Confessions of a Pagan Mum As a mother, I strive to provide my children with a nurturing and supportive environment. I want them to explore their interests and beliefs, allowing them to develop their own sense of spirituality. And yet, I have a confession to make – I am a pagan mum. Growing up in a society dominated by mainstream religions, it was inevitable that I would question the beliefs that were imposed on me. I found solace in nature, in the beauty of the world around me. It was in these moments that I discovered a deep connection to something greater than myself.
Kidnapped Noore's family, including her two children, and had them killed. Then he forced Noore to work for him and lead the Arena, making her think her family was still alive and had Paul write letters to her pretending to be her dead kids. What the fuck?
Pagan s style appears to be modeled off of Pol Pot, notably the hairstyle and the fact that his inner circle including himself are all ethnic Chinese, just like most of Pol Pot regime inner circle, including Pol Pot himself. This looping gauntlet provides an interesting exploration of one of its more complex villains, Far Cry 4 s pink-suited Pagan Min, but Control s small-scale open world doesn t deliver the same free-form fun as the base game or even other expansions from Far Crys past.
It was in these moments that I discovered a deep connection to something greater than myself. This connection led me on a path to paganism. Paganism is a term that encompasses a wide range of spiritual practices and beliefs.
Far Cry 6 Pagan: Control DLC Review
I never really considered Far Cry a series that was ripe for the roguelite treatment, and Far Cry 6’s Control DLC doesn’t do much to convince me otherwise. This looping gauntlet provides an interesting exploration of one of its more complex villains, Far Cry 4’s pink-suited Pagan Min, but Control’s small-scale open world doesn’t deliver the same free-form fun as the base game (or even other expansions from Far Crys past).
The concept will be familiar to anyone who’s seen Inception, Dreamscape, or really any even mildly sci-fi-adjacent TV show or movie in recent memory – you take control of Pagan while trapped in a prison of his own mind and must complete a series of trials to help restore his "sanity" (or, perhaps more accurately, his delusional self-image). To do so, you'll need to collect the three shards of his golden mask (yes, it’s a little on the nose, I know) from around the bizarro version of a Kyrati valley that has become his subconscious home. It's not clear whether this is a hallucination during his death throes or just some sort of weird dream (though, if I remember correctly, canon lore is that Pagan survives at the end of Far Cry 4) but the concept feels like a natural extension of the trippy sequences that have become a series staple.
Loading PlayThe world itself is a neon-splattered trip down memory lane for fans of Far Cry 4 – from the floating temples and massive gold statues that command the map's yellow brick road golden pathways, to the stylized recreations of recognizable locations like Pagan’s royal palace or the dilapidated home of FC4 protagonist Ajay Ghale’s mother. While it can certainly feel like you're seeing a lot of recycled material, the design team definitely nailed the look of this mental monument to Pagan's hubris. That still could have devolved into an otherwise forgettable slog between combat encounters, but what truly sells the delusion is the return of voice actor Troy Baker as the starring villain and a clever, insightful script from the story team helmed by Nikki Foy.
It’s fascinating to get a sense of how Pagan Min viewed the events of Far Cry 4, especially in contrast to all the hours I spent listening to his propaganda broadcasts in 2014. Control could have done with a more in-depth refresher on what actually happened at the end of that game, but it does a good job of delving into the importance of the family drama that preceded it and Pagan's sense of self. It all makes for an interesting exploration of the villain’s true nature, made even more ambiguous by the ever-more-unreliable narration you get from Pagan in conversation with his inner demons (which are some of Baker’s best moments, though his delivery is consistently great throughout). There may be some aspects of his personality that are clearer than others – he’s definitely still a narcissist with a flair for the dramatic – but after the roughly five hours it took to roll credits the first time, I came away with a decidedly more nuanced view of the character that went beyond the stereotypical “charismatic psychopath” I remembered.
Outside of its story moments, however, Control stumbles a bit in Pagan’s luxurious loafers. Its take on the roguelite formula is pretty standard: you have one chance to complete all three combat trials, then survive the final challenge. If you die, you start again with nothing – though you can use currency (in this case, "Respect,") that you acquire during runs to purchase persistent upgrades that will make you stronger and your limited arsenal more powerful on your next try. It’s an interesting use of Far Cry’s mechanics in theory, but the constraints demanded by the roguelite concept mean that this DLC leans heavily on fairly basic gunplay and little else, which isn't necessarily Far Cry’s strongest suit.
