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Laura Perry - Author and Artist

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Journeying to the Realm of the Dead

Laura Perry

Oct 21, 2015
1 min

Journeying to the Realm of the Dead

I've had an apostrophe! (Yes, folks, that's the word I meant - it's a quote from the movie Hook. Sorry to expose my nerd-geekiness to you like that!) Well, mostly just a few thoughts about some interesting little ancient figurines from the Cyclades (a collection of Aegean islands southeast of Greece). I think these figurines may represent shamanic postures that helped the ancient spiritworkers carry the souls of the newly deceased to the Realm of the Dead. I've detailed my id

What can we know about Linear A?

Laura Perry

Oct 7, 2015
1 min

What can we know about Linear A?

Today on the Minoan Path blog, I'm exploring a bit about Linear A, the writing system the ancient Minoans used to record their native language. Even though it still hasn't been translated, it can give us some glimpses into Minoan language, religion, and life. Click the link to get to the full article: What can we know about Linear A? In the name of the Bee - And of the Butterfly - And of the Breeze - Amen! #minoan #spirituality #crete #paganism #culture

Happy new year!

Laura Perry

Sep 23, 2015
1 min

Happy new year!

No, I haven't lost my mind. The Autumn Equinox is the agricultural new year in Mediterranean climates. This fact had an important effect on the ancient Minoans' calendar, for both their farming and their religion. Click through for the full article: Happy new year! (No, I haven't lost my mind.) No matter what season you're enjoying now, I wish you a lovely one! #minoan #paganism #calendar

Ecstatic Body Postures: a book review

Laura Perry

Sep 16, 2015
1 min

Ecstatic Body Postures: a book review

Today on the Minoan Path blog I'm reviewing a unique book: Ecstatic Body Postures by Belinda Gore. The short version is that I recommend it as a great resource for shamanic practice. But you should read my review to get all the details about this fascinating book: Ecstatic Body Postures: a book review #paganism #spirituality #minoan #shamanism #bookreview

Seasonal specials: online shopping fun

Laura Perry

Sep 14, 2015
2 min

Seasonal specials: online shopping fun

We talk a lot about supporting independent businesses instead of ‘big box’ stores and huge online corporations, but that’s not always easy. Small businesses, especially those that cater to niche audiences like the Pagan/Wiccan community, aren’t terribly visible online or on Main Street. Today I’m sharing some information with you to help combat that lack of visibility. I mean, if you're going to spend the money anyway, doesn't it feel good to know you're supporting independen

Shake your tree!

Laura Perry

Sep 2, 2015
1 min

Shake your tree!

One of the stranger bits of Minoan religion that turns up in art from ancient Crete is the activity known as a 'tree-shaking ritual.' Weird, right? Nothing like it is known from anywhere else. In the process of examining the Archanes seal ring (above) closely for an art project, I had an idea about what those 'trees' might actually be and what the activity might really mean. Details and more pictures of tree-shaking fun on the Minoan Path blog: Shake your tree! In the name of

Thou art god/dess

Laura Perry

Aug 26, 2015
2 min

Thou art god/dess

During the winter holidays each year I choose a short saying that will be the focus of my meditation practice for the upcoming year, a bit of a twist on the idea of a new year's resolution. Every year I have found a great deal of meaning and depth in these simple sayings, from 'All life is one life' to 'Wherever you go, there you are.' This year I chose a sentence that is often repeated in the Pagan community: Thou art god/dess. (In other words, 'Thou art god' or 'Thou art go

A few spokes shy of a wheel?

Laura Perry

Aug 19, 2015
1 min

A few spokes shy of a wheel?

Today on the Minoan Path blog, a few thoughts about the ancient Minoan sacred calendar - what we can know about it from archaeological evidence and how it relates (or doesn't) to the modern pagan wheel of the year. A few spokes shy of a wheel? #paganism #cosmology #minoan #crete

Are we ecstasy deprived?

Laura Perry

Aug 12, 2015
1 min

Are we ecstasy deprived?

The modern world is full of wonderful inventions, but one thing the ancients had but that is largely missing from our lives today is ecstasy. What does this mean and what can we do about it? I've shared my thoughts on the subject here: Are we ecstasy deprived? #crete #minoan #paganism #culture #psychology

What are we harvesting?

Laura Perry

Aug 5, 2015
3 min

What are we harvesting?

Here in the northern hemisphere, it's the beginning of harvest season. We've just passed Lammas, the seasonal festival that is considered the First Harvest in several traditions. Where I live, that doesn't mean grain so much as watermelons, fresh herbs, and more zucchini than anyone knows what to do with (as well as the not-yet-mature hazelnuts you see in the photo). But of course, the concept of harvest is symbolic as well. It's common for people who follow earth-oriented sp

Handling Henotheism

Laura Perry

Jul 29, 2015
1 min

Handling Henotheism

You've probably heard of polytheism, but henotheism may be a new one for you. This week on the Minoan Path blog, I'm diving into the concept of henotheism because it's how the ancient Minoans viewed their goddesses and gods. Click on the link below to get to the post: Handling Henotheism It's amazing how many different ways people use to understand the world. What's your favorite mental organization method for divinity? #culture #spirituality #paganism #cosmology #minoan #cre

Minos the Moon God?

