The meaning of being on a path

[lady_fey]

From what I have read both here and on other sites as well as various books, it seems that there many 'paths' that one might be on.

This got me to wondering what it means to be on a certain specific path.

What does it mean to you to be on your path? Does it mean to completely reconstruct or implement into your life a certain lifestyle and/or worship of that pantheon? How far do you go to do so?

An example would be that I was just reading a bit about the Etruscan deities and manner of spirituality and divination and found that divination was done using the livers of sacrifical animals. While I was a little grossed out, apparently they didn't think too much of it. So, if a person were to follow an Etruscan path, would they go so far as to implement that form of divination into their life?

So far my path, is pretty twisty and turny, taking me into several areas at one time as I figure out who I am and where I am going, which is ok by me. I just wonder what it means to be on a specific path like Druidry, Wicca or what not. What does it truly entail?

Thx all
LF
_wiz_:flowers::elf:

[Aelfoak]

Hi Lady_Fey,

I can only say for myself that i am following my own path and principles; i'm using the energies of Quartz with the nature energy that is around us; i'm also using these two energies combined to improve my inner-self as well as a tool for spirit communication; i believe that spirit energy is at its most abundant when natures energy is at its greatest i.e. during stormy weather or when the sun and the moon are at their highest energy point. I am gradually incorporating my principles/path into my life but everyday i am always learning and developing and i would say this will continue until the end of my days?

[lady_fey]

(nice new board huh?)

Thank you for replying.
I think your path sounds pretty cool. Very earthy, natural.
It's something that makes sense and works for you.

I think that's where paths can be anything a person needs it to be.

I guess that's why I'm curious about them.

I hear these terms druidic, egytpian (kemetic?) and wonder how a person would travel these paths. Do they take a modern approach or do they look back to the most ancient records they can find and go from there?

*thank you again for the reply


LF

[Xirian]

What does it mean to you to be on your path? Does it mean to completely reconstruct or implement into your life a certain lifestyle and/or worship of that pantheon? How far do you go to do so?
When I speak of my spiritual path, I view it as separate from my religion, even though they work together. The religion I practice is a tool to make me more spiritually aware and to bring out my spiritual personality, that I believe has always been there and just was not stimulated by my parents religion. I am on this path because it melds with my life and my lifestyle. It is a part of me and always has been.


An example would be that I was just reading a bit about the Etruscan deities and manner of spirituality and divination and found that divination was done using the livers of sacrifical animals. While I was a little grossed out, apparently they didn't think too much of it. So, if a person were to follow an Etruscan path, would they go so far as to implement that form of divination into their life?
I am currently studying Etruscan Reconstructionism. From what I understand, haruspex was only one form of divination that the Etruscans and the Romans used and it was not native to them. It is believed that the Babylonians and Hittites were the originators. Haruspex is the examination of entrails, more importantly, the liver of a sacrificial animal. The liver at the time, was thought to be the most important bodily organ, the organ that made the body function. But today we know that the heart in connection with all the other organs, is what keeps the body going. So, I think it's fair to say that we should grow with the times and use tools in our practice that are applicable to the knowledge that we have today.

I know that there were many other pagan religions at that time that sacrificed animals, but that was a different time and place. Animals were something that were very important to families. They meant, food, money, clothing etc... To sacrifice one of your animals, was to offer something of extremely high value to your deities. I mean, I don't believe there were very many people in that time that didn't butcher their own animals. So haruspex probably would have been no more disgusting to them than butchering their animals for everyday needs. Perhaps they saw the animal as having it much better off when it was being sacrificed. At least that's my take on it. I believe that pagans these days could sacrifice something more valuable than animals, since many of us do not rely soley on animals to live comfortably. However there are some pagans, I know of one in Australia, that still do sacrifice animals during some rituals.

Anyway, I believe only certain people were allowed to practice haruspex (like priests, elders etc... I could be wrong though), and that it was done in ritual form and not just done randomly by whomever wanted to do it. Not like everyone today, learning divination and practicing it whenever they feel like it. I believe fear of what the answer might be, limited the practice of such things by everybody, to a certain extent. Just some thoughts and I could be completely wrong.


