Urban and rural paganism

[Agel]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

This "back to nature" thing is modern. I think most of our ancestors would have preferred central heating and hot showers.

And air conditioning. Spend just one day/night in Florida (or any southern state really) during the summer without air and see if you'd like to do that all the time.

[B. de Corbin]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

And air conditioning. Spend just one day/night in Florida (or any southern state really) during the summer without air and see if you'd like to do that all the time.

LOL - I have, and I wouldn't. I'd rather live in Greenland than Egypt...

[B. de Corbin]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

If you're a pagan stuck in the big city, you are still a pagan. I've heard people claim that those in the city are "lesser" because they aren't "close to nature". Needless to say, by BS detector went off big time on that one.

It should - Rome was a pretty big chunk of urban paganism...

[Torey]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

Do people feel as though there are a difference between how paganism operates in rural and urban environments?

I cannot generalise for the entirety of Neo-Pagans, but for myself - having come from a rural and forested area to being immersed in suburbia, it is actually fairly difficult for me personally to adapt. I have found different methods of drawing energy, but the connection with Nature is diminished and I do long for the solace of the forest.

[DanieMarie]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

And air conditioning. Spend just one day/night in Florida (or any southern state really) during the summer without air and see if you'd like to do that all the time.

Some people are super wussy with a/c though. Most people in Europe don't use it, including southern Europe. The electricity to run the things just costs too much. When I lived in Canada NO ONE had air conditioning on the West Coast, because it doesn't get that hot and it seemed like a waste of money. Now like half the people I know have it, and they whine like hell when it's 25 out and it breaks. I'm all like, it's 35 here and ten times more humid, and I'm FINE.

By all means, I support having it in places like Texas and Florida, but I think using it is wasteful (both in terms of resources and money) in a lot of cases.

Living in Europe has made me somewhat self righteous and preachy, but it has also made me aware of my energy usage. If I drove, used electricity, and heated my home like I did in Canada, it would cost me hundreds of Euros per month. I've learned to do with less (not without!) and you know what? It's not all that bad. I think the conveniences of modern life are great, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't use what we have wisely and sparingly.

[Ophidia]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

Some people are super wussy with a/c though. Most people in Europe don't use it, including southern Europe. The electricity to run the things just costs too much. When I lived in Canada NO ONE had air conditioning on the West Coast, because it doesn't get that hot and it seemed like a waste of money. Now like half the people I know have it, and they whine like hell when it's 25 out and it breaks. I'm all like, it's 35 here and ten times more humid, and I'm FINE.

like

[DanieMarie]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

like

Haha when I went to Vegas I had to bring sweaters and put them on whenever we were indoors! Everyone looked at me like I was crazy but I swear everyone overdoes it and I was really cold.

What you do sounds like what people in Spain, Italy, and Greece do. I wouldn't hold it against people for using A/C in places like Vegas, but it's possible to live without it. In more northerly places it's perfectly comfortable once you get used to the warmer weather (I won't call anything Vancouver or Victoria has "heat").

[Vigdisdotter]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

Oi! We have heat! I spent much of the summer with my horse in the lake to deal with the 25+ weather :P

[Juniper]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

I'm pretty sure this discussion of AC vs no AC that's been going on for a while....is derailing the topic. Please get on with it or make it its own topic.
(Not exactly a mod note but I don't think it belongs here to the extent that it has been)

[Carlin]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

Here in the UK an awful lot of our wildlife can be found in towns and cities (especially if you're willing to get up early enough!) because we've destroyed so much habitat in the countryside. I live in the middle of a city, but in my communal garden I've got mature trees and a woodland area, and I spend a lot of time watching various different creatures. I have access to two pagan shops and can get the bus or train pretty much anywhere, which is great. There's a lot to be said for being a pagan in the city.

But I grew up in a village that, while sucked into the city now, is still surrounded by rolling countryside, hills, woods, rivers...I'd move back if I could. How wonderful it would be to be able to wander outside whenever I wanted, away from the neighbours, not having to sit on a bus for an hour first...to be able to see the moon and the stars...

