What a year it's been!

Looking back and looking forward

Thank you for joining me on this journey! We’ve made it to the end of another Gregorian-calendar year.

This has been my first full year on Substack; I began writing here in July of 2023. I’ve enjoyed connecting with many of you in the comments, and I feel like I’ve developed a good rhythm to my writing now, so you can know what to expect in the coming year.

Every Monday, I shuffle my deck and draw two Minoan Tarot cards for the week, sharing an in-depth discussion of them with you. Those posts can be found here.

Every Thursday, I share a rotating selection of pagan/polytheist and pagan-adjacent topics, from inclusive Minoan spirituality to sacred art to book reviews.

Beginning next month, on Thursdays I’ll also share revised and updated versions of the material from the Minoan Path blog, so all my writing about Minoan spirituality and ancient Minoan culture will be on a single, easily accessible and searchable platform.

This has been a busy year, and next year promises to be similar. I’ll be a headliner at PhoenixPhyre in Florida in March 2025, where I’ll be giving a workshop about Ariadne’s Tribe style Minoan spirituality and one about labyrinths as well as leading a Minoan Ritual for Joy!

I’ll also be at Mystic South (as usual — I wouldn’t miss it!) in July 2025. I’ve applied to give a workshop about death and dying from a Minoan perspective and to lead a labyrinth-walking ritual, and maybe also to present a paper about gender presentation in Minoan art. I won’t know for certain whether any of those have been accepted until next April, so cross your fingers for me.

I’m still (always) writing and creating art, so of course I have multiple irons in the fire in that regard.

My next non-fiction book, Pantheon - The Minoans, is now available for pre-order and will be released next August. It’s my entry in the Moon Books Pantheons series, which is shaping up to be a great polytheism reference set.

My book of modern Minoan myths, Tales from the Labyrinth, is with beta readers now. The cover art is finished; here’s a sneak peek:

As with all my art (and writing, for that matter), there’s no generative AI involved. I create digital art by hand, myself, and I also create analog art the old-fashioned way, with ink and paint on paper.

The interior of the book will also have illustrations. After some contemplation, and taking into consideration the responses I got to my initial foray into black-and-white illustrations, I’ve decided to go with color on the interior. Each chapter will begin with a full-page color illustration, Minoan style, of course!

I’ve been so busy this year, I haven’t been able to devote any time to writing fiction. I’m hoping to make time in 2025 to work on a couple of partially finished manuscripts that are knocking around my office, one a contemporary magic-themed murder mystery and the other, a bit of historical fiction set in ancient Egypt. We’ll see which one I can get finished first.

The Big World has been pretty unsettling this year. I’ve made it through by staying focused on my work, both mundane and spiritual, and also taking time to unwind in nature whenever I can. How do you maintain an even keel in chaotic times?

I wish you a 2025 full of peace, joy, safety, and fulfillment.

Together we are joy!

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My Substack is free, but I appreciate your support for my work by liking, commenting, and sharing these posts and by purchasing my creations. You can find my books here and my art here and here.

About Laura Perry

I'm the founder and Temple Mom of Ariadne's Tribe, a worldwide inclusive Minoan spiritual tradition. I'm also an author, artist, and creator who works magic with words, paint, ink, music, textiles, and herbs. My spiritual practice includes spirit work and herbalism through the lens of lifelong animism. I write Pagan / polytheist / magical non-fiction and fiction across several different subjects and genres. My Minoan entry in the Moon Books Pantheons series is now available for pre-order and will be released on 26 August 2025. While that process percolates along, I’m working on an illustrated book of modern Minoan myths. I’m also an avid herb and vegetable gardener and living history demonstrator.