So far my path, is pretty twisty and turny, taking me into several areas at one time as I figure out who I am and where I am going, which is ok by me. I just wonder what it means to be on a specific path like Druidry, Wicca or what not. What does it truly entail?
I cannot tell you what it means or what is entailed by being on the paths you mentioned. For me, once again, it's about my spiritual personality and not specifically about my religion, although much of my spiritual personality is a reflection of my knowledge of the religion that I practice. I don't feel the need to worship exactly as the Etruscans or Italians did, because I live in a completely different time than they did and things have different value to me than they did for them.

[Infinite Grey]

What does it mean to you to be on your path? Does it mean to completely reconstruct or implement into your life a certain lifestyle and/or worship of that pantheon? How far do you go to do so?




I've never really view my "path" as a path, but simply a state of being. I've always been this way, and probably always will be. :hahugh:

[lady_fey]

xirian: I saw your post earlier today, but have been busy with my kids and haven't had a chance to post and wanted to spend a little bit thinking about what ya put.

First, I agree that religion and spirituality aren't the same thing. Good point.
Next, yeah you are right about only a certain class of the Etruscans were allowed to divine. But I did not know that the Romans used the same form.
I think you make an excellent point about keeping up with the times.
I suppose that is part of why I have these questions.
The life we live now in developed countries is much different than what many of our ancestors lived.
I would suppose that for each person the manner in which they carry out their religion would vary considerably.
I guess I wonder when a person chooses a specific course, say Catholicism for instance, how much of the ritual and routine do they personally incorporate into their life?
Do they say the rosary every day? Do they read the Bible, pray before meals, wear a scapula, carry various medallions, light candles etc etc?
Those are the traditions and ritual that make Catholicism what it is. (To some extent anyway).
So in a similar sense, what sorts of rituals and traditions from the ancient cultures and religions are incorporated into modern day paths? I realize that I would need to go to each individual sub forum and ask those particular followers to get a strong idea what each of those groups follow, still, it would vary because as in the case of Catholicism, some are fringe type Catholics who hit Christmas Mass and haven't been to confession in about 20 years, others are devout and have group rosary at work.

I guess that's why I was hoping to get enough responses to get a general idea of how the average pagan incorporates a particular ancient path or tradtion into their modern life.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me on this, I greatly appreciate it.


Peacock: Ahhh, that is a question. What defines path anyway? It can go many directions but it is something that you travel in some manner that takes you somewhere, even sometimes, right back where you started? :sadeyes::vanish:


LF
:flowers:_wiz_:elf:

[Wolfpoet]

I do not think there is one true religion, one true path or one true God. Despite what the Christians like to think.

To me, each religion, each God, each plhilosophy and theology is a single thread in a great tapestry none of us could ever hope to understand. Our Gods and beliefs are aspects of this greater whole, individual lessons to guide us and teach us.

We pick the path that speaks to us, that calls us and we walk that path. But all paths, in their own way, are equaly inportant.

[Xirian]

I suppose that is part of why I have these questions.
The life we live now in developed countries is much different than what many of our ancestors lived.
I would suppose that for each person the manner in which they carry out their religion would vary considerably.
I would agree with this.


I guess I wonder when a person chooses a specific course, say Catholicism for instance, how much of the ritual and routine do they personally incorporate into their life?
Do they say the rosary every day? Do they read the Bible, pray before meals, wear a scapula, carry various medallions, light candles etc etc?
I believe it varies based on their convictions and faith in their religion. I don't have faith in religion, but I have faith in my spiritual path, that it will lead and direct me to the things that I need to be directed to.

Because I do not have faith in religions, I do not feel that I need to practice exactly as my ancestors did, because it would just be copying their religions practices and not really focusing on what is truly important to me and my growth. I feel that if I did practice exactly as my ancestors, that I would be only going through the motions, without any real conviction. When I modify things to suit my personal growth and to connect with the deities in a way that is productive for me, I feel I am doing a much better service to all involved parties.

I know that some people might disagree with the above and the following, but I have generally seen practicing exactly as was practiced in the past, in people who are hereditary and practice as their families have taught them. I did not have such a luxury growing up and have to modify things more. My faith is in the fact that I will continue to learn and grow on my spiritual path.


Those are the traditions and ritual that make Catholicism what it is. (To some extent anyway).
Once again, I agree with you on this. However, fear and guilt is what, I believe, makes this religion grow and gives it staying power, not the rituals. I think traditions and rituals are a way of showing the uniqueness of this religion, but that no longer is necessary to draw people to it. I don't know if it was ever necessary. It seems that instilling guilt and fear in its members, has been Catholicism's M.O. for a long time and seems fairly effective based on the numbers of Catholics out there. (This is all just my opinion and observation.)


