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Laura Perry - Author and Artist

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Sanity in Insane Times

Laura Perry

Mar 27, 2019
2 min

Sanity in Insane Times

The world is pretty chaotic these days: political turbulence, hate crimes, pollution, economic unsteadiness. Some days it feels like the ground is slipping out from under our feet even as we try to walk forward - or just stand still. How can we find stability in times like this? What is there to hold onto? Folks in my grandparents' generation would have told us to turn to religion (Christianity, in my family's case). People did that during the Great Depression, and even more

I hope to see you at Mystic South!

Laura Perry

Mar 13, 2019
1 min

I hope to see you at Mystic South!

Though I've been giving workshops and presentations about herbalism and natural health all along, it has been quite a few years since I've attended a Pagan gathering. The ones we had been going to for years had mostly degenerated into loud parties with a little too much public intoxication for my taste (and I had a small child to consider, way back then) so we just quit going. Mystic South promises to be a bit more grown-up, with more of the flavor of a con than a wild party.

Minoan Goddesses: Who is Potnia?

Laura Perry

Mar 6, 2019
1 min

Minoan Goddesses: Who is Potnia?

Today on the Minoan Path blog, an exploration of Potnia, who turns out to be not one goddess, but many: Minoan Goddesses: Who is Potnia? To join the conversation about ancient Minoan culture and Modern Minoan Paganism, head on over to our welcoming community at Ariadne's Tribe on Facebook. In the name of the bee, And of the butterfly, And of the breeze, amen. #goddess #paganism #spirituality #crete #minoan #deities

Book reviews: Ishmael and The Story of B

Laura Perry

Feb 27, 2019
1 min

Book reviews: Ishmael and The Story of B

I don't repost other blogs very often, but this one really struck me as something you lovely folks would probably find valuable. Reading Daniel Quinn's book Ishmael was a profoundly moving experience for me; I haven't yet read The Story of B but it's now high up on my TBR list. Steve Andrews has written an in-depth, thought-provoking review of these two books. If you're the type who likes to ponder the meaning of life, they should definitely be on your TBR list. Daniel Quinn'

Book Review: Aspecting the Goddess

Laura Perry

Feb 13, 2019
1 min

Book Review: Aspecting the Goddess

Today on the Minoan Path blog, I'm reviewing an inspiring book by Jane Meredith. Though her focus is on goddesses, the methods she details are useful for making connections with any kind of deity or spirit. And her stories of her own experiences with a number of different goddesses are quite moving. Book Review: Aspecting the Goddess May your journeys with the divine be inspired and blessed. In the name of the bee, And of the butterfly, And of the breeze, amen. #goddess #book

The Minoan Sacred Year: A Modern Pagan Calendar

Laura Perry

Jan 30, 2019
1 min

The Minoan Sacred Year: A Modern Pagan Calendar

The eightfold Wheel of the Year may be the most well-known Pagan calendar in the modern world, but it's not historical: it was created in the 20th century for modern Pagans. The ancient Minoans didn't use it. So what did they have? Probably, a very complicated year full of all kinds of festivals and sacred days, much like the later ancient Romans had. We've figured out what some of those festivals might have been and put them together into our sacred calendar for Modern Minoa

Book Review: The Hounds of the Morrigan

Laura Perry

Jan 23, 2019
2 min

Book Review: The Hounds of the Morrigan

The other day I realized that I've been sharing book reviews in my monthly newsletter for quite a while, but I haven't been sharing those same reviews on my blog. So I thought I would do just that, in case you might be looking for something new to read. I love to read, almost as much as I love to write, so it's hard to pick just one title when people ask me to name my favorite book. I usually name a handful. But this one - The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea - is almost

The Blessing of the Waters: Building Modern Minoan Paganism

Laura Perry

Jan 16, 2019
1 min

The Blessing of the Waters: Building Modern Minoan Paganism

In modern life, we often take water for granted. All we have to do is turn on a tap to get all we want, hot or cold. It wasn't that easy in the ancient world, even in "high" civilizations like the Minoans. Modern Minoan Paganism is an evolving tradition, and we've recently added a new ritual to our sacred calendar: The Blessing of the Waters. It's based on the remnants of a pre-Christian tradition from Crete and neighboring areas. It's great way to connect with the water in y

A Dilemma of Horns: Minoan Bulls and Cows

Laura Perry

Jan 9, 2019
1 min

A Dilemma of Horns: Minoan Bulls and Cows

If it has horns, it must be a bull, right? Wrong. I explain all the details in today's Minoan Path blog post: A Dilemma of Horns: Minoan Bulls and Cows To join the conversation about ancient Minoan culture and Modern Minoan Paganism, head on over to our welcoming community at Ariadne's Tribe on Facebook. In the name of the bee, And of the butterfly, And of the breeze, amen. #goddess #symbolism #paganism #spirituality #crete #minoan

Ancient Spirituality in the Modern World

Laura Perry

Dec 19, 2018
1 min

Ancient Spirituality in the Modern World

Today on the Minoan Path blog, I'm chewing on what it means to follow a spirit-led tradition that's based on a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age culture but that's practiced in the modern world. Lots to think about: Modern Minoan Paganism: No rules to break To join the conversation about Modern Minoan Paganism and ancient Minoan culture, head on over to our welcoming community at Ariadne's Tribe on Facebook. In the name of the bee, And of the butterfly, And of the breeze, amen. #hist

