goddesses of my people’s legends, there isn’t any “Evil” side like you see in the Abrahamic faiths. The closest you come is the Fomorians, whose only real crime is they opposed the Tuatha. The great Sun God of Irish tradition, Lugh Lamhfada had a Fomorian Grandfather.

So if our stories and traditions had few if any “Evil” spirits in it, why then are we so quick to assume every spirit in our homes is somehow malevolent, out to harm us, or “Evil”? I’ve even heard Pagans refer to them as “Demons”, like we need to borrow any more baggage from the Abrahamic religions?

As to so many spirits being thought have as “angry”…. well maybe we’re to blame for that too?

Our ancestors used to welcome spirits into their homes, whether the spirits of passed ancestors, or the wee folk. Our ancestors used to treat them like family, provide food and drink, and shelter. They would honor the house spirits with gifts and hospitality, and in return the spirits would watch over them, protecting them and making their farms and businesses and families prosper.

Nowadays any whisper of a possible spirit and it seems we’re so quick to draw the six guns loaded with sage and whatever other spiritual bleach we have at hand and drive them out into the street, no matter how long those spirits had inhabited the house before us. Is it any wonder then that they sometimes growl a bit, or knock over a glass or pull a lock of hair? Perhaps they have every right to be angry with us, considering how we treat them.

So next time you hear a little growl or squeak, or see a fleeting shadow out of the corner of your eye, put down the sageguns and just speak to them. Speak to them gently, and welcome them into your home. Make them feel the respect our ancestors used to afford them before we forgot our heritage.

When you make some treats for your family, put a little out for them on the windowsill, and make a point of inviting them to partake with you. When you make up your Samhain feat, set extra places for them at the table the way your ancient mothers and fathers used to. When you toast your family, mention them too.

When you share your home with spirits, instead of pushing them out the door, you will not only be making connections with your own ancestors and traditions, you’ll be making friends in the spirit world. And that’s not half bad.

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One Reply to “Seriously…what’s with all the cleansing?”

Deb says:

June 24, 2019 at 4:03 pm

Absolutely love the photo at the top and want to use it to practise my drawing skills. Can you advise me of it’s origins so I can get a bigger copy? (Thanks.)
(And yes I agree with your statement that we have been much influence by Hollywood and not enough by our own interior knowing.”)

