Reclaiming (Neopaganism)
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Reclaiming is an international community of women and men working to combine earth-based spirituality and political activism. Its predecessor organization, the Reclaiming Collective, was founded in 1979 by two Neopagan women of Jewish descent, Starhawk and Diane Baker, in order to explore and develop feminist Neopagan emancipatory rituals.[1] Today, the organization focuses on progressive social, political, environmental and economic activism.
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[edit] History
Reclaiming originated in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area, blending the influences of Victor and Cora Anderson's Feri Tradition of Witchcraft, Dianic Witchcraft as taught by Z. Budapest, and the feminist, anarchist,[2] peace, and environmental movements.
[edit] Influences and teachings
Reclaiming's spiritual approach is based in the religion and magic of the Goddess, who is understood as the immanent life force, not as a transcendent deity. Theologically, Reclaiming is very diverse. The common thread is an active honoring and defending of the Earth. The focus of teaching and rituals is empowering the individual and the community to take action.
Among the tradition's teachers are Starhawk, author of The Spiral Dance and several other books; T. Thorn Coyle, author of Evolutionary Witchcraft; Diane Baker and Anne Hill, co-authors of Circle Round: Raising Children in the Goddess Tradition (1998) and M. Macha Nightmare, co-author of The Pagan Book of Living and Dying.
[edit] Activities
Today, Reclaiming has several dozen affiliated communities across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia. Weeklong intensives called "Witchcamps" bring Reclaiming people together in about a dozen regions. Classes such as "Elements of Magic," "Rites of Passage," and "Iron Pentacle" share practical skills in personal empowerment and group process. Reclaiming has also produced several CDs of Pagan chants and songs, and publishes the magazine Reclaiming Quarterly.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Salomonsen (2002:1)
- ^ Reclaiming Quarterly, the organizations main publication.
[edit] Further reading
- Jone Salomonsen, Enchanted Feminism: The Reclaiming Witches of San Francisco (London and New York: Routledge, 2002) ISBN 0-415-22392-X
- T. Thorn Coyle, Evolutionary Witchcraft (Tarcher/Penguin, 2004)
- Starhawk and M. Macha Nightmare, The Pagan Book of Living and Dying (Harper/SF, 1997)
- Starhawk, author of The Spiral Dance and numerous other books - see Starhawk
- Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids Goddess-Worshippers and Other Pagans in America (Penguin, 2006)
- V. Vale, "Modern Pagans" (Re/Search, 2001)
[edit] External links
- www.reclaiming.org - regional contacts,classes,rituals, and more
- www.reclaimingquarterly.org - news, photos, music, and more
- www.witchcamp.org - info and dates for Reclaiming intensives
- [1] - Essays on 25 years of involvement in Reclaiming
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