The aesthetic emphasis in modern paganism often takes precedence over substance. Many pagans center their aesthetics around pop-culture projections as opposed to authentic lineages. As a result, others de-emphasize aesthetics to pursue a deeper essence. However, the more we sacrifice spiritual expression, the less translatable our work. How can we rectify this conflict between flare and substance? The answers lie with a tenth-century Tantric philosopher named Abhinavagupta, whose influence extends beyond his role as a guru, as he was well-educated in the humanities. He believed aesthetics were fundamentally spiritual, born of the intersection between spirit and emotion, and (vibration/resonance), described as the very basis of reality. By applying Abhinavagupta theories to pagan practice, we may imbue our aesthetics with the spiritual depth of the rasa, thus counteracting the superficiality of these expressions by anchoring them not to the contrived projections of popular culture, but the soul itself.
