Reclaiming (Neopaganism) Explained

Reclaiming is a tradition in neopagan witchcraft, aiming to combine the Goddess movement with feminism and political activism (in the peace and anti-nuclear movements). Reclaiming was founded in 1979, in the context of the Reclaiming Collective (1978–1997), by two Neopagan women of Jewish descent, Starhawk and Diane Baker, in order to explore and develop feminist Neopagan emancipatory rituals.^[1]

Today, the organization focuses on progressive social, political, environmental and economic activism.^[2] Guided by a shared, "Principles of Unity, a document that lists the core values of the tradition: personal authority, inclusivity, social and environmental justice and a recognition of intersectionality".^[3]

History

Reclaiming originated in 1979 in the San Francisco Bay Area, blending the influences of Victor and Cora Anderson's Feri Tradition, Dianic Wicca as taught by Z. Budapest, and the feminist, anarchist, peace, and environmental movements.

Researcher Rachel Morgain writes:

Influences and teachings

Reclaiming rituals are designed to encourage a spiritual way of life that blends respect for the earth and other living beings with a fuller sense of personal well-being and alignment with spiritual values. Starhawk and Valentine's handbook Twelve Wild Swans involves instructions for interpreting the tale of the book's title through both the 'inner' and 'outer' paths of personal and social transformation, the two paths being seen alike as necessary facets of the same overall project. Without a focus on healing the self, Reclaiming members believe people are certain to perpetuate the social ills they have internalised through the damage done by modernity. Their ritual work is thus focused as much on personal healing and transformation as on social justice.

See also

• Feminism
• Modern paganism and New Age

Further reading

• Rachel Morgain. "Beyond 'Individualism': personhood and transformation in the Reclaiming pagan community of San Francisco". Anthropology thesis, Australian National University. Welcome to the School of Archaeology and Anthropology
• Rachel Morgain. (October 2012) "On the Use of the Uncanny in Ritual". Religion, 42:4, 521–548. Examines the uncanny within the context of Reclaiming rituals including 'the Wild Hunt'. On the use of the uncanny in ritual On the use of the uncanny in ritual
• Jone Salomonsen, Enchanted Feminism: The Reclaiming Witches of San Francisco (London and New York: Routledge, 2002)
• T. Thorn Coyle, Evolutionary Witchcraft (Tarcher/Penguin, 2004)
• Starhawk and M. Macha Nightmare, The Pagan Book of Living and Dying (Harper/SF, 1997)
• Starhawk, author of The Spiral Dance and numerous other books – see Starhawk
• Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids Goddess-Worshippers and Other Pagans in America (Penguin, 2006)
• V. Vale, "Modern Pagans" (Re/Search, 2001)
• Victor and Cora Anderson, authors of numerous books about the Feri Tradition under the Harpy Books imprint

External links

• Reclaiming Quarterly, a magical activism magazine

Notes and References

1. Salomonsen (2002:1)
2. Book: Starhawk . The Five-Point Agenda . 1995 . Reclaiming . 10 September 2012 . Starhawk . 8 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120308101322/http://www.reclaiming.org/about/directions/fivepoint-agenda.html . dead .
3. Book: Witch's of East Van. Cultural Appropriation in Spirituality: How deepening our understandings of settler-colonialism, race and privilege can help us reland our practices with humility, accountability, and reciprocity.. Witch's Union Hall. 2014.