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	April 2024
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1	2	3	4 Magna Mater Magna Mater April 4, 2024 - April 10, 2024 The six days of the feast of Magna Mater (Great Mother) are primarily an agricultural festival, in which the first grain would be sown in the fields, and the first gardens would be planted. The Great Mother Earth, and her role as the mother of all beings was celebrated in these days, even as farmers busied themselves with getting their fields furrowed and ready for planting. During these days, make bread, work in your garden, set up a box of herbs in a windowsill, start composting, and walk in the woods. Make an effort, alone and in group ritual, to connect with the natural world and become aware of the web of interdependence that binds you to your local environment and community. See more details •	5 Magna Mater Magna Mater April 4, 2024 - April 10, 2024 The six days of the feast of Magna Mater (Great Mother) are primarily an agricultural festival, in which the first grain would be sown in the fields, and the first gardens would be planted. The Great Mother Earth, and her role as the mother of all beings was celebrated in these days, even as farmers busied themselves with getting their fields furrowed and ready for planting. During these days, make bread, work in your garden, set up a box of herbs in a windowsill, start composting, and walk in the woods. Make an effort, alone and in group ritual, to connect with the natural world and become aware of the web of interdependence that binds you to your local environment and community. See more details •	6 Magna Mater Magna Mater April 4, 2024 - April 10, 2024 The six days of the feast of Magna Mater (Great Mother) are primarily an agricultural festival, in which the first grain would be sown in the fields, and the first gardens would be planted. The Great Mother Earth, and her role as the mother of all beings was celebrated in these days, even as farmers busied themselves with getting their fields furrowed and ready for planting. During these days, make bread, work in your garden, set up a box of herbs in a windowsill, start composting, and walk in the woods. Make an effort, alone and in group ritual, to connect with the natural world and become aware of the web of interdependence that binds you to your local environment and community. See more details •
7 Magna Mater Magna Mater April 4, 2024 - April 10, 2024 The six days of the feast of Magna Mater (Great Mother) are primarily an agricultural festival, in which the first grain would be sown in the fields, and the first gardens would be planted. The Great Mother Earth, and her role as the mother of all beings was celebrated in these days, even as farmers busied themselves with getting their fields furrowed and ready for planting. During these days, make bread, work in your garden, set up a box of herbs in a windowsill, start composting, and walk in the woods. Make an effort, alone and in group ritual, to connect with the natural world and become aware of the web of interdependence that binds you to your local environment and community. See more details •	8 Magna Mater Magna Mater April 4, 2024 - April 10, 2024 The six days of the feast of Magna Mater (Great Mother) are primarily an agricultural festival, in which the first grain would be sown in the fields, and the first gardens would be planted. The Great Mother Earth, and her role as the mother of all beings was celebrated in these days, even as farmers busied themselves with getting their fields furrowed and ready for planting. During these days, make bread, work in your garden, set up a box of herbs in a windowsill, start composting, and walk in the woods. Make an effort, alone and in group ritual, to connect with the natural world and become aware of the web of interdependence that binds you to your local environment and community. See more details •	9 Magna Mater Magna Mater April 4, 2024 - April 10, 2024 The six days of the feast of Magna Mater (Great Mother) are primarily an agricultural festival, in which the first grain would be sown in the fields, and the first gardens would be planted. The Great Mother Earth, and her role as the mother of all beings was celebrated in these days, even as farmers busied themselves with getting their fields furrowed and ready for planting. During these days, make bread, work in your garden, set up a box of herbs in a windowsill, start composting, and walk in the woods. Make an effort, alone and in group ritual, to connect with the natural world and become aware of the web of interdependence that binds you to your local environment and community. See more details •	10 Magna Mater Magna Mater April 4, 2024 - April 10, 2024 The six days of the feast of Magna Mater (Great Mother) are primarily an agricultural festival, in which the first grain would be sown in the fields, and the first gardens would be planted. The Great Mother Earth, and her role as the mother of all beings was celebrated in these days, even as farmers busied themselves with getting their fields furrowed and ready for planting. During these days, make bread, work in your garden, set up a box of herbs in a windowsill, start composting, and walk in the woods. Make an effort, alone and in group ritual, to connect with the natural world and become aware of the web of interdependence that binds you to your local environment and community. See more details •	11	12 Yuri's Night Yuri's Night April 12, 2024 "Poiyeholi!" Let's GO! Yuri Gagarin was the first human being to break atmosphere and enter space, on April 12, 1961. In 1981 on April 12, the US Space Shuttle first launched. It is a day dedicated to exploring and discovering space. "Circling the Earth in my orbital spaceship I marveled at the beauty of our planet. People of the world, let us safeguard and enhance this beauty — not destroy it!" — Yuri Gagarin, April 12, 2008. Poiyeholi, russian for "Let's Go!" Is the traditional greeting and farewell of Yuri's Night. They were the cosmonaut's last words before launch, and the rallying cry of all who wish to go to space. Modern pagans and others who believe in space exploration and colonization are welcome to party and dance in acknowledgement of the first human to get off the rock. See more details Festival of Ceres Festival of Ceres April 12, 2024 - April 20, 2024 Ceres, called Demeter in Greece, was the goddess of the field and harvest. In contrast with Artemis who was goddess of the wild places, Demeter was a deity of cultivated land, and of the food it produced. Originally this was a time for making bread with what remained of last year's grain, and for making delicate pastries and honey cakes. Recipes like Amish friendship bread and sourdough starters can be spread around during this time, and it is a great time for creating community cookbooks. Spend time today alone and in group ritual talking about food: ways to use it for health and healing, for community growth, and for spiritual nourishment. See more details • •	13 Festival of Ceres Festival of Ceres April 12, 2024 - April 20, 2024 Ceres, called Demeter in Greece, was the goddess of the field and harvest. In contrast with Artemis who was goddess of the wild places, Demeter was a deity of cultivated land, and of the food it produced. Originally this was a time for making bread with what remained of last year's grain, and for making delicate pastries and honey cakes. Recipes like Amish friendship bread and sourdough starters can be spread around during this time, and it is a great time for creating community cookbooks. Spend time today alone and in group ritual talking about food: ways to use it for health and healing, for community growth, and for spiritual nourishment. See more details •