Minoan Ramblings

Laura Perry

Dec 15, 2018
1 min

Minoan Ramblings

December has been busy, but I've managed to share a bit about Minoan spirituality in its various forms. My dear friend Dana Corby graciously agreed to do a guest post about how Minoan spirituality has intertwined with Wicca and other forms of Paganism over the past few decades: How the Minoans got mixed up with Wicca And I've been contemplating the way the ancient Minoans made offerings, how they set them on different levels from the rest of the altar to set them apart from t

Two Blades: Minoan ritual labryses and practical tools

Laura Perry

Nov 20, 2018
1 min

Two Blades: Minoan ritual labryses and practical tools

There are labryses, and then there are double axes. There's a difference, and it has to do with how each one is used. I explain the details in today's Minoan Path blog post here: Two Blades: Minoan ritual labryses and practical tools To join the conversation about Modern Minoan Paganism and ancient Minoan civilization, head on over to our welcoming group at Ariadne's Tribe on Facebook. In the name of the bee, And of the butterfly, And of the breeze, amen. #goddess #symbolism

Happy holidays! Or, don't tell other people how to celebrate

Laura Perry

Nov 13, 2018
2 min

Happy holidays! Or, don't tell other people how to celebrate

The holiday season is a rough time of year for many people. A lot of us have to navigate family conflicts, religious baggage, work obligations, issues of expectations and stress and budgets... you get the idea. So why must so many of us make it even worse by making demands about how others deal with this time of year? I've grown to expect that a certain variety of Christian will make a stink about people who don't say Merry Christmas. I just can't take them seriously and I've

Dining with the Ancestors: A Modern Minoan Rite

Laura Perry

Oct 30, 2018
1 min

Dining with the Ancestors: A Modern Minoan Rite

It's Samhain season here in the northern hemisphere, and my thoughts are turning toward the Ancestors and the spirits of the dead. Though the ancient Minoans didn't celebrate Samhain (it's a Celtic festival, not a Minoan one) they did hold dining rites that look remarkably like a Dumb Supper. Find out about the Minoan dining shrines and how to put on your own Minoan-themed Dinner for the Dead in this week's Minoan Path blog post: Dining with the Ancestors: A Modern Minoan Rit

Minoan Processional: Walking the gods in

Laura Perry

Oct 16, 2018
1 min

Minoan Processional: Walking the gods in

Many of us who practice Modern Minoan Paganism are solitaries. But that doesn't mean we can't add a bit of pomp and fun to our rituals, even if it's just us and the gods. Here's a historically-based way to do just that: Minoan Processional: Walking the gods in To join the conversation about Modern Minoan Paganism and ancient Minoan civilization, head on over to our welcoming community at Ariadne's Tribe on Facebook. In the name of the bee, And of the butterfly, And of the bre

Walking the Labyrinth in Modern Minoan Paganism

Laura Perry

Oct 9, 2018
1 min

Walking the Labyrinth in Modern Minoan Paganism

Walking a labyrinth can be a profoundly spiritual experience for people of any spiritual path. Labyrinth-walking is one component of spiritual practice in Modern Minoan Paganism: Labyrinth Walking in Modern Minoan Paganism To join the conversation about ancient Minoan civilization and Modern Minoan Paganism, head on over to our welcoming community at Ariadne's Tribe on Facebook. In the name of the bee, And of the butterfly, And of the breeze, amen. #symbolism #paganism #spiri

I don't like changing my mind: an essay in the evolution of Modern Minoan Paganism

Laura Perry

Oct 2, 2018
1 min

I don't like changing my mind: an essay in the evolution of Modern Minoan Paganism

When I started down the path of Minoan spirituality, I had no idea it was going to have so many twists and turns. I've had to revamp my view of the pantheon as well as my spiritual practice more than once. Oh, the dangers of an evolving modern Pagan spiritual tradition! LOL I don't like changing my mind: an essay in the evolution of Modern Minoan Paganism To join the conversation about Modern Minoan Paganism and ancient Minoan civilization, head on over to our welcoming commu

Cover Reveal: The Wiccan Wellness Book

Laura Perry

Sep 25, 2018
1 min

Cover Reveal: The Wiccan Wellness Book

I've spent the past year-plus revising and updating The Wiccan Wellness Book for the new second edition that comes out (eep!) in just a few days. In addition to all new illustrations, the second edition also has a spiffy new cover. I'm very pleased with it and I hope you like it, too. So... drumroll, please... Though the official publication date is this coming Friday, September 28, The Wiccan Wellness Book is already available via Amazon.com (print and Kindle) and Smashwords

Modern Minoan Paganism: Reviving ancient spirituality

Laura Perry

Aug 28, 2018
1 min

Modern Minoan Paganism: Reviving ancient spirituality

Sometimes it's hard to explain to people what Modern Minoan Paganism is all about, how it's a combination of ancient and modern, reconstruction and spirit-led practice. I think we've finally come up with some pretty clear and understandable language (that doesn't take four paragraphs to explain!). Here it is in a nutshell: Modern Minoan Paganism: Reviving ancient spirituality To join the conversation about ancient Minoan civilization and Modern Minoan Paganism, head on over t

Revamping The Wiccan Wellness Book: Pictures!

Laura Perry

Aug 21, 2018
1 min

Revamping The Wiccan Wellness Book: Pictures!

I've spent the summer researching, revising and updating The Wiccan Wellness Book for the second edition (release date 28 September). It will have an all-new cover, which I'll share with you as soon as it's ready. But I decided the interior illustrations needed some freshening up, too. Here are a few of the new ones I've drawn. This one goes with the chapter about natural methods of healthcare, including herbalism: Here are some dandelions for the chapter about Green Partners

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