Urban Paganism

From SourceryForge

1 Introduction
- 1.1 Connection to the land
- 1.2 Related Pages
2 External Resources

Introduction

Urban paganism is very similar to City Magick. If you want a distiniction I'd say that the paganism side is knowing, respecting and loving your environment, and the magick side is using that relationship to enact change.

Urban paganism is treating the urban environment as if it were the real world (it is). I don't feel closer to nature around trees and fresh streams. Nature is everywhere, you can't get away from it. You can find it exactly where you are. Showing the same respect to a traffic light as you would to a tree. A car is as natural as a fish, a ring-pull is as easy to charge as a crystal. A discarded kebab contains as much of the divine as a unspoilt waterfall.

Even if you do feel closer to nature near an unspoilt waterfall in a deserted landscape (many people do) accept that for the time being, but don't use it as an excuse not to respect the place you live in. Get to know the city, you may well be surprised.

Connection to the land

A basic part of urban paganism, as of some other forms of paganism, is to form a meaningful bond with your environment, be it city or rural area. This can include maintaining a sacred site, contact wit the Genius loci, or just an accute awareness of the feel of a place (which may be the same as the Genius loci, after all). Here are some methods that can be a starting point for aquiring such a connection.

If you walk the dog, go running, riding the bike, inline skating or something like that, leave your Ipod or somesuch at home, and try not to think about your everyday life all the time. Be as aware of your surroundings as possible. If you usually don't go outdoors at all consider taking up some outdoor sport.
Go exploring, really get to know the areas you can conveniently reach with such activities. Also establish some routine, once you found places you feel drawn to. Find a balance between the two.
If you have a camera, or can draw/paint, have your equipment on you wherever possible. Try to do a fast sketch, a few snapshoots when sitting in a street cafe, during a break when working out or whenever you are out of house and have some minutes to spare; this draws your attention to the here and now and forces you to see and acknowledge your surroundings. The pictures obtained may serve the same purposes as found objects.
Collect found objects. Once you start paying real attention to your environment you will start noticing strange or meaningful things laying arrround. They are presents of the place to you.
Your own flat is part of The City, too. Do what it takes to make it a real home.
Don't forget the people arround you. Know who lives in the flat next door, try saying hi to the folks you keep meeting in in the neighbourhood
Try to make yourself at home where you are, weather you wanted to be there in the first place or not; find local aquaintances, explore the pubs and clubs, shop locally and somesuch
whatch the plants and animals arround you, too.
If you have to do community chores, such as cleaning the staircase or the street in front of the house, consciously see that as your tribute to the place
Do something to acknowledge and honour the change of the seasons. The traditional pagan festivals may be a good start, but when you're not into their tradition work out something more personal in the long run; Be aware that you may percieve them differently than our ancestors out in the wild