14 Festival of Ceres Festival of Ceres April 12, 2024 - April 20, 2024 Ceres, called Demeter in Greece, was the goddess of the field and harvest. In contrast with Artemis who was goddess of the wild places, Demeter was a deity of cultivated land, and of the food it produced. Originally this was a time for making bread with what remained of last year's grain, and for making delicate pastries and honey cakes. Recipes like Amish friendship bread and sourdough starters can be spread around during this time, and it is a great time for creating community cookbooks. Spend time today alone and in group ritual talking about food: ways to use it for health and healing, for community growth, and for spiritual nourishment. See more details •	15 Festival of Ceres Festival of Ceres April 12, 2024 - April 20, 2024 Ceres, called Demeter in Greece, was the goddess of the field and harvest. In contrast with Artemis who was goddess of the wild places, Demeter was a deity of cultivated land, and of the food it produced. Originally this was a time for making bread with what remained of last year's grain, and for making delicate pastries and honey cakes. Recipes like Amish friendship bread and sourdough starters can be spread around during this time, and it is a great time for creating community cookbooks. Spend time today alone and in group ritual talking about food: ways to use it for health and healing, for community growth, and for spiritual nourishment. See more details •	16 Festival of Ceres Festival of Ceres April 12, 2024 - April 20, 2024 Ceres, called Demeter in Greece, was the goddess of the field and harvest. In contrast with Artemis who was goddess of the wild places, Demeter was a deity of cultivated land, and of the food it produced. Originally this was a time for making bread with what remained of last year's grain, and for making delicate pastries and honey cakes. Recipes like Amish friendship bread and sourdough starters can be spread around during this time, and it is a great time for creating community cookbooks. Spend time today alone and in group ritual talking about food: ways to use it for health and healing, for community growth, and for spiritual nourishment. See more details Dionysius Dionysius April 16, 2024 - April 17, 2024 Dionysius, called Bacchus in ancient Rome, was the god of wine, feasting and celebration. In ancient art, he is often the clown — boogie-ing in formal processions, wearing women's clothing, leaping around and singing. His maenads or bacchante were wild women who went into the mountains and woods at the dark of the moon to perform sensuous, depraved ritual — or so the men of Greece assumed; they never followed. In the cities, the theaters were his temples, where tragedies and comedies were first performed. Dionysius was a god of drunkenness and altered states, but the Greeks and early Romans alike valued revelry and tipsiness rather than drunken orgy. They watered their wine in order to lengthen the party into the early morning hours. In ritual alone and with others, drink to loosen the tongue for story and laughter, rather than for drunkenness. Hold a play-reading and enjoy food and celebration together. See more details • •	17 Festival of Ceres Festival of Ceres April 12, 2024 - April 20, 2024 Ceres, called Demeter in Greece, was the goddess of the field and harvest. In contrast with Artemis who was goddess of the wild places, Demeter was a deity of cultivated land, and of the food it produced. Originally this was a time for making bread with what remained of last year's grain, and for making delicate pastries and honey cakes. Recipes like Amish friendship bread and sourdough starters can be spread around during this time, and it is a great time for creating community cookbooks. Spend time today alone and in group ritual talking about food: ways to use it for health and healing, for community growth, and for spiritual nourishment. See more details Dionysius Dionysius April 16, 2024 - April 17, 2024 Dionysius, called Bacchus in ancient Rome, was the god of wine, feasting and celebration. In ancient art, he is often the clown — boogie-ing in formal processions, wearing women's clothing, leaping around and singing. His maenads or bacchante were wild women who went into the mountains and woods at the dark of the moon to perform sensuous, depraved ritual — or so the men of Greece assumed; they never followed. In the cities, the theaters were his temples, where tragedies and comedies were first performed. Dionysius was a god of drunkenness and altered states, but the Greeks and early Romans alike valued revelry and tipsiness rather than drunken orgy. They watered their wine in order to lengthen the party into the early morning hours. In ritual alone and with others, drink to loosen the tongue for story and laughter, rather than for drunkenness. Hold a play-reading and enjoy food and celebration together. See more details • •	18 Festival of Ceres Festival of Ceres April 12, 2024 - April 20, 2024 Ceres, called Demeter in Greece, was the goddess of the field and harvest. In contrast with Artemis who was goddess of the wild places, Demeter was a deity of cultivated land, and of the food it produced. Originally this was a time for making bread with what remained of last year's grain, and for making delicate pastries and honey cakes. Recipes like Amish friendship bread and sourdough starters can be spread around during this time, and it is a great time for creating community cookbooks. Spend time today alone and in group ritual talking about food: ways to use it for health and healing, for community growth, and for spiritual nourishment. See more details •	19 Festival of Ceres Festival of Ceres April 12, 2024 - April 20, 2024 Ceres, called Demeter in Greece, was the goddess of the field and harvest. In contrast with Artemis who was goddess of the wild places, Demeter was a deity of cultivated land, and of the food it produced. Originally this was a time for making bread with what remained of last year's grain, and for making delicate pastries and honey cakes. Recipes like Amish friendship bread and sourdough starters can be spread around during this time, and it is a great time for creating community cookbooks. Spend time today alone and in group ritual talking about food: ways to use it for health and healing, for community growth, and for spiritual nourishment. See more details •	20 Festival of Ceres Festival of Ceres April 12, 2024 - April 20, 2024 Ceres, called Demeter in Greece, was the goddess of the field and harvest. In contrast with Artemis who was goddess of the wild places, Demeter was a deity of cultivated land, and of the food it produced. Originally this was a time for making bread with what remained of last year's grain, and for making delicate pastries and honey cakes. Recipes like Amish friendship bread and sourdough starters can be spread around during this time, and it is a great time for creating community cookbooks. Spend time today alone and in group ritual talking about food: ways to use it for health and healing, for community growth, and for spiritual nourishment. See more details •
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