Lent, from a Pagan lens

Mar 4

Written By Dan A

I want to talk about Lent through a pagan lens, especially as we move through this transitional equinox season. A time to explore the deep rhythms of nature and how they align with ancient traditions.

For those who don’t know, Lent is traditionally a Christian observance of 40 days of fasting, reflection, and surrender leading up to Easter. But when we step back, we see that the essence of Lent is something much older, deeply woven into the cycles of the Earth and the wisdom of pre-Christian traditions.

For those of you that grew up with religious backgrounds, have now stepped away from the religion and still find themselves deeply spiritual I want you to open up your mind and your heart to the idea that not all of these religious structures are inherently wrong. There is a way to renew your relationship to certain practices.

Long before Christianity, cultures worldwide honored the transition between winter and spring with rites of purification. The Roman Februa festival, which gave February its name, was a time of cleansing in anticipation of new growth. The Celts observed Imbolc, a time dedicated to Brigid, the goddess of healing, poetry, and fertility, calling for a renewal of the body and spirit. If you’d like to listen to my spin on this time and how I teach listen to this. In the Norse tradition, the goddess Hel reminds us that descent into the depths, into the unknown, the shadow, and the surrender of the old, is necessary before rebirth.

When we look at fasting, a core practice of Lent, we see echoes of spiritual traditions across time. For pagans, fasting is not about penance but about shifting consciousness, lightening the body’s load to access deeper wisdom. Shamans, priestesses, and mystics have long known that an empty stomach sharpens intuition. Instead of only giving something up, we might also offer something … deeper listening, a return to ancestral practices, or an act of service to the land.

In Christian tradition, Lent mirrors the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert. But the number 40 often represents a time of trial and transformation across many traditions for example some yogic traditions and working with a Mantra, Moses on Mount Sinai, Odin hanging from Yggdrasil - all initiatory journeys that require a descent before a new emergence.

For us modern pagans, these 40 days can be a personal pilgrimage into our own wilderness. This might look like deepening our practice, walking the land, speaking with the spirits of place, or allowing ourselves the space to truly listen to our bodies, the seasons, and the cycles calling us forward.

Easter, is often framed as a solely Christian celebration, yet its symbols … the egg, the hare, the renewal of life that belong to far older traditions. The goddess Ostara lends her name to the season, and her rites celebrate the balance of light and dark, the fertility of the land, and the resurrection of the sun. We will gather for a virtual Cacao Dieta and dive deeper into the teachings of Ostara and the Spring Equinox this year, we begin in 2 weeks. (more info in the links down below)

Through this lens, Lent is not only about sacrifice but about preparing for rebirth. It is about composting what no longer serves us so that we might bloom more fully. Just as Hel teaches us to honor death before renewal, and Brigid guides us through the threshold between winter’s stillness and spring’s fire, Lent can be embraced as a time of sacred surrender - one that honors the wisdom of our ancestors, the cycles of the land, and the journey of the eternal soul.

So how do we honor this season through a pagan lens?

First, we need clear intentions. What are we shedding, and what are we making space for? Without foundation, a journey can feel aimless. (this is why pre and post Integration is so deeply important and why we focus so much on it!)

Then, we have to create space for open communication with ourselves, our bodies, and the land. Lent can be a time to listen deeply - to the whispers of nature, to our inner world, and to the messages arising in stillness.

Next, we remember that seasonal traditions are not just about individual growth but about reciprocity. How can we offer something back? This could be tending the land, making an offering, or practicing gratitude for the cycles that sustain us.

Speaking of balance, boundaries are everything. In spiritual spaces, people are often working through intense parts of their journey, and if there’s no respect for energetic and emotional boundaries, burnout is inevitable. Modeling and encouraging self-care in our practice helps us sustain our energy through this season of transformation.

Another key piece? Embracing both solitude and community. This is a time for introspection, but it’s also a time to connect - to share our experiences, to reflect with others walking similar paths, and to hold space for each other’s evolution. Whether through online spaces or in-person gatherings, the exchange of wisdom is part of what makes this season so potent.

Consistency with flexibility is also crucial. If we set an intention for this season - whether it’s fasting, deepening our practice, or engaging in acts of service, having a rhythm helps anchor the experience. But it’s equally important to adapt as needed, honoring the flow of life.

And finally, we recognize that transformation isn’t just an individual process because it’s part of the greater cycle. Lent, through this lens, is not just a personal journey but a collective one. It is a passage through the dark and into the light, a reminder that surrender is necessary for renewal.

So now, please take a deep breath and I want to invite you to reflect …