Laura Perry

Jul 22, 2015
1 min

Minos the Moon God?

Today over at the Minoan Path Blog I'm sharing some thoughts about the legendary figure of Minos. Demoted to a mortal king by the later Hellenic Greeks, he started out as a full-blown god among the ancient Minoans. But what kind of god dies and descends to the underworld every 9th year? A lunar one, apparently. Check out the post here: Minos the Moon God To join the conversation about modern Minoan Paganism, find us at Ariadne's Tribe. In the name of the Bee - And of the Butt

Either-Or Thinking: A Logical Fallacy

Laura Perry

Jul 15, 2015
4 min

Either-Or Thinking: A Logical Fallacy

These days, between the political debates and religious arguments online, I’m seeing a lot of either-or thinking. This is nothing new, of course; it’s just more visible now that we’re electronically in each other’s faces all the time. The thing is, either-or thinking is a false dilemma, a logical fallacy. It’s an inaccurate representation of a complex world. Sometimes it’s a false set of choices that are laid out on purpose so people will think there are no alternatives: If y

The Many Faces of Minoan Dionysos

Laura Perry

Jul 8, 2015
1 min

The Many Faces of Minoan Dionysos

While I was doing some research for the upcoming online course, I had an apostrophe...er, epiphany about Dionysos. He was so important to the Minoans that the Greeks equated him with their Zeus. Today I'm sharing a couple of his different aspects, functions he performed in the Minoan pantheon that made him so important to the people of ancient Crete: The Many Faces of Dionysos For more information about ancient Crete and modern Minoan Paganism, join the discussion over at Ari

Dionysos, Bulls and Funerals

Laura Perry

Jul 1, 2015
1 min

Dionysos, Bulls and Funerals

Today over at the Minoan Path blog I'm exploring some of the symbols associated with Dionysos at different times of the liturgical year. I have an interesting theory about how the practice of bull-leaping and a particular type of knotted cloth might be associated with Dionysos' death at the Feast of Grapes. You can read the post here: Dionysos, Bulls and Funerals To join the discussion about modern Minoan Paganism, head on over to Ariadne's Tribe. #symbolism #minoan #paganism

Pagan Radio: Listen In

Laura Perry

Jun 24, 2015
4 min

Pagan Radio: Listen In

This week I’m sharing some great resources for connecting with the Pagan community, in the form of radio shows and podcasts. Most of these are live shows but they also have archives you can listen to after the fact, if you miss the showtime. It’s wonderful that we have these resources that are accessible from all over the world, so let’s take advantage of them. If you have a favorite that I haven't listed here, please let me know and I'll add it. ATC Pagan Information Network

Mystery at Midsummer, Minoan Style

Laura Perry

Jun 17, 2015
1 min

Mystery at Midsummer, Minoan Style

As we approach Summer Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, we in the Pagan community celebrate the season with a wide variety of traditions. Today I'm sharing with you a way the ancient Minoans may have marked the season, with a mystery play and public celebration put on by the priesthood of the great temple complex in Knossos: Mystery at Midsummer, Minoan Style May all the gods bless you this and every Midsummer of your lives. In the name of the Bee - And of the Butterf

A Midsummer tipple, Minoan style

Laura Perry

Jun 10, 2015
1 min

A Midsummer tipple, Minoan style

Summer Solstice is coming up soon. This season always makes me think of fuzzy honeybees meandering from flower to flower, sipping the nectar and carrying it back to the hive to make honey. People have loved honey for millennia, and the ancient Minoans were no different. They brewed the honey-wine called mead to drink at festive occasions such as the Summer Solstice. I've been brewing mead since 1993, and today I'm sharing my recipe with you. It's surprisingly simple to make.

What's in a name?

Laura Perry

May 27, 2015
1 min

What's in a name?

Today over at the Minoan Path blog, I'm exploring possible pronunciations of ancient Minoan deity names. Sounds are important in ritual and magic, so figuring out how the ancient Minoans probably said the names of their goddesses and gods can bring us closer to those deities. Click on the title below to get to the post. What's in a name? In the name of the Bee - And of the Butterfly - And of the Breeze - Amen! #minoan #paganism #spirituality #crete

Popular words and cultural appropriation

Laura Perry

May 20, 2015
4 min

Popular words and cultural appropriation

We have a problem in the Pagan community, particularly the branches that point toward indigenous European Paganism, and that problem is terminology. No, I’m not talking about the endless debate as to which labels are correct for which practices or what the difference is between a witch and a Wiccan. I’m talking about the unfortunate lack of terms for some kinds of ancient practices and the resulting tendency to borrow similar wordss from other cultures and traditions. Here’s

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