thanks YellowBelly, and I want to make it clear that my newfound apprieciation for paganism has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that so many pagan women are so incrediably hot. and cool. and have these eyes that seem to melt your soul... In fact, I've barely noticed these things...or how good they smell...or how their voices all sound like mystical music played on thousands of tiny bells...
I have no problem with people wishing me a Merry Christmas, and I usually respond with Happy Solstice, and yeah, then I get "the look" and that's ok. I can be tolerant even if others can't and who gives a fuck what they say behind my back. I live in a very blue collar, working class town, extremely Catholic/Baptist mix. It's no secret that I am pagan, hair halfway down my back, always wearing something with knotwork and the silver Eponus pendant (Uffington Horse) on a leather thong around my neck pretty much say all there is to say. I don't hate Christians, I don't hate anyone. I was raised better and I've found my own path of peace. My problem is anonymous personal attacks. Attacks from people who obviously would firebomb an abortion clinic in the name of Jesus but haven't the stones to identify themselves with their real Hipforums ID. I have only 4 words for them. Bring it on, fuckers.
Christians think their god will send me to burn in hell.... they spent a millenia burning my ancestors to prove that point.... Pass the flamethrower pls
Christmas is more pagan than it is Christian. Take time to think about it. There is only one thing that links it.. Jesus's birth, and that didnt even happen in December. Merry Christmas doesnt bother me, neither does if someone says Happy Kwanza or Haunaka(or however its spelt) I respect the fact they celebrate something so I will say it right back to them.
Someone (Heron, I think) already said... "Take Jesus out of the equation and everything else is Pagan already".
"Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat. My shoulder is against yours. you will not find me in the stupas, not in Indian shrine rooms, nor in synagogues, nor in cathedrals: not in masses, nor kirtans, not in legs winding around your own neck, nor in eating nothing but vegetables. When you really look for me, you will see me instantly - you will find me in the tiniest house of time. Kabir says: Student, tell me, what is God? He is the breath inside the breath." ~Kabir
Me too neither... and don't bother to elaborate, thanks. Preachy poetry makes me itch. BAD preachy poetry makes me cranky.
Kabir was a Hindu mystic, and thus he believed in the direct experience of Spirit/God/whatever you want to call it. Christians look to this man as a way to experience God instead of directly experiencing it. Many pagans do the same thing through many shallow ritualistic acts and such (the pagans we so lovingly call fluffbunnies lol). We are all looking at the same thing, just trying to experience it differently. I wouldn't consider it a preachy poem---it is actually ANTI-preachy. Taking Jesus out of the equation won't do anything---it is all just a way of looking elsewhere to find Spirit when you should be looking as though Spirit is everything. If you read the words of Jesus, he actually had a very good outlook on life. It is the interpretation of his words that causes so much toil. Again, what Kabir was talking about was the emphasis on external things to drive the spirit. Most of the condemnatory parts of the New Testament come from the words of people after Jesus, like Paul. In fact, Paul was the first one to introduce the idea that Jesus was the savior of mankind. Before, Jesus was considered merely the savior of the Jews. Even then, Jesus never said outright that he was the savior of the Jews. My view of Jesus is more of an ascended master---good to look up to, but not someone to rely upon for spiritual salvation. Kabir's poem is against reliance on other things/people for personal growth.
