American Hearth-Culture is mostly undefined, but some pockets of this practice now looks like national heroes, shared cultural experience… essentially the Uncle-Sam-as-deity, Liberty-as-Deity, Paul-Bunyan-as-American Hercules sort of thing. While this kind of practice has value, if not skillfully presented, it can come off as a little hokey (ex: spirit of winter as “Santa”).
Unfortunately, there aren’t consistent themes, because Americans don’t really have consistent themes. We might have days when we sit about and tell American folk-tales and “tall-tale” stories, but most Americans only identify as Americans if there is national crisis. Otherwise, they identify by state (Texans, etc.), and so, to have a more local, place-specific identity in terms of practice is a more useful approach.
Deities in Colorado would be different than in Louisiana (not a lot of Swamp Gods out here in the Rocky Mountains). Our hope with an American paganism is that a place-specific consciousness would be born, and through skillful relationship building, a more present, true-to-life polytheist practice can arise.
One part that we’ve found valuable in connecting to a place-centric American paganism is exploring what right-relationship looks like to the First Nations folk… as they are in many of our individual, ancestral stories. This practice is growing, and constantly developing in our Outdwellers Ministries.
Unfortunately, there aren’t consistent themes, because Americans don’t really have consistent themes. We might have days when we sit about and tell American folk-tales and “tall-tale” stories, but most Americans only identify as Americans if there is national crisis. Otherwise, they identify by state (Texans, etc.), and so, to have a more local, place-specific identity in terms of practice is a more useful approach.
Deities in Colorado would be different than in Louisiana (not a lot of Swamp Gods out here in the Rocky Mountains). Our hope with an American paganism is that a place-specific consciousness would be born, and through skillful relationship building, a more present, true-to-life polytheist practice can arise.
One part that we’ve found valuable in connecting to a place-centric American paganism is exploring what right-relationship looks like to the First Nations folk… as they are in many of our individual, ancestral stories. This practice is growing, and constantly developing in our Outdwellers Ministries.
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