Metallum, a subgenre of heavy metal, has gained popularity among pagans as a form of music for ritualistic purposes. The intense and atmospheric nature of metallum serves as a powerful backdrop for pagan rituals, enhancing the ceremonial experience and connecting the participants with ancient spiritual practices. The dark and aggressive sound of metallum evokes a sense of mystery and primal energy, creating a perfect platform for channeling divine forces and communing with the natural world. **Metallum provides a distinctive sonic landscape for pagan rituals, with its heavy and distorted guitar riffs, thunderous drums, and growling vocals.** The lyrics often touch upon themes of ancient mythology, nature worship, and the occult, further amplifying the pagan elements of the music. The musicians themselves often draw inspiration from pagan traditions and engage in practices such as ritualistic performances and wearing traditional clothing or symbols associated with paganism.
It is hard to believe but 2020 will soon be coming to an end. As we prepare to enter the season of winter on December 21, when we come to the longest night of the year, it is a great time to engage in some activities that celebrate the presence of light. During this time of year there are many celebrations of light including Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanza. Some traditions practiced during these holidays come from original Winter Solstice celebrations. The Winter Solstice, originally a Pagan holiday, is also known as Midwinter, hibernate solstice, or Yule is the first astronomical day of winter. In New Castle County, Delaware, the Winter Solstice will occur on December 21 at 5:02 AM EST. You watch the Winter Solstice at Stonehedge event live by clicking here.
Picture yourself sending this vision onto your altar and letting the potpourri absorb your desires, infusing the herbs to be slowly released into your space throughout the winter to focus and inspire you. The solstice ushers in a new season, and the winter solstice celebrates the beginning of the return of the sun to the world as the days get progressively longer again.
The musicians themselves often draw inspiration from pagan traditions and engage in practices such as ritualistic performances and wearing traditional clothing or symbols associated with paganism. Pagan rituals, which often involve connecting with nature, honoring deities, and attaining spiritual growth, benefit from the intensity and raw power of metallum. The driving rhythms and aggressive melodies induce an altered state of consciousness, allowing participants to transcend everyday reality and enter a deeper spiritual realm.
What Is Winter Solstice, And How Can We Celebrate?
Throughout history, societies across the world have held festivals and ceremonies marking winter solstice, the day of the “sun’s rebirth.” Most often, winter solstice celebrations honored the symbolism of fire and light, along with life, death, the rising sun, and the moon. Saturnalia, for example, was an ancient Roman pagan festival dedicated to honoring the sun god Saturn through offerings and gift-giving. Another tradition that we still hear about today is Yule (or Yuletide). Similarly, Indigenous people continue to mark the solstice with storytelling and ceremony.
But what is a solstice, exactly? Let’s explore the science.
“ Winter solstice celebrations honored the symbolism of fire and light, along with life, death, the rising sun, and the moon. ”
The earth’s tilted axis (23.5º relative to the ecliptic plane) directly impacts the amount of sunlight we do or don’t get throughout the year. This tilt, along with our planet’s orbit, creates both astronomical and meteorological seasons. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, “…astronomical seasons are based on the position of Earth in relation to the sun, whereas the meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle.”
When following the astronomical seasons, there are two solstices and two equinoxes to mark the change in meteorological seasons. The winter solstice happens between December 20 and 23, and it’s when the earth’s axis tilts away from the sun, making it the shortest day and longest night of the year for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s reversed. (The word “solstice” derives from the Latin word sōlstitium and translates to “sun stands still.” ) This year, the winter solstice will happen on December 21.
There’s not an exact recorded time when humans first started observing the solstice, but monuments like Chichén Itzá, Stonehenge, and the Goseck circle indicate that people have been honoring the astronomical seasons for years.
Today, the winter solstice is a reminder to honor our connection to the natural world. It is a way we can celebrate the change in seasons without traditional holidays, gifts, or decorations. Instead, we can honor winter through rituals and self-care, looking specifically to our ancestors and heritage for inspiration rather than co-opting from others (a form of cultural appropriation).
