Defining your path...

[Kalika]

I don't know if this is going to make sense or not, but I'm going to give it a shot anyways.

Over the course of years that I've been studying the various aspects of paganism, witchcraft, magic, divination, etc... I've learned a lot. Dark, light, somewhere in between... I've explored it all. (No, I'm not saying I know everything, or have tried everything. Just to put that disclaimer in there.)

I've run the gamut with dieties: Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Hindu... with one ever-present, and that would be Kali (like you didn't figure that out from my name, anyway...). The darker aspects tend to appeal to me.

I've explored divination, with a particular proficiency for it, and it's something I enjoy. (Hence the class. :lol: )

I'm a healer and an empath, which for me goes hand in hand with energy work and shielding.

I'm not afraid to do what it takes to get the job done, and will jump in and try new things as they appeal to me.

I've done a fair amount of work with spirits, and am comfortable doing so.

So, after all that rambling... what does that sound like? I've always considered myself eclectic... with no true 'path' other than what I seem to make up as I go. Is calling it something specific important, or is just enjoying the road you're on more important?

Thought I'd ask for some feedback/input/comments. So... help? :p

[Rainbow]

Well, I've personally come up with a label for my own faith that I feel describes it perfectly, but do you really need a specific label or a specific path? No.

[Lorrie]

Labels are too limiting, don't limit your self. My only "label" that I use is "pagan".

[Kalika]

I'm not really looking for a label I guess.... more just.... musing. :lol:

Someone keeps asking me what my path is.... so I figured I'd give it some thought. :p

[Lorrie]

That could drive ya crazy ya know.:fpraise:

[Brightshores]

I just go with "eclectic pagan." I have so many different spiritual elements making up my path... Celtic, Greek, Taoist, Buddhist, panentheistic, pantheistic, nature-centered, etc. etc. etc. I won't bore you with it. ;) The only advice I can give is.. embrace the diversity and go with it. If it doesn't have a name, you can either use something vague, or make something up yourself. :D

[akewa]

Kalika,

I have been down that same road or roads as the case may be. What I did was narrow down who I work with the most and how. In my case that was Goddesses more than Gods and mostly Egyptian. I have run the gamet thru dianic to druid and back again. When someone askes I just say Pagan. If they want more I say I mostly do magic work not religious work. If they push more after that I will say I work with the Goddess and the Egyptian ones mostly. I will ask why they want to know and why it matters but that is me. Since I have worked with so many I do not like to get into talks about my path and your path. To many turn around that mine is better than your or you should do it this way or..... I just say the most that I am pagan in the old term a country dweller. Which is true enough in its own sense. Even when I lived in the city I just used pagan for I was into to much at that time to narrow it down. It seems everyone wants to know what patheon you call to or work with and judge you based on that which is not right at all.

:cheers:

[Kalika]

Thanks for your replies. :)

I've never had anyone look down on me for what I believe, or argue with me that I'm flat out wrong. Most people don't argue with me, 'cause they don't like to lose. :lol: It just suddenly seemed weird to me that I had never really taken the time to define what I consider myself, and had always gone with generic labels. However, I do think that is still right... no one thing in and of itself encompasses my beliefs and ideals.

[Windsmith]

Labels can be a handy shortcut for talking about the path you follow - but they only work if other people know those labels, too. For instance, I like the term cheddarsox uses to describe her path: "Ardent Pantheism." It reflects my beliefs and practices quite nicely. But there's only about 20 people in the whole world who really know what it means, so if someone - even another pantheist - asked me what my tradition was, and I said, "Ardent Pantheism," all I'd get would be a blank stare. So, Kalika, if you can find a label that truly fits you, and that helps other people understand you, too, by all means use it (I couldn't think of one for you - sorry!); otherwise, it's not a big deal. For non-Pagans, saying "I'm Pagan" will probably be enough to go on, and other Pagans will probably be interested in hearing about your beliefs and practices at a level that won't require labels.

Truly knowing what you believe is far more important than knowing what to call it.

[Eternal Night]

Labels just muck wiv my brain!
If I put a label on what I was it would prolly change every other day!
I'm just me following the path that I think is rite for me. I grow, learn and change so often but my inner being still remains the same!
My label I spose is ME!!
People ask what I am and I tellthem ME!!, what are my beliefs though is a better question, what path I'm on I prefer. Thinking about labels give me a headache!!:lol:

[Kalika]

:hugz: Thanks Windsmith.

EN, you are just crazy in general. :lol:

[LadyCelt]

For most people, I only say the Christian part. I just recently started praying to the Goddess again. To me, it wouldn't be a good move to reveal the rest to everybody, and so I don't. But, I am not lying to say Christian. Even without the other part of my spirituality, I struggle with the word Christian due to its connotation. But, I don't know how else to describe it; or at least any easy way to.

I also believe in more things than I really do practice or incorporate; even if it interests me.

To those I'm more open with, I call myself Christian with some Paganism into it; particularly with the Goddess.

[RainInanna]

I don't know if this is going to make sense or not, but I'm going to give it a shot anyways.

Sure it makes sense :) The practices you describe don't seem to be specific to any particular spirituality, IMHO. Any of them could be attached to a form of Paganism without defining it.

I think generally we can define Pagan paths by the forms of the Sacred they include, and the practices we engage in that honour that form of the Sacred - you mentioned some examples like Hellenic, Kemetic, etc.


Is calling it something specific important, or is just enjoying the road you're on more important?

I think both are important. Finding a specific name can get you so caught up in labelling and the logical/cerebral aspects that you forget to engage and experience the Sacred. Yet not exploring that can leave you floundering around without any basis or foundation for practices, ethics, etc. If you truly want to live spirituality on an ongoing basis, in order for it to really speak to you, you need to understand what you believe and how you can reflect it in your day to day life.

That said, defining your path needn't mean giving it a label that others are familiar with. As has been mentioned, it may not have a neat and tidy name that other people understand. And it may change as you go, which is fine too.

The trick is finding a balance between thinking about your beliefs and how they influence you, and actually living that life influenced by beliefs!