That signature 'Far Cry' sense of freedom is largely missing.That signature Far Cry sense of freedom and the ability to approach its open-world systems with a wide variety of tactics are almost entirely missing here as a result. There are only nine weapons, all of which (save for your pistol) need to be unlocked by completing challenges across the map (which I would guess is roughly a quarter the size of Far Cry 6's Yara). Those unlocks are persistent, which is handy, but once I was able to start a run with an assault rifle, grenade launcher, or what might be Far Cry’s slowest shotgun, I was well enough equipped that I never felt compelled to unlock any others. You can still freely explore and tackle any activity in any order, including the three main objectives that unlock its final challenge, but your options while doing so ultimately feel rather limited. You can’t manipulate any wildlife, and with no vehicles to speak of you can really only choose whether to run in guns blazing or to try and keep things stealthy – and that’s only if you manage to roll one of the randomized weapon loadouts that happens to come with a silencer.
14 February 2019
For me, it is a celebration of nature, an acknowledgement of the cycles of life and the interconnectedness of all things. It is a belief system that honors and reveres the Earth, the elements, and the divine feminine. As a pagan mum, I try to instill in my children a deep respect for nature and the environment. We spend time outdoors, exploring the local parks and forests, connecting with the beauty and wonder of the natural world. We practice rituals and ceremonies to honor the changing seasons, celebrating the cycles of life and death. One of the blessings of paganism is its fluidity. There are no strict rules or doctrines to follow. Instead, it encourages individual exploration and personal responsibility. As my children grow older and develop their own beliefs, I encourage them to question and explore different spiritual paths. I want them to find their own truth, to follow their own spiritual journey, even if it takes them away from paganism. In our pagan household, we celebrate the festivals and traditions of our ancestors. We mark the solstices and equinoxes, honoring the changing seasons and the turning of the wheel of the year. We light candles, offer prayers, and give thanks for the abundance of the Earth. We teach our children the importance of gratitude, of being mindful of the gifts that the Earth provides. Being a pagan mum in a predominantly Christian society can be challenging at times. There is often a lack of understanding and acceptance of alternative beliefs. Yet, I am firm in my conviction that my path is valid, and that I am providing my children with a rich and diverse spiritual foundation. Confessions of a pagan mum are not meant to convert or convince others of the validity of paganism. Instead, it is an invitation to embrace diversity, to respect and honor the beliefs of others. In a world that is increasingly divided by religion, it is important to celebrate and embrace the richness and diversity of spiritual practices. In the end, my role as a mother is to love and support my children unconditionally. It is to provide them with a safe and nurturing environment where they can explore their beliefs and grow into their own unique selves. And as a pagan mum, I will continue to walk this path, celebrating the beauty of nature and the wonders of the divine in all its forms..
Reviews for "Paganism and Social Justice: Activism in Action"
- John - 2/5 stars - Confessions of a Pagan Nun was not what I expected. I thought it would be an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of pagan beliefs and practices, but instead, it felt like a disjointed and self-indulgent rambling. The story lacked depth, the characters were flat, and the writing style was pretentious. I was left disappointed and frustrated by the lack of substance in this book.
- Sarah - 1/5 stars - Confessions of a Pagan Nun was a complete waste of time. The narrative was slow and tedious, and I found myself struggling to stay interested. The author seemed more concerned with waxing poetic about nature and spirituality than actually telling a compelling story. The characters were forgettable and the plot was non-existent. I regretted picking up this book and would not recommend it to anyone.
- Michael - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for Confessions of a Pagan Nun, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The writing style was overbearing, with flowery language that made it difficult to follow. The story itself lacked coherence and the characters were underdeveloped. Overall, I found this book to be a frustrating and unfulfilling read.
- Emily - 3/5 stars - Confessions of a Pagan Nun had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver. While some parts of the book were engaging and thought-provoking, most of it felt disjointed and confusing. The narrative jumped between different time periods and perspectives without clear transitions, making it hard to follow. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and the ending was unsatisfying. I wanted to like this book, but ultimately, I was left disappointed.