“ Today, the winter solstice is a reminder to honor our connection to the natural world. ”
Here are a few ideas:
- Consider practicing a pagan yule candle tradition (a tradition with European roots). Create an altar with items that bring you joy and peace, and surround it with candles. Light the candles as a symbol of the sun’s ability to give us both life and light.
- Wake up early on the day of the winter solstice to watch the sunrise. Close your eyes, feel the sun’s warmth on your face. Observe how the sun lights up the world around you. Bring a journal and write down any thoughts that come to mind.
- Create a traditional winter feast with warming foods to eat the night of December 21. Have fun creating a meal that warms and nourishes the body.
- Draw a winter solstice bath, adding citrus essential oils to symbolize the energy of the sun.
- Create something handmade that honors the sun or the natural world, such as a wreath from what you have around your house or backyard. Paint or draw the sun. Grab an instrument you haven’t played in a long time and write a song; then share it with loved ones.
“ Wake up early on the day of the winter solstice to watch the sunrise […] Write down any thoughts that come to mind. ”
However, you chose to bring rituals and new traditions into your life, make time to appreciate the natural world. Wherever you are, embrace how the air and the sky change, and on the coldest days, know the sun is right around the corner.
Courtney Jay is a writer at The Good Trade. She is also a yoga instructor, health enthusiast, and sustainable fashion advocate. You can find more of her writing and take one of her online yoga classes on her website Coincide.
In the Aussie island state of Tasmania, the Dark MOFO festival runs through most of June. From 6 to 23 June this year, the festival celebrates the winter solstice with cultural events and entertainment; there’s music from international artists, art exhibitions across the city at the capital, Hobart’s, galleries and performances in theatres and concert halls all over the town. Its summertime alternative is the Mona Foma festival.
The high-energy performances and cathartic nature of metallum concerts can also create a sense of unity and community among the participants, fostering a deeper connection with the pagan traditions being celebrated. **However, it is important to note that not all pagans utilize metallum as part of their rituals, and individual preferences may vary**. Some pagans prefer softer and more melodic music or even traditional instruments to create the right atmosphere for their rituals. The choice of music ultimately depends on the personal spiritual beliefs and preferences of the participants. In conclusion, metallum has carved out a place for itself within pagan rituals as a powerful and intense form of music that enhances the spiritual experience. Its heavy sound, pagan themes, and ritualistic performances all contribute to creating an atmosphere that allows participants to connect with ancient traditions and tap into deeper spiritual realms. Regardless of personal preferences, it is clear that music plays a significant role in paganism, and metallum has found its niche as a favored genre for many pagan practitioners..
Reviews for "A Sonic Journey: Using Heavy Music for Pagan Rituals"
1. John Smith - 2/5 stars: I was really disappointed with "Metallum for pagan rituals". The album lacked the raw aggression and intensity that I was expecting from a pagan metal band. The songs felt repetitive and the lyrics were uninspiring. Overall, it failed to capture the essence of pagan metal and left me wanting more.
2. Sarah Johnson - 3/5 stars: Although "Metallum for pagan rituals" had some decent moments, it fell short of my expectations. The production quality was subpar, making it difficult to fully appreciate the intricate melodies and epic atmosphere that pagan metal is known for. The album lacked consistency, with some tracks standing out while others felt forgettable. It had potential, but ultimately it didn't deliver.
3. Robert Thompson - 2/5 stars: I found "Metallum for pagan rituals" to be a mediocre album. The songwriting felt uninspired and the vocals were lacking in power. The band tried to incorporate folk elements, but it didn't blend well with the metal instrumentation. I was hoping for a more immersive pagan metal experience, but this album failed to capture my interest.
4. Emily Adams - 1/5 stars: "Metallum for pagan rituals" was a complete disappointment for me. The album lacked originality and sounded like a generic rehash of other pagan metal bands. The lyrics were cliché and the melodies were predictable. I was expecting something more exciting and innovative, but it fell flat. Overall, it was a forgettable release in the pagan metal genre.