So in a similar sense, what sorts of rituals and traditions from the ancient cultures and religions are incorporated into modern day paths? I realize that I would need to go to each individual sub forum and ask those particular followers to get a strong idea what each of those groups follow, still, it would vary because as in the case of Catholicism, some are fringe type Catholics who hit Christmas Mass and haven't been to confession in about 20 years, others are devout and have group rosary at work.

I guess that's why I was hoping to get enough responses to get a general idea of how the average pagan incorporates a particular ancient path or tradtion into their modern life.
I am of the mind that you should go with what will help you on your path. I do believe that happens to mean things that you might not always understand or are completely comfortable with from the start, but knowledge is your friend. And knowledge helps to open our eyes. However, I would not do something that in my conscious I know is completely counterproductive to my spiritual growth. So while I think that one's spiritual path does not always have a comfortable feel, because learning is not always comfortable, I do feel that many of those things that are uncomfortable or hard to face, can sometimes be understood with knowledge and help us to keep on our path. (Wow, in my head, that appears to make more sense. LOL)

Personally, I have stopped doing rituals for a while just to research some things. I think that when I start doing rituals again, that I will be more comfortable doing them and feel more of a connection than I have in the past. I also want to focus more on Etruscan Recon and stop practicing rituals that I feel have little meaning to me. I think that's what's important. Practice in a way that is meaningful to your life specifically and that can help you to learn more.

I do forms of divination, but I do not do animal sacrifice. I exclusively worship the Etruscan pantheon, but I offer things that have value to humans today, things that I've put some effort into to attain. I speak to my deities on a regular basis and I incorporate (when I actually do rituals) many of the spiritual aspects of the rituals, that the historical evidence shows were practiced by my ancestors. I think the same could be said for others here.

However, I am always modifying things as I change. I think adaptation is one thing my ancestors were good at and it would be a shame if I ignored that.

[eldora_avalon]

Either you are on a path, or you are wandering around lost. Doesn't mean you will always be on the same path, doesn't mean that wandering around lost is necessarily a bad thing, sometimes the only way to find yourself is to lose yourself.

There are times in my life when I have felt lost, but I wasn't. There are times in my life when I didn't feel lost, but i was. Very rarely I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be. It isn't always during times of peace that I feel I am in the right place, like right now my life is jumbly, but I know I am here for a reason and I am doing the things I need to do for myself. Lucky for me, I seem to be in the right place for some other people right now.

As for what I think you might have actually meant, my path is to follow Eris, Goddess of Chaos. I fought her for a long time, I thought that to bring Eris into my life would bring more Chaos, but the Chaos was always there, it is in everything and until I accepted Eris as my Goddess, I fought the Chaos, which is kind of like trying to take the cream out of my coffe, it's not happening.

Well, I hope that helped, and remember, it isn't always the answer that makes us comfortable that helps the most :cheers:

[lady_fey]

wolfpoet: I think what you say makes sense. However, I have to say that unfortunately there are some paths that can be controlling and a little scary and I don't know that whatever God/dess is out there would approve of using fear and manipulation to that end. Then again, I could be wrong. Other then that, the paths that we pick or that are 'picked' for us by the gods take us on a journey that is meant to help us understand things much more clearly. So I suppose it isn't for me to judge.


Xirian: I can see your point about modifying things to suit your personal growth, in fact I think it makes a great deal of sense. So, maybe what I need to get through my head is that your path (or anyone's) is not the ritual or tradition that might be centuries old or weeks old, but the spiritual connection to the deity that one feels most connected to?
I suppose I figure that when a person says that they are on a specific path, they are basically in essence saying that they have researched say, Germanic Recon (if I have the terminology wrong, please forgive me) and have found a certain connection to not only the deities involved but the entire religion. But after reading and considering what you have said, I'm thinking that I really have this wrong.
I think you make an excellent point regarding the Church. As I said to wolfpoet, I think that there are religions, including the Church, that uses fear to control. I personally find this to be true in many organized religions. I might find some of the philosophy to be quite workable, but once ya get to the heart of the matter it seems like the damnation and whatnot creep in or jump in as the case may be and ruins the whole dang thing.
I think the point I was just trying to make regarding the Church is that their particular traditions and rituals are part of what identifies them. In the same sense that, I am assuming, maybe too much, that various pagan religions throughout the centuries are identified in part by their various rituals and traditions. Good or bad.
So that brings me back to when one says they follow a path, does it mean, to them, that they are strictly following a centuries old path, or as in your case have they modified it to fit their spirituality and growth or have they stuck with the most ancient of traditions/rituals? What is the more common belief?
I think I've come so far from worshipping anything at this point, that I'm having a hard time with the idea of worshipping anyone and why people do that. (Don't know if that makes much sense sorry!)

I am of the mind that you should go with what will help you on your path. I do believe that happens to mean things that you might not always understand or are completely comfortable with from the start, but knowledge is your friend. And knowledge helps to open our eyes. However, I would not do something that in my conscious I know is completely counterproductive to my spiritual growth. So while I think that one's spiritual path does not always have a comfortable feel, because learning is not always comfortable, I do feel that many of those things that are uncomfortable or hard to face, can sometimes be understood with knowledge and help us to keep on our path. (Wow, in my head, that appears to make more sense. LOL)
I think I have an idea what you mean. Like, when we face the hard issues and the uncomfortable issues we get a deeper understanding of the whole scheme of life and the universe and ourselves? Which in the end helps us to understand the path we're on?

If you have anything else to share regarding Etruscon Recon, I would be very interested. The reason I have even read what I've read is because of my tarot deck that I'm feeling lost with. Hoping the research gives me a little more insight into what I'm dealing with.

Truthfully I feel like there is Some sort of energy pulling me around somewhere, I'm trying to identify it. Another thread I had posted has really helped. Sometimes I can be a bit impatient with myself. So I'm sure that's not helping.

Eldora-Avalon: If you don't mind my asking, How do you follow her? I know this is probably intensely pesonal, if so, tell me to mind my own business. But if you don't have a problem sharing either here or pm, how do follow your path? What do you incorporate or not incoroporate?

Thanks to all for such wonderful replies. Trying to wrap my brain around some of this pagan stuff is tough at times. Especially when it's up against SpongeBob and toddlers, lol. I appreciate it.


LF

[eldora_avalon]

Eldora-Avalon: If you don't mind my asking, How do you follow her? I know this is probably intensely pesonal, if so, tell me to mind my own business. But if you don't have a problem sharing either here or pm, how do follow your path? What do you incorporate or not incoroporate?

1 Some of it is inherent in who I am. I have always questioned everything, especially authority and other know-it-alls. Ironic much _inabox_ Anyway, for Discordians, that is part of the gig, question everything.

2 I started by looking for pagan resources on the web around 1997. I stumbled across the Principia Discordia and other Discordian sites. I freaked out and put it aside more or less. I went about explorong a lot of other paths in the meant time.

3 Someone popped up in my Yahoo Messenger window and started talking to me about many things. This was a couple of years ago and many things have come to pass since then.

4 I have always loved math, I minored in math at uni. Chaos Theory is essential to my path with Eris, so is a sense of humor.

5 I follow her not too closely because she has beans for dinner a lot, with her hot dogs, without the buns. I incorporate whatever I want and leave out whatever I want. There are few rules with Eris, except for expect the unexpected, which really should be a rule for everyone, but most people don't pay attention to that.

[Dale Ivarie]

my path is really all about having a personal relationship with divinity...
which means sometimes they get pissed at you and sometimes they pick you up dust you off and urge you on...

Some folks call it syncronicity...I call it conversation...I try and correlate my actions and thoughts with communications/occurances in my environment...

My "Gods" have actually responded the best when I got really pissed of and screamed at them...but hey mine are like that....

specifics for any of the above concepts upon request

Dale

[eldora_avalon]

which means sometimes they get pissed at you and sometimes they pick you up dust you off and urge you on...

Dale
Snipped, but this is from the Book of Eris and it is our version of the Footprints thingy


From the Book of Eris:
Footprints in the Sand
...the Discordian version
I dreamed that I was walking down the beach with the Goddess. And I looked back and saw footprints in the sand. But sometimes there were two pairs of footprints and sometimes there was only one. And the times there was only one set of footprints, those were my times of greatest trouble. So I asked the Goddess,
"Why in my greatest need did you abandon me?"
She replied, "I never left you. Those were the times we both hopped on one foot."
And I was really embarassed for bothering Her with such a stupid question.

[Lets Go Bowling]

Paths are tricky things, especially if you think too much about them, or if you invest too much into your ego.

You can simply live out your path and walk it.

Another thing. Don't trust the gods or goddesses, even if you somehow think they are all one in essence. (Sure, now. Aren't all we humans one in essense too? But would you trust all humans?) I do believe there are some goddesses or gods that do get their kicks from fear and control. Surprised? Why should you be? Deities are not more highly evolved morally than humans, they simply have more power and are incorporeal. Many of them have huge egoism delusions. So, beware of deities as you would any other beings. When you get to know another well, then you trust them.

As for paths, too many people confused spiritual smorgasmord type picking around with being on a path. The difference between someone on a path and someone not on a path is simple: direction.

What is your direction? Where do you hope to go? What goals do you want to achieve? Have you gotten closer? Etc.

The path is not the answer, but simply the path. Many times you won't even be able to see a consistency to it unless you look back.

Sure, wandering and being open to all sorts of influences is great, but remember the difference between influences and distractions.

That said, please don't ask me how I revere Eris on my path. Eris is no more or less different than any of the other gods and goddesses (although She doesn't reccomend prayer and has some pretty wild rages from time to time).

[lady_fey]

eldora: Thank you for sharing!

question everything.
That seems to just make a lot of sense whoever ya are, but that's me.

Ok so, correct me if I'm wrong: The chaos discordianism is (roughly) the idea that out of chaos comes order? I obviously don't know anything about it other then what you have outlined and neither do I know anything about Eris.

I did a google search the other day on Chaos after an interesting conversation with the guy who works at the local metaphysical shop. But I've not had a chance to really read about it yet.




my path is really all about having a personal relationship with divinity...
which means sometimes they get pissed at you and sometimes they pick you up dust you off and urge you on...

Some folks call it syncronicity...I call it conversation...I try and correlate my actions and thoughts with communications/occurances in my environment...

My "Gods" have actually responded the best when I got really pissed of and screamed at them...but hey mine are like that....

specifics for any of the above concepts upon request

A) as much as you're willing to share is as much as I'm willing to listen to or read as the case may be.
B) I have, at this particular moment, a similar view with the Universe itself. I don't have a name for it. I just find that there is the awesome energy/vibe out there that when I shut my ego off for a bit, works in such beauty and perfection in it's own weird way that I can step outside of it all and look in and see everything going on. Sounds weird, but in the middle of a gorgeous sunny afternoon and looking around at the world, it's pretty darn cool.
C)Wow, when I got pissed with the gods they were pretty silent with me. I can either take that to mean they're avoiding me or they aren't there.
I was standing in the middle of my living room and yelling softly at whatever deity was there. I could have cared less what they choose to call themself. In absolute tears and with a very heavy heart I told them that they ought to quit fmessing around with people's lives (although it didn't sound that nice) with various identities and whatnot and holy books that people trust in and just make themselves manifest or else I was finished.
Maybe to some this is shocking and rude and I don't deserve an answer etc. But at the time (and still to this day), I was tired of being treated like dirt beneath the feet of people who had called me their friend all in the name of God.
SO either you are really lucky or they just really like you.




Another thing. Don't trust the gods or goddesses, even if you somehow think they are all one in essence. (Sure, now. Aren't all we humans one in essense too? But would you trust all humans?) I do believe there are some goddesses or gods that do get their kicks from fear and control. Surprised? Why should you be? Deities are not more highly evolved morally than humans, they simply have more power and are incorporeal. Many of them have huge egoism delusions. So, beware of deities as you would any other beings. When you get to know another well, then you trust them.
Maybe this would explain the whole wars in the name of god thing? And all the other stuff that goes with it, I dunno, just a thought.


What is your direction? Where do you hope to go? What goals do you want to achieve? Have you gotten closer? Etc.

Hm, for me it's pretty simple:
Is there a divine or isn't there? If so who are they and what do they have to do with us if anything? If there is no divine than I want to know. I don't want to kid myself with beautiful thoughts and dreams that don't answer my questions. If things can be explained without the divine, then I want to know what the explanation is.
Like others I spent a good chunk of my young life worshipping and praying and searching. And I have emerged out of it with an evergrowing skepticism.
Everytime I think the only way to explain something is with the Divine or with Deity I end up going back to pure energy and the marvelous wonder of our brain and end up more in awe of the universe I know little about.
That's my direction.


That said, please don't ask me how I revere Eris on my path. Eris is no more or less different than any of the other gods and goddesses (although She doesn't reccomend prayer and has some pretty wild rages from time to time).
Ok I won't. But thank you very much for sharing what you have.

ps:
I'm not trying to be or sound like a cynical you know what.
But I am becoming very skeptical of things.
People have said in times past, why should the gods prove themselves to anyone.
Why? Well let me cite a few words from a Train song:
"I need a sign to let me know you’re here
All of these lines are being crossed over the atmosphere
I need to know that things are gonna look up
Cause I feel us drowning in a sea spilled from a cup"

thanks for your thoughts on this I really appreciate hearing them and look forward to this place in general. It keeps me thinking and questioning and hoping to some extent.

lf

[eldora_avalon]

Ok so, correct me if I'm wrong: The chaos discordianism is (roughly) the idea that out of chaos comes order? I obviously don't know anything about it other then what you have outlined and neither do I know anything about Eris.

Discordians have Eris as their goddess except for the ones who don't. Eris is the goddess of Chaos. Order and disorder are both part of Chaos. Imposition of order will bring more disorder, imposition of disorder will bring about more order. Disorder is not equal to Chaos for Chaos is the order and disorder, the order in disorder, the disorder in order. Trying to bring about more order is said to be aneristic, trying to bring about more disorder is said to be eristic. I'll get into the illusion another time. Let me know when your head quits doing :awilly:

[lady_fey]

Discordians have Eris as their goddess except for the ones who don't. Eris is the goddess of Chaos. Order and disorder are both part of Chaos. Imposition of order will bring more disorder, imposition of disorder will bring about more order. Disorder is not equal to Chaos for Chaos is the order and disorder, the order in disorder, the disorder in order. Trying to bring about more order is said to be aneristic, trying to bring about more disorder is said to be eristic. I'll get into the illusion another time. Let me know when your head quits doing :awilly:
Haha, my head probably won't quit doing that for some time.
Sort of like if there's infinite smallness then there has to be infinite bigness.
And what's beyond the beyond?
And other things that are just because they are just because.... (that made a lot more sense in my head)

This is really quite fascinating. They coexist. Neither would be without the other.
Any good reads you might reccommend either on or offline?
thank you

LF

[Infinite Grey]

all hail Hun-Tun and the Kaos Bunny!

[Dale Ivarie]

A) as much as you're willing to share is as much as I'm willing to listen to or read as the case may be.
B) I have, at this particular moment, a similar view with the Universe itself. I don't have a name for it. I just find that there is the awesome energy/vibe out there that when I shut my ego off for a bit, works in such beauty and perfection in it's own weird way that I can step outside of it all and look in and see everything going on. Sounds weird, but in the middle of a gorgeous sunny afternoon and looking around at the world, it's pretty darn cool.
C)Wow, when I got pissed with the gods they were pretty silent with me. I can either take that to mean they're avoiding me or they aren't there.
I was standing in the middle of my living room and yelling softly at whatever deity was there. I could have cared less what they choose to call themself. In absolute tears and with a very heavy heart I told them that they ought to quit fmessing around with people's lives (although it didn't sound that nice) with various identities and whatnot and holy books that people trust in and just make themselves manifest or else I was finished.
Maybe to some this is shocking and rude and I don't deserve an answer etc. But at the time (and still to this day), I was tired of being treated like dirt beneath the feet of people who had called me their friend all in the name of God.
SO either you are really lucky or they just really like you.
lf


I have mentioned on other threads that I see the gods reveal themselves through science..but their texture, spirit is lost in the dispassionate descriptions...
At the risk of boring those who have heard this on other threads..I see the sky and the earth as father and mother of all life on earth..life was created in the primevil oceans in a torrent of storms and lighting, sky and earth made love and thunderstorms today are still the embraces of sky and earth...I fell the rain watch the lighting and experince my parents love...when I walk down the street pondering whatever and a stiff wind rises up and smacks me in the face I pause in a moment of communion with sky and review my thoughts looking for a different perspective on it...

Corvids (crows and ravens) hold a special place with me as a totem/go between a link to the divine...I feel away from my spiritual side for a while and lost the crows foot that had come to me...as I have returned to a more active spiritual life I felt disconnected and felt ashamed that I had lost my talisman...then a crow flew into my car..I pulled over..it was dead...and I have a new crows foot...

Loki is the embodiment of wild fire/fire an amazing tool that can be tricky to deal with as it has a destructive mischevious nature, he is also the personification of cunning..often he jabbed at the other gods showing them their hypocracy..sometimes he took it too far and they had to smack him back into place..He does the same with me..

A few times I've had strings of bad luck, several aweful things occuring in a row and each time I spiritually searched for the meaning and what the divine was trying to tell me..finally when completly fed up I screamed hollered and really went off I was answered with a grin and the thought of "now you have the energy to do something about the situation" and the run of bad luck ended...

Not sure that they like me...just some of the aspects of the divine I am closest too seem to require intense emotion or they don't "believe" what I "say" to them...Would a God who is beyond any possible harm from an ant like me be afraid or angered by my intensity...not so far..amused I think is the emotion.

Dale

[Jolantru]

To me, a path is a journey, a relationship, a discipline and a lot of trial-and-error. It shouldn't be too cushy or comfortable: a path is for learning and to me, learning sometimes entails some degree of difficulty. This makes the path more worthwhile to be walked on.

Even if your path has twists and turns, it is still your personal path. ;)

Cheers,
Jolantru

[lady_fey]

all hail Hun-Tun and the Kaos Bunny!

Oh, didn't know you were a bunny worshipper :viking: and
who, huh, whaaa?



I have mentioned on other threads that I see the gods reveal themselves through science..but their texture, spirit is lost in the dispassionate descriptions...
At the risk of boring those who have heard this on other threads..I see the sky and the earth as father and mother of all life on earth..life was created in the primevil oceans in a torrent of storms and lighting, sky and earth made love and thunderstorms today are still the embraces of sky and earth...I fell the rain watch the lighting and experince my parents love...when I walk down the street pondering whatever and a stiff wind rises up and smacks me in the face I pause in a moment of communion with sky and review my thoughts looking for a different perspective on it...
Beautifully written. I would like to say that I totally get that. But if I do, then somehow I think I would be taking away from your very personal experience and relationship with the Universe and deity. Very, very well written.



..as I have returned to a more active spiritual life I felt disconnected and felt ashamed that I had lost my talisman...then a crow flew into my car..I pulled over..it was dead...and I have a new crows foot...
You took it's foot? Dunno if I could do that.


Loki is the embodiment of wild fire/fire an amazing tool that can be tricky to deal with as it has a destructive mischevious nature, he is also the personification of cunning..often he jabbed at the other gods showing them their hypocracy..sometimes he took it too far and they had to smack him back into place..He does the same with me..

Thank you for the introduction to Loki. I've never heard of him before.


A few times I've had strings of bad luck, several aweful things occuring in a row and each time I spiritually searched for the meaning and what the divine was trying to tell me..finally when completly fed up I screamed hollered and really went off I was answered with a grin and the thought of "now you have the energy to do something about the situation" and the run of bad luck ended...

I'm glad the bad luck ended. That is always a good thing. I like this part especially:

"now you have the energy to do something about the situation" and the run of bad luck ended...

Possible we (we being me and some of my friends who are still trying to get the god thing figured out) are relying waaaaaaaaaay too much on any deity to get a job done and blame the undone job on them? Hm, food for thought.


Not sure that they like me...just some of the aspects of the divine I am closest too seem to require intense emotion or they don't "believe" what I "say" to them...Would a God who is beyond any possible harm from an ant like me be afraid or angered by my intensity...not so far..amused I think is the emotion.

This remind me of MIB the movie. If you haven't seen it let me explain, I'll try to be brief:
At one point in the movie it comes out that our universe is just a marble in a game of marbles in another Universe.
So why does it remind me of what you said?
Because the possiblity that we are these itty bitty game pieces in a grand game of Universal Chess for the Gods is always a possibility. We cannot scare them and we cannot hurt them we cannot control them.
Do we make them sad? Do we hurt their feelings? etc etc etc
Amused is a great way to put it.
(hope that makes sense)


To me, a path is a journey, a relationship, a discipline and a lot of trial-and-error. It shouldn't be too cushy or comfortable: a path is for learning and to me, learning sometimes entails some degree of difficulty. This makes the path more worthwhile to be walked on.

Even if your path has twists and turns, it is still your personal path. ;)
Jolantru: thank you for that. I think you made a great deal of sense and reminds me of something I said to a friend some months back when I was still hanging onto an inkling of faith that Jesus is God.
"Everyone's path is very different. But the path is there for a reason. We twist and turn to learn new things. And those things help us grow closer to what we are supposed to be or do."


LF

[eldora_avalon]

Haha, my head probably won't quit doing that for some time.
Sort of like if there's infinite smallness then there has to be infinite bigness.
And what's beyond the beyond?
And other things that are just because they are just because.... (that made a lot more sense in my head)

This is really quite fascinating. They coexist. Neither would be without the other.
Any good reads you might reccommend either on or offline?
thank you

LF

Turtles all the way down :hehehehe:

[Infinite Grey]

Oh, didn't know you were a bunny worshipper :viking: and
who, huh, whaaa?


Click the Egg in my signature :hahugh:

[Crysiira]

Wow. This is the perfect timing for a thread like this. I've been in my own state of chaos lately... I believe I am changing paths. I've been Wiccan for the past five years, but it seems like the more I read and research on both Wiccan and other pagan paths, the more my mind wants to change. The problem is, I really can't settle on one specific pre-determined path. I can't follow the rules and rituals of one single path. It seems more and more like my inclination is to combine certain traditions and rituals, but once I start doing that, what sort of name do I call it?
It's like people who pick and choose from different Christian religions, and then call themselves some odd name such as "All-Christian", like the neighbors I used to have did. The problem with this is that you cannot be all the christian religions at once; there are too many opposing rules and beliefs. If you borrow things from many religions, you shouldn't call yourself by the name of just one of those religions.... It's not that it's wrong, but it's offensive to the language of that religion.
Thus, in my own life, I'm borrowing some beliefs and rituals from this and that religion... and then I feel like somehow I'm going wrong somewhere, because isn't that offensive to the religions I'm borrowing from? I get confused and rather sad because I don't know what to do.
So I've spent a lot of time thinking about paths and the specifics around them. Is it really offensive to take the stones from many paths to form your own path? Or is it simply a different way to get to where you are going? It's not like I'm selling my path to anyone. Like Dale said in a post earlier, it's all about your personal relationship with the gods, not your social relationship with everyone else.
It's hard to define my feelings when I'm not even sure of them myself. I can voice the fact that I'm having some difficulties with paths, but I can't really state all the why's, because it's so intangible. It's all about feelings really; whether something feels right or not. Right now, what I've got isn't feeling right. I'm working on constructing something that does feel right. I'll know when I get there.... However long that may take... I just know I'm not there now, not even close.
So the process I'm going through is this: I'm setting aside time from all the hectic things going on in my life with work and school and the like, and I'm doing some personal research. I'm heavily researching many different pagan paths, from Wicca to Celtic Reconstructionism to Buddhism to Hinduism to Kitchen Witchery. Nothing gets excluded. As I research, I think of the best parts of these religions, I think of whether they fit into my line of thinking or not, I think of whether they mesh with my personal belief system or not, and I think of the best way to include them in that belief system while still paying homage to the religion they came from. It's the best way I can think of to pay my respects to those that came before me while still constructing my own way of thinking. (If anyone has suggestions as to better this line of thought, I'm very open at this point.)
The only major problem I've run into is when people ask me what religion I am. I can't truly say Wiccan anymore, because I'm now only borrowing from it instead of following it. I can't even say Pagan because I'm looking at some religions not in the Pagan scope.
When people ask me what religion I am, I do say Pagan to keep things simple. In most of my dealings with the world, I don't need to go into major detail of my beliefs. I say that, people nod their heads, we move on. My close friends, on the other hand, if and when they ask about my beliefs, I will give them the whole explanation without bothering to put a label on it. It's like when people ask what "style" is your favorite to dress in. I could say Goth, and it's a major oversimplification, but it works if you don't want to go into major detail. If I did want to go into major detail, Goth would be included, but it wouldn't be the ALL of my wardrobe... just as Pagan wouldn't be the all of my beliefs.
Is this making any sense? I wonder.

[Lets Go Bowling]

That's one of the reasons I now just tell people I am Buddhist when they ask what religion. It sounds simpler and it is actually mostly true. (Most people want the nushell version.) But I thoroughly immerse myself in healthy amounts of Erisianism. I also have a long history with Wicca. None of these exclude each other. And I prefer to think of the whole divinity thing as a personal thing between beings and not so tied into religion.