Pagan Practice in the Era of Climate Change

Happy March, everyone.  Robert A. Heinlein wrote, “Climate is what we expect; weather is what we get.”  It’s been on my mind for some time that paganism is a very climate-driven movement, at least in celebrating the Sabbats.  Yet in an era of increasing climate change, the weather, and by extension the climate, is becoming more unpredictable.  I’ve only recently learned that part of the meteorologists’ hype over the “polar vortex” comes from the fact that the pre-existing vortex, that area north of the east-flowing jet stream that drives our weather, has currently split in two, one over North America, the other over Eurasia, buffeted by an air current coming north from the Pacific.

This all can screw with what was a predictable agricultural calendar (albeit based in Britain) that’s often the foundation of the Wheel of the Year.  At least the solar cycle is still consistent; the days grow longer and shorter at the same rate, and the Sun still makes its slow march up and down the horizon.  It seems that, in Alberta at least, we’re constantly caught in a battle between the cold, wet north winds and warm, dry west winds that bring the Chinooks.  Alas, we can also note that the west winds bring the smoke from forest fires during the summer and fall.  There’s the seed here for changing some of the emphasis in our mythologies.

It brings to mind Aesop’s fable of the North Wind and the Sun, and, with a more Christian bent, Andersen’s tale of the Snow Queen, and Lewis’ Narnia tale of the battle between Aslan and Jadis, the White Witch.  Or we can simply declare that the weather is all a cruel joke played by Loki, or the Trickster god or goddess of your choice.

Of course, it goes without saying that part of our pagan work, should each of us will it, is working magically and practically to convince business and government to combat the effects of climate change, and work for the healing of the Earth.  But as the climate continues to change, and becomes more susceptible to being weather, the mythos we use in paganism must continue to adapt, so that our celebrations always remain relevant.

March Events:

 Note these events are listed for information purposes only; no endorsement should be necessarily implied. Dates and locations may be subject to change; see the source for details. If I’ve missed anyone and you’d like to add to this listing, please contact me. All times Mountain.

Mar 1, 7:00 pm:  Circles of Rhythm Drum Circle at Inglewood Community Centre. 

https://www.meetup.com/The-Calgary-Drum-Circle-Meetup-Group/

Mar 1, 7:00 pm:  Cuddle Club YYC at Scarboro Community Hall.  https://www.facebook.com/events/2340047152906461/

Mar2, 10:00 am:  Just Be YYC Market at The Village, 4036 Brentwood Road NW.  https://www.facebook.com/events/509444482911123/

Mar 5:  Fat Tuesday.  Pancake Day!  Mmmm... gluten!

Mar 5, 11:19 am:  Mercury Retrograde in Pisces begins (to Mar 28)

Mar 6-10:  Red Deer Gem and Mineral Show at Harvest Centre, Westerner Park, 4847A-19 Street, Red Deer, hosted by Silver Cove.  https://www.facebook.com/events/335546100587937/

Mar 6, 9:04 am:  New Moon.  Lunar Month of Nion/Ash begins.

Mar 8:  International Women’s Day.

Mar 8, 7:00 pm:  Circles of Rhythm Drum Circle (see Mar 1).

Mar 10:  Daylight Savings Time begins.  Spring forward!

Mar 15, 7:00 pm:  Circles of Rhythm Drum Circle (see Mar 1).

Mar 17:  Celtic Pagan Remembrance Day.

Mar 18:  Celtic Tree-Month of Nion/Ash begins, according to Graves and Llewellyn.

Mar 20, 3:58 pm:  Vernal Equinox.

Mar 20, 7:43 pm:  Full (Worm) Moon.

Mar 22, 7:00 pm:  Circles of Rhythm Drum Circle (see Mar 1). 
Mar 24, 12:00 pm: Witches of Alberta Meetup.

Mar 28-31:  Rock-A-Palooza Gem and Mineral Show at Spruce Meadows Congress Hall, hosted by Silver Cove.  http://www.canadagemshows.com/alberta-events.html

Mar 28, 8:59 am:  Mercury Retrograde in Pisces ends.

Mar 29, 7:00 pm :  Circles of Rhythm Drum Circle (see Mar 1).

Mar 30, 10:00 am:  The Witches’ Brew at Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Hall.  https://www.facebook.com/events/378028756334280/

Mar 30, 7:00 pm:  Calgary Heathens Meet and Greet.

Mar 30, 8:30 pm:  Earth Hour.  http://www.earthhour.org

Mar 31, 6:30 pm:  “Rhythm Cradle: A Night of Musical Healing” hosted by Circles of Rhythm.  https://www.facebook.com/events/2182980862017502/