Happy Summer Solstice!!!
We are now in the time of the South! The time of fire, of joy, passion. creativity, abundance. The time of mid day and the time to be oh so grateful for the Sun!!!
This is a very special day in my traditions.
And on that note, I wanted to share a little bit more about my spiritual self with the WordPress world.
Below is a letter in response to an old highschool friends inquiry about my beliefs and stance as a self identified Pagan.
Enjoy!
Let me know your thoughts!
Blessed be on this day and always!!! Here’s to a gentle and beauty-filled journey into the South!
Aho Mitakyue Oyasin (all my relations)!
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Hello Melissa!
Yes I do identify as begin Pagan…well…what I usually say to describe my spiritual self is that I am “agnostic in beliefs and Earth-based in practice”.
But before I talk about what I believe in, I wanted to say that yes, your ideas about paganism (or any earth based religions) are correct…it is mostly all about love and beauty.
The other day I actually stumbled upon the best description of paganism I have read in The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho that I am reading. Here it is:
“According to pagan tradition, nature worship is more important than reverence for sacred books. The Goddess is in everything and everything is part of the Goddess. The world is merely an expression of her goodness. There are many philosophical systems-such as taoism and buddhism-that make no distinction between creator and creature People no longer try to decipher the mystery of life but chose instead to be a part of it. There is no female figure in taoism or buddhism, but there too the central idea is that ‘everything is one’.
In the worship of the great Mother, what we call ‘sin’, usually a transgression of certain arbitrary moral codes, ceases to exist. Sex and customs in general are freer because they are parts of nature and cannot be considered to be the fruits of evil.
The new paganism shows that man is capable of living without an institutionalized religion, while still continuing the spiritual search in order to justify his existence. If God Mother, then we need only gather together with other people and adore her through rituals intended to satisfy the female soul, rituals involving dance, fire, water, air, earth, songs, music, flowers, and beauty.”
I really really liked that description…think it paints paganism in a very clear way.
But yes…every pagan has their own beliefs and practices, which is why I feel that paganism is so neat. It really is up to your own interpretation and honoring the truth that each individual resonates with. Even though it is very individualistic, by tapping into these beautiful spiritual traditions, customs and ways of being you are intrinsically interconnected to every being who has ever walked a similar path. Typing that reminds me of a song that I have been taught through ceremony:
“I walk a path of beauty, walk a path my ancestors laid out before me…
I make a path of beauty hold my visions, roll my dreaming out before me…”
Here is a short synopsis of my beliefs. I could write about this for eons…but I will give you an idea.
I believe in all that is seen. I believe in the beauty and power of the Earth, of the Trees, the Ocean, the Wind, in Fire. I believe in the goodness of people and the great work that they do when their intentions are full of pure love. I believe that we all come from the same Source and cannot be separated from this Source, therefore we are all Sacred, and everything that has ever been created is Sacred. Our bodies are cut from the same cloth of the Earth, and we are Sacred flesh.
I believe in all that is unseen. That energy is what connects us, motivates us, hurts us, surrounds us, makes us who we are. I believe in guides, in our ancestors that never leave us, in the spirit of animals, angels, and the stars. I believe that there is no such thing as time or space…only the present moment that encompasses all of life. I believe in magic and the power of love, light and positive thoughts, or prayer. I believe that gratitude is the foundation for magic to bloom.
I believe that life is about discovering our strengths through successes and trials-both of which hold equal value. I believe our purpose in being human is to use and enjoy our senses to the fullest, and never take any moment, connection, or experience for granted.
I do NOT believe that we come from a male god. Nor do I believe that any one book, person, or dogma should determine what is right or wrong for our lives or what we should believe in. I do not believe that there is one right pathway to God, the Truth, enlightenment, etc. I believe that there are as many ways to this was there are souls. I do not believe in evil or satan. I do believe in balance however, though not in Dark VS light…but that light and dark are the perfect compliments and cannot exist without the other.
I believe in reincarnation. I believe in astrology. I believe in turning to archetypes or Gods or Goddesses for guidance and healing. I believe in the power of ritual to transform and initiate. I believe in gathering together in groups to amplify energy and intentions. I believe in circles. I believe and trust in the cycles of life, the Earth, and my own body.
I do not have any answer for where we came from and where we are going…and I don’t think I ever want to. Having an explanation for these mysteries of life would take away all the beauty in the uncertainty of what it means to be human.
In paganism, there are no exact “right” or “wrong” ways or thoughts. There are no “rules” except DO NO HARM. Most pagans believe in the law of karma, and that anything you do to others, positive or negative, will be done times 3 unto you.
The word Pagan means “of the Earth” or more commonly used to describe “country dwellers”. Pagans traditionally honor the Wheel of The Year which consists of 8 sacred holy days, or Sabbats. These are the Summer and Winter Solstices, Fall and Spring Equinoxs, as well as 4 other sacred days Beltane (May Day), Samhain (Halloween), Lammas, and Imbolc. All of these days are rooted back into the Earth and honor the harvest and the earth’s abundance. The traditions, rituals, and myths associated with each day are so beautiful and fascinating.
Pretty much everything in Christianity has been stolen from the Pagans. Even Christ. For example….according to pagan myth, Yule, or Winter Solstice , or Christmas, is when the “Light Child”, or Christ, is reborn every year in winter, bringing peace and love to the world. And Easter is traditionally the celebration of the Goddess Eostre who is seen with colored eggs and bunnies which all represent fertility. Eostre/ostara is the spring equinox which celebrate’s new life…sound familiar?
All the beautiful traditions were stolen from the pagans…given more emphasis on a mortal man, on sin, and sacrifice and then repackaged and branded with the name Christianity. It’s really quite ridiculous. If only most Christians new that their holy tradition of “blood and body of christ” is actually a very common communion and ritual in pagan ceremonies where bread and wine are passed around to bless each person so that they “may never hunger or thirst”.
However there are definitely some pagans that honor Jesus, and people that Identify as Christian Pagans. However, I feel that those who aren’t too tainted by the damage and destruction Christianity has done to them and the world honor Jesus as an archetype…honor his message of love and peace…and really get his Christ Consciousness that so many “Christians” have forgotten. I know that I, and many others, honor the bible as a great book filled with some fantastic myths and morals…but that’s where my reverence of that book ends.
I feel that most people start to turn to Paganism or Earth Based practices when they realize that they have been force fed some misinterpreted bullshit their entire lives…and are finally waking up to the beauty and sacredness of the world that surrounds them which is far too Great and Holy to be governed by one dogma or doctrine. Women especially turn to paganism once they realize their body is not a sinful, toxic, worthless bag of cells…but a beautiful, sacred, abundant manifestation of the Earth, Herself.
Okay…well wow there you have it. Annie’s Paganism 101. Ha ha! That is a lot to take in. if you have any questions or thoughts please do let me know…I would sooooooo love to talk more with you about this.
As far as books go…again, there is no one set book with rules or guidelines. In wicca and pagnism there is often a Book of Shadows which each witch and priestess gets to write herself…which i think is such a neat concept.
But here is a good reading list to start with:
The circle Within by Dianne Sylvan, The Body Sacred by Dianne Sylvan…anything by Dianne Sylvan really…The Spiral Dance or anything by Starhawk…Scott Cunningham wrote a lot about Wicca/Paganism….however I would probably avoid his stuff starting out…I honestly feel a lot of it is out of date and is not so ethically sound.
I would also really really recommend picking up Paulo Coelho’s The Witch of Portobello to start. Such a beautiful and accurate (though a work of fiction) description of what it means to honor the Divine Feminine and to honor your own truths.
I am excited to see that you are on a path to find your own Truths. Please let me know if there is anything that i can do to assist you in this journey!!!
Blessed be!
~Annie
Fertile Ground 