There is a certain image of Pagan ritual that persists in books, films, and the collective imagination. Everyone stands solemnly in a perfectly arranged circle. Candles burn steadily. Incense rises in graceful spirals. The priestess speaks with authority, the participants respond in unison, and the Gods presumably look on with approval.
In actual practice, someone has forgotten the matches, the incense has set off the smoke alarm, and the priestess is trying to remember whether she put the ritual script under the altar cloth or left it in the bathroom.
The Gods, I suspect, have seen worse.
To read the full article, go to The Green Egg Blog: https://greeneggmagazine.com/2026/11/09/the-gods-have-seen-worse/