Hope it all works out. As to the money thing, that was an analogy. I was showing that spirituality is the same, that just because you dont find value in it, doesnt make it without value. I wouldnt give you a hard time about spelling, that would just be petty. I have bigger things to give people hell for lol. Just to help, it's "acknowledge" Many blessings sister.
I found this thread so I am bringing it back so newer people can post their stuff. Heron you should post yours.
Who I'm Me...or maybe not What Mainly Buddhist/Taoist(and some Hindu infulence), I just starting to learn about Paganism. Why Buddhism: Because it's truths really speaks to me. The philosophy behind it keeps me interested and stuyding, allways trying to learn more and find Nirvana and transend the Ego. Taoism: It seems to be Buddhism re-worded to me. A Buddhist can really find alot of Wisdom the appys to Buddhism in the Tao Te Ching. The little Hinduism infulence: I've read alot of the Bhagavad-gita and some of the Rig Veda. All Gods are one, many ways of expriencing and looking at God ect. Paganism: I was looking into just to see what my ancestors belived in, However it has started to become and new route in spirtuality, but obsticals have presisted in research like The Book of Veles not being in English( I could learn Ukrainen but I having alot of trouble with Spanish as it is, I don't need another language to worry about) and the Norse mixing with German. For some reason also Hellenismos intrests me and I have actually been reasearching that more, though I don't know if it would be proper for me to believe in that snice I'm not Greek (or even Roman).
Who? Still not sure on my true nature, that will be revelled in time. What? I have been a lot of things but those things were lies. I wouldn't really know what to call myself. In time though. Why? During the summer when I was on a road trip I bought a book on Shamanism because it seemed to jump out at me. I only ever read the first couple of chapters then followed some of the steps on attracting a power animal. It wasn't any of this "your power animal is going to be your favorite animal" stuff. It said that I wouldn't know what my animal would be until it was ready to show itself. A little while back she did, the first time that she came around was in a dream and she scared me half to death because I wasn't expecting her. Ever since I've been building a bond with her...well, that's my story.
Who: I don't know how to answer that! I have been practicing steadily for about 17 years now (in January). I was initiated in Lukumi about 6 years ago, but due to the loss of my teacher, I am stepping away from Lukumi so that I can concentrate on the other things he taught me. Lukumi is very powerful, but in my opinion it is broken, so I am taking the best of it and using other things I know. What: Same as above. I am reconstructing magical theory that is based on planetary worship and traditional astrology (quite different than the modern astrology most people are familiar with). I have found that all of the gods can be attributed to the 7 planets, so if one understands the keys to this, you can basically deal with just about any deity. This is pretty close to how many religions looked at this by the mid to late Classical period barring unique local customs. This has proven to be much deeper than I expected, and I have successfully been able to track down texts written as far back as the 9th century and these are based on earlier books, not to mention some other things that are earlier but maybe less defined. Cool stuff. I can't discuss to much in that yet since I am still compiling things. Why: It works! I have experienced very powerful and real things, and once that happens you are hooked. This has changed my life without question for the better. I was unfocused before, and now I'm focused.
I am Captain Zeep. My way is Wicca, although I hesitate to calim this because alot of other "so called" wiccans are embarasing. Silver Ravenwolf should be shot as well as Dion Fortune (if she wasn't already dead), and 95% of all other wiccan authors. They mislead people with bad information. (I happen to like Scott Cunningham though since he was my introduction to wicca and his book "wicca: a guied for the solitary practitioner" is a very good book for beginers.) I belive the way I do because When I look around at the world I see divine connection in all things living. I also feel that divinity would be masculine and femmine sepratly, since I belive nature reflects the devine. I also belive that all goddesses are meny manifestations of a singular female deity and all gods are meny manifestations of a singular male deity. Because of this I choose not to name them. I celibrate the wiccan sabats because they seem to reflect the seasonal changes I observe around me, and I haven't found a path that suits my personal beliefs better yet. I read that post about wiccans never explaining their beliefs because they would fall appart under scrutiney and have to agree that for alot of wiccans this is true, but not all. I don't know if that was ment as a blanket statement or just a generalization of "most" wiccans. I, on the other hand, am willing to defend my beliefs to the bitter end. I have thought very long and very hard over the eleven years I have considered myself wiccan why I belive the things I do, and I am firm in my convictions. Please don't think all wiccans are flakey, it's an unfair judgment on those of us who find it a valad, life-fulfiliing path.
I couldn't agree more, Silver Ravenwolf was the one that most of my "wiccan" friends back in high school looked up to. They worshipped her every word.
