Thorn Mooney

That’s why I’m so glad this kinds of online classes exist! Public scholarship is where it’s at. 💙

Oh yay! I’m so excited to have you!

A stylized blue and orange trxt block that reads: What is Contemporary Paganism, and where does it come from? Is Paganism really an "earth-based religion"? Do modern-day Druids, witches, Heathens, and occultists really belong under the same umbrella? Is a "Neo-Pagan" up to something different from a "polytheist"? What do people working to reconstruct ancestral traditions have in common with people who are consciously creating new traditions? Contemporary Paganism offers practitioners a vast array of cosmologies, personal practices, and models for community belonging. From the revival of ancient pre-Christian tradition to the adoption of futuristic utopianism inspired by science fiction, join Thorn Mooney in this new 8-week seminar that explores the immense and challenging landscape of contemporary Paganism. Through case studies of individual traditions, historical accounts of prominent leaders and thinkers, close readings of influential texts, and the accounts of everyday practitioners on social media, we'll learn why contemporary Paganism appeals to so many people today and what its popularity might say about the changing religious landscape more broadly.

Class starts on March 25!
www.religiondepartment.com/contemporary...
#witchsky #occultsky #religiousstudies

Me emailing my committee after a very hard week

*screaming*

(Just watch ads and talk to ChatGPT and go away.)

(Anyway, thanks for the space to rant. I'm not sensitive generally, but that's something that is measurably ramping up, and I wonder if people just...don't like people? Like, you don't want to hear people talk or see people who look like people and do people things? What is social media even for?)

Same. I'm not taking input from people whose main objective is to profit off of me, and that's most of what I see when I open YouTube.

It's so goofy. People have no appreciation for genre or personal style. Get an audiobook or watch Netflix, people.

"Well if you want to build a platform that would help." Y'all I'm getting a PhD and work a full-time senior corporate job. If you want styled hair and a girl who doesn't say "like," you better save your money and go elsewhere because you can't afford my time.

In fact, I stopped consuming YouTube videos around this time. I think I watch maybe two channels. I make maaaaaaaybe $200 per year on ad revenue. Most videos don't make anything at all (shocker: I'm not ad friendly). Do you know how much good lipstick is? How much time editing video and sound takes?

And before people are like, "Well what do you expect," this is a relatively new phenomenon on YouTube. Vlogging was always a genre. Randos turn on a camera and talk about their lives and their thoughts. When it became "educational" and "content creation," it suddenly came with an expectation.

Every time I post a YouTube video I get comments from people telling me I need to edit, eliminate verbal tics, or put on make up. It's kind of wild what people expect of total strangers not getting paid to do literally anything at all for them. Go watch TV, bestie, you're in the wrong place.

How am I supposed to work on my dissertation when this knock-off LEGO set just arrived and I have to build this kitty cat.

YouTube video by Thorn Mooney Abuse in Covens

Here's a tough one:
youtu.be/g12PmX7qbrE?...
#witchsky

A good short overview of several contemporary Pagan authors in Green Egg Magazine. I don’t know all these writers, but have enjoyed and learned from reading @kristofferhughes.bsky.social, @thornthewitch.bsky.social, @matauryn.bsky.social, and @kristofferhughes.bsky.social

Oh hey! That's super kind! Thank you for sharing!

Today an undergrad told me that I was their favorite TA because I "look like [I've] seen some shit." Thanks, kiddo. Yes I have.

Gorgeous! Your work is so impressive!

Ask me for proof and I’m sending you photos. I’m telling you the whole story. I’m acting it out. You will be sorry, I promise. I had a boss ask me for proof, and believe me she regretted it. I don’t care, I have no shame only rage. Do not ask people for proof. Let people lie—it’s nobody’s business.

There's still time! Maybe I'll save it for when I'm elderly.

And then we just grow up and name ourselves anyway 😌

THORN CAT 🐈‍⬛

C/Kat is such a good name! It can’t be helped.

Introduce yourself with the name your parents almost gave you:

Colleen

I was also eventually given “Catherine” as my middle name, and the intention was to call me Cat. It didn’t stick, though. I think Cat works, though, as an adult.

Grateful for my Witch Cult 💙

Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work.

"Do we know that the author actually submitted on time?"

Donate to Keep Lilly and Luna Safe and Warm This March, organized by Lilly Rosemeade Hey there I'm Lilly. Last September I lost my job and have been living on… Lilly Rosemeade needs your support for Keep Lilly and Luna Safe and Warm This March

Unemployment is running out in 2 weeks and it will only cover about half of March's rent and utilities, all of which are due March 1st. Please consider donating if you're able, and if you're not able I totally understand. Even just sharing this link can help!

gofund.me/424947649

At least half of my job is just poking things in Power Apps and being like what if I add a 1 here, does that break it? And then somehow the app works and I have no idea why, and no one will ever know, and nobody look at it too hard, please.