John Beckett
@utaodruid.bsky.social
I'm a Druid, a writer, and a polytheist priest. I'm the author of "The Path of Paganism" and "Paganism In Depth".
Bad times inspire good art. Florence Welch has made good art with Everybody Scream. It’s witchcraft for people who don’t know they need it. And for some of us who do.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Everybody Scream: Witchcraft For Everyone
Bad times inspire good art. Florence Welch has made good art with Everybody Scream. It’s witchcraft for people who don’t know they need it. And for some of us who do.
www.patheos.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Bad times inspire good art. Florence Welch has made good art with Everybody Scream. It’s witchcraft for people who don’t know they need it. And for some of us who do.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
I cannot accurately convey what it was like to be in our Samhain ritual. You had to be there to watch, listen, speak, move, and participate. But I can share the Call of the Morrigan, not for ancient Ireland or even for 2010 America, but for us here and now.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
The Call Of The Morrigan In 2025
The Morrigan is not coming to save us. No one is coming to save us. But if we live by her values and if we embody her virtues, we can save ourselves.
www.patheos.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:05 PM
I cannot accurately convey what it was like to be in our Samhain ritual. You had to be there to watch, listen, speak, move, and participate. But I can share the Call of the Morrigan, not for ancient Ireland or even for 2010 America, but for us here and now.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
You do not have to be born with 90th percentile psychic skills and intuitive abilities to read Tarot or to practice any other form of divination. Natural ability helps, but what matters most is what you do with the gifts you have.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
The Metaphysics Of Divination
You do not have to be born with 90th percentile psychic skills and intuitive abilities to read Tarot or to practice any other form of divination. Natural ability helps, but what matters most is what y...
www.patheos.com
November 2, 2025 at 1:24 PM
You do not have to be born with 90th percentile psychic skills and intuitive abilities to read Tarot or to practice any other form of divination. Natural ability helps, but what matters most is what you do with the gifts you have.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
A man who has spent his entire life denying reality and avoiding consequences is starting to understand that he’s going to die. Donald Trump is building a state ballroom because he knows death is getting close and he’s grasping for any sort of immortality he can get.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Memento Mori, Donald Trump
A man who has spent his entire life denying reality and avoiding consequences is starting to understand that he’s going to die. Donald Trump is building a state ballroom because he knows he’s dying an...
www.patheos.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
A man who has spent his entire life denying reality and avoiding consequences is starting to understand that he’s going to die. Donald Trump is building a state ballroom because he knows death is getting close and he’s grasping for any sort of immortality he can get.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
The holiest day on the modern Pagan Wheel of the Year is rapidly approaching and I’m in no mood to celebrate. But I’m going to celebrate anyway. Because at Samhain – especially this Samhain – we need to remember who we are.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Samhain: Remember Who You Are
The holiest day on the modern Pagan Wheel of the Year is rapidly approaching and I’m in no mood to celebrate. But I’m going to celebrate anyway. Because at Samhain – especially this Samhain – we need ...
www.patheos.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:22 AM
The holiest day on the modern Pagan Wheel of the Year is rapidly approaching and I’m in no mood to celebrate. But I’m going to celebrate anyway. Because at Samhain – especially this Samhain – we need to remember who we are.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Like a bad romantic relationship, the religion I left was toxic. No amount of tradition, no amount of universality, no amount of liturgy would have ever made it healthy. I needed to get out so I could find something better. I needed to cut the cord. And I did.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Grieving A Religion That Might Have Been
The Under the Ancient Oaks course “Unpacking Your Religious Baggage So You Can Live A Magical Life” is nearing conclusion (but it’s on-demand, so you can
www.patheos.com
October 19, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Like a bad romantic relationship, the religion I left was toxic. No amount of tradition, no amount of universality, no amount of liturgy would have ever made it healthy. I needed to get out so I could find something better. I needed to cut the cord. And I did.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Attacks on Paganism almost always include attacks on magic that label it naïve, evil, or both. We need not engage in bad-faith debates with our attackers, but we need to make sure we aren’t influenced by our enemies just because they’re louder and more numerous.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Magic As A Foundation Of Paganism
Attacks on Paganism almost always include attacks on magic that label it naïve, evil, or both. We need not engage in bad-faith debates with our attackers, but we need to make sure we aren’t unduly inf...
www.patheos.com
October 12, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Attacks on Paganism almost always include attacks on magic that label it naïve, evil, or both. We need not engage in bad-faith debates with our attackers, but we need to make sure we aren’t influenced by our enemies just because they’re louder and more numerous.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Nature is our source and our sustenance. We are a part of Nature – not the head and not the center, but one part among many. We are connected to all the other parts and all of them are connected to us. Nature is not fallen – Nature is good and holy.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
The Divinity Of Nature
Nature is our source and our sustenance. We are a part of Nature – not the head and not the center, but one part among many. We are connected to all the other parts and all of them are connected to us...
www.patheos.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Nature is our source and our sustenance. We are a part of Nature – not the head and not the center, but one part among many. We are connected to all the other parts and all of them are connected to us. Nature is not fallen – Nature is good and holy.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Real professionalism is technical competence, customer service, and continuous improvement. “Professional appearance” is the preferred culture of the people in charge and nothing more.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Beards, Professionalism, And Culture Warriors
Real professionalism is technical competence, customer service, and continuous improvement. “Professional appearance” is the preferred culture of the people in charge and nothing more.
www.patheos.com
October 5, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Real professionalism is technical competence, customer service, and continuous improvement. “Professional appearance” is the preferred culture of the people in charge and nothing more.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Here are my annual Halloween movie recommendations: ten good horror movies you probably haven’t seen, or haven’t seen in a long time. Vampires, witches, folkloric mermaids, a cursed theater, and an old dark house; made as early as 1932 and as late as 2015.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
10 Great Movies For Halloween You Probably Haven’t Seen
Here are my annual Halloween movie recommendations: ten good horror movies you probably haven’t seen, or haven’t seen in a long time. Vampires, witches, folkloric mermaids, a cursed theater, and an ol...
www.patheos.com
October 1, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Here are my annual Halloween movie recommendations: ten good horror movies you probably haven’t seen, or haven’t seen in a long time. Vampires, witches, folkloric mermaids, a cursed theater, and an old dark house; made as early as 1932 and as late as 2015.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Are the Gods many, one, or none? We owe it to ourselves to contemplate this question and to choose the answer that seems most likely to us, rather than simply accepting what we were told as children – or acquiescing to the loudest voices in the public square.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
The Case For Polytheism
Are the Gods many, one, or none? We owe it to ourselves to contemplate this question and to choose the answer that seems most likely to us, rather than simply accepting what we were told as children –...
www.patheos.com
September 28, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Are the Gods many, one, or none? We owe it to ourselves to contemplate this question and to choose the answer that seems most likely to us, rather than simply accepting what we were told as children – or acquiescing to the loudest voices in the public square.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
I wish Pagans were the threat “Pagan Threat” says we are. I wish we had the power, the influence, and the organizational competency it says we have. Instead, this book tries to make Pagans the scapegoats for the internal failings of conservative religion.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
I Read Pagan Threat So You Don’t Have To
I wish Pagans were the threat “Pagan Threat” says we are. I wish we had the power, the influence, and the organizational competency it says we have. Instead, this book tries to make Pagans the scapego...
www.patheos.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
I wish Pagans were the threat “Pagan Threat” says we are. I wish we had the power, the influence, and the organizational competency it says we have. Instead, this book tries to make Pagans the scapegoats for the internal failings of conservative religion.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Factual reporting and relevant analysis are more than helpful – they’re necessary. But secular news and political analysis will only take us so far. We need to put current events into a Pagan and magical context so we can understand our place in them.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Spiritual Sources Of Our Current Troubles
Factual reporting and relevant analysis are more than helpful – they’re necessary. But secular news and political analysis will only take us so far. We need to put current events into a Pagan and magi...
www.patheos.com
September 21, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Factual reporting and relevant analysis are more than helpful – they’re necessary. But secular news and political analysis will only take us so far. We need to put current events into a Pagan and magical context so we can understand our place in them.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Celebrating the Fall Equinox will help you remember who you are, even as the world continues to spiral out of balance.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Celebrating Balance At A Time That’s Out Of Balance
Celebrating the Fall Equinox will help you remember who you are, even as the world continues to spiral out of balance.
www.patheos.com
September 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Celebrating the Fall Equinox will help you remember who you are, even as the world continues to spiral out of balance.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
The Serenity Prayer has been part of addiction recovery programs since 1941. But as useful as it is, it is inadequate for the situation we find ourselves in today. What do we do with the things we cannot change, but that our values will not allow us to accept?
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Serenity, Courage, Wisdom, And Will
The Serenity Prayer has been a part of addiction recovery programs since 1941. But as useful as it is in that context, it is inadequate for the situation we find ourselves in today. What do we do with...
www.patheos.com
September 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The Serenity Prayer has been part of addiction recovery programs since 1941. But as useful as it is, it is inadequate for the situation we find ourselves in today. What do we do with the things we cannot change, but that our values will not allow us to accept?
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
I got nothing, folks. Or at least, nothing that hasn't already been said a million times. Pay attention to your surroundings, physically and metaphysically. Stay in close contact with your people, over here and over there. I see no indication the temperature is going anywhere but up. Hope I'm wrong.
September 11, 2025 at 12:03 AM
I got nothing, folks. Or at least, nothing that hasn't already been said a million times. Pay attention to your surroundings, physically and metaphysically. Stay in close contact with your people, over here and over there. I see no indication the temperature is going anywhere but up. Hope I'm wrong.
