Cultural Backlash: An Open Post
Sep. 23rd, 2025 11:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
causticusThere were some interesting discussions on yesterday's Magic Monday post and on the past month's or so posts on the Ecosophia blog regarding the collapse of alternative spirituality in the West and a likely impending cultural backlash against decades of general rot and grubbiness that is decaying our civilization from within.
Some of us here in the US are afraid that a sudden cultural jolt in the other direction, away from leftism/progressivism, will result in any type of spirituality that doesn't fit a narrow, literalist Christian/Abrahamic format as being seen by the reaction mob as "part of the problem." Anything the people leading and directing this backlash deem to be adjacent to the aforementioned cultural rot will be lazily lumped together into one big, bad conspiracy against what they believe they are trying to save and preserve. This likely means anything occult/esoteric, overtly pagan, or too foreign will be included, with very little nuance. As we know, the moral collapse of both Neopaganism and the postmodern occult scene hasn't helped matters at all in this respect, especially in light of recent tragic events.
Anyway, I want to know what anyone else here thinks of this and anything in your own area (US or somewhere else) you have seen indicative of a new cultural direction that may or or may not involve the condemnation of the things I listed above (or anything else that comes to mind). Also, we could use this space to think up ideas on how to preserve and carry on various spiritual teachings and practices if/when an intolerant religious climate becomes reality.
This is an open post that will stay open for quite a long time.
Some of us here in the US are afraid that a sudden cultural jolt in the other direction, away from leftism/progressivism, will result in any type of spirituality that doesn't fit a narrow, literalist Christian/Abrahamic format as being seen by the reaction mob as "part of the problem." Anything the people leading and directing this backlash deem to be adjacent to the aforementioned cultural rot will be lazily lumped together into one big, bad conspiracy against what they believe they are trying to save and preserve. This likely means anything occult/esoteric, overtly pagan, or too foreign will be included, with very little nuance. As we know, the moral collapse of both Neopaganism and the postmodern occult scene hasn't helped matters at all in this respect, especially in light of recent tragic events.
Anyway, I want to know what anyone else here thinks of this and anything in your own area (US or somewhere else) you have seen indicative of a new cultural direction that may or or may not involve the condemnation of the things I listed above (or anything else that comes to mind). Also, we could use this space to think up ideas on how to preserve and carry on various spiritual teachings and practices if/when an intolerant religious climate becomes reality.
This is an open post that will stay open for quite a long time.
Branding and Post-Lefty Neopaganism
Date: 2025-10-12 05:49 am (UTC)I’ve noticed a spurious fear Christianity that has gelled up around third-wave feminism and the pseudo-spiritual egregor and academic movement associated with it. That is funny to me because, having grown up in the business of churching, the kind of cohesion required for mass action against lefty neopagans and lefties in general simply isn’t there. Given the big tent the Republicans are putting up, the second religiosity vibe of the brand of Protestantism they’re incubating, their focus on their future rather than the other side’s past and the way the left is fading out, witch hunts and crusades seem unlikely. On the other hand, left neopagans acting like Bugs Bunny in “Rebel Rabbit” where Bugs sets out to prove he is worth more than a two-cent bounty could cause lingering difficulties. Intentionally, obviously. Gotta feed that monster from the ego.
On the other hand, I’m a member of the Green Wizard’s Benevolent and Protective Association. You know, the ones that read Toynbee and get denounced by the fashionable left as MAGA-hats or worse because we take the long view, love Western Civilization, and (most frighteningly) own tools to do stuff with. However, suspicion abounds thanks to the efforts of lefty neopagans. I deal with the down-market Christians here by being a two-fisted Yankee magus, Red, White and Blue through and through.
There’s a layer of stupid in Christianity that parallels the insufferable left, remaining unassailable in hardened plates of egomania. A credible threat of physical violence (I do target sports.) or administrative retribution via company policy against being a jerk will keep those ankle-biters at bay, but the more reasonable Christians respond to a good Puritan scolding:
Well, obviously, you’re worried that you have no defense against the dark arts, but you have plenty. Did you pray Psalm 23 when you got up today?
No? Mm.
Did you say grace at meals?
Not even on Sunday?
Did you say the Pledge of Allegiance? Pray for the President?
No? He could really use your help, you know.
Oh, your kid is in the military? Did you place your father’s or mother’s blessing on him or her today? At all?
No? Mm.
You’re getting your knee fixed? Okay, let me put you on the thoughts and prayers list.
Say, would you like to come join me for sunrise services on Sunday morning? We start at the crack of dark, sharp.
Crickets.
When barbecue grills are present, I ask, “Are you going to bless your hearth? No? Mm. May I?”
Conveniently, I was raised to believe in the United States. Patriotism that isn’t fake goes a long way here in the Rust Belt.
Your flag? Your flag? What do the colors in your flag mean? (Let them fumble for a bit.) How about Blood, Milk and Sky? (Thanks to White Zombie for the great line and the cautionary tale in that song.)
And, oddly enough, lots of people like having their own personal Gandalf.
A related thought: Your state’s hunter education course is proof of the muscular side of Druidry as well as a good primer for those new to the great outdoors. It and the lessons in John Greer’s Green Wizardry provide plenty of talking points for the aspiring New Populist Druid and plenty of ins for talking with AND LISTENING TO the beleaguered folk of flyover country.