Pagan?
 

Just wondering about the representation of alternative spirituality on this forum. What spiritual path do you all follow?

I'm one of few pagans on this board, and I follow a path of Wicca that is heavily influenced by Celtic mythology. I was introduced to it by my grandmother, who I believe was from quite a long line of practicioners.
I have very little in common with most "Wiccans", particularly because I don't have a blog and I didn't learn my craft from some damn teenybopper book of spells. I have never worn a cloak or pointy hat, I don't say "Blessed be" at every opportunity and oh yeah, I'm male.

That was really funny, too many damn blogging "witches"...

That just kind of makes me laugh .. I remember early on in my teenage years when a boy liked me .. and my "Pagan" friend and I did a spell with some herbs, a piece of paper with his name on it, and set it on fire.. then set it in a lake. You see, I didn't want him to like me. So we did this "ANTI LOVE" spell.

I feel bad for the real Pagans who have to deal with the stereotypes of the 'teenage girl crying for help religion', as I so nicely call it. Its nice to hear that there are some people around who take the religion for what its worth, not the shock value of wearing pointy hats ;)

I guess by definition I am one.
I didn't grow up with any official religion

I developed my faith through extensive examination of all religions and philosophies.
Just through my own curiousity in history & sociology,
I didn't set out as a goal to get one, it just happened.

I believe in God, but I define God as the Soul of the Universe,
not the Creator as the larger religions believe,
and that I'm a part of it, as all things are.
(you follow your own heart in life, not your father's)
We exist to Survive & Experience.

The symbolism I use to express myself at times tends to be from Qaballic & Shamanic background.
And the philosophies I tend to follow are made from Jewish & Zen ideas.

Basically, I'm not a part of the Judeo-Christian faith,
but I do know I'm better to my fellow humans & environment
than many that got raised that way.

BTW...I am a scientist by nature.
So don't think that I don't stop asking the hard questions,
or I'm weak-willed, or use religion as a substitute for how the world & universe works.

I'll put it this way, I know exactly how my body works
in biological, chemical, physical, medical term downs to the quantum level
And I know my environment, up to the Universal scale.
And I know my politics & social details more so than most of my fellow citizens.
However, that doesn't reflect me, my being, my emotions and more.

One is the how, what & why
The other is just deeper expression of me, my life, and my world.

I too, have become Pagan through the study of world society and religion. It seems to me that Pagan encompasses so many belief paths as to make for confusion. I was wiccan for many years and also veered from the path due mostly to the teenage fad it has been labeled as. I still use the conceptual ideals of new wicca in life but have infused it with pieces from many different cultures.

pagan is the celtic word for farmer


there are few pagans on this or any borad

I don't know much about Wiccans, but from the bits and pieces I have gathered here and there... I'm very impressed with them.

So EasyTiger - can you give us some insight on what it is that pagans do or your beliefs? I'm really curious!

As far as the "true" Wiccans go, I would have to agree with this statement. It is unfortunate, however, that I mostly seem to run into the ones described by Easytiger, isis and tecoyah:

Perhaps I'm not searching deep enough, but it seems that these types keep getting in my way.

So, how about it, Easytiger, a little insight?

I'm a realist.
It's a tough one.
I don't really know much about it.
It changes every day.
I just try to look at things,
think about them,
and make choices.

I'm not a practicing pagan, but when I took the "selectsmart" belief test, I come up 100% "neo-pagan." I don't know what exactly that means, but the central element seems to be a belief that all living beings are connected. I think that manifests itself in different types of worship and rituals and interpretations of deity, but the essence seems to be the same.

Perhaps I can help, Maybe not.

As a general rule, a Pagan belief will center on the earth and cosmos, and the energies that surround us. The manipulation of these energy flows are the basis for the"Magic" in wicca, the enlightenment in much of eastern thought, the healing of Reiki, and so on....
A general belief in the interconnectedness of nature and its many creations is also inherent in most Pagans. Respect for all life and paths is important dependent on the individual as well.
Many of the path will understand a deeper reasoning for pain and suffering, and accept these trials as needed for growth, and merely a part of life.
Many Pagan beliefs will take in such aspects of ancient tribal religions as they feel helpul in evolution of the soul, and also include a feeling of the many lives theory.

