Zen Paganism In The Art of Archery

Last updated on: July 5, 2018 at 12:38 am by Tom Swiss

Zen Paganism In The Art of Archery 2018-07-05T00:38:39-04:00 Tom Swiss

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

(So we’re experimenting with video here at TZP. You could just read, you could just watch or listen, as you please.)

So at FSG last year, our friend and blogging neighbor Thorn Mooney gave a talk and demonstration about “Archery as Devotional Practice”. (FSG regular Thista was co-presenter — I’m not sure how public she is about festival attendance, if she’d like me to give a full name or link, so I won’t. Thorn, on the other hand, now has her name on a book and so doesn’t get to hide.) It had been probably 30 years since I picked up a bow, but it was a thing I was interested in as a kid, so I went and shot a few arrows.

Though I’m definitely not on the same page as Thorn about bowhunting — as a martial artist I will happily prepare to put a shaft through a human if needed, but as a vegan I’m against harming animals, even in “devotional practice” — I was reminded of how cool it is to let a few fly. “Maybe I’ll get myself a bow”, I thought, even browsed eBay a bit.

But before I’d gone anywhere with it, everything sort of went sideways in my life for a while.

However, a bit before FSG this year I got a message from a friend — she was cleaning out her attic, and had an old bow. Hadn’t I gone to that archery thing last year? Did I want the bow?

Well. Take a hint when it’s offered.

The bow, as we’ve mentioned before, shows up a fair bit in mythology and ritual. Odysseus, at his homecoming, was recognized by his ability with the bow; Apollo was the god of archery. Sagittarius the Archer is in the Zodiac. In Tibet and Japan, arrows play roles in significant rituals.

And wood for a bow is a lot easier to come by than bronze, iron, or steel for a sword. In some places — especially England — the bow became a weapon of the common people, an equalizer against armored feudal enforcers. A citizenry skilled in archery was so important to the English rulers that in 1363 a law was passed requiring men to practice archery on Sunday and holidays — while not enforced, that law is apparently still on the books.

On the other side of things, Eugen Herrigel’s book Zen In The Art Of Archery was an important introduction of Zen to Western audiences. Though later scholars have questioned whether Herrigel’s teacher was actually practicing something that can be called “Zen”, my impression is that some of the debate is the politics of institutional Zen versus the broader version of Zen that has permeated Japanese culture. Either way, it has influenced Western understanding of Zen, including mine; it was one of the first Zen books I read as a teenaged karate student.

So, for a little 4th of July video blog here, instead of shooting off fireworks I’m going to shoot off a few arrows here.

Speaking of the Free Spirit Gathering, I’ve just agreed to be a featured presenter next year. Register now for FSG XXXIV, June 11-16 2019, at Camp Ramblewood in Darlington, Maryland! And, as I mentioned in the video, I’ll be at Starwood next week, at Wisteria out in Pomeroy, Ohio.

I’ve also just agreed to present some classes about karate at the Lovelight Yoga+Arts Festival coming up this September 21-24 in Reisterstown, Maryland. Hope to see you out at one of these events.

Caught On Video

My Blogging Life and Times

Previous Post

July 3, 2018

Throwing The Flag In The Trash

Next Post

July 17, 2018 Pagan Atheism (talk from Starwood 2018)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2017 52 Makeup 2020 52 Makeup Always Roaming With A Hungry Heart Art Because I Could Not Stop For Death Caught On Video COVID-19 Culture Discordianism Ethics, Virtue, and Right Living History Magic(k), Ritual, and Mysticism My Blogging Life and Times Philosophy Podcast Poetry Random Wednesdays Religion & Politics Seasonal Musings Techno-Pagan Theology Uncategorized Warrior Path Zen

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 June 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am a seller of purple cloth from Thyatira. My heart was opened to respond to Paul's message, and I became the first European convert. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Priscilla Lydia Phoebe Mary