Modern Paganism is an honest religion. It does not ask us to believe things we can’t honestly believe. It celebrates our humanity in all its glorious imperfection. And it gives us the resources we need to deal with the Big Questions of Life.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
The Foundations Of A Modern Paganism
Modern Paganism is an honest religion. It does not ask us to believe things we can’t honestly believe. It celebrates our humanity in all its glorious imperfection. And it gives us the resources we nee...
www.patheos.com
September 8, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Modern Paganism is an honest religion. It does not ask us to believe things we can’t honestly believe. It celebrates our humanity in all its glorious imperfection. And it gives us the resources we need to deal with the Big Questions of Life.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Education is a process that is never finished. If we keep looking, we can keep learning more and more about the sacred topics and trends that are important to us, and in doing so, we can make our personal and group practices deeper and more meaningful.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Continuing Education For Pagans
Education is a process that is never finished. If we keep looking, we can keep learning more and more about the sacred topics and trends that are important to us, and in doing so, we can make our pers...
www.patheos.com
September 2, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Education is a process that is never finished. If we keep looking, we can keep learning more and more about the sacred topics and trends that are important to us, and in doing so, we can make our personal and group practices deeper and more meaningful.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Registration is now open. Details are on the Patheos blog and on the UTAO website.
To register, send me an e-mail. I’ll send you a PayPal request for the course (I can also take Venmo and some other payment methods – just ask if you’d prefer), once that’s done I’ll register you for the class.
To register, send me an e-mail. I’ll send you a PayPal request for the course (I can also take Venmo and some other payment methods – just ask if you’d prefer), once that’s done I’ll register you for the class.
August 28, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Registration is now open. Details are on the Patheos blog and on the UTAO website.
To register, send me an e-mail. I’ll send you a PayPal request for the course (I can also take Venmo and some other payment methods – just ask if you’d prefer), once that’s done I’ll register you for the class.
To register, send me an e-mail. I’ll send you a PayPal request for the course (I can also take Venmo and some other payment methods – just ask if you’d prefer), once that’s done I’ll register you for the class.
While we can never be sure, we can examine the evidence, study the beliefs of our ancestors, search our own thoughts and feelings, and then come up with a tentative answer that provides meaning and comfort to us as we deal with the inevitability of death.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
A Modern Pagan Case For Reincarnation
We can never be sure what comes after death, but we can examine the evidence, study the beliefs of our ancestors, search our own thoughts and feelings, and then come up with a tentative answer that pr...
www.patheos.com
August 27, 2025 at 10:22 AM
While we can never be sure, we can examine the evidence, study the beliefs of our ancestors, search our own thoughts and feelings, and then come up with a tentative answer that provides meaning and comfort to us as we deal with the inevitability of death.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
James Dobson is dead and you are alive. You are learning, and growing, and healing. You win.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
To The Survivors Of James Dobson: You Win
James Dobson is dead and you are alive. You are learning, and growing, and healing. You win.
www.patheos.com
August 24, 2025 at 11:11 AM
James Dobson is dead and you are alive. You are learning, and growing, and healing. You win.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Registration is now open. Details are on the Patheos blog and on the UTAO website.
To register, send me an e-mail. I’ll send you a PayPal request for the course (I can also take Venmo and some other payment methods – just ask if you’d prefer), once that’s done I’ll register you for the class.
To register, send me an e-mail. I’ll send you a PayPal request for the course (I can also take Venmo and some other payment methods – just ask if you’d prefer), once that’s done I’ll register you for the class.
August 21, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Registration is now open. Details are on the Patheos blog and on the UTAO website.
To register, send me an e-mail. I’ll send you a PayPal request for the course (I can also take Venmo and some other payment methods – just ask if you’d prefer), once that’s done I’ll register you for the class.
To register, send me an e-mail. I’ll send you a PayPal request for the course (I can also take Venmo and some other payment methods – just ask if you’d prefer), once that’s done I’ll register you for the class.
Announcing a new 8-week on-line class from Under the Ancient Oaks: “Unpacking Your Religious Baggage So You Can Live A Magical Life” begins on September 4 and registration is now open. Details are in Module 0 on the Courses page.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Unpacking Your Religious Baggage
Announcing a new 8-week on-line class from Under the Ancient Oaks: “Unpacking Your Religious Baggage So You Can Live A Magical Life” begins on September 4 and registration is now open. Details are in ...
www.patheos.com
August 18, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Announcing a new 8-week on-line class from Under the Ancient Oaks: “Unpacking Your Religious Baggage So You Can Live A Magical Life” begins on September 4 and registration is now open. Details are in Module 0 on the Courses page.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Whether we are deconstructing an old religion or working to recover from toxic religion, it’s important to make sure what we believe is something that’s meaningful and helpful to us and not what we were told we had to believe.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
Beliefs Are More Than Assumptions
Whether we are deconstructing an old religion or working to recover from toxic religion, it’s important to make sure what we believe is something that’s meaningful and helpful to us and not what we we...
www.patheos.com
August 10, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Whether we are deconstructing an old religion or working to recover from toxic religion, it’s important to make sure what we believe is something that’s meaningful and helpful to us and not what we were told we had to believe.
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...
www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbe...