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Polytheistic Monasticism: Voices from Pagan Cloisters
Polytheistic Voices From Pagan Cloisters is an anthology of writings from the forefront of the first wave of experimental monastic spirituality in the modern polytheist-animist revival. In this groundbreaking anthology, contemplative practitioners tell their stories of exploring classic monastic disciplines such as eremitic life, asceticism, retreat, service, and simplicity.
120 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 28, 2022
A long overdue addition to the ever growing corpus on polytheistic theology. I especially enjoyed R. Korvo's essay on custody of the eyes.
March 11, 2023
Very interesting. Some of these practices seem a bit like ordinary polytheistic practices when they've successfully been integrated into daily life; I think the value in a book like this is that recognizing that when reading opens up more space to think about what the true distinctions actually are. A few of the essays were very nice — I liked "On the Custody of the Eye" (Rebecca Korvo) and "Of Hearth and Shadow" (Danica Swanson) the most.
April 10, 2022
I came across this book as a total coincidence but I'm very glad I did! Monasticism has always fascinated me and seeing it being brought into Pagan spaces and traditions is fascinating! This is a very small and easy-to-read book but one I am most certainly adding to my shelves!
June 11, 2022
I come from a Roman Catholic background. I had an Aunt who was a cloistered Visitation Nun I visited throughout my childhood up into my teenage years. In fact, my future was to be with that community.
But love (Eros, Aphrodite) put a young man in my path which I could not turn from. But my desire to live with others who prayed like I did & lived their faith day after day never left me. I found my current spirituality in 2008 as a Teacher of an Iseum & Lyceum.
Still, there must be others like me, wanting a monastic life, as a Polytheist.
This book shows the desire & lack of a spiritual community for us who follow the mystic's way. I found I wasn't alone as a modern-day hermit, living a monastic life in my own home.
In ancient times, communities were there, such as the "vestal virgins' & Priestesses of different Deities. How a Polytheistic & monastic community would work will take time, but it is in the future. Meanwhile, those who feel the call, know that there is many of us out there, finding comfort in the silence.
But love (Eros, Aphrodite) put a young man in my path which I could not turn from. But my desire to live with others who prayed like I did & lived their faith day after day never left me. I found my current spirituality in 2008 as a Teacher of an Iseum & Lyceum.
Still, there must be others like me, wanting a monastic life, as a Polytheist.
This book shows the desire & lack of a spiritual community for us who follow the mystic's way. I found I wasn't alone as a modern-day hermit, living a monastic life in my own home.
In ancient times, communities were there, such as the "vestal virgins' & Priestesses of different Deities. How a Polytheistic & monastic community would work will take time, but it is in the future. Meanwhile, those who feel the call, know that there is many of us out there, finding comfort in the silence.
April 15, 2022
Nice little book with much food for thought. It resonated in many parts with what I feel (that means I a a bit biased towards a positive view of the topic) and opened my eyes to many things that are helpful and surprising as well.
August 13, 2022
Interesting to see people living out an individual monastic life outside of the larger traditions. The book offered a good mix of essays of different perspectives on what being a monastic is or what it could entail. Food for thought for anyone interested in this lifestyle.
July 29, 2022
I loved this book. What a delightful introduction to pagan monasticism.
June 15, 2022
Great book that gives insight into a growing trend within the Pagan community. Definitely a lot of food for thought.
June 24, 2022
It is an uplifting idea to discover that thanks to this book there is more under the sun than only religion as most of us know it and sometimes despise it ...
November 18, 2023
This is the third time I have read this book. The first was when I was asked to write an endorsement for it prior to publication around 2019. The second was on publication in 2021. This third time round I am re-reading it to refamiliarise myself with the foundations of the movement and for inspiration.
In her introduction editor Janet Munin defines polytheism as ‘the worship of more than one Deity or Holy Power’ and polytheistic monastics as ‘those who take solemn vows to live centred on their relationship with one or more Holy Power.’ For me this definition describing centring one’s life on one or more Deity under vows captures perfectly the core of polytheistic monasticism.
Common features of monastic life are listed as living by a Rule, taking vows and structuring time. Living a devotional life necessitates the renunciation of distractions such as ‘wealth acquisition, social life, media consumption’.
Nine essays from polytheistic monastics* follow. The first two cover the topic of callings. Aine Llewellyn’s short piece was very relatable as they speak about being called to throughly orientate their life around their Gods but finding no existing structures and not feeling monastic enough before returning ‘eyes clearer,’ ‘mind tempered,’ ‘heart opened’. Kimberley Kirner tells of being called by the spirits but not to the priesthood and notes the differences between these vocations - being inward and outward looking, one serving the spirits first and community second and the other vice versa.
Julie Bond, an early pioneer, describes how she began developing a druidic monastic practice in the 1990s before taking formal vows with the Order of the Sacred Nemeton in 2012. She speaks of developing a system of daily observance based around set times of day and their correspondences, keeping seasonal festivals, a breviary, and adopting a habit.
John Michael Greer shares the story of the conception of the Gnostic Celtic Church Monastery centring on the Rule of Awen and the Hermitage of the Heart. Patricia Christmas is interviewed about being the resident votary at Harvest Home Hermitage and her spiritual and physical work on its 0.8 acre plot.
Danica Swanson speaks of her development of the Blackstone Sanctuary as a place of worship for a number of Norse Goddesses and for a variety of monastic practices including incubation retreats. The rule is ‘Follow the Ways of Non-Contrivance’. Swanson’s principle of ‘sacred endarkment’ - ‘holding respectful space for beings and places of holy darkness’ resonated deeply with me as a nun of Annwn. Her words about an initiation involving a mystical encounter with ‘the Void, the Abyss’ and the need for spaces where we can engage with such states deliberately felt very important and wise.
Rebecca Korvo focuses on reclaiming ‘the custody of the eye’ as a method for ‘pushing out the unholy and toxic’ and turning our attention to the Gods.
Syren Nagakyrie describes polytheistic monasticism as a ‘revolutionary vision’. She speaks of it as a form of resistance to ‘the exploitation of time and labour’, ‘disenchantment’, ‘oppression and devaluation of all beings’ and ‘extraction from the earth’ by ‘making every day sacred’.
Within these pages polytheistic monasticism is covered from a number of angles. As I said in my endorsement it is ‘a defining and much-needed book’. Three reads through I would still highly recommend it as the go-to publication for all people interested in the topic and to practicing pagan and polytheistic monastics who are seeking inspiration from like minds.
As the movement develops with more monastics being called and with online communities such as the Cloister this book will continue to guide the way.
*With the exception of John Michael Greer.
In her introduction editor Janet Munin defines polytheism as ‘the worship of more than one Deity or Holy Power’ and polytheistic monastics as ‘those who take solemn vows to live centred on their relationship with one or more Holy Power.’ For me this definition describing centring one’s life on one or more Deity under vows captures perfectly the core of polytheistic monasticism.
Common features of monastic life are listed as living by a Rule, taking vows and structuring time. Living a devotional life necessitates the renunciation of distractions such as ‘wealth acquisition, social life, media consumption’.
Nine essays from polytheistic monastics* follow. The first two cover the topic of callings. Aine Llewellyn’s short piece was very relatable as they speak about being called to throughly orientate their life around their Gods but finding no existing structures and not feeling monastic enough before returning ‘eyes clearer,’ ‘mind tempered,’ ‘heart opened’. Kimberley Kirner tells of being called by the spirits but not to the priesthood and notes the differences between these vocations - being inward and outward looking, one serving the spirits first and community second and the other vice versa.
Julie Bond, an early pioneer, describes how she began developing a druidic monastic practice in the 1990s before taking formal vows with the Order of the Sacred Nemeton in 2012. She speaks of developing a system of daily observance based around set times of day and their correspondences, keeping seasonal festivals, a breviary, and adopting a habit.
John Michael Greer shares the story of the conception of the Gnostic Celtic Church Monastery centring on the Rule of Awen and the Hermitage of the Heart. Patricia Christmas is interviewed about being the resident votary at Harvest Home Hermitage and her spiritual and physical work on its 0.8 acre plot.
Danica Swanson speaks of her development of the Blackstone Sanctuary as a place of worship for a number of Norse Goddesses and for a variety of monastic practices including incubation retreats. The rule is ‘Follow the Ways of Non-Contrivance’. Swanson’s principle of ‘sacred endarkment’ - ‘holding respectful space for beings and places of holy darkness’ resonated deeply with me as a nun of Annwn. Her words about an initiation involving a mystical encounter with ‘the Void, the Abyss’ and the need for spaces where we can engage with such states deliberately felt very important and wise.
Rebecca Korvo focuses on reclaiming ‘the custody of the eye’ as a method for ‘pushing out the unholy and toxic’ and turning our attention to the Gods.
Syren Nagakyrie describes polytheistic monasticism as a ‘revolutionary vision’. She speaks of it as a form of resistance to ‘the exploitation of time and labour’, ‘disenchantment’, ‘oppression and devaluation of all beings’ and ‘extraction from the earth’ by ‘making every day sacred’.
Within these pages polytheistic monasticism is covered from a number of angles. As I said in my endorsement it is ‘a defining and much-needed book’. Three reads through I would still highly recommend it as the go-to publication for all people interested in the topic and to practicing pagan and polytheistic monastics who are seeking inspiration from like minds.
As the movement develops with more monastics being called and with online communities such as the Cloister this book will continue to guide the way.
*With the exception of John Michael Greer.
September 11, 2022
A fascinating intro to the concept of polytheistic monasticism from different viewpoints. While the book is slim, its essays from different authors pack in a lot of information to contemplate. Off the top of my head, some of the ideas covered are:
1. Addressing the stereotypes that come up that may be a kneejerk reaction by some when they hear the words "Pagan" and "monasticism" in the same sentence, i.e. celibacy, rules, prayers, devotion.
2. Acknowledging the difficulties of this path while being optimistic about its present and future.
3. Acknowledging that there are good resources out there from other faiths for us to glean from and that doesn't make us "wannabe" anything.
4. Examples of what daily polytheistic monasticism looks like in practice.
5. Terms to research and learn from in the context of monasticism such as discernment and laura (as in cluster cells).
6. Much more that I'm not doing service to here.
This is a quick read, but I find myself going back to each of the essays and finding more gems. Thoroughly enjoyable and gives much food for thought.
1. Addressing the stereotypes that come up that may be a kneejerk reaction by some when they hear the words "Pagan" and "monasticism" in the same sentence, i.e. celibacy, rules, prayers, devotion.
2. Acknowledging the difficulties of this path while being optimistic about its present and future.
3. Acknowledging that there are good resources out there from other faiths for us to glean from and that doesn't make us "wannabe" anything.
4. Examples of what daily polytheistic monasticism looks like in practice.
5. Terms to research and learn from in the context of monasticism such as discernment and laura (as in cluster cells).
6. Much more that I'm not doing service to here.
This is a quick read, but I find myself going back to each of the essays and finding more gems. Thoroughly enjoyable and gives much food for thought.
September 16, 2023
I love this book. I read it after reading Consider the Ravens by Karen and Paul Fredette, which focusses on Christian eremiticism but which does touch on hermits of different faiths. This one builds on the conversation for me, and I got a lot out of each essay, which are varied and work well together, from the first chapter by someone just finding their monastic path to the last by someone who has worked with a group to develop a Druid Revivalist monastic church.
This last may sound bizarre to someone coming from one of the massive religions that dominate the religious landscape, who may be suspicious of anything that uses words like Neopagan or Druid. But if you are able to set those suspicions aside and listen to what the authors have to say, or if you yourself come from a Neopagan path, you will find much good here, to help you build your own contemplative practice.
This last may sound bizarre to someone coming from one of the massive religions that dominate the religious landscape, who may be suspicious of anything that uses words like Neopagan or Druid. But if you are able to set those suspicions aside and listen to what the authors have to say, or if you yourself come from a Neopagan path, you will find much good here, to help you build your own contemplative practice.
November 25, 2024
I enjoyed this book. More importantly, it opened my mind to new ways of practice. It has sparked an interest in monasticism and inspired me to continue researching the subject. If you find yourself curious about polytheistic monasticism or are interested in possibly taking that path, I highly recommend this book.
A longer, more in-depth review is located on my blog.
A longer, more in-depth review is located on my blog.
February 23, 2023
An absolutely fanastic collection of modern essays detailing their monastic practices. Each new entry felt like opening up my mind to the possibilities my life could go. Very grateful for the authors of this book.
March 6, 2025
It was an interesting read for what is out there and raising awareness for the concept, but unfortunately, most of the essays were a bit bland, and i do not feel i gained much knowledge.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews