When I am in nature, I can just feel the energy and the presence of other beings that are not exactly fully physical entities. Yes, I believe in faeries, the elemental spirits, and I also believe that everything living has a soul, but they are all interconnected with the Earth's soul to make up one living organism. Kinda like the internet, the internet is just one thing, and there are many ways to access it, and its not just stored on one huge server, but on many servers and even PCs. Thats how pagan paths are, no matter what is your spiritual path, you are still accessing the same thing, Gaia. That was a little off subject, but it just came to me like that...lol. Does anyone else here feel that strong presence in nature? Like if you are standing in a grove of trees, sitting on a rock in a creek, or just in an open field and feel the wind blowing. There is a part of the divine spirit in everything and everyone needs to realize that we need to go back to the ways of our ancient ancestors and retain that big respect for the Earth, not only for self enlightenment, but for our future as a species.
Hi NatureFreak! I can definitely feel strong presences in nature, especially when I'm standing on rocks, walking by a river, in a grove of trees or at the beach. Really lovely gardens help me connect with the spirits of nature too. I also believe in faeries and other elementals (even mermaids and unicorns). I agree that we all need to connect with Gaia on a more regular basis and start living with the earth and treading lightly upon it. Gardening is a fantastic way to do this, as you get to watch things grow (seeing the cycles of nature) and enjoy the earths bounty by getting your own organic food! Also composting reduces waste and creates your own fertiliser, and I love keeping chickens because you get pets plus a way to get rid of food scraps and free range eggs! So if you have room in your backyard, you should definitely grow your own food and herbs etc. And everyone should turn off their appliances once in a while and go for a walk to enjoy nature! Blessed Be!!!!!!!!
Yeah man I garden and compost, I dont have any chickens tho because my cat would kill them(she is a big hunter and even though she is small she would still try and kill them) I love nature, and the perfect cycle it goes through and it sickens me that humans are destroying everything...
I identify them as Nymphs but yeah, I also feel them. I also tend to try and leave them out 'gifts' from time to time; a crust of bread, a bowl of milk, the local bird and cat population seem to their enjoy these more than the nymphs but maybe the nymphs enjoy them enjoying them.
Im going to sit back and read for now, i wanna get in on this later when im not so tired. Keep this thread going, i think it will be a good one.
Yeah I've never really read much on it, so I dont know anything other than what I have felt at particular places. IF anyone has ever hugged a tree they know the energy they feel, or like when you are alone, or with a group of friends near a small creek, you can just feel the energy radiating, and I feel like there is magic in the air or something, it is just really great, but I dont know too much about the spirits or elementals I have heard that watches or resides in certain places, I'm just curious about them.
The belief called animism, which is the primal core of all religions today, is the belief of spirit in all objects. Trees, rocks, mountains, streams, all have a spirit like we do. They contain the same spark of life we do. There are the spirits in the things of nature, and the spirits of nature Herself. Forests may have a guardian spirit, a river may have a patron spirit, etc. Nature spirits are all around, and have been reveared since mans beginnings. Some are spirits of local springs, thanked for the water they provide, some are the spirit of the seas, prayed to for safe travel. But regardless of where you are in nature, know that you are not alone, that the spirits of the many trees, of the Earth, of the water and of the animals, are always there with you.
The theory of elementals in it's modern form was the product of Paracelsus in the 1500's or there about. In the climate of the day, elementals were seen as almost tragic, souless and mortal creatures. If these kind of elementals exist their not the nature spirits I think of when I think of nature spirits. The Naiads are nymphs of springs, lakes and other bodies of fresh water. The Nereids are the nymphs of saltwater. The Oreads are nymphs of the mountains, caves and grottos. Dryads are associated with trees and live only as long as the tree with which they are associated. There are also Nymphs associated with clouds, breezes, just about every facet of the natural world. Unlike the elementals the Nymphs are thought to have power that extends well beyond their realms and they themselves can exist beyond it as well. Where undines cannot leave their watery world, for example, the Nereids frequent heaven and earth; in myth they are the daughters of the Old Man of the Sea Nereus and are intimate with the Gods and Goddesses. Thetis, mother of Achiles, is one of their number as is Amphitrite, the wife of Poseidon. In fact the writer of the Iliad includes the nymphs in the assemblies of Olympos: "Meanwhile Zeus from the top of many-delled Olympus, bade Themis gather the gods in council, whereon she went about and called them to the house of Zeus. There was not a river absent except Oceanus, nor a single one of the nymphs that haunt fair groves, or springs of rivers and meadows of green grass. When they reached the house of cloud-compelling Zeus, they took their seats in the arcades of polished marble which Hephaistos with his consummate skill had made for father Zeus." Iliad, Book 20
Animism and panthesism (God is within everything) very much describe my way of thinking, so thats why I totally relate to the concepts of nature spirits and elementals.
I agree with pantheism even though I am also a hard polytheist. I see Nature as the coiling together of many divine forces. Maybe somebody should coin the term "panpolytheist", hmmm...
scrap rat, pantheism can also be a polytheism. It means All God, and also All Gods, as in pantheons of gods. So it is god is all all is god, but also means belief is all gods. Depends on which definition you prefer. as to being "panpolytheist", "All Many Gods" doesnt make much sense lol So both pantheism and polytheism means that there are many gods. The are different, but also synanomous.
Everytime I've seen Pantheism used it has been usually in reference to a monotheistic or monistic belief that the universe was God and either overtly or not, there is a suggestion that there is somekind of unity to the universe. For some some examples: http://www.utm.edu/staff/jfieser/class/religion-terms.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panentheism http://velvetdragon.com/spirit/pantheism.html http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/p/pa/pantheism.htm Most of these terms were coined by Christian theologians a few hundred years ago. IIRC 'polytheism' was like coined in the 1600's or there about. Since they weren'y trying to speak for Pagans, we sometimes need to clarify how we're using the term. And if 'Pantheism' means 'God in all things', polypantheism would be 'The Gods in All Things'; Techinalically I would also be something of panenthiest. Oh, Gods, we can split hairs with all these fancy lables all night long and still we're just ourselves in the morning. Can you tell they come from people prone to discuss how many angels can dance on the head of a pin ad nauseum?
LoL, I care little for labels anyway, its all greek to me. BUT here is some back up for me from dictionary.com But im an animist, that covers it all. panátheáism ÊÊ (ÊPÊ)ÊÊPronunciation KeyÊÊ(pnth-zm) n. A doctrine identifying the Deity with the universe and its phenomena. Belief in and worship of all gods. pantheáist n. pantheáistic or pantheáistiácal adj. pantheáistiácalály adv. n 1: (rare) worship that admits or tolerates all gods 2: the doctrine or belief that God is the universe and its phenomena (taken or conceived of as a whole) or the doctrine that regards the universe as a manifestation of God
Yeah, but note the word "rare" though and then the use of God in singular. That's why I originally went with 'usually'. http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pantheism
yeah, but until recently, i have never heard it otherwise. SO i guess it depends on the circles you run with. OH well. Good talking to you anyway =)
