Tag Archives: traditional

Neopaganism

Hermetic Library fellow Mark Stavish pointed out a paper by Michael LaRiviere on “Neopaganism” over at Thoughts of Amherst which may be of interest. Mark says, “Are Second Generation NeoPagans More Conservative Than Their Parents? A well done undergraduate paper from Amherst (2007).”

“I first was curious about individuals’ spiritual and religious life, and I made a point to differentiate between the two points. For instance, I wondered if individuals’ beliefs may have conflicted with the religion’s stated beliefs, or if one’s personal rituals were less formalized than group religious rituals. The very nature of Neopaganism provides an interesting answer to this question, as the movement is much more individual-oriented than traditional old religions. However, in considering the question of personal spirituality versus religion, another question arose as to the evolution of the religion. Did subsequent generations of Neopagans have differing views on spirituality and religion? Considering the liberalization of Roman Catholicism over the past fifty years, I thought perhaps a similar trend might be seen in Neopaganism. The answers I found were surprising, reflecting simultaneous pulls in various directions.” [via]

Down Among The Dead Men

 

“Down Among The Dead Men” performed by The Corsairs

“Here’s a health to the King and a lasting peace,
To faction an end, to wealth increase;
Come, let’s drink it while we have breath,
For there’s no drinking after death,
And he that will this health deny,

Down among the dead men,
Down among the dead men,
Down, down, down, down,
Down among the dead men let him lie.

Let charming Beauty’s health go round,
In whom celestial joys are found;
And may confusion still pursue,
The senseless woman hating crew,
And they that woman’s health deny;

Down among the dead men,
Down among the dead men,
Down, down, down, down,
Down among the dead men let him lie.

In smiling Bacchus, joys I’ll rove,
Deny no pleasure to my soul:
Let Bacchus health round briskly move,
For Bacchus is a friend to love:
And he that will this health deny:

Down among the dead men,
Down among the dead men,
Down, down, down, down,
Down among the dead men let him lie.

May love and wine their rights maintain,
And their united pleasures reign;
While Bacchus’ treasure crowns the ford,
We’ll sing the joys that both afford:
And they that won’t with us comply,

Down among the dead men,
Down among the dead men,
Down, down, down, down,
Down among the dead men let him lie.
Down, down, down, down,
Down among the dead men let him ,
Down among the dead men let him lie”

This is based on the words by John Dyer (1700-58) and traditional music.