Do you feel you gain power through Paganism and/or Magic?

[Silvana]

We have very little power over our lives it seems. We have to earn money to live in our society. The society that surrounds us is focused on having power over nature. There are so many forces that have power over us (government, schools, social influences, etc.) that sometimes it's hard to feel the power that each of us have.

So I ask do you feel that you gain power through being a Pagan and/or practing magic or whatever form of spirituality you practice (be it tarot, meditation, astral projection, astrology, etc. etc.)? How do you feel that you gain power over your life through your spiritual practices?

[MysticWitch]

i wouldnt call it power, but religion is the one thing no one can take from me and i use it to keep strong :hugz:

[Jessica]

Yes. I do believe I gain power. My spirituality has taught me to be strong, to think for myself and be aware of a lot more going on than just my ego.

It's helped my state of mine evolve. It helps me gain clarity and focus. I believe I am a lot stronger person because of these traits.

[Xentor]

no, the power was there to begin with. magic just helps me focus

[Cindlady2]

I think it's helped me see other options. Sometimes I need to be kicked in the head to remember that. I think what 'power' I feel comes from knowing.

[flipfish]

Paganism showed me how to use the power I already had.

[Akhkharu Asgard]

I had no power when I was Christian and had no power being a Pagan.

[OpenHands]

So I ask do you feel that you gain power through being a Pagan and/or practing magic or whatever form of spirituality you practice (be it tarot, meditation, astral projection, astrology, etc. etc.)? How do you feel that you gain power over your life through your spiritual practices?

I gain power over myself and my life by taking responsibility for my actions and realizing that I have power through the choices I make in life. I don't see personal power as something that stems from an external source. I could leave my religion and no longer have a spiritual life, but that wouldn't diminish the power I know I have.

[Zephyrstorm]

I've always had the power I have today - the events of my life have given me the ability to see it, that's all.

[XanderAmon]

I wouldn't call it power exactly, but rather confidence and self-knowledge. Which I suppose is a kind of power. :)

[Sivafae]

I would say that I have gained the ablility to use the power already within and around me. I see power only as a tool, like money.

[Phoenix Blue]

I don't really think it's about power. Life is a current; my faith gives me the ability to see where I'm going and move with the current to where I want to be.

[Darius]

It depends on the form of magick one is performing...

[Silvan]

So I ask do you feel that you gain power through being a Pagan and/or practing magic or whatever form of spirituality you practice (be it tarot, meditation, astral projection, astrology, etc. etc.)? How do you feel that you gain power over your life through your spiritual practices?I don't know if I'd call it "power" either. What is it then? Confidence, groundedness, comfort, security.

It's really cliché, but I feel like I'm closer and closer to being in perfect harmony with the universe, or whatever. Like today, when I reached out and petted a busy bumblebee to say hello. Or the other day when I worked on something in my shop with some kind of mystery bee/wasp buzzing around a few feet away from me, totally fearless, both of us, of each other. It was probably building a nest under my workbench or something, and I will leave it there, and that critter knows I will.

Bees and wasps are creatures I have a special connection with, but I'm feeling that connection expand all the time. I almost got to pet a fox the other day, and I had never even seen a live fox before.

My plants grow greener, and happier too, and they respond to things I do that don't involve any kind of fertilizer non-Pagan gardeners would understand. I'm even having fewer problems with dandelions and ground ivy this year.

Is it power? Maybe, sort of. I don't know, and I guess it doesn't matter. It makes being alive a lot more pleasant than it used to be. That's what really matters, I think.

[JadeEmerald]

I haven't experienced any gaining of power yet since I am fairly new to the Craft, but I do have a sense of "take-charge" feeling as well as a feeling this will help me feel more empowered.

[Phoenix Element]

Not power, but further understanding. When you understand something be.tter, find out what makes it tick, you can better work with it. My beliefs make me feel stronger as a person, but certainly not powerful

[Psycmoe]

First, I believe we do have power over our lives. In fact, we have ultimate power. The consistant awareness of that is a key part of my personal spirituality.

Being pagan... or rather, practising magic, is just another way of directing the intention and energy already available to us. It's only one example in a myriad set of examples of how we control reality by our thoughts and intentions. There's a simple way to say this, I think, in a quote my Granny was fond of.



"Take care of your thoughts
for they become words

Take care of your words
For they become your behaviour

Take care or your behaviour
For it becomes habit

Take care of your habits
For they become your character

Take care of your character
For it becomes your destiny"

- Talmud