Zeep; I have the utmost respect for your path, and those who follow Wicca with such conviction. To me there is a diffrence between that and neo-wicca (i.e. what you get from Llewelyn). It's the latter I snark over, my apologies for not making that clear. I have a Silver Ravenwolf book from back in the day, makes me feel rather dirty and indignant. Pretty sure it put me off practising Wicca for life, but maybe that's for the best. Cunningham is good though, if someone asked me about Wicca that'd be the book I'd lend them. Also quite like Buckland too, though I might just be sentimental because he was my introduction to 'Wicca for grown ups'. Seriously hadn't heard of sex magic until then or got much beyond suspecting what Beltaine was really all about (the base sex element gets totally glossed over in most wicca books, honestly the Bible is probably more risque).
Sage-Phoenix thank you for your kind words. I will be the first to admit that serious wiccans are few and far between. Most fall into the catagory of what I call "fashion wiccans", people who wear their religion on their sleeve in order to get attention of some form or another. That is why the offical wiccan stance on becoming wiccan is "we're NOT looking for new members".
Who: Zadria What: Vodun (Voodoo) Practitioner Why: I was raised with a "Pagan" way of life so to speak. It was almost a natural prossess. I even took a trip to Benin With my father when I was 17. It was an amazing experience!
I hate to drag this topic up again but it bothers me that many Wiccans & NeoPagans have adopted the Pentacle. It was long use in Greek Mythology as a symbol of life. Even used in some early Christian Cathederals But sady has been abused by many now. OK I'm done venting.
Who: Depends. I'm pretty much constantly changing. What: Mainly Wiccan, though like previous posters, I sometimes just use the generic term Pagan so as to disassociate myself from the fluffies out there. I don't think most of them have bad intentions, they're just searching for their path like the rest of us. Except for Silver Ravenwolf. She's just trying to make money. Why: I was raised a Christian. I had my moments of passion for the faith (mainly during revivals and church camp), but most of the time it was something I did because I had to and I was afraid not to. When I was 19 I discovered Wicca. It immediately clicked. It was everything I always believed, but felt guilty about believing because "good" Christians don't believe in stuff like that. For example, I never thought homosexuality was wrong, I thought reincarnation made a lot of sense, and (most importantly) I hated the concept of a god who would send the vast majority of the earth's population to eternal torment. I know very well that it's a 20th century invention, but I don't think that automatically makes it invalid. Every religion has to start somewhere. It works for me. I use the Greek pantheon and I am learning about Hellenistic beliefs. I mainly focus on Gaia and Pan, but occasionally use others, such as Hecate and others. I was surprised when I felt called to the Greek gods, because my heritage is mainly a mix of Native American and Irish, but I felt that Gaia called me and I feel very connected to her. I don't do a lot of ritual. I'll sometimes attend an open Circle for Sabbats, or I'll do a ritual if I have a specific need. I do have an altar I use for meditation and ritual, but I don't focus on the specifics of the ceremony so much as the intent. For example, while I do cast the circle and call upon the elements, I don't bother with specific candles at the corners or drawing the specific pentacle for that element. If you like it, go for it. I don't see the point. I have no problem discussing my beliefs or answering questions. I will not shy away from questions or debate by saying "That's a Mystery" or some such silly thing. Ask away!
I have a Pagan heart I guess and am interested in all religions The Wicca path seems so peaceful esp compared to the environment I have to put up with at times. And no you don't seem elitist or anything to me its a good break from Fundies? peace man
who: im karla. i know very little about spirituallity but i know what i belive in. i am beginning to feel the need to worship... nature i guess. what: i believe in life. that there is a small life force in every separate being and they are all connected to one another and they are all connected to a great life force: the earth, who i like to think of as a woman, or the universe. i believe in the importance of all life and in the continuance of it. that may sound simple and obvious but when i find a place to sit and dwell on it, i feel i just connect and all my silly worries are put in perspective and just fall away, revealing the real importance, or non-importance of my individual life. well, it makes sense in my head i have recently started to become aware of the presence of fate (or something of the sort) in my life. im starting to recognize that things are somehow made known to me and i just need to figure out how to interpret it all. why: this has always made perfect sense to me. my mom is a lutheran and my dad a catholic but they always encouraged me to believe whatever i want, and ive always put any spiritual energy i have into my love of life and nature and simple things: life, death, creation of life, ecosystems, the one big ecosystem, the earth/mother of us all. its usually enough for me to get away from the fake environment humans create and go somewhere peaceful to sort of worship natural life, or at least revel in its beauty and get peace from it, to feel myself as part of it (so easy to lose touch with that!) but now i think i want to conciously worship all the things that i feel are important. im not pagan but i think paganism is beautiful and im sure i could find alot of truth in it.
Who: Hopefully by the end, I'll have it figured out. What: Driven by the Spirit (though I let too many people siphen my gas) Why: To give back, to feel closer, to truly appreciate.
