Anti-Racist Pagan Resources
The Pagan community has a massive problem with paying lip service to our values. Nowhere is this more obvious than the way we cry “inclusivity!” while ensuring that black, brown, and indigenous people are regularly made to feel unwelcome and as if they are intruding in Pagan spaces.
The Pagan movement is entirely modern. Our many religions and traditions are not ancient, they hold no unbroken line of continuity with the past, we are absolutely not practicing the same religions as the ancients. What we have and hold dear we have created based upon inspiration from the indigenous religions and folklore of Europe as well as direct experience with the Gods—with far more influence from our current era, personal preferences, logical arguments, and sociocultural biases than is comfortably acknowledged.
But it’s time for us to be uncomfortable. It is time for us to take that critical look at our actions because it is through the choices we make that the quality of our character is made evident. Integrity is found in actions, not intentions. You are who you are based on who you show yourself to be, not who you think you are.
The ancient world was, just as the contemporary world is, marked by plurality. Every region was home to people who looked similar and who looked different. Some of those people were born in that region, some moved there, some were travelers and would only stay there for a short while. This remains as true of physical travel in our current age as it does metaphorically for the people who come to Paganism. Nonetheless, there was no one true and pure standard for any region, for any culture, for any religion, for any pantheon of Gods. Even in the farthest reaches of Northern Europe, the people were not exclusively and wholly white skinned.
Variation and diversity continue to be the standard within the natural world and will forever be reflected within humanity.
There is absolutely, wholly, and entirely no historical basis for white supremacy in the modern Pagan religious movement.
There is absolutely, wholly, and entirely no value basis for white supremacy in the modern Pagan religious movement.
There is absolutely, wholly, and entirely no justification for white supremacy in the modern Pagan religious movement at all.
As part of my own efforts as a Pagan minister and spirit worker, the following is a collection of resources to help the Pagan community confront the ongoing hostility—both overt and covert—we direct toward black, brown, and indigenous people. This list will grow as I uncover more resources that are directly relevant to our religious community.
It’s time to be the community our values beg us to be.
The Pagan movement is entirely modern. Our many religions and traditions are not ancient, they hold no unbroken line of continuity with the past, we are absolutely not practicing the same religions as the ancients. What we have and hold dear we have created based upon inspiration from the indigenous religions and folklore of Europe as well as direct experience with the Gods—with far more influence from our current era, personal preferences, logical arguments, and sociocultural biases than is comfortably acknowledged.
But it’s time for us to be uncomfortable. It is time for us to take that critical look at our actions because it is through the choices we make that the quality of our character is made evident. Integrity is found in actions, not intentions. You are who you are based on who you show yourself to be, not who you think you are.
The ancient world was, just as the contemporary world is, marked by plurality. Every region was home to people who looked similar and who looked different. Some of those people were born in that region, some moved there, some were travelers and would only stay there for a short while. This remains as true of physical travel in our current age as it does metaphorically for the people who come to Paganism. Nonetheless, there was no one true and pure standard for any region, for any culture, for any religion, for any pantheon of Gods. Even in the farthest reaches of Northern Europe, the people were not exclusively and wholly white skinned.
Variation and diversity continue to be the standard within the natural world and will forever be reflected within humanity.
There is absolutely, wholly, and entirely no historical basis for white supremacy in the modern Pagan religious movement.
There is absolutely, wholly, and entirely no value basis for white supremacy in the modern Pagan religious movement.
There is absolutely, wholly, and entirely no justification for white supremacy in the modern Pagan religious movement at all.
As part of my own efforts as a Pagan minister and spirit worker, the following is a collection of resources to help the Pagan community confront the ongoing hostility—both overt and covert—we direct toward black, brown, and indigenous people. This list will grow as I uncover more resources that are directly relevant to our religious community.
It’s time to be the community our values beg us to be.
Articles
“Are you Afraid of the Dark?” by Rashunda Tramble
“I need to Talk to Spiritual White Women about White Supremacy, Part One” by Layla F. Saad
“I need to Talk to Spiritual White Women about White Supremacy, Part Two” by Layla F. Saad
"White Supremacy's Old Gods: The Far Right and NeoPaganism" by Shannon Weber
“I need to Talk to Spiritual White Women about White Supremacy, Part One” by Layla F. Saad
“I need to Talk to Spiritual White Women about White Supremacy, Part Two” by Layla F. Saad
"White Supremacy's Old Gods: The Far Right and NeoPaganism" by Shannon Weber
Books
BIPOC Pagan Reading List compiled by Yvonne Aburrow
A reading list of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) authors covering Paganism, the occult, astrology, Tarot, and Indigenous spirituality.
Bringing Race to the Table edited by Crystal Blanton with Taylor Ellwood and Brandy Williams
Shades of Faith: Minority Voices in Paganism by Crystal Blanton
Shades of Ritual: Minority Voices in Practice by Crystal Blanton
A reading list of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) authors covering Paganism, the occult, astrology, Tarot, and Indigenous spirituality.
Bringing Race to the Table edited by Crystal Blanton with Taylor Ellwood and Brandy Williams
Shades of Faith: Minority Voices in Paganism by Crystal Blanton
Shades of Ritual: Minority Voices in Practice by Crystal Blanton
General Information & Resources
Digital Ambler, blog by Sam Block focusing on Hermeticism and Geomancy, firm anti-racist stance
The Longship: A Beginner’s Guide to Heathenry by Angelica Martinez
Online guide to understanding and getting started in Heathenry
Norse Mythology by Dr. Karl E.H. Seigfried
-His column on the Wild Hunt
Numen Arts
A directory of polytheist artists whose art embodies their work as religious specialists.
The Longship: A Beginner’s Guide to Heathenry by Angelica Martinez
Online guide to understanding and getting started in Heathenry
Norse Mythology by Dr. Karl E.H. Seigfried
-His column on the Wild Hunt
Numen Arts
A directory of polytheist artists whose art embodies their work as religious specialists.
Groups
Heathens Against Hate
Thor’s Oak Kindred
Asatru Kindred in Chicago, godi is Dr. Karl E.H. Seigfried
The Troth
Thor’s Oak Kindred
Asatru Kindred in Chicago, godi is Dr. Karl E.H. Seigfried
The Troth
Podcasts & Youtube (Shows, Channels, & Episodes)
Around Grandfather Fire
Episode 48: Bitch, Nobody Asked You
Hammered Out!
Is the YSEE a Bigoted Pagan Sect?! ft Aliakai
Episode 48: Bitch, Nobody Asked You
Hammered Out!
Is the YSEE a Bigoted Pagan Sect?! ft Aliakai
Toolkits
“Expressive Writing Prompts to Use if You’ve been Accused of White Fragility, Spiritual Bypass, or White Privilege” by Leesa Renee Hall