[thalassa]

Here in the UK an awful lot of our wildlife can be found in towns and cities (especially if you're willing to get up early enough!) because we've destroyed so much habitat in the countryside.

Actually, world-wide, there are a number of species that thrive in urban areas in a way that they can't in rural ones. Coyotes, raccoon, ducks and geese, just to name a few here in the US (and coyotes, in particular, help limit the feral cat and Canada goose populations).

This "back to nature" thing is modern.

An oldie-but-goodie essay on this topic...

[LuciaStar]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

Probably depends on the city too. Both Vancouver and Berlin have easy access to nature. In Vancouver, you're always a short drive away from forests and mountains, and I think it affects the lifestyle of the city to a great extent (a lot of people are dressed like they're about to go hiking at the drop of a hat). Berlin has a lot of parks and green space and is bordered by farmlands and quite a few forests. The city doesn't have sprawling suburbs, so once you're out, you're pretty much out. A one-hour train ride or bike ride from the city center will get you to a forest. I know that there are a lot of pagans on the west coast of canada and a few nature types here (though I'm not sure exactly how popular paganism itself is). I think part of the reason could be proximity to nature. To be honest, I don't really notice much of a difference between how people practiced in my hometown (which is bordered by forests, mountains, and beaches...I grew up next to a large forest) and how people practice in larger cities in the area, but that really could be because the proximity to nature is still really high.

It's kind of like that in Fredericton. The City is built along the River and has some nice parks riddled within the city, one of which you can sit down and watch people ride on their boats or just enjoy being by the water and outside. Though the forests are a little out of the city and depending if said forests are on someone's land, it may be illegal to walk in them, but it's definitely not a city without some nature laying around. So in a way, it's not hard to be close to nature as an urban Pagan in Fredericton. You may not have lots of forests but you do have trees, green spaces, parks and the Saint John River to appreciate.

So, yeah, it really does depend on the city.

[Agel]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

Some people are super wussy with a/c though. Most people in Europe don't use it, including southern Europe. The electricity to run the things just costs too much. When I lived in Canada NO ONE had air conditioning on the West Coast, because it doesn't get that hot and it seemed like a waste of money. Now like half the people I know have it, and they whine like hell when it's 25 out and it breaks. I'm all like, it's 35 here and ten times more humid, and I'm FINE.

By all means, I support having it in places like Texas and Florida, but I think using it is wasteful (both in terms of resources and money) in a lot of cases.

Living in Europe has made me somewhat self righteous and preachy, but it has also made me aware of my energy usage. If I drove, used electricity, and heated my home like I did in Canada, it would cost me hundreds of Euros per month. I've learned to do with less (not without!) and you know what? It's not all that bad. I think the conveniences of modern life are great, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't use what we have wisely and sparingly.

I can't live without A/C. *sees what 25C is in F* Ah, 77. That's near my limit. I literally start shutting down once the temps get 80F or higher.
My parents went without air until I was born. Then they had to get a window unit because I got bad heat rash and was lethargic. Summer's here can get up to 100-105F.


But back on the topic of urban paganism, I find if I need to make contact with nature all I have to do is find a patch of grass or a plant. No matter how small, indoors or out, and I'll have that instant feeling of calm.

[nbdy]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

For what it is worth, I have been told that an urban environment is a powerful place to work with fire.

Good grief -- that sounds like I am advocating arson! I meant fire magic. I don't do urban, though, so just what I've been told by some one who is a confirmed city dweller.

[Ophidia]

Re: Urban and rural paganism

For what it is worth, I have been told that an urban environment is a powerful place to work with fire.

Good grief -- that sounds like I am advocating arson! I meant fire magic. I don't do urban, though, so just what I've been told by some one who is a confirmed city dweller.

I know it seems strange, but for me living in a desert city, my strongest elemental connection is with water. We have biodiverse wetlands here in Las Vegas, aquifers, and a monsoon season that produces some amazing thunderstorms. We get flash floods. To top it off, the Luxor Hotel and Casino almost sank when they built it (and now has an exhibit featuring some of the artifacts from the Titanic)!