In my version of Paganism(and there are as many versions as there are Pagans) Soul groups, and soul age play an important role. I simply enjoy the freedom this path creates to evolve itself with experience.

Pretty much describes me. I also tend to believe in reincarnation when you haven't learned all you should have. Something akin to Jonathan Livingston Seagull-ishness.

I dabbled just a bit in Satanism and Necromacy. My boyfriend at the time was the one that introduced me to it. I owned a Satanic Bible and Necronomicon. Both I later burned as necessary in separating from my boyfriend. He had been abusive and I associated all of that with him. To continue down that path would have meant I wouldn't have had the strength to leave him. I find some of the "philosophies" intriguing but I won't study it again because of the panic it brings back. The emotions associated with it are so strong that when I woke up dreaming one of the chants one night I yelled and panicked and jumped from the bed. I couldn't sleep the rest of the night. Thankfully hubby is a deep sleeper.

I cannot claim being into anything now really.

Raeanna: Forgive me if I am wrong, but are not things which most people consider "evil" part of Satanism? Assuming this to be the case, couldn't an abusive relationship fall under a good because it's "evil" thing? I mean, I would have thought Satanists would WANT to inspire fear.

Having played the devil's advocate for a moment, I'd like to say I think you were right to get out of a relationship like that. Of course, that is based upon my perceptions of reality which are in no way guaranteed to be true.

I recently started seeing a girl that is Pagan, but I really know nothing about it. Anyone know where would be a good place to start learning this stuff? I myself am fairly agnostic/undecided, so I'm fairly open to her beliefs. I just have a hard time finding out much information cause it seems to be a "do your own thing" religion.

I'm a pagan on weekends, they have better parties.

I've also found that to generally be true ;)

I'll be honest, I've always thought of Wiccan's as the angstfulled children of Christian parents who want to be all spiritual and cool but reject their parents religion just for the sake of rejecting it. As such its much like the goth culture and populated by unattractive females, geeky males, and a few older men and women who never grew out of it.

Now being a geeky male myself at one time, this isn't meant to be insulting but an honest observation.

Perhaps it answers a call for a little pretend magic (there isn't any other kind of course) that seems pretty common in human cultures, but is frowned upon by the dominant world religions.

Ask her about her beliefs.....They will be different than mine , or those of any other Pagan. That is one of the most attractive aspects of the path, there is no wrong interpretation as long as certain guidelines are followed, mush like I would imagine the Ten Commandments were intended to be.

These are the basic Wiccan Tenents, But the general Idea is universal to most Pagans, Wiccan or not.

Bide the wiccan law ye must,
In perfect love, in perfect trust,
Eight words the Wiccan rede fulfil,
An ye harm none, do as ye will,
And ever mind the rule of Three.
What ye send out, comes back to thee,
Follow this with mind and heart,
And merry ye meet, and merry ye part.

Kinda hokey, as is much of the fluff in wicca. But I will say this, Some of the "Magic" is real....as in Reiki, and other forms of energy manipulation. As a Reiki practitioner...I can personally attest to the results.

Aye, Reiki is good, of course, it helps if energy manipulation is one of your Talents. I don't often do whole body sessions, but I am pretty handy when it comes to headaches.

I was Wiccan once. Breathing in and out as the air moved me so.
But then I met the Tao, and it pushed me gently inward, onward, ever so. The Chi would would guide, my spirit flow, and then the two embrace, you know; I merged the two, became confused, but moved and deeply more enthused, I held my breath and let it flow and felt the spirit in me grow. But now I touch the heavens, you see and find my comfort flows from He whom gave His life to set me free and in his arms I am indeed and find myself alive to be; to be.