Ariadne's Tribe: Minoan Spirituality for the Modern World

Walk the sacred labyrinth with Ariadne, the Minotaur, the Great Mothers, Dionysus, and the rest of the Minoan family of deities. Ariadne's Tribe is an independent spiritual tradition that brings the deities of the ancient Minoans alive in the modern world. We're a revivalist tradition, not a reconstructionist one. We rely heavily on shared gnosis and the practical realities of Paganism in the modern world. Ariadne's thread reaches across the millennia to connect us with the divine. Will you follow where it leads?

Find out all about Ariadne's Tribe at ariadnestribe.com. We're an inclusive, welcoming tradition, open to all who share our love for the Minoan deities and respect for our fellow human beings.

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The Turn of the Year: Autumn Equinox

Posted by on in Paths Blogs

In the Ariadne's Tribe sacred calendar, we've just made our way through the Mysteries and are awaiting the arrival of the Autumn Equinox this Saturday, 23 September.

What does this date signify in our sacred calendar?

Why, the new year, of course! 

When you hear the phrase "new year," you may think of January 1, the day the Gregorian calendar turns over to the next year. But around the world and across time, people have celebrated many different dates as the new year (and still do).

For many centuries, people in northern Europe considered the beginning of the planting season in the spring (around Spring Equinox) to signify the new year. That makes sense in an agrarian society whose rhythms focus around farm work.

The same might very well have been true in ancient Crete. But in the Mediterranean, planting time is in the autumn, not the spring.

So when we were creating our modern sacred calendar, we chose the Autumn Equinox as our new year. It's the time when the harsh dry season of summer finally ends, the rainy season begins, and farmers can plow their fields and plant their crops.

It must have felt like a new beginning, the promise of rain and fresh food growing in the fields.

In the northern hemisphere, where Crete is located, the Autumn Equinox is coming up on Saturday, 23 September.

Will you celebrate with us?

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Laura Perry is a priestess and creator who works magic with words, paint, ink, music, textiles, and herbs. She's the founder and Temple Mom of Ariadne's Tribe, an inclusive Minoan spiritual tradition. When she's not busy drawing and writing, you can find her in the garden or giving living history demonstrations at local historic sites.

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